----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 8:20
PM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] ebm prior ro
birth
Just
10 days ago Michelle birthed her third baby, a beautiful boy who
weighed 5168 (11 lb 6oz) baby boy.
When
Michelle reached 42 weeks we discussed expressing colostrom because her
previous little girl was a 10lbs. Between 42 and 43 weeks she
expressed quite a lot of colostrom for two reasons.
1. to stimulate more effective, uterine
contractions and 2. to have sufficient colostrom
to make sure the baby's metabolic needs were met in the first 3 days
until her transitional milk flowed.
It
worked really well, she had enough colostrom to give her baby extra
during each feed. We used a fine gavage tube just inside his mouth while
he sucked at the breast he received extra via the tube. It all worked
perfectly, he was a very settled little boy.
I
believe it expressing colostrom can be very beneficial to a lot of women
for various reasons, especially women who are having an elective
LUSCS. Extra early colostrom could reduce the risk of the
baby being introduced to other liquids, provide good hydration, blood
sugars and electrolyte balance in the first three days. Good
hydration and stable metabolic state will also reduce the risk
of the baby being separated from the mother for transfer to the
nursery.
Robyn Thompson
Dear List
Soem time ago there was a small discussion on
the list re the practice of espressing colostrum prior to birth and using
this to prevent neonatal hypoglycaemia. This appeared to be helpful for
gestaional, type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Can anyone steer me towards some
detailed information on this topic???
regards
Alesa
Alesa Koziol
Midwifery Clinical
Educator
Melbourne