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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Is it normal to take milk/bottles onto maternity ward in case you can't breastfeed?

43 replies

nymphadora · 28/07/2010 07:25

I have a big gap between dd2 and this one & friend who is ahead of me has just had her antenatal clasess.

She was told to take bottles & milk in case she can't breastfeed. I wasn't planning on buying them until I needed them as last time when there was problems (and dd2 not tsking to it) I still managed 2 days before circumstances made it impossible.

Dh will be with me & will be able to go to the v near 24 hour supermarkets if really needed. So I really don't see the point.

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 28/07/2010 07:48

That sounds very odd to me.

MrsGravy · 28/07/2010 07:51

I wouldn't bother - for the reasons you mentioned! I always have a couple of cartons of formula at home just in case, this helps me psychologically when I'm getting breastfeeding established. When it's hard going I tell myself I can stop at anytime. Which makes me feel able to keep going a bit longer!

CantSleepWontSleep · 28/07/2010 07:54

Not normal, no.

bigstripeytiger · 28/07/2010 08:05

That doesnt sound normal.

In contrast to MrsGravys experience I found that I was better off not having any formula around. I always found the middle of the night the worst time for feeding in the early days, and I think that if I had had formula in the house there is a risk that I might have used it.
As it was, I knew that I had to keep feeding till the morning at least, and then buy the morning things were usually OK again.

pebblejones · 28/07/2010 08:10

When I was pregnant I asked my midwife this same question, her answer was... It is unlikely that you won't be able to breastfeed but if you can't the hospital has all of the major formula brands just in case, they will only supply it if you intend to breastfeed and can't, not if you plan on formula feeding (in those cases bring your own).

MumNWLondon · 28/07/2010 08:32

I have never taken. The chances are you will be able to fed, and if you can't and the baby needs to be fed formula they will have.

If they do need formula and you still plan to breastfeed they'll probably suggest cup feeding not from a bottle and as you say ready to use formula easily available.

mamatomany · 28/07/2010 08:35

They don't need to eat in the first 3 days anyway, it always amazes me people stuff 3oz's down baby's with tummy's that would actually be happy with a dribble of colstrum.

trixgus · 28/07/2010 08:43

I did not take any formula/bottles to the hospital as planned to breast feed so did not even consider it. However, baby would not latch on so ended up bottle feeding whilst in hospital. As we had no equipment we kept having to ask the staff for formula after a fraught hour trying to breast feed, then another half hour wait for the formula to arrive. Then when we wanted to go home, the staff wanted to make sure we could feed from own bottles, so my mum ended up having to rush to boots in the snow to pick up supplies to bring to the hospital. To be honest, it was an added stress we could have done without.

Next time I would definately take a couple of bottles and some formula cartons just in case- then if breast feeding is problematic for any reason, you do not have the added stress of not having the supplies. No harm in being prepared if things don't quite go how you expect.

I think it is quite common for some babies not to breast feed straight away- I remember sitting in hospital in tears as my husband gave my DH her first feed from a bottle as this was so not how I had though it would be. But from day 5, she eventually latched on and I am still breast feeding now at 6 1/2 months

izzybiz · 28/07/2010 08:47

I have FF all 3 of my children and the hospital has always provided the milk.
They had all the main brands and I just chose which one I wanted to use.

Im sure your BF will go fine.

tiktok · 28/07/2010 10:09

nymphadora - best to contact the maternity ward and ask them what their policy is.

I have never heard of a unit telling mothers what your friend was told.

If you plan to ff, then some places ask you to bring in your own supplies.

If you plan to breastfeed, and for some reason you change your mind/breastfeeding goes badly, then I would be surprised if they did not permit use of bottles from their own supplies.

japhrimel · 28/07/2010 10:11

No, it's not normal. If there is a medical need for formula, the hospital has it. But it's very rare for that to be the case and more hospitals are moving over to a "baby friendly" policy where they don't make it known that they have formula & won't offer it to you unless there is a definite medical need. Babies don't need much milk in the first few days anyway - you need to work on the latch so they can get colostrum & stimulate supply but they won't actually be getting much milk.

Your friend's antenatal class might actually be contravening the health guidelines if they were NHS classes - they're not allowed to promote formula or formula feeding as exclusive breastfeeding is best for the first 6 months healthwise according to the WHO.

You only need to take bottles & formula if you are choosing to formula feed.

