Can you take your own formula to hospital

[formulation]

If the formula milk you want to use doesn’t come in ready made bottles ?
Due to allergies in all her previous dc a friend has decided from birth to use an allergy formula but it doesn’t come in ready made? She’s having c section under GA so likely baby will need a feed before she even comes round from the anaesthetic.
Her plan is to make up a small bottle and flash cool the put in a cool bag on day of section , ready to be warmed for baby for her dh to feed.
Will the hospital allow this ? I wasn’t sure they would and said to ask them just in case but she said it really has nothing to do with them and that she will take the tub with her too (planning to combi feed)

Has anyone else done this ? I’ve only ever heard of ready made formula allowed

I think you're supposed to take your own formula, aren't you? They aren't keen to give you any.

Are pre made bottles allowed though and then powder? When I had my dc it was always ready made

I really don’t understand planning to formula feed from birth unless it’s physically impossible. Even if it’s just to get the colostrum in your baby. But I know I’ll be shot down for that.

There wasn’t anywhere for feeds to be made up in our hospital, just a fridge to keep premade milk. How will she sterilise bottles etc?

My hospital actually seemed to be quite pro formula, and had it ready made! I’m sure they’d have the facilities to make it with the powder- they have to, it only really involves a kettle and so many people bottle feed so
I’m sure it would be available.

@Stepstepmother

I really don’t understand planning to formula feed from birth unless it’s physically impossible. Even if it’s just to get the colostrum in your baby. But I know I’ll be shot down for that.

Well in my case it’s because my first was tiny due to preeclampsia and it was medically dangerous for her to wait until my milk came in. She had the colostrum - and then the formula, as advised by the doctors.

@Stepstepmother

I really don’t understand planning to formula feed from birth unless it’s physically impossible. Even if it’s just to get the colostrum in your baby. But I know I’ll be shot down for that.

Second/third baby and she has tried before and can’t? There are many possible reasons, none of which have anything to do with anyone else.

Why would the baby need to be fed before she comes round? I had an unplanned emergency CS under GA and fed when I got to see my baby in recovery.

In my local you could only take pre made. They specifically stated there were no facilities to steralise bottles and make formula and yes they gave formula away.

We used powdered formula for similar reasons and had to take our own kettle! They didn’t have facilities for making it but it worked out fine. They did have a fridge so we made up, flash cooled and used as needed.

The hospital had pre made bottles in different brands which I could choose which was great. I had packed a few myself also just in case.
To the poster who can’t understand planning to formula feed, is that really the case or have you come here to be goady? If it’s the former, I’m one of those who chose to ff without any medical issues as that was my preference. It’s really quite simple.

I really don’t understand planning to formula feed from birth unless it’s physically impossible. Even if it’s just to get the colostrum in your baby. But I know I’ll be shot down for that

Totally irrelevant to the Op’s question, but there’s always one on threads like this

@Stepstepmother because some people don’t want to breastfeed. Why is that hard to understand?

I wouldn’t take one made at home. You don’t know if there will be any delays on the day and a bottle will only last 2 hours at room temp. I would take powdered formula, a sterilised bottle and 2 flasks (one boiling water, one cooled boiled water) and make it up as and when you need it. They will probably have a kettle for the next few feeds but worth checking if they don’t

Most units do not have the facilities to make up powdered feeds and sterilise bottles so that will be the barrier. Or to refrigerate feeds that you’ve prepared. Certainly in our nearest unit the bays are so small you wouldn’t be allowed to bring in a kettle either.

My twins both have CMPA but were supplemented with standard formula for months before we got dairy free - it wasn’t good but in these circumstances I would take ready made bottles and feed for the couple of days she’s in, and then switch to hydrolysed / AA formula if it’s needed. She may well find it isn’t.

This is six years ago, but the hospital I had DS in provided readymade bottles of aptamil- and there were no facilities to make up your own. She should double-check.

Health issues (hence CS under GA) and I think she’s amazing for considering to combi feed as I know how much she goes through so she really is trying to do her absolute best.
I just don’t want her to get there and be told no it’s not ok ! It’s a shame no allergy formulas come in ready made and her other dc all had bad allergies so I can see why she wants to go straight to a specialist formula this time

I’ve just remembered there’s a hydrolysed formula you’re supposed to make up with room temperature water rather than boiling formula - I think it‘s Nutramigen? If she could get some of that, she could make it up in hospital.

I wouldn,t assume because one child had allergies her other would. And if that is the case then Breast milk is even more important. But I would def talk to MW about what is the best for mum and what they recommend or suggest rather then tal;king to mn.

She'd be best calling the midwife and asking. I know when I had DD 6 years ago the rule was premade formula only and it had to be manufactured premade not made up at home and bought in.

I've worked in 3 hospitals as a midwife and none of them had facilities for powdered formula. The hospital can't be responsible for people potentially making up formula in an unsafe manner and then blaming the hospital for any consequences. Therefore, small pre-packaged ones are the safest.