“Immunisation feed” - not breastfeeding but still confused!!

[Rach2479]

Hiya :) - new here!
I’m 35 weeks pregnant and due my first baby and I’ve known from the start that I wouldn’t breastfeed and I still strongly considered it, but my decision is set and I will be bottle/formula feeding my baby.

My health visitor happened to mention that a lot of mums were just doing the “immunisation feed” so just letting the baby feed off the breast straight from birth to get some anti bodies etc then straight to formula.. but I can’t find anything like this option online or any stories of another lady doing this?

My questions are -
Is there much point to this? Do babies need a few days of colostrum to be effective? Will that first feed of such a small amount make a difference?

Will it make letting my milk dry up after birth harder?

Did anyone else go for an option like this? Normally I would just think I know so many kids that were bottle fed since birth and are perfectly fine HOWEVER.. we live in COVID times and the mum guilt creeps in and I think if I can bring myself to breastfeed one time and never have to worry about it again.. is it really worth it enough to make a difference.

When I mentioned to my partner I may just do one feed and then go to formula he made comments like “yes at least then he’s going to get all the good stuff he needs” so now I feel like if I decide against it I’m going to feel guilty when really this isn’t really something a lot of women decide to do anyway. Agh so confusing lol.

I really hope this makes sense. I don’t claim to be educated or too knowledgeable about this stuff.. I’m so new to it so take it easy on me please haha

Thanks in advance!!!

I decided not to BF. You don't need to justify your decision to anyone, on here or elsewhere.

Do what you you like. All my DCs are fit and healthy without any breast milk at all.

Hi Rach, I think it's fab that you want to breastfeed your baby for the colostrum. I hope you lose that feeling because in a way, that's what they were made for but if not, that's totally up to you and you got to do what's right for you and baby! Good luck with everything - you can do this xx

I think expressing colostrum is a very good idea. Breastfeeding isn't easy for everyone, I struggled for a few weeks before going on to mixed.

Do what is right for you.

It’s reassurance during these uncertain times of nothing else - thanks so much everyone

What a wonderful health visitor you have telling you about this. Without her, you would never have made this thread in the first place.

Like pp have said, I was uncertain and didn't really want to BF, but when baby was born it just naturally happened. I barely even remember the first feed, my hormones took over I think.

I've sort of done this with my second. I knew I would have very little supply ( long story) so if there was any milk it certainly wouldn't be enough to feed her exclusively so I decided to just put her to the breast for the first few weeks for ten mins and then give her formula. I've stopped now as I need to go on some medication but never had any problems with stopping physically. Emotionally it's a bit harder as it's lovely to feed your baby. Hopefully she has got some goodness from the little bit I gave her

I decided not to even try to breastfeed my 3rd who is 4 months now. I produce next to no milk - her older siblings starved for the first 3 weeks of life while I tried everything to stimulate milk production. After my experience with my first, I didn't want to do it again with my 2nd but I was pushed into BF by HCP and family. It made me depressed.

This time I stood my ground and I hate it when people ask why I didn't try to breastfeed. "Because I almost killed my other two through starvation" usually shuts them up.

I produce no colostrum either.

Bless you WankPuffins, I understand how you must have felt about that because I had bf problems. You get people who tell you, "You must persevere", which made me climb the walls because I did nothing but persevere and was virtually chained either to my little baby or to the pump!

We are what we are. You've made the right decision for your third.

@jessstan1 one midwife told me "I should be trying harder" and a lactation consultant almost bankrupted me with supplements. It was madness considering I didn't actually care. I just wanted my babies fed. When I gave up I was made to feel like a faluire.

@WankPuffins it sounds like you had a terrible experience and I'm sorry you had to go through this. I hope that by the time you had your third, your skin is thicker than with your first and you know what's best (usually even as FTM you do but it's easier to wobble when 10047826 give you their opinions).

I had one of those ladies at the breastfeeding clinic when our babies were a week old. I ended up saying it's ok to give formula, this does not make you a bad mother and by no means you failed. We ended up sobbing in each other's arms, she stopped breastfeeding after 2-3 weeks and we're now very good friends.

Please do keep an open mind around breastfeeding- but honestly do what ever is right for baby and you whether than be bottle or breast! I’ve done both.
My friend sounded very like you - in her case she was very large breasted and very uncomfortable with the whole thought of breast feeding - gave it a go and feed her son till he was 3! Even she was very shocked that she went through with it, she was glad she at least kept open mind to try,
But more Importantly do what’s right for you! Dont feel pressure either way.

My health visitor suggested it to me, but I decided against it as even expressing a bit for one syringe is something I was very uncomfortable with.

If you want to try it for one feed or express a syringe for baby then go for it but don't put too much pressure on yourself either way as something might happen with the delivery that affects feeding.
My son ended up grunting and having sepsis so only took about 5ml of formula before being rushed to the NICU which was something I d never thought would happen.

I just wanted to add that if you're not able to express any colostrum before the birth don't be put off - I couldn't get a drop out despite my best efforts but no problems feeding or hand expressing after he was born. Also no expressing before 37 weeks :)