Collecting gold for the first time
I became a parent for the first time in the summer of 2015. Prior to my daughters arrival, I had just earned my degree in children's nursing and was working as a breastfeeding advisor. I was determined to breastfeed her, especially after learning about the benefits of collecting and storing colostrum before birth.
At that time, expressing colostrum during pregnancy was not a widely discussed topic and was only beginning to be recognised for pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Although I had a low-risk pregnancy, I was interested in trying to collect colostrum. When I brought it up with my midwife, she was dismissive and told me there was no need as I was low-risk. In hindsight, this was not the midwife's fault, as she may not have received training on expressing colostrum during pregnancy.
As my due date approached, I became eager and decided to give expressing colostrum a try. On my first attempt, I managed to collect 1 ml of colostrum through massaging and hand expressing. This experience was amazing, as I was able to produce something so nutritious for my baby. I continued to express every few days, and by the time I gave birth, I had 10 ml of colostrum stored in the freezer.
At 40+3 my daughter was born after a quick labour of just under 12 hours. I practiced hypnobirthing during pregnancy and used breathing exercises to stay calm during birth. My daughter was born healthy, but I suffered a haemorrhage and needed stitches and a blood transfusion. A family member kindly collected my stored colostrum from home and brought it to the hospital so my daughter could be soothed whilst I received medical care. After 24 hours, I was feeling well and breastfeeding was going well, and we were discharged home.
I was readmitted after two days at home with a suspected blood clot on my lung. I was told I would need a pulmonary scan involving radiation exposure and that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed for the next 48 hours. I was devastated that I had to interrupt breastfeeding and switch to artificial milk. Though I understood the risks of having a blood clot, I felt guilty that my daughter wouldn't receive my milk anymore.
I was grateful to have a maternity support worker on duty that day who recognised my strong desire to breastfeed. She offered the option of giving my baby donor breast milk until I was able to resume breastfeeding, which I eagerly agreed to. This meant that she would still be able to receive the benefits of breast milk even though I couldn't provide it myself.
While I was recovering from my scan and had to keep my distance, the MSW arranged for my partner to feed our daughter 3-hourly with donor breast milk using finger feeding. This approach would ensure that she would still have to work hard, just as she would at the breast, to minimise nipple confusion. It was amusing to see Joe take on this new role as a single parent and feed our baby using this method. To my surprise, she adapted to finger feeding very well!
During this time, I continued to express my milk and dumped it each time. Although it was disheartening to pour my milk away, it was satisfying to see it increase in volume each time. I was glad to have been able to give her my last remaining colostrum, knowing that she was still receiving some of my milk.
The return to breastfeeding after two days was even more special, and she seamlessly transitioned back to the breast after finger feeding. I continued to breastfeed her until her first birthday.
I'm grateful for the support I received from the MSW in my breastfeeding journey, who was knowledgeable and guided me through the initial challenges I faced. Without her, I might have given up on breastfeeding. I also appreciate the women who generously donate their breast milk, making it available to those who can't or don't have enough of their own. Although milk banks are a great resource, they are not always accessible and only available in limited hospitals. Finally, I'm proud of myself for collecting my colostrum during pregnancy, giving my daughter the best start, and for having the confidence to hand express my milk to maintain my supply when I couldn't breastfeed.
