colostrum and formula feeding

Hello, I want to give my newborn colostrum and formula. I do not want to bf when milk comes in. Has anyone had experience with this? How does this process work? Do I just give the baby the breast at each feeding for colostrum and switch to formula when milk comes in? Or do I give formula and colostrum together? If so, how would that work? Lastly, how long is a "colostrum" feeding on each breast? Sorry, I'm so confused!

Re: colostrum and formula feeding

I have no answers for you, I'm a ftm and not too clear on the whole feeding thing yet..... why would you give the colostrum and not the full milk? are they benefits to this?

Re: colostrum and formula feeding

well they say "breast is best" but it's not for me. I do know that the most important part of bf is the colostrum known as liquid gold. Therefore, I do want to make sure the baby gets those nutrients.

colostrum and formula feeding

You can either BF the fist few days and supplement with formula or pump the colostrum and add it to the formula bottle. I did the pumping in the hospital.

colostrum and formula feeding

Supplementing isn't necessary the first few days. A baby's stomach is the size if a pea. The drops of colostrum he/she gets is enough for the first few days, but you do need to nurse very frequently.

colostrum and formula feeding

my DD was a preemie born by emergency c-section. i wasnt able to nurse and she wasnt able to nurse the first 3 days. i started pumping as soon as i was able. i would pump colostrum, literally like a 1/4 of an ounce, and the NICU would mix whatever i was able to pump with a special fortified formula. i was able to put her to breast after a week (i always had low milk supply) and she would nurse first and then get formula. i nursed and supplemented with formula for 9m.

so the moral of the story is that if you want you can pump or BF colostrum and then just stop as soon as your colostrum turns to milk. im not sure how it works with full term babies but i would guess you can just nurse the first few days and then when the colostrum ends you would start the formula or continue nursing. you could also pump and mix the colostrum with a small amount of formula.

colostrum and formula feeding

My DD was a week late. I was also encouraged to pump in the hospital and they actually added it to the bottles of formula I gave DD. My milk did not come in until my first full day home from the hospital so once you notice that (and its noticeable lol) you can stop. You can even rent a pump and return it when you are done. Good Luck!