Harvesting Colostrum: Antenatal and Postnatal Colostrum Collection

    Harvesting colostrum both antenatally (before birth) and postnatally (after delivery) is a great way to prepare for the unexpected.  Sometimes birth plans do not go to plan and having this liquid gold at your disposal in case of emergency is always a plus especially since colostrum is essential as baby's first immunization, highly concentrated in antibodies and nutrition to boost your baby's immune system.  In addition, if feedings are slow to start, colostrum can maintain your baby's blood sugar levels.  

A colostrum collection kit makes it easy to have the things you need on hand.  While using a breast pump can sometimes cause contractions, a more gentle hand expression is not only safer but more effective in saving every drop. While there are several methods of hand expression found online, research shows that the Marmet Technique is still the most effective so we have included the full instruction sheet below. 

Once you have begun hand expression, start by using the smaller 3ml syringe in the colostrum collection kit to draw up the colostrum direction off the nipple and areola.  If you use a breast pump, it is harder to get the sticky colostrum off the pump parts and valves.  After you have harvested the colostrum, place the syringe(s) into a freezer bag or breast milk storage bag so that you can safely keep them in the freezer.  Babies only need a teaspoon of colostrum per feeding initially so the 5ml syringes included are perfect for feeding. Postnatally, more volume of colostrum may be collected so you may want to express into the 50ml container included in the kit as you can also use the syringes to draw from the container for feeding. 

The Liquid Gold Colostrum Collection Kit includes:

(6) individually wrapped sterile 3ml syringes with caps

(6) individually wrapped sterile 5ml syringes with caps

(1) 50ml/2oz colostrum container with lid (non-sterile - sterilize before use)

If you have additional transitional milk which is a higher volume of colostrum as the mature milk is coming in, there are 10ml syringes, 50ml minifil bottles and 60ml colostrum containers with lids also available to purchase.

Happy Harvesting!

Tanya

Back to Breastfeeding: Transitioning from Bottle to Breast

Recently, we had a question from a mother whose baby was unable to nurse from the breast effectively because of a severe tongue tie.  From experience, we know she is not the only mom with questions about how to get a baby who has been bottle-fed for weeks back on the breast so our hope is that this blog post helps Bev and the other moms in her situation.

There are several things you can do to encourage an infant who is bottle feeding to take the breast.  One size never fits all in counseling nursing mothers, so we will outline a myriad of techniques so that you can find one the one that helps you the most.

Start by changing the way you supplement.  The best method is to go from a bottle to finger feeding with a syringe.  A 10cc syringe is 1/3 of an ounce.  This will help you determine how many times to fill the syringe for a feeding.  When finger feeding with a syringe, put your feet up on a stool and lay the baby on your lap facing you.  Then insert a clean finger, pad side up.  Once the baby begins suckling, place the syringe in the corner of their mouth and wait for 30-60 seconds before tapping the baby feeding syringe.  Syringe feeding will help the baby use his tongue properly instead of arching or thrusting his tongue as when bottle feeding.  This method also slows down the feeding unlike a dripping bottle so that there is not immediate gratification but instead proper suckling several times, then yields the result of you tapping the syringe and releasing the milk.  This is important because it takes 30-60 seconds for breast milk to be released.  

Change the way you bottle feed.  If syringe feeding is not feasible, especially if your infant is in child care while you work, you can change the way that bottle feeding is done so that it can help as well. Holding a bottle fed baby the same way as you would feed a nursing infant can help transition the baby from bottle to breast. This means the baby should be tummy to tummy with you while feeding from a bottle.  Hold the bottle close to your collar bone so that the infant is not on its back when feeding.  Make sure the infant has lips wide apart.  If clamping the tip of the bottle nipple, gently screw the bottle in like a lightbulb and it will help the infant rosebud their lips.  If an infant does not open wide on the bottle, they will not open wide at the breast and milk transfer will be inefficient.  The milk sinuses are located about an inch behind the nipple so a wide mouth is essential in breastfeeding effectively.

