Milk is an important source of nutrients that you and your family shouldn’t miss out on. If someone in your family has lactose intolerance and the rest of the family still want to enjoy the taste of real milk, try Lactofree - the UK’s first virtually lactose-free dairy drink.
I've decided not to breastfeed DD2 when she's born in June for a variety of (well thought out) reasons.
I breastfed DD1 for 4 months, it seemed right at the time but I was exhausted, mastitis, pain......you all know! Anyway - I've had a terrible pregnancy this time, been very ill and am low energy, have no family support around us and I'm in sole charge of a 2.5 yr old - I need as much energy back as possible to cope with 2 of them alone...
Anyway....enough justification - Am I right in that they give you medication after birth to stop the milk flow? and would I need to take a tub of forumla into the hospital and bottles? - obviously I'll ask midwife next week too but just incase she thinks I'm Kerry Katona thought I'd get advice here first!
In our local hospital, they provide milk for the babies. I have had 2 children there and haven't breastfed either of them. Ive never had any hostility, its in my maternity notes that I wish to "artificially feed"!
Never had any medication to stop milk, you just have to wait for it to dry up on its own, doesn't take long, but NO squeezing!!
If you're giving birth in Leeds you'll not get hostility or disapproval. The midwives on the postnatal ward were completely uninterested in my shakey start to breastfeeding, but were falling over each other to help the ff mothers, explain how it works, help them out, feed the baby, chat to them about it and reassure them.
ours does not offer formula, as part of its pro-breastfeeding policy.
This hospital also advises that there are limited facilities for formula storage and preparation on the wards, so you should bring cartons of formula and disposable bottles.
TBH i think I would bring cartons anyway - more hygienic, and therefore recommended for the early weeks.
Wings, you're wrong there, I think. I have not heard of anyone being given an injection in a UK hospital ever, though I am told this used to happen years ago. Occasionally, I have heard of women getting an injection if they were bf when their baby died unexpectedly, but I think this would be unusual, too.
The reason is the possibility of nasty (and I mean really horrible) side effects, which are rare but obviously you'd want to avoid them.
Nature does the job of 'drying you up' without the need for anything else.
Catsypug, prob a good idea to talk over your situation with the midwives antenatally, so you know what to expect, and they do, too.
I am a mw (not a disapproving or hostile one!) and have never in 10 years of practice given an injection to stop milk production. Just make sure you wear a really good supportive bra postnatally, and as Izzy said, no fiddling about with your boobs unnecesarily eg turn your back to the shower etc. Formula is usually provided in hospitals, hopefully no need to bring that in.
Come to our local hospital and they'll be offering you bottles of ready made formula every five minutes - regardless of how you intend to feed your baby!
Drink lots of sage tea. It helps you 'dry up' naturally once your milk has come in (which you can't prevent as it happens automatically). Also the old remedy of chilled cabbage leaves can be extra useful as if you keep the leaves on for a long time they can have a drying effect (not so good for those wanting to breastfeed.)
I thought the injection thing was for when you'd lost your baby - so you didn't have the upsetting thing of lots of milk and no baby? Not that I'd know anyway.
If you are giving birth at the Chelsea & Westminster they will not give you bottles of formula willingly even if your baby has been prescribed them by the paeds so I would have a chat about hospital policy with your midwife!
Check with your hospital. Ours doesn't provide formula.
There are tablets you can take to dry up milk more quickly but they are rarely given as the side effects can be awful. They tend to give them to women who have had a stillbirth or neonatal loss. The best way to let your milk dry up is to have no stimulation of the breast.
it's Queen Charlotte's I'm going to so I will find out next week at 34 week MW appt.
Thanks 2blue - didn't mean to attack midwives by the way - they're great, I just know of some stories of mums being 'told off' and frowned upon for not BF.
Least I know not to ask for any milk killing drugs now!
"I just know of some stories of mums being 'told off' and frowned upon for not BF"
You'd hope that most midwives would have resigned themselves to the fact that a significant minority of women choose not to breastfeed, and dealt with their sadness about this before unleashing themselves on the postnatal ward.
Sabire - my sister in law chose not to breastfeed and was told 'you white women - you only want your men to use your breasts' by a foreign import midwife! Think that was the last thing on her mind after her 3rd degree tear!!
Just been looking through Queen Charlottes welcome pack and there's lots mentioned about breastfeeding but NONE about formula feeding
About the drug - after I lost my 2nd baby, I asked my midwife about it. She said it simply delays the milk production until you stop taking the drug, and THEN the milk comes in. It used to be offered to women who'd lost their babies, but since it just postpones the inevitable, it's generally not discussed/offered. Best to grin and bear it straightaway I think, without nasty chemicals...
when I was born in ahem <whispers> 1970 shhhh my mum was given medication to make her milk disperse because i was in an incubator for a few days so I think it may have been something that was done years ago.
Catsy: Info is not provided for FF in ante-natal packs because there are significant health risks which are inherent to bottlefeeding. Any mother who wishes to bottlefeed is to be provided with 1 to 1 advice by her HCP in the place (prob. her kitchen) where preparation would normally take place. Preferably after the baby is here. It is not because anyone is anti-ff that it is done differently. (sorry for the unsympathetic tone of the post, I am in a hurry and just being factual.)
Catsy, at QC where I had my DD a year ago you'll find they are more helpful to you than to the BF mums (or so I found). When my DD had problems latching on in the middle of the night they were very unhelpful so you'll be fine, really you will.
speak to them in advance, cats. it's your decision, and if you've made your mind up and are smilingly determined i think you can probably head off any 'lectures'. (although if you were giving birth at the hosp i did then you'd have no problem as they looked sideways if you said you wanted to bf. ) good luck with the birth!
I gave birth in Leeds last year. They will no longer supply formula or bottles. You need to bring your own if you wish to FF. Worth checking with your mw.
hello and congratulations on your pregnancy. when your baby is born, they won't give you an injection or any other drugs but your milk will come in all the same try wearing a close fitting bra all the time, resist the temptation to express and you can take paracetemol for the pain. have you considered giving colostrum even if you don't plan to bf later? i.e. feeding for the first few days only. it can help your uterus shrink back down and help prevent jaundice in the short term, as well as being very good for the baby, and there is no down side if you choose to start giving formula after the first few days at all. I would suggest you take in cartons of formula for ease if you are in hospital for any time, though with any luck you may be out pretty quickly. I doubt you will encounter any opposition but if you do then don't feel you have to justify yourself. your baby and your choice. best of luck for your birth
Milk is an important source of nutrients that you and your family shouldn’t miss out on. If someone in your family has lactose intolerance and the rest of the family still want to enjoy the taste of real milk, try Lactofree - the UK’s first virtually lactose-free dairy drink.
