So, expressing while pregnant is not recommended when the foetus is not growing well, or has other medical conditions such as macrosomia (excessive weight), or there is too much fluid in the womb.
While nipple stimulation can release hormones that cause uterine contraction, most studies show that it does not bring about the onset of actual labor. Most doctors do not recommend nipple stimulation to induce labor, but some anecdotal evidence exists for its effectiveness.
Is it okay to squeeze out colostrum? Yes, it's usually OK to squeeze out colostrum once you reach full-term pregnancy (37 weeks). Check with your healthcare provider if you wish to do this prior to your baby being born.
In order to stop giving so many babies formula milk for low blood sugar levels, midwives have started to advise some mothers to hand express their milk during pregnancy, around 35-36 weeks of pregnancy.
By compressing your breast you will encourage your milk to flow which will provide your baby with more milk. Place your hand around the breast close to your chest wall and compress your breast without causing pain.
Clear, cloudy, or white discharge that appears only when you press on your nipple is usually normal. The more the nipple is pressed or stimulated, the more fluid appears. Yellow, green, or brown discharge is not normal and may be a symptom of an infection or other problem.
One or both breasts may produce a nipple discharge, either spontaneously or when you squeeze your nipples or breasts. Nipple discharge may look milky, clear, yellow, green, brown or bloody. Discharge that isn't milk comes out of your nipple through the same ducts that carry milk.
Milk production generally begins around the midpoint of pregnancy, somewhere between weeks 16 and 22. At this stage your body is producing what's known as colostrum—a yellowish milk that's rich in calories and disease-fighting antibodies—which will serve as baby's first food after birth.
It's safe for your partner to touch, play with, or caress your breasts during pregnancy, as long as it feels good to you. Your breasts change throughout pregnancy, and may feel tingly, tender, and unusually sensitive to touch, particularly in the first trimester.
When Might It Happen? Health care experts tend to think that we start developing colostrum at around the 14th week of pregnancy, but some people leak before then.
We recommend you start colostrum harvesting from 36 weeks of pregnancy. It is unlikely to trigger labour but please check the 'reasons why I should not hand express colostrum before birth' information in this leaflet prior to commencing.
You would have to do very hard compressions to injure your breast tissue, but it is possible. Stick with firm compressions that aren't painful. Second, try to do compressions equally on both sides. For some reason, I favored my left side, and I was lopsided for my entire exclusive pumping career.
Generally speaking, breastfeeding your husband or partner is OK. It's not perverted or wrong if you want the person you are intimate with to breastfeed, or if they ask to try breastfeeding or taste your breast milk.
It can also be referred to as 'colostrum harvesting' and is advocated by some NHS Trusts. Mothers are normally advised to wait until around 36 weeks before starting antenatal expression. Mums who are having multiple births may sometimes start sooner as giving birth earlier is more likely.
Conservative decision making is important when it comes to your baby's safety. Deep tissue massage during pregnancy can relieve swelling, tension and stress. Some pressure points must be avoided though. Experts stay safe by avoiding pressure points associated with the pelvis, wrists, hands, and ankles.
Do you need to prepare your nipples for breastfeeding? No. Your body is already preparing for breastfeeding. Thanks to hormonal changes in pregnancy, women are capable of producing breast milk by the end of their second trimester.
If you have a normal, healthy pregnancy, then pumping before birth is often completely safe. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, it may be better to play it safe. As you begin to experience physical changes during your pregnancy, you may notice that your breasts leak small amounts of colostrum.
In the second or third trimester, you might notice some golden goo leaking from your nipples. That's colostrum, or the initial milk a pregnant person produces. This thick, concentrated fluid can also dry and crust on your nipples without much wetness.
The only change in advice is that you shouldn't squeeze your nipples looking for discharge. Aggressive squeezing can result in injury and needless worry because sometimes discharge in that circumstance is normal. “The discharge that is worrisome is discharge that comes without squeezing,” Steele says.
Treatment and prevention
Montgomery tubercles are harmless, and no treatment is necessary when these change or increase in number. These spots should not be squeezed or popped as this can introduce infection.
Montgomery tubercles, also known as Montgomery glands, are raised white bumps that look similar to goosebumps on the nipple and surrounding areola. They are named after William Fetherstone Montgomery, an Irish physician and obstetrician who first described them in 1837.
Nipple discharge can be normal in women or people assigned female at birth (AFAB). It's always abnormal in men or people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Hormones, lactation or sexual arousal can be normal causes for nipple discharge. Abnormal causes could be from tumors, infection or rarely, breast cancer.
Bovine colostrum contains estrogen, which is a hormone that may negatively impact the development of some cancers. If you are at risk for breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer, talk to your doctor before using a bovine supplement.
If you're having a straightforward pregnancy, there's no reason to start hand expressing colostrum, your rich first breast milk, before you give birth. Colostrum is packed with nutrients and antibodies that nourish your baby and protect them from illness.