To take bottles and formula into hospital even though I want to breastfeed?

[Giltedged]

Last time I ended up taking bottles and some formula as everyone said I should. Had a horrible birth and fainted so didn’t get skin to skin and DH gave our newborn baby some formula. I’ve no idea if that contributed in some way but failed miserably to breastfeed.

I don’t really want to buy newborn feeding bottles and formula - feels a bit like failure before I’ve begun. Equally I don’t have much confidence in my ability to breastfeed and don’t want to starve my baby! What should I do?

Dont' steal formula from a hospital, kept for emergencies. That's shitty.

I didn’t take anything in as I wanted to breastfeed. My son ended up in SCBU so they cup fed him formula until I was well enough to feed him myself. It never occurred to me that formula wouldn’t be supplied if needed.

The hospital fed me while I was a patient, why on earth wouldn’t it feed my child?

If breastfeeding is important to you, ask the midwife for information about expressing colostrum prior to the birth, freeze it in syringes and then if needed DH can feed the baby that way.

I wouldn't bring formula. If you need it the hospital will have it, and presumably DH can pop to the pharmacy if you need more.

As I understand it, at our local hospital they will supply formula in the short term if required ie if you went in intending to breastfeed but for some reason needed formula then you can have some, but if you planned to formula feed from the outset then you are supposed to take your own. But if you are in the first category you'll only get enough to tide you over until the next visiting when it would be expected that someone would bring some for you. I don't think they would refuse to feed a hungry baby mind you, whatever the circumstances. After all, people go into labour at unexpected times and places and end up in hospital without any of their stuff sometimes and I'm sure hospitals don't leave the baby nappiless and starving so there must be a mechanism to help people who don't have things with them.
That said, everyone I know who has had a baby recently has been in and out of hospital so quickly, especially if it's not the first baby that it probably doesn't matter that much what you do or don't take as if you have a straightforward birth you will probably be home before you know it. Round here people are coming home 24 hours post c section in fact. It's sold as being good for Mums, but I suspect it's cost savings really. But hardly anyone seems to be in hospital for any length of time post birth so it's maybe more important to think about what you have at home than in your hospital bag?

Certainly weren’t kept for emergencies in the hospital we were in.

well, for babies that need them. Not for people to stock up. Buy your own formula.

I planned to breastfeed but my milk didn’t come in so having the formula was extremely useful, definitely take it and then you’re prepared for either.

Well after DS had oxygen at birth and refused to breastfeed he needed them. It’s not like DH backed a truck up to the door and filled it 😂

You used the term stole...

Well, it is probably going to be a section. I’m unsure, it probably sounds really stupid but I do think psychologically me buying formula and bottles feels like giving up. Equally though, I really don’t want it to be like last time where the whole thing turned into an expensive mess.

But when a newborn is screaming for food, there's no way they can hang around for half an hour while someone pops to the shop!

I wouldn't take it, no. We BF and when the hospital decided baby needed more, they provided a very small amount of formula (in a cup, not a bottle). so I don't think you need it.

Try the colostrum collecting if you can. Fantastic reassurance if you got some stored away. Your midwife will provide the little syringes and instructions.

I combi fed. I had emergency c sections and drips and tubes made feeding very awkward. My first i was bullied i to breastfeeding before he was hungry and while i was too unwell. It was upsetting and stressful and intrusive. The bf nurse was rude amd unwilling to listen and told me only a bad parent would deny their child breast milk. It was a bad start in an already difficult situation but i did breast feed though also topped up with hungry baby formula as he was sucking me dry and the health visitor said she had never seen a baby who took so much feed and so often in her whole career! My second child would not breast feed for live nor money. Was and still is a lazy wee sod so i expressed and bottle fed but because he was another c section I took disposable ready made bottles of formula in with me and used them and took no shit or bullying from the bf nurse - the same one again. The hospital I was in would jot provide bottles, cold storage or formula to mothers so if you wanted to bottle feed it was all on you - not east for many c section mothers. My subsequent children were both bottlefed in hospital and combi fed at home. Do what makes you feel most confident - one way does bot negate the other no matter what they tell you even if once you are home you decide to express and bottle feed. Your body, your child, your choice, nobody else's business.

OP, I had a horrid experience with my first. Miserable. Exclusively formula by six weeks.

I was really nervous about the second. I asked to speak to the hospital's specialist breastfeeding support nurse during my pregnancy, and made sure they knew how horrific the first time was and how nervous I felt. It probably helped that this was a different hospital(!) but they agreed I needed support and the specialist would be asked to attend asap once my baby was born. I also bought four bottles and a four pack of ready-made formula and took one of each in the hospital bag. I told myself it was just in case, and that they would certainly be used at some stage even if breast feeding went well.

It turned out that the specialist came and helped true to her word, but the second baby was totally different to the first and it all clicked instantly. The formula came in for a night out when baby was about three months old. The bottles were handy as I did some expressing from time to time.

For my third I was able to be more relaxed, and I didn't take anything in the hospital bag. I was confident the hospital would provide it if essential. It was trickier than the second, but I had enough experience to work through it by then.

Buy some formula for your bag if it helps you feel in control. It doesn't mean you're giving up. You already know it won't hurt your baby and could come in handy at a later stage. And do ask early for specialist support. And very best of luck to you and your family.

No one will have to do this. The ward will be able to make up a bottle if necessary.

In theory but they are so busy …

And thanks by the way - have held off buying any as I don’t want to think about it but I’ll obviously have to!

I didn’t manage to breastfeed and I’m not a failure. Nothing happened.

Of course you aren’t! I said I failed to breastfeed, I am not a personal failure!

Hi OP, I haven’t read the full thread and this may have already been mentioned but as you struggled last time, it may be worth trying the ‘rugby ball hold’with new baby. I couldn’t feed my first two as it was so difficult and painful and I think I lasted around 3 days.

Whilst pregnant with my third a midwife mentioned this position as worth a go (this may not be relevant but she mentioned it was particularly good for larger women).

I fed my son without any difficulty until he was 9mths old (and bit me!) . No pain, no split nipples, no issue at all. I did the same with my fourth child 13 years later and had the exact same trouble - free experience.

I really recommend it!

I never tried breast feeding - not a failure either. Still had healthy babies - your success in how you feed your DC’s isn’t determined by how you do it.

I don’t think anyone is talking about women who choose to formula feed from the outset though @Parker231 . Choice is everything and my personal choice would be to breastfeed; I don’t want it taking from me.

Would not take formula in. Breastfeeding needs determination and dedication.

The same happened to me but I was just planning to express and combi feed. I had planned to do colostrum syringes ready for the first feed but that didn’t really happen. I’m going to try harder with the colostrum syringes this time and I’m taking some to hand express in hospital but also taking one box of the ready made bottles. I think it’s more just about being confident in your choice! I’m much more confident I will manage it this time as that will be my focus whereas last time I was so taken aback by the entire experience I wasn’t fussed how baby was fed so just let it pass me by