Page 5 | to go against HV & midwife's advice

Boymamabee22 · 2023-06-18T19:15:09+00:00

Combo feeding but I've been ff more this past week. May have to move into temp accommodation so thinking of selling my perfect prep machine due to lack of space, etc. Been told I shouldn't make bottles in advance and store them in the fridge (like I did with my first). Can somebody tell me why? Obviously I'll cool the bottles before storing them and I always make sure the fridge is clean. Waiting 20 minutes for the kettle to cool and then another 20 mins for the milk to cool is a faff and v difficult with a screaming baby.

Pancakewaffle · 19/06/2023 09:26

We got rid of our perfect prep machine after seeing stories about how the pipes can get mouldy. We bought ours second hand and cut the pipes when we decided not to use it, yep there was mould so do be warey if this with the PP.

We prepped bottles in advance - we made sure the boiled water was between 70-75deg (we bought a glass thermometer so we could be sure and wasn't relying on kettle cooling times etc) then we rapidly cooled the bottles by standing in a big bowl/washing up bowl of cold water (sometimes the cold water would need changing during cooling, depending on how many bottles we were making). Bottles were stored at the back of the fridge and were always within 12 hours and never had any problems (baby is almost 2 now).

Redebs · 19/06/2023 09:27

Mumtobabyhavoc · 18/06/2023 21:18

I have an electric kettle with temp settings. It shuts off just at boiling, so water is not properly sterile though. So, my work around is to boil a pot of water on the stove each night (rolling boil for 5 mins). Then I transfer the water to my electric kettle. When I need to make formula I set my kettle to 40c but remove it at 38c and mix a bottle up as needed. It's a matter of 2 mins and perfect temp.
I did try using completely cooled previously boiled water to make up enough formula for the day kept in the fridge in a mason jar and also in bottles ready to heat but it was far more work to then boil the kettle and plonk a bottle in a cup of water to warm.
Discard formula and water after 24 hours and start fresh.

The water that goes into the formula powder has to be very hot at over 70°C. Baby formula powder contains bacteria, so needs to be heated up to that temperature to kill most of it.

Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 09:31

Redebs · 19/06/2023 09:17

I don't think you understood. I was advocating making up the feed with maybe three quarters very hot water, to kill bacteria, then topping up to proper dilution with cold, boiled water from sterilised bottles, to make it a suitable temperature to drink.

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Do you have any research showing that 3 quarters of the volume of boiling water is sufficient to kill the bacteria in the formula?

It is far safer to make up correctly, flash cool and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 09:33

Pancakewaffle · 19/06/2023 09:26

We got rid of our perfect prep machine after seeing stories about how the pipes can get mouldy. We bought ours second hand and cut the pipes when we decided not to use it, yep there was mould so do be warey if this with the PP.

We prepped bottles in advance - we made sure the boiled water was between 70-75deg (we bought a glass thermometer so we could be sure and wasn't relying on kettle cooling times etc) then we rapidly cooled the bottles by standing in a big bowl/washing up bowl of cold water (sometimes the cold water would need changing during cooling, depending on how many bottles we were making). Bottles were stored at the back of the fridge and were always within 12 hours and never had any problems (baby is almost 2 now).

This is exactly what NHS, WHO and CDC advise to do.

Redebs · 19/06/2023 09:47

RosesAndHellebores · 19/06/2023 08:30

Well perhaps I won't drive to work today @Madwife123 because there's a small risk that I might have an accident. Similarly ds shouldn't have been allowed to play rugby and dd shouldn't be allowed to teach at a specialist school for neuro diverse children because she's at more than a small risk of physical harm everyday.

More women up to the 18th Century died from breast feeding related sepsis than from children fever. I suffered severe infective mastitis and a breadt abscess (bacterial) arising from breast feeding which evidently, according to midwives and the hv was entirely safe. It wasn't for me and without ABs probably DS and I would have died.

I do wish midwives and hv's were able to properly analyse evidence based research and the related risks rather than swallow whole what they are told is this week's mantra. Information is usually conveyed in a much more proportionate way by appropriately qualified Dr's in my opinion, who have read the research and are able to discuss the proportionate, statistically based pros and cons.

