If the Mom has a history of pre-term delivery I would be very careful with my recommendations. I would not want her to "blame" the expression, and by extension breastfeeding for the premature delivery. We can rationalize it in many ways, but the "blame game" is not reasonable. I had six documented miscarriages in a year and a half between my Baby #2 and Baby #3. Because they were all early - first trimester miscarriages and because I lived in a rural place at the time it took a while to figure out what was happening. At some point I bitterly resented nursing my baby. Even now, 10 years later I still remember tat dark place. I nursed anyway - she is very allergic and was very attached, but it affected my relationship with her for a few years. What if you get a frozen milk from another Mom, or an offer to express if the need arises. And at the same time try to help this poor woman to feel positive and hopeful. -- Henya Brooklyn, NY Want to know me better - visit my blog http://chickenstitches.blogspot.com/ For unique patterns and stitch markers - visit my shop chickenstitches.com Visit my Etsy shop - chickenstitches.etsy.com Find me on Ravelry as knitmammy http://www.ravelry.com/people/knitmammy On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 12:12 PM, Laura Wasielewski <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > Hi Yasmeen, > > Just to clarify, I don't think antenatal expression itself is necessarily > weird. The example you gave of nursing a child while pregnant is a perfect > example of a very normal case of "antenatal expression." I could also > possibly see the value of antenatal expression if mom has a history of > preterm delivery and/or is a high risk pregnancy with preterm delivery > likely. A small stash of milk could help those moms avoid formula in the > first few days. What I do find strange is a blanket recommendation that ALL > pregnant women need to express during pregnancy *just in case* they deliver > early. In my opinion this approach doesn't seem like it's treating birth and > breastfeeding as normal (which I thought was particularly strange given that > the recommendation was made by a prominent midwife). Perhaps antenatal > expression would not be a bad idea for all if the goal was to teach hand > expression before delivery??? > > Just my two cents! > > Laura Wasielewski MS, CCC.SLP, IBCLC > Los Angeles, CA > > Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:18:42 -0700 > From: Yasmeen Effath <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Re: Antenatal expressing > > Dear WiseOnes, > > I am confused specially since some of you seem to think of expressing milk > antenataly as weired, never or rarely heard of and certainly do not > recommend to any mother. Do correct if I am missing something, are there not > many mothers around the world who continue to nurse their older children > through the pregnancy with no risks attached whatsoever? How is expressing > very different from allowing a child to nurse through pregnancy? > > Take Care > > Yasmin > (Just counselled a mother who was confused about continuing to nurse her 18 > month baby and she is 4 months pregnant) > Mumbai, India > > *********************************************** > > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html > To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] > Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] > COMMANDS: > 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set > lactnet nomail > 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail > 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet > 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome > *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome