Colostrum

[desertsunrise78]

The night my milk really started coming in, my little baby wouldn't eat!  Too sleepy!  I pumped to avoid being completely engorged and now I have about 8-10 oz. of colostrum saved.  I'm a little bit worried that she might have missed out on the benefits of it.  I really want her to get it in her system ASAP and I am willing to supplement feedings with it in a bottle now if I have to.  Will it still be beneficial to her weeks from now when I am ready to try her on a bottle?   She's only about 5 days old.

[PatioGardener]

Remember that she got colostrum each feed before your milk came in, and even when your milk came in the colostrum didn't disappear, it just got diluted by more milk volume. So your baby is still getting all that good stuff!

If I were in that situation, I would freeze the pumped colostrum in 1 oz measures for later. And I would just keep breastfeeding baby. No way would I introduce a bottle at this early stage.

Congratulations on breastfeeding your little one, Mama! Happy Babymoon

[guppiegirl]

I have a similar situation, but my baby is 4 weeks old. My milk was slow to come in and I was pumping like crazy to supplement with finger feeding in between nursing sessions.

After nearly 6 days of this routine, my milk came in and nursing is going well. I am still pumping and building my frozen supply for when I go back to work.

I've got four 1 oz portions of colostrum in my freezer. Is there a benefit or urgency for me to give these to my baby now?

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by guppiegirl 

I've got four 1 oz portions of colostrum in my freezer. Is there a benefit or urgency for me to give these to my baby now?

I'd argue that it is more important to feed a baby at the breast at 4 weeks old than to supplement with colostrum. Again, if I were in that situation I would keep the colostrum and give it later, when baby had to have supplementation (mom is away from baby.)