AIBU to not follow new guidelines?

[LittleSugaPlum]

Im pregnant with first baby and im almost 33 weeks.
I plan to bottle feed and have brought all the equipment already.

When i was a nursery nurse, around 5 years ago, it was common to "bulk make bottles" and store them in the fridge for upto 24hours.

When i mentioned to my midwife that i was bottlefeeding, she mentioned that the new guidelines were to make up a feed when needed and its not recommended to "bulk make feeds"

Have people honestly stopped doing this? Do people actually only make one feed at a time?

Im seriously considering bulk making, if it was fine for years, whats the difference now?

AIBU to not follow the new guidelines?

We're not trying to make her feel like shit!! We're pointing out that there are some incorrect assumptions and interpretations about what it's like to BF, and if we all read that and focus on that then less people will be inclined to attempt BF at all.

OP did say she didn't want to have this conversation, but she also then said her decision was based on "i read on here alot how attached the babies come to the breast, feeding for hours on end, sore nipples etc." which isn't always the case.

I would call one or two "fucking shitty"

Not anyone later on mind.

We all have different opinions I have no axe to grind either way. If I saw people getting comments for breastfeeding I would equally speak up.

She said quite a lot if things. She's always known shell never breast feed, it's a cultural thing within her family, she has very clear ideas about not liking the sensation. Loads.

I mean you might not agree but that's her feelings and they are valid.

But it's not your problen natural.
Her baby, her choice.
She's now gone away from this thread with the advice she wanted about FF.
And that's all she asked for.

Oooh, OP, you don't want to take any notice of what you've read on here Go on, give BF-ing a try, you may find it's nowhere near as had as you imagine. The first 8 weeks are hard, but after that IME it gets much easier. It's free and it's a lovely bonding experience. Just don't discount it without even trying. I know that's not the point of the OP, but I couldn't resist. My friend was adamant she wouldn't BF, found the sight of expressed milk in my fridge really yukky, but when she went on to have her own DC, she BF both of them for a couple of years each. Never say never

Oh Jeez.
I give up.

Sorry to point out the obvious but OP doesn't get to control or dictate the content of a thread once she has posted her comments. That's the nature of an open forum like this.

She is always free not to read, or ask to have comments removed if they breach the rules.

.

Of course it's not my problem. But I do see it as a problem that people are making 'informed' choices based on incorrect and inaccurate information.

This isn't the first thread to go off on a tangent, and it won't be the last. That surely is the nature of discussions. You can't tell anyone to back off or fuck off with their opinions because you don't like them, just as much as we can't tell the OP to BF when she clearly doesn't want to.

The OP has also mentioned a couple of times that she thinks bottle feeding will help her dh bond with the baby. I've read a lot of posts on here over the years that say things like that but parents who have raised breastfed children will have a different view. It's absolutely ridiculous to treat formula feeding like a sacred cow that may not be disagreed with.
The OP is making a big decision based on misleading statements and impressions instead of on what her body will do for her child.

Yes that's true but that dosent mean we can't disagree too!

There's nothing wrong with disagreeing, I love a good disagreement! There's no need to tell people to fuck off because you disagree with them though.

Again natural take that up with the posters that did innit.

God this is my third breast feeding thread this i can't take no more.

It's because im pregnant and it's on my mind.

I've been on 2 v.different BF threads today(does this one count as a BF thread ?), I think I've done pretty well getting this far without posting on the wrong thread!

Aw! Well I bet you don't miss things like heart burn if that makes you feel a bit less broody !

And all day mowning sixkness

i have not read the thread but just a responce to op. i have 4 children the oldest is 14 so it was the same with me 6 bottles use within 24 hours. my last baby i breast fed for a while. but with the others i used to make up a hot bottle take it t my room and leave it on the bedside table time baby woke for a feed it would be the right temp. and with the bottle feeding i fed every 4 hours.

and i started solids before 6 months although it was just baby rice. i also used to sometimes give them milk or food at room temp.

and i gave them water.

there will be a new guideline next week.....

sickness!

Morning sickness! Gah I cracked the screen on my phone this morning and can't see a thing

The reason the advice changed wasn't because there is anything "wrong" with bulk making bottles (if you do it right!) - it's because people weren't doing it "right".

