Is it ok to give colostrum to 4 month old?

[Lucinda15]

Just incase I'm missing something...

My DD is nearly 16 weeks. We stopped breastfeeding at 3 weeks due to a missed tongue tie which was making it impossible. That's a whole other thread, was diagnosed too late for me to return to breastfeeding unfortunately.

However, I have a small supply (approx 15 x 1ml syringes) of colostrum that I hand expressed from 37 weeks pregnant due to gestational diabetes (to give to her if her blood sugars were uncontrolled at birth - they were fine and she never needed my expressed colostrum).

I have been giving her 1ml of colostrum every few days, just as a boost for her immune system really, and not to waste it. I know it only lasts for 6 months in freezer so I wanted to use it before time was up. But DH has started to complain, saying he dsnt think she needs it at this age and it may not be right for her.

I can't imagine how colostrum could ever be a bad thing for a baby, but now he has put some doubts in my head.

Any ideas?

I don't think you will find any actual research on this - it would not even occur to anyone to check it out as how could it be harmful?

Colostrum is highly concentrated breastmilk. It has antibodies and nourishment and does not differ much from breastmilk apart from the fact it is smaller in volume and has less water in it - there will be other nutrient differences that make it especially apt for a newborn, but these won't harm an older baby (at least I can't imagine how they could - struggling to think how any of this could be anything other than a lovely thing to do for and give to your baby!).

You could check this out with a midwife or HV if you are worried.

I would definitely give it to her, added goodness.

Lovely, thanks both. Pretty much what I was thinking but DH made me doubt myself. I'm so sad we couldn't continue breastfeeding, and this is a comfort, knowing I can give her this.

Another thing that occurred to me-if you happen to co-feed a newborn and an older child, the older child would presumably get colostrum at some stage. So presumably no issue at all!

Can't see it will be a problem. Enjoy giving your liquid gold to your baby!