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Childbirth

bottle feeding

44 replies

Mummytothree2016 · 27/12/2015 21:24

Hello everyone.

I am a mum to three. I have only ever bottle fed for one month each child (personal choice)

I am 6+ weeks and have decided to not breastfeed anymore.

Has anyone started bottle feeding from birth without having milk supple issues?

Did you give midwives notice beforehand?

How were midwives on the day, and did they accept your decision, or degrade you like they did to my friend.
She stood firm , even throughout all their comments and rudeness about her "not caring about her child".

Thanks everyone! :)

OP posts:

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Dixiechick17 · 27/12/2015 22:17

My husbands cousin bottle fed expressed breast milk for eight months. Her DD just couldn't latch. She said she wouldn't do it again as was constantly expressing to ensure she had enough and if breastfeeding didn't work next time she'd only do it for a short while then move onto formula.

You shouldn't let anyone make you feel bad for wanting to bottle feed, as you said it is a personal choice and as long as your baby is fed and happy it does not matter!

CultureSucksDownWords · 27/12/2015 22:38

They'll probably ask you at one of your appointments how you intend to feed your baby. They'll have to check that you're aware of the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby and you, and then they should accept your decision. If you really don't want to be asked again in hospital once your baby is born, you could write that you'll be using formula from birth on your birth "plan" - e.g. you could write "don't ask if I want to give one breastfeed for colostrum, I intend to formula feed from birth". If anyone starts to try and discuss it with you then you can refer to that, and shut down any conversation. If anyone is rude or unprofessional, see if you can note down their name and at some point lodge a complaint against them with PALS at the hospital.

Something like 20% of mothers choose to formula feed from birth, or higher depending where in the country you are, so you won't be alone and the midwives should be accustomed to this.

PunkrockerGirl · 27/12/2015 22:41

Gosh you're brave, OP.
It's fine, it really is (and I think you know that)
But on what is supposed to be a supportive forum, be prepared to be told that that you are not giving your baby the best start in life/he will have no immunity/will have the IQ of an gnat but will adore you, inspite of the fact that you bf in the playground up until year 6.
Ignore all this shite and you'll be fine

Junosmum · 27/12/2015 22:48

Some hospitals will not provide formula milk for mothers choosing to bottle feed from birth and will not have sterilising equipment available to you to use (they will have milk and equipment available for those unable to breastfeed/ requiring top ups etc but some will not make it available to you). So make sue you have the ready made/ pre-sterilised bottles with you when you go in to labor.

I think having had other children you may be listened to more than ftm's, but they are 'duty bound' to encourage breastfeeding. If you give them a firm 'I'm aware and have made my choice' then they should just respect that, but some won't!

KatyN · 27/12/2015 22:59

I said for the start that I wanted to bottle feed. Mw has never commented, have checked my hospital provide bottles milk so I don't need to take anything in with me.
In my birth plan it says 'would like skin to skin but bottle feeding'. (The Mw wrote that as an extra for me).

My decision is because I failed to feed my first and it was rubbish (he was in nicu at the time too). But no one has really cared. If that's what you want to do then go for it. This time and last I found everyone really supportive once th decision was made but they can't advise you do try bottle feeding.

Good luck, kx

afreshstartplease · 27/12/2015 23:02

I fed all three of mine formula from birth

Didn't feel at all pressurised to do otherwise

The only thing I noticed was on the ward after having DC1 no one bothered with me, they were busy helping other new mums to feed their babies fair enough but no one told me where anything was or checked I had a clue what I was doing!

dodobookends · 27/12/2015 23:08

Out of our entire antenatal group of about 25, I was the only one who said from the outset that I was going to bottle-feed when the baby arrived. Everybody else said they would breastfeed. Guess what? Quite a few of them were only saying that because they didn't want to admit in front of everyone that they didn't want to bf at all. By the time our dc's were a month old, more than two-thirds of the entire group were bottle feeding already.

hufflebottom · 27/12/2015 23:11

I bottle fed dd, pretty much from the start as she was struggling to latch.

This time I'm bottle feeding from the start. However bit peeved that the hospital doesn't cater for formula fed babies apparently. Midwife tried to give me the spiel about breastfeeding is best etc, my response was tough I'm happier bottle feeding and I will not be bullied/guilt tripped into breast feeding

CultureSucksDownWords · 27/12/2015 23:15

The hospital can't not cater for formula fed babies. If you need help, advice, support whilst you're in the post natal ward then of course you should get it. Anything else would be unprofessional and endangering babies. If midwives don't give support, please do complain about it, otherwise nothing will change.

Firsteverchangeofname · 27/12/2015 23:19

Yes I did from choice from birth.

I was asked intentions by mw prior. No problems at all. Bottles of ready mixed formula were supplied then not sure if the case now though.

