How to bring in colostrum to hospital if they are frozen?

I’m planning on taking mine in a small insulated pack lunch cool box type thing with some ice blocks inside. Apparently most hospitals do have a fridge you can store in, but normally once you get to ward after delivery suit x

I took mine in a freezer bag with freezer packs and handed them to the midwives straight away - they then put them in their freezer until birth (over 24 hours later as I was in for induction) they don’t defrost each syringe until it’s actually being used, as it only takes a few minutes to defrost in warm water - but they will sort all that out for you

You can ask the midwife as the arrangements seem to differ based on hospital/trust x

me personally, i wouldn’t bring them at all especially if you plan on breastfeeding over bottle feeding. since you’ve been able to extract some colostrum that means that you will have some to feed to baby on demand. which most women don’t start extracting colostrum early meaning when baby arrives their body isn’t making any just yet. i made the mistake of extracting colostrum & bottle feeding it to my baby when we were in the hospital & after that she never wanted to latch. she only wanted a bottle. i wish the lactation consultant that came in was more helpful & would’ve told me how to breastfeed versus throwing a pump at me!

They have freezers/fridges on the maternity ward which they store for you!

interesting, thanks for sharing! I do also feel like if I will be breastfeed straight away then I wouldnt need them.

I would disagree! I had my boy last week and he has a tongue tie and was very tired so struggled to latch, and the fact I had a good supply of colostrum with me meant that baby still got fed. I was in hospital 2 nights just for feeding issues, and no formula was needed. Midwives would help me try to feed him and then would give him my colostrum directly from the syringe, so there was no nipple confusion. I continued to hand express in hospital and after 2 nights he was feeding fine. One week later and he didn’t lose any birth weight (actually gained) and we are now feeding fine direct from the boob despite still waiting for his tongue tie to be sorted

yes but even if that were the case, she still needs to be hand expressing at the hospital regardless if she brings frozen colostrum or not to maintain her supply. so she will be able to feed her baby regardless. but in the event her baby doesn’t have a tongue tie & latches then there’s no need to introduce a bottle so early because baby will prefer that

so regardless you have a supply meaning you don’t even have to worry about transporting the colostrum. whether your baby latches or not you will be set😊 hospitals have hand pumps they will give you for free. so rather then traveling with the frozen colostrum & risking it spoiling, i would say leave that home & give that to baby in a few weeks when baby is used to latching & is ready to be introduced a bottle

baby’s consume drops when their first born, so if you bring syringes plus hand express/latch at the hospital you’re probably going to end up with too much milk & risk some spoiling. & considering colostrum is liquid gold i wouldn’t risk that! your boobs will make more then enough in the hospital considering you’ve already started creating a supply. have a wonderful delivery!!💜

yeah that’s true, I just know for myself it was nice to be expressing for the future rather than expressing for the next feed and possibly not having it ready when baby is hungry. I’m sorry that they gave your baby your colostrum in a bottle! I definitely think that probably made it worse, whereas mine was given in the syringe and they said if I need to do it myself when home then I can give it from a spoon. (I also left half my colostrum supply at home in case what I took to the hospital spoiled)

i went into labor early (36.6 weeks) & i had not started collecting colostrum at all since it was so early! so when i gave birth i had no supply yet. i can’t stand the lactation consultant that came into my room now that i look back on it because she gave me the absolute worst advice. my daughter had no issue latching whatsoever. i just had told her i didn’t know if she was getting any milk (because i didn’t know to look out for signs of her swallowing) & she handed me a hand pump & bottle. it ruined my breastfeeding journey as i then got used to pumping due to her advice. but even with that being said, i would literally only pump drops the first couple days & just finger feed it to her. (with a glove on of course) & that was all the milk she needed. so that’s why i just feel bringing syringes is a bit excessive considering she’s already established somewhat of a supply & babys that small don’t need much. i’d definitely save that frozen colostrum

How far do you live from the hospital? My midwife said it’s good to take some in a cooler bag just in case you are split from baby (hopefully not but just Incase) it’s good to have some as back-up but also be prepared it might get wasted if not used or you opt to breastfeed and all goes well initially. My midwife suggested an alternative to get my hubby to bring some in if we found that there were issues with latching or we got separated. I’m personally bringing a cooler box and prepared to waste a syringe or two if that has to happen because I’d rather be prepared! We are taking a cool pack which will stay with me so hopefully doesn’t get lost and everything is labelled. That’s if I remember to take it to the hospital when I’m in labour 😅