formula feeding in post natal ward

[BabyHMummy]

Hoping for some info if poss...


I am 6 months pg and due to medical issues will be ff baby when the arrives...am i correct in thinking that i need to take formula with me when i go into labour?

If so has anyone used the starter kits i have seen in boots today? And pls advise which is best formula as my mum says a lot of babies don't like SMA which is what i was gonna get

Thanks

[MyNameIsAnAnagram]

I think most hospitals will require you take your own formula, yes. Re the brand they are all pretty much the same, so best thing is to get what they stock in your local shop.

[wigglesrock]

Funny enough my hospital didn't require you to bring any formula / bottles in. If you mean the starter kits with the little glass bottles and seperate teats then they were the same ones the hospital used. I also bought a pack of them for the first few days at home. I found them handy.

When picking a formula I checked to see what formula my local shop/garage etc stocked.

For what its worth I used SMA with my 3 and had no problem with it.

[BabyHMummy]

Thanks and yes meant the glad bottle ones.

Not sure our local shop stocks formula but we only live 5 mins from 24 for Tesco and mum works at Morrison's which is 5 min in other direction so not too worried.on that front

[AmandaPayneNeedsANap]

They are all the same. Some babies seem to prefer one or another, but there is no 'best', so I'd just pick one and change it if it doesn't seem to suit your baby.

You need to talk to your hospital about whether you should bring formula and bottles, as it can vary by hospital.

Congratulations

[BabyHMummy]

Ohhh never thought of asking lol...was just going on what others had said. Will def check for myself if i ever get to have a tour or antenatal class lol

[wigglesrock]

I asked at one of my appointments. I had assumed that I would need to bring it in but no midwife was almost put out that I had suggested it. 3 of the maternity hospitals I know don't require you to bring it in.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy , it will fly in!

[BabyHMummy]

Thank you!!

My hv was really supportive but worried the hospital mw's will be arsey. Hv warned me that the resistance would come from them rather than her but not are if that is just politics at work

[BikeRunSki]

My hospital (Barnsley) provided formula in little glass bottles in 2008 and 2011. Whilst they encouraged bf, they were not arsey about ff.

[BabyHMummy]

twitchy excellent point thank you. I will make sure I up a box or 2

[Aworryingtrend]

Our local hospitals require you to take your own. I took the cow and gate starter pack (green box, think its 12 feeds). I had to send dh out for another box on the second day as I was kept in after a cesarean so one box wasn't quite enough.

[Poppet45]

You can check online by finding out if your hospital has a breastfeeding friendly award - if it does they are not supposed to have free formula on site except for medical reasons like jaundice, prems and low blood sugar.

[BabyHMummy]

Thanks popper will have a look.

My mate who had her ds in Nov says they provided it for her but will make sure I ask

[ElliesWellies]

The starter packs are really handy - agree with TwitchyTail I would take one even if the hospital do provide, in case the staff are busy and you end up waiting for them to bring it.

Don't let anyone make you feel bad about ff - it's your baby not theirs, and you say you have medical reasons anyway so if you can't bf then they shouldn't be trying to persuade you.

[BabyHMummy]

That was my thinking too Kellie and as they aren't massively expensive it seems silly not to.

It worries me a lot to be honest. I have a badly damaged shoulder which I take strong opiate painkillers for when not pg and will need them to cope with pain brought on by carrying baby when she arrives but can't have them if I bf as they cross the barrier and could kill her. I also suffer with anxiety and am worried how I will cope mentally if bf is a struggle. I just know I will flip out if they get forceful or preachy about bf. A friend of mine was left nearly suicidal after the same hospital berated her as a bad mother in public because she refused to bf dc2 as she hads uch a horrendous time trying and failing with dc1.

[AmandaPayneNeedsANap]

Ouch, that sounds so awful. Hope you aren't in too much pain at the moment.

Please don't worry. Most midwives want to support breastfeeding, not be arseholes to women who don't want to or can't. Can you have a note put into your own maternity notes, just so you can wave it at anyone who oversteps the mark rather than discuss? I bf, but I was in the post natal ward with a woman who chose not to from birth, just because she didn't want to. I became friends with her later on through toddler groups, she said no one ever said anything, bar briefly checking it wasn't some strange bf myth/outside pressure that was pressuring her into saying not

(ps. I presume there are no other options for your painkillers, if you did want to bf if not for the drugs. BfN have a helpline I think. Not saying that as a preachy thing, just in case, cos I know some women who have wanted to bf have found out there are more options than they thought)

At a population level, bf is a great thing to encourage. At an individual level, there are many more factors and it isn't the best choice for every mother. You need to make decisions based on yourself and your family. Please try not to worry.

[BabyHMummy]

Thanks Amanda. Unfortunately there aren't any other options other than an operation which the consultant has refused to do til I am at least 40 as the success rates under that age are so poor.I tried to force their hands but they won't consider it til I have tried the opiates for at least 6 months but fell pg by accident.

[AmandaPayneNeedsANap]

I just thought I'd mention it. That sounds a really difficult situation. Hope it doesn't cause you too much pain in the meantime.

[BabyHMummy]

Yeah its not fun. As been signed off most of pg its been ok as been able to.avoid using too much but suspect when it comes to changing nappies, bathing and carrying baby it will start to play up again.

Bloody work have a lot to answer for as its an industrial injury.

[Shiraztastic]

Info on opiates and breastfeeding here

[BabyHMummy]

Thanks for the link but am allergic to anylgesics do am on a drug that is a formof morphine. It is what they give to ithdtawing heroine addicts and have already been told I cannot take in pg or whilst bf as it at bestit will give baby brain damage and at worst will kill her.