3rd Trimester
I am mortified to ask this question... no flames please...
because I'm desperate.
If I did, in fact, decide to pump to try to induce labor, would this waste my colostrum? I am googling and didn't even think of this possibility, but it's raised a lot in the random discussion threads about this method of induction.
TIA!
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Re: I am mortified to ask this question... no flames please...
IMO, I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't want to potentially mess with my BFing supply/ability.
Has your OB given you an induction date yet?
It is! Awesome. Thank god YOU know something - you should see all the peeps out there on the internet who are FULL of misinformation.
What is the general thinking about the idea of doing this?
You're not supposed to pump the colustrum. It's important for the baby to get it, and if you pump too much your body will go from producing colustrum to producing milk.
I tried the breast pump the other day and after only two pumps started leaking and had to stop - I was bummed
But if you give it a shot and don't leak, I think you're in the clear to keep going.
Your body will keep making more until your placenta is delivered, and then the hormones will switch to start making milk.
Just be careful...nipple stimulation can cause really fast, strong contractions.
My induction date is Wednesday, barring anything unforseen on tomorrow's BPP and NST. Monday's came back great.
My thought is that if you're desperate enough, you'll give it a try. HOwever, if it REALLY was something that brought on labor, all the women beyond 38 weeks pregnant would have four foot long nipples by now.
:-)
Also, tell him it's not going to impact you in a negative way - if anything it would stimulate you to overproduce.
Awe man, I hadn't seen you on here yet today so I was hoping you had gone into labor!
?
I'm pretty sure no matter what you do you will produce colostrum until your baby is born and your milk comes in. Pumping now shouldn't affect your colostrum supply. ?
Wait... doesn't everyone have those? JK...
Does THAT stimulate labor? Because if it does, I'm in!
Right - for whoever said previously that pumping could make your colostrum switch to milk - no, it won't. As another poster said, it's the delivery of the placenta that triggers the hormones that stimulate your breasts to make regular milk, not colostrum.
Some women start making colostrum in very early months. I myself have had leakage (yay!) for about 4 months, - so - yeah, if I was going to run out, um...I think I'd have run out by now.
This is not what I've read - my book says specifically not to pump. But since I don't have it in front of me, I can't say exactly what the science is behind it.
A question though - if delivery of the placenta is the only thing that leads to milk production, how do adoptive mothers breastfeed?
About adoptive mothers I believe they take hormones to stimulate milk production.