Is organic formula ok for 5week old, as a one off while i'm away?

[mammainlove]

My baby is 5weeks old, i breastfeed and have to be away from her tomorrow evening for the first time for 4 hours, leaving her with Granny. I planned to express but have found i wont be able to express enough in time, it's taken me all day to express just 100mls, which will only do for one feed (she's 12lbs). I've always hated the idea of formula, but am considering buying some organic formula tomorrow. I feel bit guilty about doing this.. Do you think it will be ok as a one off? Has anyone tried Hippo organic, or can recommend any others? Thanks x

oh my gods... a one of formula feed is fine! No need for water, just have one single tiny carton of pre-made aptimil/whatever for her in case your EBM runs out.

Tiktok, as always, speaks sense. If you really really don't want to give formula, then don't leave her unless you have stores of EBM. Not being mean, just trying to simplify for you

You do all know that feeding babies is what formula milk is designed for, right?

No. Formula milk is designed to make money for large corporations, actually. Formula milk is marketed as a substitute for normal baby feeding, which is drinking breastmilk from a breast. Formula feeding is a risk. This mother needs 4 hours. Formula is not necessary for her, as she will be able to express enough milk by the time the needs to leave, and can feed just before and directly after. Her baby will not need much milk in 4 hours and will definitely survive. Therefore the risk to benefit ratio is very high in this case.

slouching, you are talking utter, total and complete bollocks.

I've never seen such extremist views on MN before. It's obviously pro BF, but I've never seen it being so anti FF

I started FF after 5 weeks, pray tell me what irrevocable damage I've done to my now 2 1/2 son, you sensationalist prat..

loving your post, jareth

Hear hear Jareth

I' m as pro bfing as they come but Slouch, you are WAAAAAY over the top

You're right Jareth. I am as extreme as...the WHO! Those radical freaks. Formula milk is designed by the most lovey, cuddly, uncynical, unicorn riding charities, using the best science out there...to save the babies from the biological norm. Using the very best ingredients obviously. Of course the formula of which you speak is a live fluid, just like breastmilk! FULL of antibodies for the specific ickle germies mummy and baby have come into contact with each day. Yeah, it's magic stuff. You walk by it in Tesco, and it matches itself to your genetic make-up.

If this mother decides to formula feed, more power to her. I am simply stating the facts, ma'am. Oh and by the way I gave just one bottle once upon a time...

I am SO not over the top. Come on!

Formula does exist to make a profit. Otherwise, it would be a specialist, prescription only product.

It is a risk. Degree of risk dependent on other circumstances but a risk none the less.

Oh heck. Or, we could debate the fact that although BF is perfect for babies, the pressure to BF perfectly (i.e completely exclusively) actually puts a big bunch of women off.

I suspect that the odd formula bottle, for a mostly breastfed baby, may well ensure that baby receives breast milk for much longer than it would if the mother thinks that once a single bottle of formula is given, all the benefits are lost. I'm not talking about giving a bottle when there is EBM to use instead, or doing it enough to undermine milk supply. I realise some of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding are lost, but every breast feed counts. Just the odd occasion where you get to put your tits away for 2 or 3 whole hours can help some people to cope with the demands of breastfeeding.

I think its a bit like having a biscuit on a diet: if it feels like you have failed with what you were trying to acheive, you don't stop at one biscuit but rather eat the whole pack and forget the flipping diet....

must add, I do realise the effect of just one bottle on gut flora and of several bottles on milk supply. I am talking about the odd bottle.

jareth totally with you on this one.

Op ignore the hysteria a one off ff bottle will be absolutely fine. get a ready made carton then you can't go wrong re preparation and all that.

Go out, don't feel guilty and enjoy yourself, you've done pregnancy and childbirth and now you're bf, you are a person in your own right and deserve a break and some fun.

try expressing a bit more but don't beat yourself up over a one off bottle of formula.

the majority of babies are ff and they are fine, and they are fine as children and adults too (and i bf both of mine for the requisite 6m btw WITH quite a few supplementary bottles of formula if i needed to have a life for a few hours)

One of the biggest reasons that the World Health Organisation has those recommendations is that the preparation and availability of formula in many countries is undesirable at best, disease ridden at worst. BF is the safest, healthiest and most suitable option for feeding a child in every single country in the world. In some countries, formula feeding is downsright dangerous due to misinformation, water supply, lack of sanitary conditions, illiteracy, financial reasons etc etc etc.

