Loveblossom Lactation & Wellness

06/14/2026

Whoa. Prenatal hand expression for the win! 🏆

Effect of antenatal colostrum expression teaching on breastfeeding practices and birth outcomes: a retrospective case-control chart review

Abstract
Background
Antenatal colostrum expression is a practice involving self-massage of the breasts starting in late pregnancy (typically 35-36-weeks of gestation), which is thought to stimulate lactation and allow individuals to secrete and store colostrum prior to delivery. To support successful breastfeeding initiation and continuation among patients, some clinicians provide antenatal colostrum expression teaching as part of standard prenatal care. However, the impact of antenatal colostrum expression teaching is unclear due to limited evidence which is largely anecdotal. The primary aim of this case-control chart review was to evaluate the effect of antenatal colostrum expression teaching as part of standard obstetrical care on breastfeeding practices at first postpartum checkups, gaining pilot data to inform future research. Secondary outcomes included the evaluation of preterm delivery, mode of delivery, and repeat hyperbilirubinemia screening between groups.

Methods
A retrospective case-control chart review before (n = 79) and after (n = 96) antenatal colostrum expression teaching was incorporated into standard care at 36-gestational week visits in an obstetrical practice in North Battleford, SK, Canada (2016–2020). Odds of fully breastfeeding at first postpartum check-ups in cases vs. controls was evaluated with logistic regression, adjusted for parity, mode of delivery, and infant age at postpartum check-ups. Odds of repeat hyperbilirubinemia screening in cases vs. controls was evaluated with logistic regression, adjusted for parity, mode of delivery, and infant s*x.

Results
Antenatal colostrum expression teaching increased the odds of fully breastfeeding at postpartum check-ups by > 3-fold as compared to controls (aOR = 3.09; 95% CI = 1.35–7.09). Odds of repeat hyperbilirubinemia screening was 59% lower in cases vs. controls (aOR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.18–0.92). No significant differences in gestational age at delivery or mode of delivery were found between groups.

Conclusion
Antenatal colostrum expression presents a promising intervention to help prepare patients mentally and physiologically for breastfeeding and labour. While these findings suggest that advocacy efforts are warranted to increase standard provision of antenatal colostrum expression teaching in late gestation, results should be confirmed in a randomized intervention trial, which further aims to understand the effect on longer-term breastfeeding rates and infant health." https://rdcu.be/fnEGr

Niessen, C., Hawkins, N., Yen, TW. et al. Effect of antenatal colostrum expression teaching on breastfeeding practices and birth outcomes: a retrospective case-control chart review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-026-09298-5

06/01/2026

Grand Opening ! New Birth Center in Anacortes 💛

05/29/2026

Love me a good BrestFriend pillow 💚

05/25/2026

Milky Oats, or Oatstraw… a lovely helper. Safe for babies and nursing parents.

05/19/2026

If you are wondering if you have enough milk— that would be a great time to ask an IBCLC for support. 💚

After the article in the Economist, there is a lot of talk about low supply.

Many people cite low supply as a reason why they stopped breastfeeding. And yes, there are some who can not make a full milk supply. The article suggests it's up to 20%. Other research suggests it's more like 5%. The truth is it is difficult to measure as so few new mums receive the support they need to establish a good supply at the start, and this can have a big impact on long-term milk production. You can, however, still breastfeed without a full milk supply! I will share more on that and how to tell you if you have a supply issue later.

For now, here is a post on the things that people often think might be low supply, but are actually completely normal newborn newborn behaviour.

1 - YOUR BABY IS FEEDING FREQUENTLY
3 hourly is often what we are told, but in reality that is the minimum a baby should be fed. Most babies prefer to feed more frequently. Babies love to cluster feed! At night, to start with and in the evenings and early mornings a few weeks down the line.

2 - YOUR BABY WAKES IN THE NIGHT
Night waking is normal. There are many periods during the first year and beyond where babies wake more, and others when they sleep a little better. This is not to do with milk production, but baby development.

3 - YOU HAVE SMALL BREASTS
Size doesn't matter. Its not what they look like but how much milk making tissue they contain, and you can't tell that from looking.

4 - YOU ARE NOT LEAKING
Some people leak. Others leak just in the early weeks. Others don't leak at all. It's nothing to do with milk production.

5 - YOUR BREASTS FEEL SOFT
Once your milk production has regulated after the first few weeks, it is totally normal for your breasts to no longer feel firm or full. A soft breast is a healthy breast.

6 - YOU CAN'T FEEL THE LET-DOWN
Some people feel their milk ejection reflex, others don't. But you can see it in your baby's feeding pattern from fast light sucks to slow deep sucks.

7 - YOU CANNOT PUMP MUCH MILK
The amount you can pump is no indication of what the baby can get.

8 - YOUR BABY WILL ALWAYS TAKE A BOTTLE
A bottle teat is a hard stimulus into the roof of the mouth. A baby has to suck it as it is a reflex. Bottles flow fast, so baby will take some milk. It's their reflexes feeding.

9 - YOUR BABY IS HAVING SHORT FEEDS
Some babies are efficient and some people have a fast flow.

10 - YOU CAN'T PUT YOUR BABY DOWN
Babies really do settle better in someone's arms. This is where they feel safe, warm and secure. We are carry mammal and designed to carry our babies all the time. When babies find themselves on their own, they call out so they do not get eaten by a predator. And they may as well have another feed to settle.

Do any of these surprise you?
Do you always question your supply?

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day! Celebrating my now 28 year old baby -- off living her best life in NYC. This was taken at her MPH graduation celebration. I am one very blessed Mama. 💓