Formula in the hospital if I don't produce colostrum?

[BonfireNight1993]

I'm a bit nervy about venturing into breastfeeding territory as I've had quite a complicated experience with it in the past. With my first daughter, three years ago, I did not produce colostrum. Usually when I say this I'm told that it's not possible but I promise, I had a doula, two lactation consultants and another helper in the hospital all attempt to extract it and there was absolutely nothing. Sahara boobs. I gave my daughter formula within about four hours of her birth, which I didn't love doing, but have made peace with.

Three days later my milk came in and despite extensive support my supply never got above about 75ml a day (with feeding on demand and pumping), so I combi fed for six weeks, which I felt pleased about and then stopped as my supply slowly dried up.

I realise that it might be different this time, but assuming it's not (and I have tried to extract colostrum to no avail, my boobs aren't any bigger than they were pre pregnancy) - I'm just wondering what people would do?

Is it still worth putting baby on the breast ASAP after birth (which will be a c-section), is there any chance that might stimulate colostrum production? Is there any benefit to holding off on formula for a while after she's born, or is that needlessly making her thirsty and miserable?

I would try and get baby to breastfeed as soon as possible. I have breastfed 2 babies and realised with #2 that I had poor supply and low flow, but that DS1 was more patient and would have hour long feeding sessions to take what he needed, where DS2 was more impatient and would only last 10 minutes before crying that he was still hungry. I tried for the longest time to increase my supply, had private lactation consultants, tried domperidone, was expressing through the night to increase my supply till it all got too much and I went back to feeding him myself both sides till be got fussy, then topping up with formula afterwards. It worked well and he's a strapping pre-schooler now, will be 4 at Christmas and tall enough to fit into age 5-6 clothing, so it's not done him any harm.

As for the birth, I was told to bring formula if you are intending on formula feeding, but not to bother if you are going to try and breastfeed. That if you are trying and its not working then they have formula they can give you in an emergency, but best check with your hospital.

Best of luck!

Try (easy to say!) putting the baby to the breast a lot and see what happens. Don’t try to express, just see if your milk comes in over the first 3 days or so. Chances are it will. If it doesn’t, then you’ll know you’ve tried and just move to formula. The size of your breasts doesn't matter.

With my second, we were both naked (in nappies) doing skin to skin all day basically and I kept popping him on the nip for little feeds. This is very important from what I gather.

With my first, we dressed him and put him in the cot after an hour and I do wonder if this contributed to the issues I had with breastfeeding him.

It's worth a go!

I’d get the baby feeding asap after birth too, it could be completely different this time. Also don’t stress about not being able to express colostrum, some women just don’t have much success with expressing but breastfeed absolutely fine - just have the baby on the breast as much as you can