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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not follow new guidelines?

330 replies

LittleSugaPlum · 22/08/2012 18:43

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?

OP posts:
LadyBeagleEyes · 23/08/2012 17:24

I said away ^ up there somewhere that I made bottles in bulk. Oh and the instructions are there, quite clearly on the tin. Assuming you can read it'll be fine op.
I breast fed for about three weeks, ds was permanently hungry and the baby from hell Grin.
When I switched to bottles he was happy and content and my ex got up in the night so I wasn't permanently shattered. And TBH it was boring.
Win win for me.
Quite clearly you can never start a thread about FF because the BF zealots will pounce.
If you're happy with your decision ( and believe me, it's fine), then ignore, ignore.

Bellyjaby · 23/08/2012 17:27

Lougle - ooohh may try that with next dc. As tethered says, you have to be careful with the amount you add, so I'd make sure I used another bottle/measurer to make sure.

Though rather sadly... you know those times when you can't remember how many scoops you've added? we learnt how much liquid ended up in a 4oz, 5oz, 6oz and 7oz bottle. as geeky as it is, it really helped in those moments. "Oh this 6oz bottle isnt at xxxml, need another scoop!". Not that I remember the levels anymore though :(

Moominsarescary · 23/08/2012 17:28

The containers are good for when your out and about, we had a flask which e used to make up feeds each time so we didn't have to wait around for the kettle to boil everytime. Especially in the night

Moominsarescary · 23/08/2012 17:32

I didnt even try to bf ds1, I didn't want to for many reasons. Nearly 18 years down the line and no body has ever cared that I chose to ff, especially ds1

naturalbaby · 23/08/2012 17:33

I did respect her decision until I read it was based in part on what she had read about BF on MN. If I had read about BF on MN before I had a baby then I wouldn't have attempted it either!

HappyAsChips · 23/08/2012 17:43

I went from breast to bottles with both of my children at two and a half months (they're now 12 and 7). We made up all the days bottles in advance and stored them in the fridge. They were fine. Guidelines seem to change as often as the seasons these days. Yanbu to totally ignore midwife and do whatever suits you!

LadyBeagleEyes · 23/08/2012 17:44

I don't understand your POV Natural.
My whole experience of MN is BF good FF bad.
We must be reading a different website.

tethersend · 23/08/2012 17:59

"I'm going to be totally up front here. I don't respect your right to bottle feed without even attempting breastfeeding"

That's ok, Northern. I forgive you Wink

The thing is, the OP should never have been asked her reasons.

I FF DD2 from birth, and started a thread about what to do when my milk came in- I expected a flaming, and actually got great advice. Proof that MN can, on occasion be a non judgemental environment in which to discuss feeding options.

This thread however, is no such occasion.

Lougle · 23/08/2012 18:07

Tethersend thanks for pointing that out - was typing on my phone so wasn't as expansive as I should have been.

crashdoll · 23/08/2012 18:16

I'm going to be totally up front here. I don't respect your right to bottle feed without even attempting breastfeeding

It's formula, not heroin!

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 23/08/2012 18:22

Spot oncrashdoll !!! I had no intention of bf dd2 after a horrific experience attempting and failing and excruitaing pain of bf dd1. The babies getting fed whats with the formula bashing. No explanation needed it's no one else's business y anyone chooses either option.

Cathycomehome · 23/08/2012 18:32

How cool should bottle be before putting in fridge? And how do you cool it, by sitting it in a bowl of cold water?

crashdoll · 23/08/2012 18:33

The BF vs FF seems to get people so riled up. It's only one of the choices parents make about their children's lives. You end up making so many; schools, food, housing, clothes etc and so, does what you feed your newborn really make such a massive difference? I know people are going to tell me all the wonderful studies that show breastfed babies have less allergies, less asthma, less chance of whatever BUT again, it's one choice you make at the beginning of your child's life. Some people seem to forget other the factors including environment and genetics.