Take advantage of prime time opportunities.  There are several times when infants are more disposed to breastfeeding.  These are times when their natural instincts kick in.  These times include falling asleep, not yet fully awake and when mom and baby are in a warm bathtub together.  Have a syringe full of breastmilk available when taking advantage of these prime time opportunities and that way you can drip breast milk on your nipple (you can also hand express first instead).  Lay the sleepy or bathing infant at your breast with your nipple exposed and gently guide them to nurse.

Try a nipple shield.  A baby who is used to the feel of a silicone nipple in their mouth may not respond to a bare nipple.  A nipple shield is one way to transition.  Make sure that you change your bottle feeding position from baby on their back to tummy to tummy for at least 2-3 days prior to trying the nipple shield.  Wet the nipple shield to help it adhere.  Massage your breast so that milk begins to drip into the nipple shield before attempting to latch.  Please note that if you are using a nipple shield for more than a few days, you will need to use a breast pump 1-2 times per day since it is a physical barrier that can lower milk supply without the added stimulation of pumping.

If your milk supply is low, use a lactation aid feeding tube.  If you are getting your baby latched, but they keep disengaging because milk is not flowing, a lactation aid feeding tube which can draw from a syringe or a bottle for supplement can help keep the baby at the breast.

Remember, your baby prefers you!  It is often such a blow to our ego as a mom, when a baby refuses the breast.  Your thoughts are that the baby prefers the bottle.  Just know, this is not a personal rejection.  Your baby has just learned another habit of feeding.  The good news is that babies learn habits quickly, so they can also quickly change their habit. But even if your baby never learns to nurse from the breast, you are still their favorite! And any means that you can use to get breastmilk in your baby is a win!

Be patient.  Try these techniques, then try them again.  Use what works, and toss what doesn't work for you and your baby.

Here is to a good latch!

Tanya

How to Use a Baby Feeding Syringe for Breastfeeding

It is recommended that breastfed infants are fed exclusive of a bottle for at least 6-8 weeks while learning to breastfeed.  Bottle feeding greatly changes the way the infant sucks and their expectations for immediate gratification while feeding.  Feeding from a bottle provides immediate gratification because bottle drips even when sucking does not occur.  This causes the infant to thrust their tongue to the end of the nipple or to arch their tongue to collapse the nipple on the roof of their mouth to control the flow.There are several methods of supplementing a newborn with breast milk during the early days.  For short term feeding solution, we recommend finger feeding with a syringe.  This method is tried and true and can be learned by both parents and baby in a matter of minutes.

Instructions:

Wash your hands.

Sit with your feet on a stool or anywhere you can raise your knees.

Place the baby in your lap facing you so they are in a reclined with their head above their body.

Draw the breastmilk into the syringe from an open container.  This can be done with one hand once you learn to pull the plunger up with your thumb.

Allow the baby to suck on the index finger of your non-dominant hand.  Your finger should be in far enough that the infant's tongue is attempting to draw it in with a peristaltic wave motion.  If Dad is feeding and has large fingers, he may want to turn his hand and use his pinky finger.

Using your dominant hand, place the syringe full of breast milk in the corner of the baby's mouth.

Wait 30-60 seconds before tapping the plunger so that the baby understands that they need to suck before the milk lets down when they return to the breast.

Tap the plunger every 3 sucks, but not every suck so they establish a breastfeeding pattern of suck, suck swallow.

Remember that a newborn's stomach is the size of a cherry when they are born so during the first few days, the teaspoons of colostrum are all that is necessary.

If there is a reason to syringe feed beyond day 5, refer to the infant feeding chart for ounces needed.  A 10 cc or 10 ml baby feeding syringe is 1/3 of an ounce so it is easy to know that re-filling this syringe 3 times is 1 ounce.

Attempt burping after 1-3 times of re-filling the syringe.  If the baby is spitting up or taking the milk too quickly, burping is a good way to slow the feeding and eliminate excess air.

Syringes are an inexpensive way to supplement a newborn without interfering with breastfeeding.  This lactation aid may be a tool you will want to have in your arsenal in case your baby has latch or suck difficulties such as the ones that can arise from tongue tie.  A sleepy  baby can also become more lively if breast milk is supplemented correctly so they will have enough energy to stay awake at the breast.


Best wishes for a bottle-free start to breastfeeding!
Tanya