To say enough of the guilt please!

[Sparklesandglitter]

Sorry this is ranty...
Thank you mrs midwife for telling me I should NOT be giving my baby formula today (4 days after a very traumatic birth when I have extremely sore cracked bleeding nipples (tact yes you exclaimed at saying how traumatised they were)) and thank you for telling me that the reason for this was because I had made her have nipple confusion (the trauma started before the bottle feeds obveously) and as a rest I had caused a poor latch. And thank you all the Nhs literature warning me of all the "dangers" to formula feeding
But I just want you to know Nhs that there is no greater guilt trip than a screaming new born at 4.30am that has drunk the last formula and must now wait 40 minutes till the next bottle will be ready?
Or the frustration of hand expressing an oz of milk whilst poor newborn screams and screams unable to understand why mummy cant give her food now and to the promptly throw said ounce of breast milk straight back up due to too much screaming?
So Nhs save the effort of making me feel guilty this is NOT the easy way out!!!!!
Sorry for ranting, I'm done now and yes I am going to see a breast feeding councillor tomorrow as I know "breast is best" but bloody bank holidays mess up everything!!!
Thank you if you have read this far I feel better now!!!
back to expressing

[Sparklesandglitter]

And sorry about the auto corrects/spelling mistakes

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

Breast is best but you do what is right for you and baby.

Why do you have to wait 40 mins before giving more formula?

Congratulations in your newborn.

[Sparklesandglitter]

Boil kettle, leave for 30 mins to cool to 70degrees, add formula and cool for baby

[Iheartpasties]

oh dear I think any baby would be lost if they had to wait 40 mins for a bottle, isn't there a better system you could use? make two at once?

[kerrygrey]

Don't worry - in 3 or 4 years time all they'll agree to eat will be Weetabix or Smarties! Whether breast or bottle, and I've done both.

[Happybunny12]

Maybe get some of the ready mixed ones in the cartons? I know they're more expensive than the powder but could be used for emergencies? I guess you'd still have to sterilise the bottle though.

[Sparklesandglitter]

Not according to the midwifed who say bottles are to be made fresh not stored and only last two hours. In those two hours she can drink between half an oz and 3oz. Plus I'm trying to express where possible and give her that too
I am going to post in the BF/FF page to get advice though from people who currently FF. like I mentioned I really hope to get her back on to BF but it's so upsetting to be made to feel guilty for trying to do the best for your baby!

[Sparklesandglitter]

I would also like to say I did have a very lovely midwife who said I shouldn't say this but FF will do her no harm give your breasts a rest to heal but express for baby too. So this is not meant to be a rant at all HCP, just the ones (one?) who make new mums feel like crap!

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

Ds2 is formula fed.

As a newborn, I used to make him three bottles of boiled water up to 3oz. Let it cool. When baby is ready for a feed, boil kettle, add 1oz of boiling water and formula. Or if you wanted to keep some cooled boiled water aside, covered, add formula and 1oz to bottle then top up with cooled water. (room temp)

Bottle at good temperature for baby and all bacteria should be killed with boiling water.

Mums make bottles in all different ways. It's another hints and tips nightmare in afraid.

[cupcake78]

This is not recommended but it worked for me, ds was slightly older as mixed till about 2mths.

Sterilise all your bottles
Put boiling water into bottle and seal it well and carefully. Wait to cool and put in fridge. ASAP, take out and use as needed. Ds never got an upset stomach doing this although formula did make him constipated.

I was instilled with terrible guilt for bottle feeding, it was ridiculous. Do what is best for you, baby will be fine.

[JellyMould]

Just quickly - try feeding with nipple shields to avoid the pain. And see a proper breast feeding counselor about the latch.

[Sparklesandglitter]

And does that make the water 70degrees to kill the bacteria?it sounds like a better option!

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

I think what the mw meant was don't make for example six bottles up in advance, leave them in the fridge and re heat in the microwave when needed. Like mums used to do .

Room temperature kill grows bacteria quickly which is why it should be discarded after two hours.

Don't feel guilty. You're trying your best and it's hard to try your best when your hormones are everywhere, youre tired, sore and have a screaming baby.

[cupcake78]

Did this daily and discarded any not used from the day before. Don't feed baby old formula.

[fridakahlo]

I topped up with formula for the first month or two, both my kids are happy and healthy.
There is no way of identifying a grown up and the way they were fed as a baby.
Do what you have to do and know that all that matters is you and dd are happy.
If that means top ups with formula,.then so be it.

[fridakahlo]

Oh and nipple shields were a god send.

[crazy8]

You could boil the water. Put it in the bottle and seal etc. Then put the bottle in a bowl of cold/iced water to bring the temp down ASAP.

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

I don't know what temp that makes the bottle but I have honestly never had a problem with it with ds2 (14 mo) and will do it again if ds3 is ff.

But if you have some cooled boiled water set aside, you can add the formula to the boiling water first if you prefer. My choice to add the cooled water first.

[crazy8]

I did the following when younger and they are strapping teenagers now!! Never any upset stomachs. Boil water, place in bottle and seal. When a bottle is required top up with boiled water to desired amount either from the kettle or from a flask if out. Add formula and hey presto!! if you make up a days worth of bottles every morning it makes life a bit easier.

[crazy8]

When I say make up a days worth of bottles I mean just with boiled water. Not with the formula IYSWIM.

[addictedisback]

Firstly formula is not poison, it will NOT kill your child so you do whatever is best for you.

If you scour the nhs website (which obviously you're not going to as you have a new born baby, and who has time for that!) In a tucked away corner somewhere (I would look and link, but I have my own babies who are currently climbing all over me, sorry) it says that bottles can be made up in advanced and cooled quickly, use within 24 hours if you are short on time. And what parent of a newborn isn't short on time!

So make up bottles at 70 degrees, put at the very back of the fridge, then heat when you need them. (If you choose to use a microwave to heat, take off the teat approximately 20-30 seconds in and then replace the great and shake for a good 60 seconds to get rid of heat spots)

You are doing an amazing job regardless of ff or bf.

[Sparklesandglitter]

Thank you had all the tips and advice so far, it helps! And during this I have expressed 3oz for when she wakes up which is great
WIth regards to nipple shields I bought some but couldn't work it out they are so much bigger than my nipples and I didn't get the hang if them I think I will take them when I go to see the breast feeding consultant

[LST]

I used to make mine up. Cool rapidly and then put in the fridge.

I hope your ok op

[addictedisback]

Also I probably say but in other countries (with the same formula) guidelines are different eg in Australia they have had more accidents with burning babies with hot water so the guidelines are to make up with cooled boiled water.

Is this your first baby? In a few months time you will be saying screw the guidelines! And doing what comes naturally. Having a new born is a very scary time, but I promise you do know what you are doing, even when it feels like you are drowning and have no idea.

[gamerwidow]

As long as the water is above 70C when it hits the formula and dissolves it then it is fine to add cooled boiled water to top up.
It's fine to use boiling water instead of waiting for it to cool to 70C the only thing you have to avoid is mixing the formula with water below 70C.