Mothers are told that they can harvest breast milk and store it at the NHS hospital for the first time

WChildren whose babies are thought to be particularly small or who have health problems such as cleft lip or palate or heart disease are particularly encouraged to collect colostrum.

Mothers who have diabetes, who have had breast surgery, who are taking medications to treat high blood pressure, or who are planning to deliver by caesarean section could also benefit from their baby's first milk benefit. maternal.

Mothers can start collecting colostrum, which can be expressed by hand and collected in a sterile syringe from around 36 weeks.

Kate Lynch, one of the Trust's infant feeding coordinators, said, "Colostrum is the first ideal food for babies because it is very nutritionally rich.

"It contains proteins, vitamins and minerals, helps prevent dehydration and boosts babies' immune systems.

"By harvesting colostrum before birth, moms can make sure their baby can get that first essential food if they have difficulty breastfeeding at first."