Harvesting colostrum/latching on

Hi everyone, I’m currently 34+5 and am having an elective c section on New Year’s Eve. I’m not planning on breastfeeding for different personal reasons and I’m just wondering if I need to express colostrum before going into hospital and do the midwives encourage baby to latch on after birth? First time mum to be so new to this whole thing! Also planning on bringing the starter pack of formula with us to feed baby 👶🏼

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They will ask your feeding preferences and if that’s formula fed then they won’t latch baby on as there would be no point moving forwards. Collecting colostrum is your personal choice, it is great for your baby and you can feed it to them via a syringe but don’t worry if you don’t want to 😊 I breastfeed so baby was on me in recovery but I’ve got friends who have formula fed and baby was never on the boob

I am going to try colostrum harvesting at 36 weeks. I am currently 35+1 as I am not breastfeeding this time round. Also when did you get your date for c section? I’m still waiting for mine and due on 4th Jan. x

@Liz thank you! Just wasn’t sure as I said I’m a FTM to be and this is all new x

@Star like I said I wasn’t sure so was just asking! Yes I will

@Bryony I had a consultant appointment last week and she booked me in there and then! I’m due 7th Jan but because I’ve got a low lying placenta they want me in at 39 weeks to avoid the risk of going into labour (hopefully!) x

Also another bonus to harvesting colostrum is you can store it in the freezer for 6 months and apparently it works wonders if bub is ill, I wish I’d have kept some for that reason when mine had a cold a couple weeks ago as it was no fun for any of us 😅

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