Hi, We are designing a study to compare colostrum volumes at different times. We decided to study this because in our clinical experience in a birthing/postpartum/maternity ward, volumes of expressed colostrum are surprisingly LARGE during the first two hours after birth, and then that bounty seems to diminish. Our midwives have helped mothers to hand express colostrum in the first two hours after birth, and volumes have systematically ranged from 25 to 65 ml. This makes sense, as Nature would want the baby´s gut well protected as soon as possible after birth... So our hipothesis is that colostrum volumes are higher and it is smuch easier to express right after birth. We always use hand expression, preferably done by mother. The informal prototype protocol that has been in place for a few months now. Which moms express their colostrum?: those whose babies have not latched or have done no effective sucking in the first hour and a half after birth. Why an hour and a half?: because two hours after birth, mom and baby are taken to the maternity ward, where baby will be supplemented with formula if she has not eaten (bad policy, but it´s the one that´s there). *Our* reign ends after those two hours, if you know what I mean. Hope this helps and more of you try this out, maybe we can all get a lot of data!!! Kika -- Dra. Carmela Baeza Médico de Familia Consultora Certificada en Lactancia Materna IBCLC www.centroraices.com http://www.facebook.com/Consulta.Lactancia.Raices <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Centro-de-Atenci%C3%B3n-a-la-Familia-Ra%C3%ADces/274415189309122> Autora de "Amar con los Brazos Abiertos" http://www.ediciones-encuentro.es/libro/amar-con-los-brazos-abiertos.html Comprometida con el Derecho a Vivir http://derechoavivir.org *********************************************** 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