The claim about 'breastfeeding sepsis' is absurd and wrong. Far, far more women died from infections from childbirth.
It is extremely rare to get sepsis from mastitis and many of those cases happen when women don't breastfeed, leading to blocked ducts.

MidgeHardcastle · 19/06/2023 09:53

As if new mothers don't have enough to worry about!
30 years ago it was faff enough just making them up and cooling in a bowl of water so we sucked up the cost and used ready made but I know this isn't an option for everyone.
Is bacteria in powdered milk a new thing? And why is it in there?
There are so many different opinions on this thread but surely the instructions on the tin should be the safest way or am I missing something? Am feeling a bit apprehensive about doing it right for my grandchildren.

Topseyt123 · 19/06/2023 09:55

Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 09:33

This is exactly what NHS, WHO and CDC advise to do.

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It's exactly what midwives advised me to do back in 1995 when DD1 was born. I continued it with DD2 and DD3, who were born in 1998 and 2002 respectively.

It was safe and practical. I never had any problems and always stored feeds in the fridge for the whole of the next day (well within the 24 hour guideline).

I just couldn't have been bothered trying to make up a fresh feed from scratch every time with a screaming baby in tow (and in later years also an older child and a toddler)!

MariaVT65 · 19/06/2023 09:58

We did the same as you with our first baby. He was fine. The HV had also told us not to get a perfect prep machine so we didn’t get one.

I had a lot of other stupid advice from midwives and HVs anyway so go with what your gut says .

Redebs · 19/06/2023 10:00

Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 09:31

Do you have any research showing that 3 quarters of the volume of boiling water is sufficient to kill the bacteria in the formula?

It is far safer to make up correctly, flash cool and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

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Fridge storage for 24 hours is a problem as has been pointed out.
People don't have a separate milk fridge. Usually the temperature rises above safe levels several times a day.

All of these practicalities are a compromise and all involve risk.

It's shocking how many mums think you can mix a feed with warm water, or with cold water then put it in the microwave.

It's not a case of midwives not being allowed to tell them how to do it. The instructions are on every box.

As well as these problems, how many mums don't wash hands properly for 20s with soap, or put scoops covered in condensation back into the dry powder and use it crusty next time? How many put teats down on kitchen worktops while they add the powder?

Doing it properly is a faff and a nuisance. But it's dangerous not to.

Redebs · 19/06/2023 10:02

MidgeHardcastle · 19/06/2023 09:53

As if new mothers don't have enough to worry about!
30 years ago it was faff enough just making them up and cooling in a bowl of water so we sucked up the cost and used ready made but I know this isn't an option for everyone.
Is bacteria in powdered milk a new thing? And why is it in there?
There are so many different opinions on this thread but surely the instructions on the tin should be the safest way or am I missing something? Am feeling a bit apprehensive about doing it right for my grandchildren.

Baby formula powder has always contained bacteria.

QueefQueen80s · 19/06/2023 10:26

Just pre make them, nothing bad happened to my kids. I spent the first month making as I went, which meant a screaming baby while the boiling milk cooled.
I made 4 at a time with boiling water and put in clean fridge, then warmed as needed with bottle warmer.

jojo2202 · 19/06/2023 10:32

NHS ENGLAND website actually states it's fine to keep in fridge for 24 hours. I did 4 bottles at a time. People make so much hassle for themselves, If you have made the bottle with boiling water anyway there is no bacteria in their to grow.

Madwife123 · 19/06/2023 13:41

Redebs · 19/06/2023 10:00

Fridge storage for 24 hours is a problem as has been pointed out.
People don't have a separate milk fridge. Usually the temperature rises above safe levels several times a day.

All of these practicalities are a compromise and all involve risk.

It's shocking how many mums think you can mix a feed with warm water, or with cold water then put it in the microwave.

It's not a case of midwives not being allowed to tell them how to do it. The instructions are on every box.

As well as these problems, how many mums don't wash hands properly for 20s with soap, or put scoops covered in condensation back into the dry powder and use it crusty next time? How many put teats down on kitchen worktops while they add the powder?

Doing it properly is a faff and a nuisance. But it's dangerous not to.

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And all this misinformation that you call shocking comes from women not being given the correct advice!

Look on this post how many different people have said different things. It proves my point perfectly. The NHS, WHO and CDC advice is clear and it’s all the same. That formula is safe in the fridge for 24 hours.