Chooks · 28/07/2010 10:21

Not normal, if absolutley neccessary the hospital can provide?

itwascertainlyasurprise · 28/07/2010 10:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
nymphadora · 28/07/2010 14:55

Thanks I think she has wrong end of stick but will see when I get closer to the actual packing etc!

OP posts:
plantsitter · 28/07/2010 15:36

Everyone's entitled to have their meals in hospital on the NHS, and that includes hours old babies. The hospital supplies formula for this reason and I have met a few unsympathetic midwives in my time but none who would let a baby go hungry because they didn't agree with the mother's feeding decision!

LolaKnickers · 28/07/2010 15:39

Interested in mamatomany's point that brand new babies need v little milk. I ff and had midwives fussing round when my daughter would only drink teeny tiny amounts of bottle on the first / second day. MWs kept insisting she should be taking 3oz. I gnored it them as forcing her to take more seemed like some sort of baby foie gras.

StealthPolarBear · 28/07/2010 15:40

I agree with this being a really bad idea if you plan/want to bf - and I did have bottles and milk in at home just in case.
Difference is, in theory, in hospital you are surrounded by people whose job it is to help you breastfeed successfully. If you've chosen to bring in a just-in-case bottle then that is sending the wrong message. You should go in with the assumption that you can and will do it, and will get the help you need.

StealthPolarBear · 28/07/2010 15:41

lol and urgh at baby foie gras - I know what you mean!
I thought you were meant to ff on demand, especially in the early days! Good for you for sticking to your guns.

DaisySteiner · 28/07/2010 15:49

Tiktok - I know of a unit where if you change your mind about breastfeeding you are categorically NOT allowed to use hospital supplies. They are only available to babies who need formula for medical reasons. Partners are advised to locate their nearest 24 hour supermarket and bring some in and if they can't then mum has to carry on breastfeeding until they can.

tiktok · 28/07/2010 18:25

Daisy - I dont think that's unreasonable if there is a nearby 24 hr supermarket and someone to get it for the mother, though.

I don't think any maternity unit would allow a baby to be unhappy and hungry/thirsty though, as a result of the mum not feeding (and no one able to bring in formula) - a baby not being breastfed and being distressed through hunger or thirst is a medical necessity in my book

japhrimel · 28/07/2010 19:36

The hospital will give formula if there is a medical need, but a normal breastfed baby won't actually be getting much food during the first few days until mum's milk comes in. It is normal for newborns to lose some weight during this period. That does NOT make it a medical necessity to give formula.

www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

Refusing to breastfeed is completely different to "not being able to breastfeed". Hardly anyone is actually not able to breastfeed, especially those women who give birth to full-term babies and haven't had operations or health conditions affecting their breasts or milk supply. If you're having issues, you need help with latching, baby health issues, etc but that doesn't mean you can't breastfeed!

If you're not going to breastfeed, then yes you need to take in formula (refusing to breastfeed doesn't equal medical necessity). But if you want to breastfeed, you definitely don't.

reallytired · 28/07/2010 21:59

If you are serious about breastfeeding then I think its mistake to buy formula. It is too easy to give into temptation.

I suggest that you read as much as you can about getting breastfeeding to work. This is an excellent book.

www.amazon.co.uk/Food-Love-Formula-Successful-Breastfeeding/dp/0954930959

Make sure you know the theory of how a baby should be positioned. When you are deadly tired after giving birth is the wrong time to learn.

This is an alternative way to get a baby to latch on if the standard NHS method doesn't work for you.

www.biologicalnurturing.com/

You have to believe that you will make a sucess of it. In my experience if breastfeeding is seriously going wrong the hospital will have no hestiation in finding some formula for your baby.

mears · 28/07/2010 22:10

I remember the 'old days' when we used to give BF mothers a tin of formula 'just incase breastfeeding did not work'. This was proven to be a a detrimental thing to do for breastfeeding so i cannot imagine this being hospital policy. There will always be formula available on hospital for babies who truly need it. Having formula 'just in case' is a recipe for disaster on the BF front

Fibilou · 29/07/2010 01:15

Sounds like setting you up for failure to me and that they would be likelier to tell you to use a bottle rather than help you with establishing BFing.

Fibilou · 29/07/2010 01:16

I'm another one who refused to buy bottles or formula as I was determined to breast feed and the presence of FFing stuff in the middle of mastitis would have been very tempting

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