Babies are often sleepy during the first 24 hours after delivery. This may mean that your baby does not feed well. Bringing colostrum you have already expressed and stored during pregnancy will mean more colostrum for your baby while she is adjusting to her new life. Supplementing the baby in the early days with your stored colostrum will help:
- your baby stay well hydrated
- your baby's blood sugar stay within normal limits
- your baby feed actively
This can be especially important for babies of mothers with diabetes, including gestational diabetes. A baby that feeds well in the first 48 hours also helps to ensure an abundance of milk. Continue to hand express after delivery until you are producing plenty of milk.
*Before you initiate expressing your colostrum prenatally you should discuss it with your Midwife or Obstetrician. Schedule an appointment with your lactation consultant to learn more about prenatal hand expression.
Read more about expressing colostrum prenatally.