If I give expressed breast milk to dd1 (3.5), will it help her fight illnesses like colds etc?

[pregnabrain]

Am currently bf dd2 (6 months) and contemplating dropping a feed now she's on solids. I could express the feed i choose to drop.

Meanwhile, dd1 has embarked on her usual winter snot-fest. I think I can count on one hand the number of illness-free days we've had in the past couple of months.

So, I've been wondering...if I give dd1 the expressed milk (mixed in with her normal nightly milk) will this have any beneficial effect on her health?

How much would I need to give her to have any positive effect? I've never managed to express more than 3oz in one go.

Or am I just barking? I could do with NOT complicating my life any further at the moment.

You'd be better off ensuring she's gettin all her vitamins etc in her normal\daily diet.

Have you tried organic milk - less mucasy (?!)

hello

yes, we use organic milk.

she's pretty good with food and has quite a varied diet. OK with veg and enjoys fruit. I've even been giving her the vitamin drops the health visitor gave me for dd2.

no joy. it's one illness after another. she suffers especially with her tonsils. she's been on antibiotics four times since dd2 was born - seems like a lot to me.

oh dear - poor you. I'm afraid its probably thsi time of year - is she at nursery? Will look back in on this tomorrow - deperately need to go to bed DD2 was up from abut 3.30am with ear infection am worried she'll do the same again this evening.

Hope your LO feels better soon.

Why don't you give it a go for a few weeks, and see if it works? I have no idea if it would or not, but if you think the hassle of a sick child outweighs the hassle of expressing it's worth a go!

argh. good luck to you too.

i've got both poorly at the moment so am anticipating a hellish night.

i should be sensible and hit the sack now while i have the chance...

Thank you MadamAnt.

I suppose I'm hoping that one of the bf gurus on the site will pipe up with some fantastic statistics that will inspire me to get on with the loathsome pumping.

I've just never been very good at getting a decent quantity out.

If you really hate pumping, I wouldn't bother. Although I was an "extended" BFer, and a huge proponent of breast milk, I found pumping purgatory. I would have found it v v hard to persevere with it even as a potential immune booster for my eldest.

If you decide to go ahead with it, you might want to try using a hand pump if you've been using an electric one, and vice versa. I found it easier to use a hand-pump, which surprised me, and I leant my elec pump to a friend who responded better to that.

might be worth trying a hand pump. i've only ever used electric, and find it makes me sore and can give me blocked ducts.

I'm really tempted to try it to see if it helps her, though. It'd definitely be worth it if it kept her healthy!

OK so I've squeezed out 3oz this morning.

Any bf gurus out there know if it's worth me giving this to dd1?

many thanks in advance