I am NOT underermining breastfeeding in the slightest. It is obviously the best, most suitable, most available and nourishing way to feed a baby. The point I am trying to make is that if someone in the developed world chooses formula feeding then it's not the end of the fucking world (unlike when Nestle encouraged impoverished women that their babies need the extra vitamins in their powdered milk, resulting in all sorts of problems with the mothers milk drying up, no money to buy more formula and no clean water to make it up with)

Anyway, as a repeat to my answer to the OP - if you are intent on your baby only having BM until 6 or 12 mo, then simply don't leave her.

I never said a bottle would be the end of the fucking world. I simply said that, in this particular case, it is, IMO, IME, probably unnecessary.

And I find it downright bizarre that you, Jareth, suggest that a baby fed breastmilk only can't be left for 6 - 12 months. No pressure from you then! Jesus Christ. For fucks sake. That is ludicrous.

I find it interesting that so many people seem to want breastfeeding mothers to give just one bottle. Hmm. When a solution to support the breastfeeding relationship, without recourse to a commercial product, can almost always be easily found.

I never once suggested that someone breastfeeding should never once leave their child for up to 12 months (ludicrous, honestly )

"And I find it downright bizarre that you, Jareth, suggest that a baby fed breastmilk only can't be left for 6 - 12 months. No pressure from you then! Jesus Christ. For fucks sake. That is ludicrous."

I suggested that if the OP didn't want to leave her 5 week old baby as she was breastfeeding, then that would be a perfectly normal and acceptable course of action. I never suggested that someone with an older baby shouldn't ever leave them.

You seem more concerned about the commercial aspects of formula feeding, and the insensives of the formula companies.

incentives, apologies

I am really suprised by this thread.

Its one bottle so the OP can go out for a few hours.

One bottle!

I am very pro BF. Have BF 4 of my 5 DCs (one is adopted) so have no FF axe to grind.

Breast is best and all that but formula is not poison!

I am a v. experienced bfer and I still find expressing difficult. It took me a whole week to express enough for a night out on my birthday. Granted, DC5 is a piglet but I didnt need gallons

OP have a nice time.

And I agree with the carton tip. When I mix feed my DCs I use them. They are expensive but if you are not geared up for exclusive ff they are well handy.

'Anyway, as a repeat to my answer to the OP - if you are intent on your baby only having BM until 6 or 12 mo, then simply don't leave her.'

Sorry, Jareth, I read this as, well, if you want your baby to only have BM for 6-12 months, then simply don't leave her

And yes, I am concerned about the commercial aspects, the incentives, and the collusion of women who seem hellbent on promoting formula feeding to breastfeeding mothers experiencing challenges whenever possible despite there being easy breastfeeding supportive solutions available most of the time.

I once promoted formula feeding to a mother who was being woken all night by her BFing baby! At a breastfeeding group. At the time, I wasn't able to see this, but now I understand it made me feel better to think that perhaps I could get someone else to fail at breastfeeding too.

I think it happens a lot.

This ties in with what temper and everything said about all or nothing, and the sense of failure and pressure from both sides.

It would not be so easy to 'fail' if BFing mothers were better supported to continue breastfeeding through temporary challenges, rather then encouraged by almost everyone, most of all formula companies, but a great deal by other mothers, to give a bottle at the first sign of trouble.

slouching - I;m going to bow out of this thread now as i'm sure the OP didn't intend for it to turn into a a BF/FF debate (sorry OP), because you sound very blinkered and incapable of reasonable debate. I've explained any misunderstanding about my post (wrt the 6-12mo thing) yet you choose to pick that apart, rather than acknowledge my valid comments about the WHO etc.

OP, enjoy your night out, I agree with whoever said pump first thing in the morning, you should get more that way. Oats are very good for promoting supply.

Please don't feel guilty if you decide to give one single carton of formula, but (as I was trying to explain) if you really only want her to have BF at the moment, just stay home. She is only 5 weeks old after all.

And congratulations on your newborn. x

I'm on my phone so cannot access link. Can someone explain what happens to a baby's gut when they get formula please? My dd is exclusively bf.

Argh. The choices are not a) give formula or b) stay home.

There's also c) pump and feed EBM and d) stay gone for a shorter period of time

Yes, you're right about the WHO. 'One of the biggest reasons is'...etc. But sanitation etc is not the only reason it's recommended for babies in every country in the world. FF is a risk even here. But you're right, this ain't the thread.

Like I said, i'm out..someone else point out that I've already addressed everything that STW said?

OP, another thread in the morning might be a good idea

It is exactly formulated to be what a baby needs, just without the bonding/antibodies. As a one off, tho, of course its fine. Yes its not ideal, but its not gonna do any damage. SOrry to burst the bubble of scare mongerers, but formula milk will not suddenly cause a baby to explode.

attend your appointment.use formula.many mums mix feed