Powder is not sterile. That is a fact. There is a very slight chance that it may contain Listeria. You don't want a baby with Listeria. Very very nasty. Using water 70 degrees plus kills Listeria. Using previously boiled, cooled water doesn't. So whilst the bottle is sterile, and the water is sterile, if you add formula to it once it's cold, the feed is subsequently not sterile. Add the formula within 30 minutes of boiling the water - the feed is sterile.

If you then store feeds made this way at the BACK of the fridge (the coldest part) they will be absolutely fine for 24 hours. If you store them in the door or at the front of a shelf then there is a chance they could spoil and a very slight chance some dormant bacteria that was initially present in a TINY harmless amount might start to grow and make your baby poorly because every time the fridge is opened the temperature at the door goes up by a couple of degrees.

When bulk making bottles was "acceptable" quite a significant number of people didn't quite understand the advice on how to make and store and subsequently babies got ill - so it was deemed easier just to advise EVERYONE to make bottles up as and when they need them - thus totally removing the risks of incorrect storage. (And leaving people with a totally impractical method!)

Personally I find the carton pretty explanatory - but I know so many people who make feeds up with cooled water and think that it's fine because the water has been boiled, when the formula is as much of a risk factor as unboiled water.

Mind you I've also come across a woman who was making bottles from the hot tap!! Which just goes to show, no matter how much they simplify the advice some people will NEVER get it.

I make all my DDs bottles up in the morning about two-three hours after her first feed. I then store them at the back of the fridge. Because they can be kept this way for 24 hours I even make the first one for the next day (hence making them so long after first feed - to allow for any oversleep). I have all my bottles for the day, and when we get up next morning I've one all ready to give her. Happy days.

I also use a microwave to warm them through. Again - told not to do it because of the risk of "hotspots". There is no risk of hotspots if you shake the bottle thoroughly when you take it out. But some people couldn't grasp this concept and burnt their babies - so we all get told not to use a microwave.

Crack on with the bulk making - it's saved my sanity and DDs screams more times than I can remember!

moonmin!

OP, I just want to give my view on a few reasons you've suggested for not bfing.

1. Bottlefeeding will mean your DH will be able to share the load and help with night feeds. Yes, this is true, and obviously if you breastfeed the night feeds are your responsibility. But I found actually that feeding the baby was the easy bit - sit down, feet up, baby on boob, put tv on and wait for DH to bring me a cup of tea. Because I was doing all the feeding, he did more nappies, cooking, cleaning etc. I know what I would rather do! Night feeds are no faff if you learn how to feed lying down and have the baby in a crib next to you - you hardly even wake up.
2. You don't like the sensation of your nipples being sucked. If you look at a picture of a baby breastfeeding, you can see they don't actually suck the nipple - they take a big mouthful of breast and suck around it, not the nipple itself. If they just suck the nipple they're not latched on properly, won't get much milk and it will hurt you. Done properly it won't feel weird, honest.
3. You don't want to feed in public. You have a few options here: use feeding rooms (most shopping centres have them), use a shawl or breastfeeding cover to cover yourself, express milk and use a bottle, or after a few weeks when your supply's established, the odd bottle of formula whilst you're out will be fine. Lots of babies are mixed fed and any breast milk your baby gets will be so beneficial.
4. You don't want a clingy baby. This one is one you have to try and tackle really. Your baby is programmed to be clingy. As far as she's concerned, being clingy will stop the sabre-toothed tigers eating her - she doesn't know we don't live in caves any more. Babies don't understand when they're born that they are separate people from their mothers. She will naturally prefer your smell, voice and touch to anyone else, and this is normal and natural. It doesn't last forever. Breastfeeding will reassure her and make her feel safe. She will be clingy whether or not you do it.

Op - firstly, do whatever feels right for you. I did BF as that was what felt right for me, but if you don't want to that's your choice and don't let anyone make you feel 'wrong' for doing so. When I did put her on formula, I used to sterilise a jug, whip it up in that and pour between the bottles - it was the only way I could cope with doing them - and dd's perfectly ok 9 years later!

Just returning to the thread- who won in the end, good or evil?