I'm not a parent yet, so I have no real reason to be swayed either way. I just hate seeing mothers berated for the choices they make when feeding their babies. Having worked with vulnerable mothers struggling with social problems including depression, I feel very strongly about supporting mothers in the choices they make. Supporting a mother feeding forumula means answering posts like these with helpful advice on her situation, not swaying her towards your beliefs. It's basic respect and courtesy.

NarkedRaspberry · 23/08/2012 18:33

If you want to FF, FF.

The two things I tend to say on threads about this are, firstly, please consider feeding the baby some colostrum. You can use a syringe (as used with liquid medicine) to transfer some into their mouth. It's full of antibodies to help their immune system. A tiny drop will give them a lot of benefit.

Secondly, the 70 degree water kills off bacteria in the milk powder. That's why the water needs to be boiled and added to the powder whilst it's hot. What you choose to do with the guidelines is up to you but it helps if you know that ^.

wigglesrock · 23/08/2012 18:37

cathycomehome I run my bottles under cold water and then cool them in water in a pan.

LadyBeagleEyes · 23/08/2012 18:37

Exactly crashdoll.

He's never been ill in his life, and nor does he have 2 heads.

laracroft2001 · 23/08/2012 18:38

I bulk make them up in the morning and have since dS was born 9 months ago

Cathycomehome · 23/08/2012 18:43

Oh, thanks wigglesrock, how long do you cool them for - until they're actually cold? (sorry to be thick!)

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 23/08/2012 18:45

For fucks sake...the OP has made her decision....its something that works for her....it doesn't affect YOU does it? How someone feeds their baby is up to them, because, and here's the kicker, its THEIR baby...no one has the right to make someone feel bad or to judge them on this decision....its a fucking shitty thing to do

wigglesrock · 23/08/2012 18:48

Cathycomehome sorry yes, I swap the water in the pan once or twice.

Shagmundfreud · 23/08/2012 18:50

Only about 5 babies are known to have died from entering tot sakazakii in Europe in the last few years, though it's suspected that many more cases of severe illness (including blood poisoning and meningitis) in babies are linked with this bacteria.

But as you say - making up bottles in bulk is much more convenient so perhaps you will feel this is a risk worth taking. Lots of other people feel the same.

Shagmundfreud · 23/08/2012 18:51

Whoops, 'enterobacter sakazakii'.

Fecking phone!

Cathycomehome · 23/08/2012 18:52

Well ignoring all the bf/ff stuff, I've found this thread very helpful, as I've started bottlefeeding and been given no advice by hcps! After reading some of it earlier I rang the health visitor and she dropped round with the guidance leaflets, which might have been useful to begin with, but still. I had been using cooled boiled water as was advised when I had my first son in2000!! Although not making bulk bottles as I WAS advised back then to do them as and when.

So I'm relieved to read this thread, or id have carried on doing it wrong and perhaps dangerously! it says in the leaflet that if made up feed are to be stored in fridge they should be at back of the fridge and used within 24 hours, but it doesn't say anything about cooling them first and the health visitor didn't seem sure whether they had to be cooled and if so how cool they should be...

Northernlurkerisonholiday · 23/08/2012 18:57

Breastfeeding produces healthier babies and healthier mums. That is a scientifically proven absolute. It is what it is. That's why our default position as a society should be that we will breastfeed and formula is there as a back up when that's not possible. But that isn't the position is it? The accepted wisdom must be that 'anything goes' and either option is fine and every time we say that's ok we undermine breastfeeding and I think breastfeeding is too important to be undermined like that. I didn't come on this thread for a breastfeeding/bottle fight and I have no agenda for making people feel guilty. The OP has asked aibu and imo she is - both in wanting to adopt a less safe practice when bottlefeeding and indeed in her rationale for bottlefeeding at all.

bubalou · 23/08/2012 18:58

I'm with you legopiece.

She wasn't asking for opinions on what is best - breast or bottle.
I'm sure OP is fully aware of all the pro's, cons & other information & has made an informed decision on what is right for her.

It is up to HER. HER.

If you don't like it - it's pretty much tough shit!

Good luck with your new baby OP Smile