Good luck

CultureSucksDownWords · 27/12/2015 23:22

I think most hospitals ask you to bring formula in if you're formula feeding from birth. My current maternity notes have a sticker on the front to that effect, asking you to bring in ready-to-feed formula if that's the case.

hufflebottom · 28/12/2015 10:20

I thought it was a bit odd. Am going to double check.

There was ready to use formula when I had dd. But that was 6 years ago. So unless that has changed. Or if they know you're intending to formula feed from the start they prefer you to bring your own rather than use theirs

YeOldeTrout · 28/12/2015 10:39

Maybe check the webpage of hospital where you're going. The may have statements on their policies & support they offer (e.g. QMC Nottm " ... staff are also trained to support bottle feeding by showing (new mothers) how to correctly sterilize equipment and make up formula feeds correctly." ).

FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 28/12/2015 12:40

Hospitals will always need to have formula available for newborns. I've heard on here of some of them asking mothers to bring their own formula, never in real life fortunately, but realistically if a woman was not breast feeding and had no formula the hospital couldn't possibly get away with not providing any. Other patients are given suitable food after all (or they're meant to be anyway). They wouldn't have a leg to stand on discriminating against newborns because of their age, which is what they'd be doing by not providing a patient with food when those in other age groups would be given sustenance. I realise you may not be in the mood for a fight just after giving birth hufflebottom, but it's one you'd win.

hufflebottom · 28/12/2015 13:24

Will ask the midwife at my next appointment. Am up for an argument though.

TaliZorah · 28/12/2015 13:31

I mixed fed DS from birth but bf failed and switched straight to bottles. No one pressured me to bf and my hospital had formula

NewBallsPlease00 · 28/12/2015 13:39

Why would you not take formula in your labour bag if you were planning to feed that way? In same way you pack nappies etc?

Gileswithachainsaw · 28/12/2015 13:43

just take some formula with you. I was never even asked in hospital how I planned to feed. they told me where to find the formula in the hospital and I just helped myself. wasn't a problem.

jamtartandcustard · 28/12/2015 14:12

I've decided to bottle feed dc4. I've tried before but I just don't produce enough milk so I don't want to add any extra pressure or stress on myself.
I don't think I was asked at any antenatal appointments how I intend to feed dc4. I was asked about my previous children though and I guess the midwife felt I would do as I feel right for me.
It was quite hard in the hospital as previously they have supplied milk but no longer do and we didn't realise. They did manage to find some for us though as no shops would be open until ds was 9hours old which was a bit long to wait for a feed.
Ds is only 2 days old, breasts are tender but so is everything else. I've not had any leaking though but I know it will get worse over the next couple of days before it dries up completely.
I've very happy with my decision mainly because dh has been able to feed as well so I've been able to get more sleep then most new mums and I feel surprisingly good (well providing I am also being well topped up with pain relief)

FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 28/12/2015 14:16

Same reason people mostly don't take in all the food for themselves when they go in to give birth newballs.

WtfWasThis · 28/12/2015 14:59

I was actually planning to breastfeed, but DS had to be given formula top ups at only 5 hours old and then regularly throughout our stay in hospital. He was perfectly well but was having his blood sugar levels monitored as a minor precaution and obviously my milk wasn't properly in. I hadnt brought any formula as i wasnt planning on using it but the hospital had a cupboard full of the ready made bottles with a choice of brands. Surely all hospitals have to cater for babies in that kind of situation?

goodnessgraciousgoudaoriginal · 28/12/2015 15:17

To the OP - I think the attitudes you encounter will depend hugely on the hospital, the particular staff you come across, etc.

That said, I would strongly advise bringing your own formula. Maybe bring a couple of different brands of formula, and different brand bottles as well, as many people say that babies will reject one shaped teat, but not another, etc.

Hospitals obviously need to have formula around in case babies need it and there are problems with breast feeding/medical issues/some reason why formula would be needed unexpectedly, but when someone is making a conscious, personal choice in advance to bottle feed, then really the responsibility should be on them to supply that food.

I totally 100% agree that all women have the right to decide how they want to feed their baby without judgement. I would totally disagree that the NHS should have to subsidise that decision when there is no medical need.

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FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 28/12/2015 15:27

And yet the NHS will subsidise other diets where there is no medical need. Apparently its only babies who don't have the right to suitable food when they're hospital patients. Fuck that ageism.

In reality of course, if a baby isn't being breastfed and there is no other food source available for them, they're going to be on the hospital formula. There's no other way. But its worrying that some hospitals apparently think its ok to try and get out of feeding certain patients. Good to hear about women who'll challenge this policy when they come up against it.

Mummytothree2016 · 29/12/2015 01:38

Ph sorry guys. I meant, I breastfed all my children until one month.

OP posts:

Mummytothree2016 · 29/12/2015 01:42

Sorry everyone. Of course I was taking formula with me? I didn't even know Hospitals supplied formula.

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