If you didn't breastfeed...

[Greyhorses]

What did you take to hospital for the birth/first few days?
Do I just take powder and bottles or are ready made kits easier?
Did the midwives really try and push you to bf or did they just accept you were using forumala?

Please this is not a debate about bf vs ff. i know the pros and cons of everything but I would love to hear the experiences of mums who didn't breastfeed from day 1

[Alice1983]

Placemaking

[RaeSkywalker]

Hi Grey, one of my friends took the ready made stuff in. Hope this helps!

[confusedandemployed]

Well I did breastfeed at birth but plenty of mums on my post-natal ward didn't. They didn't get any grief from midwives / nurses that I remember. Mind you, I got the impression that my hospital was unusually live-and-let-live in their approach. I could be wrong there though, given it was my one and only hospital stay.

Whilst in hospital they have the tiny ready-to-use bottles of formula which they give to you. I think I'd probably take a few ready to use bottles though, just in case.

[OvariesForgotHerPassword]

I intended to bf but couldn't. I took a starter pack thing just in case but my hospital had a massive supply of all types of formula to give out. They didn't really push breastfeeding - honestly they didn't help me half as much as they should have done- but every hospital is different.

Hopefully you won't have any knobs on this thread criticising you for choosing to formula feed.

[MrsTatum1980]

With my son I bought a small SMA starter pack which contains little bottles and disposable teats that you just screw on.

I knew I wasn't going to attempt breastfeeding as I just didn't want to so when they placed him on me and asked about feeding I just said I would be bottle feeding. They asked if I had a preference of milk and I said SMA and they bought me a little bottle of it! Absolutely no pressure to consider breastfeeding and no questions asked.

For me it was a really positive experience and midwives totally respected my choice. Take in more than you think as they do waste a lot early on. The starter packs are a little pricier but a Godsend. All maternity units have a kitchen where you can prepare bottles but pre made is so much easier in those early days! Good luck and I hope you have a positive experience too

[ChalkHearts]

Hospital gave me made up formula and bottles.

I'd ring them and ask what they want you to bring.

[Greyhorses]

Thank you to all of you. I am quite thick skinned so to be honest wouldn't care if they did say something but I think I may be more vulnerable than usual in hospital having just given birth

[HoggleHoggle]

I intended to bf ds but he wouldn't latch, so eventually the hospital provided me with bottles and formula. For next dc I intend to ff from the start so I was wondering this question myself. I would bring ready made formula but was wondering about the bottle aspect of it - I thought bottles only stayed sterile for 24 hours so wasn't sure how to handle that given you don't always know when you'll go into labour. I suppose dh would bring some with him at some point but I'd use the hospital ones until then?

[ftmsoon]

In the post natal ward I was on, they had little bottles of pre-made in different brands. You had to ask for a bottle, but it was just for them to keep track for ordering etc, there was no judgement I ever saw (I used it for top-ups only).

[trilbydoll]

Our hospital had a patient kitchen with loads of big plastic containers for cold water sterilising. If you end up bed bound I imagine it would have been so much hassle - I would take those expensive single use bottles that come with the screw on teats. Hopefully it'll only be for a day or so, so won't bankrupt you!

[Tubbyinthehottub]

I took ready made cartons. I think the hospital had said they don't supply formula but they had disposable bottles. They didn't try and persuade me to try breastfeeding.

[bonzo77]

Pre made bottles. By far the best option. With my first they supplied, with my second they supplied while he was in nicu and I took ready to feed cartons + sterilised bottles from home once he was in scbu. Number 3 I took pre made. Honestly you do not want to be washing, sterilising and storing then making up bottles when in hospital. You need to rest and cuddle. And maybe express some colostrum and give it in a syringe. It's not too hard, had great benefits and although I've never breast fed, this felt like a useful addition to the formula.

[thatwhichwecallarose]

My hospital gave us the ready made ones in bottles, and asked what brand we wanted! They didn't need to be kept in fridge so I had a few at my bed. Maybe check with your midwife before hand?

[FuzzyOwl]

The hospital had small ready made bottles of formula that were already sterile (you just had to screw on the lids when ready to use). We then continued to use them for a while afterwards because they were so convenient and made life much easier for us in the first few weeks. You can buy them in boxes of six in a supermarket and although they are much more expensive than the ready made milk or powder, they were worth it to me.

[Micah]

I did breastfeed, with no problems.

I actually got told off by one m/w for not bringing formula, while my baby was happily latched. I should have been prepared for it not to work out, apparently.

I was also offered formula every time a m/w passed the bed. "Bf again? Shall i get you a bottle, give yourself a break?"

So ime post natal wards are so busy m/w prefer to shove formula at you rather than sort bf, which takes more time.

[WellErrr]

They'll be fine with it if you're sure and prepared.

But the reason they strongly encourage you to give colostrum (first few feeds) is because it passes on your antibodies to the baby and boosts their immune statement their whole life.
It's a massive big deal and for the sake of a few short feeds on day one, I don't know why you wouldn't unless you medically can't.

[WellErrr]

*immune system

[bluejasmin]

When I had my first DS they really really pushed Bf , I did bf but the poor girl opposite me could not get the baby to latch and they were really reluctant to give her formula ( this was 13 years ago. )
But with all my others ( most recent 8 months ) they really didn't seem to be bothered one way or another .
They always provided small bottles of formula from what I remember and I don't recall anyone bringing any in .

[Littlemissjt]

I was just asked if I was breast or formula feeding and when I said formula I was asked what brand I was going to use as they have a stick of different brands. No pushy midwives at all.
We were given a list at anti natal class of what we would need to pack and what the hospital would supply. Maybe ask at your next midwife appointment if the hospital has milk or not.

[RavioliOnToast]

Our hospital doesn't provide now and don't provide a kettle in ten room either. I bought the ready made bottles and then just threw them away. They were lifesavers.

[umiaisha]

That's not especially helpful weller..

I never breastfed any of mine and never got any stick from the midwives. They offered me the ready made bottles too.

[MigGril]

I would ask your hospital, don't assume they will provide formula. Some will some won't, some only do for babies who are struggling for breastfeeding and if you intend to formula fed from the start there policy maybe that you need to bring your own.

[BaskingTrout]

definitely the little pre-made ones that you can just attach a teat to the top of. I was struggling to bf, so dd mostly had formula while we were in hospital. yes, its more expensive and wasteful, but soooo much easier. I had an emcs and there was no way for the first 3 days that I could have made it to the kitchen to sterilise. hopefully, you won't be in that position but better to be on the safe side.

[Junosmum]

Depending on your hospital they may or may not have sterilizing facilities you can use. So it may be easier for you to just take ready made bottles. Some hospitals provide formula in ready made bottles but increasingly hospitals expect you to provide your own. If you can't find out before hand what your hospital does, just take a pack of ready made stuff with those pre- sterilized teats

[KatyN]

I asked my mw before and she was quite worried that my hospital only offered one brand of milk. But they just handed out the little bottles and teats as I asked for them,
The little bottles are really expensive so if you can use theirs while you are in hospital I highly recommend (especially as you'll be throwing the majority of it away).

No judgement at all. I had it written in my birth notes too.

Good luck! Kx