Colostrum vs pre made formula for hospital

I’d recommend taking in all the colostrum you have just in case. You can always hand express more whilst you’re there if necessary.

Up to you 🙌🏼 I just always think that of you got a plan B, you often end up with plan B. So as I plan to EBF too, I won't be getting any formula. If absolute worst, dad can always run to a shop and get some first milk X

I’m only going to exclusively pump too - I’m abit anxious about how the midwives are going to react when I tell them that!😅 I’ve brought 6 of the pre-made aptamil bottles and I’m taking maybe 15 syringes with me. They have a fridge and freezer there so it can be stored just incase I can’t use it / he doesn’t need it!

We were told not to take any as they don’t have the fridge/freezer space but that if they were needed they’d ask my partner to go and get them. we live 10-15 mjns from hospital. I won’t be bringing formula though I have some at home just in case

If your plan is to breastfeed I would do everything you can to prepare to breastfeed. So lots of eduction and research around how to successfully start breastfeeding. You can collect colostrum if you want but there's no need in most scenarios. You can just feed the baby from the boob, it's only if you were unconscious or were not physically near your baby when they wanted their first feed that they'd need harvested colostrum or formula. But if you and baby are well there is actually no need to give harvested colostrum, and doing so may hinder your breastfeeding journey, the best thing is to latch baby as much as possible.

We have brought an insulated bag and will be filling it with frozen water bottles to store our harvested colostrum in. I’m going to take most of mine in and a spare bottle just in case there’s an emergency and I can’t feed baby myself. I’m not a fan of mixed feeding a baby due to it messing with babies flora bacterial growth in their tummies. But everyone is different (fed is best). The hospital will already have pre-made formula just in case.

i’m not sure if it varies from hospital to hospital, but i was advised that my hospital only allow you to bring 5 syringes in, so might be worth finding out from your midwife, just so save you bringing in extra and it being spoilt! x

I’ve been advised to take colostrum if I have some as there is a freezer on every ward, so I think I’ll take some just in case, and try keep him latched as best as possible xx

@Charley exactly my mindset, I’ve just seen everyone, even my midwife, advise taking some in with me that I thought better safe than sorry. But that’s 100% my intention x

Yes, collostrum is plenty. Google how big baby’s tummy is when born. It’s tiny!! If you can collect easily, just keep collecting as long as it’s comfortable. Personally I’d like to reach 100ml total for hospital. If I don’t need it, I’ll still give to baby over the next few weeks.

@Gabi totally agree with this! With my first I had pre-made formula bottles ‘just in case’, on day 3 of breastfeeding (which is notoriously the hardest when milk is coming in and they sometimes constantly latch) I ended up reaching for the formula at 3 in the morning when really tired and desperate. This time I’m not getting any in, and if worst comes to worst my partner could run out and grab some, but I’m going to purposely make it not as accessible to try force me to push through! X

@Sophie I’m planning on the same! I’ve got about 20ml of colostrum frozen so far so hoping to resort to feeding him this if I’m struggling as opposed to switching to formula! Going to keep expressing as it’s been coming quite easily😊

Your boobs will produce enough colostrum for baby. It’s good to have a back up plan but I wouldn’t plan to feed them syringe colostrum unless you need to /are apart from each other.