Breastfeeding/breastmilk the first few days (thinking hospital)

[DeChRi]

I know there are a million variables....NICU or not, birthweight, etc.  But this is pregnancy 4 for me.  2 of my 3 others have eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease.  My 12 yr old, without health issues, nursed 4 yrs.  My now 3 yr old nursed successfully 2.5 yrs, despite now only having about 20 safe foods.  My 16 month old has no safe foods, and even the partial protein chains existing in my milk after removing nearly all food from my diet, made her horrible sick and damaged her GI tract.  She BF-ed 4 months until she was too sick to continue, the many reattempts through her first year, until we got the diagnosis and realized she was more severe than my 2nd child.  She lives on (and my 3 yr old is supplemented with) a prescription amino acid only powder. 

Subsequent children have a decent likelihood of the same condition.  Many Eos kids can nurse if mom can keep enough food from her diet to keep the offending protein chains low.  Many can't tolerate the ones that exist even if mom was on no foods herself. 

The worst thing that can happen is for these these kids to be given regular or hyperallergenic over the counter formula.  THe last 16 months with my youngest was truly a living hell....I contemplated never having kids again to avoid going through another year like that. 

My question is....I feel like starting with breastmilk is going to be the best bet....but if babies are low birth weight, or my milk isn't in...will the hospital be pushing formula?  Will they put up a fight if I bring in the infant version of what my now 16 month and 3 yr old eat? (It is complete nutrition...same nutritional profile as formula, just in broken into individual amino acids).  Part of me thinks if they need regular formula, try it, and at least then we will know quickly if they have the same thing. 

My milk usually come in quickly, babies nurse well...and I have total confidence I can nurse two after going through the last year with DD3.  I am mostly worried about that first stretch.

[mylilmonkeys]

Do your older kids have a pediatrician familiar with their needs?  I would be very firm on having that ped supervise care for any new babies.  Have a discussion with him/her before the birth.  I would think s/he should then be able to provide orders for what can or can't be fed to the babies.  If that doesn't apply, I would bring records and documentation on your other kids condition to your OB (I'd even get shadow care to make sure to have a supportive OB if you are planning an out of hospital birth, in the event of transfer) and then get the OB's advice on how to proceed to make sure you protect the new baby from birth forward.  What sort of testing is available, if any, to diagnose EOS?  I'd have that included in the newborn panel as well if there is appropriate testing.