No colostrum for baby

[Zimmerzimmer9]

Just wanted some reassurance if possible.

I had an ELCS and for medical reasons was told not to colostrum harvest. When my DS was born I was so tired and produced hardly any colostrum the MW topped up with formula. I was then ill so he was FF. He had next to no colostrum.

I did want to BF, he's 3 months now and have accepted it was important I got better and am OK with FF. However, I just wondered how common it is for babies to not have colostrum? I thought it was rare for them to not have any.

Am I right in thinking it helps build his immune system until his develops, and therefore now it doesn't matter? Or does it have long term benefits beyond the first few weeks?

Am very sleep deprived and feel daft asking, but keep wondering. TIA

It is common.

Many people never intend to bf so they give none, and many other people can't for a variety of reasons.

I really understand why you will have complex feelings around the birth and being unable to bf, but now your baby is thriving on ff it is ok to let this go.

I ff from birth by choice. DS has always been very healthy. He started nursery at 6 months and we didn't have hardly any viruses when he started. He only ever had 1 stomach bug which was relatively mild, and has yet to have a day off school sick. He's in year 6. I am very much the same with regards to sickness. I was ff from birth and I'm nearly 40.

If you produced some colustrum did you feed that to your baby? Its only very small amounts in the first few days. Just drops really.

If you wanted to there is no harm in putting the baby to the breast now even if not much milk is produced.

Breastmilk benefits don't stop as the baby gets older.

All that being said if you and your baby and doing well and you are happy please don't dwell. You made the best decision you could at the time. That is very best a mum can do.

Iv had 2 daughters, never ever had a baby near my breast in my life, never wanted to.
They are 4 and 1 and thriving.

Most of my friends never breastfed or gave colostrum either.

My first baby who was formula fed from birth has always been far more robust than my others that had only colostrum and breast milk... don't worry about it!

I bottle fed from birth and my son has been absolutely fine. He's been no more unwell than those of his peers who were breastfed. Me and my siblings were all bottle fed too from birth and we've always been very healthy! Honestly it's nothing to worry about!