Will having bottles in the house make BF less successful?

[mixedmamameansbusiness]

A little history.

DS1 BF/FF for 2 weeks, much depression and niety surrrounding this and other things so failed

DS2 BF for 4 weeks but baby lost so mch weight MW said they would take him back to hosp if it didnt improve cue FF and another failure.

DS3 due inMarch and I still want to give it another go. I knwo where to get all the help early this time and am more confident. I know I will possibly want to express at some point so am wondering whether I should have some bottles in jus in case, a friends MW suggested having some formula just in case but dont want to set myself up to fail.

Have them, if you really don't want to use them you don't have to, but what happens if it is 3am and the baby won't latch or something. I think it is safest to have them just in case. No doubt others will disagree though!

It kind of depends on you - I know lots of people will say oh no, don't have them, it makes it too easy. However, for me, having the bottles/formula there made me feel less stressed, so able to try and get the BFing right.

I mix-fed DD1 for about 8weeks, then bfed till 9 months, bfed DD2 from birth to 10 months (though they both had bottles during the day from 7/8 months when I went back to work) and bfed DD3 to 16 months (though she hated bottles and went straight to a cup).

And pleeeease remember, it's not a 'fail' - parenting is not a score sheet, and formula is not poison!

It depends on if you really think you'd be tempted to give up just because you have bottles/formula in the cupboard.

I never quite understood those who said don't let them over your threshold if you plan to BF because you still have to make a concious decision to use them, they don't jump out and feed your baby themselves but then I am of the camp that likes to be prepared for all eventualities without worrying about the need for a 3am drive to Tesco!

you know yourself best.
I had them and didn't use them; they don't jump out of their packaging and dance around like the household implements in a Disney film saying 'Use us! Use us!'
But if you feel like you are battling your own tendency to give up, not having them in the house can be a useful nudge to make it easier for you to perservere.
if it is 3am and the baby won't latch.... well, it won't come to any harm between then and the morning. But if having them makes you feel calmer about the whole enterprise, well, anything that lowers your stress level is probably good.

trust your instincts.

Totally personal decision. We had bottles in the house when dd was born because someone gave them to us and we hadn't got round to passing them on. It didn't influence BFing at all. In terms of establishing BFing I think it's more important whether baby gets the hang of it quickly and whether you have access to good support if problems do arise.

Good luck.

I don't think its a problem. I had them in a kitchen cupboard where they stayed until DD was 6 weeks as she just latched on at day 1 and stayed on my boob! Bottles are now back in the cupboard as, despite trying with ebm from 6 weeks, DD won't tolerate a bottle in her mouth. She's now nearly 4 months and we're introducing a cup!

Having the bottles in the house won't affect your baby's ability to latch on etc and if you are determined to bf, I am sure you will succeed! I guess the only reason I can think of not to have them is if your DP/DH is not 100% pro bf. My DH is v pro bf and was very encouraging at those 3am moments! However, if, just after birth, I had a DH who was grabbing bottles of formula and suggesting I use them because bf was hard work and he was concerned for me, I may in my weakened and knackered state have relented.... This happened to a friend of mine when she had bad mastitis. She was obviously in pain etc so, trying to be kind, her DH prepared a bottle of formula for their 5 day old baby. My friend in her slightly delusional, exhausted and in pain state agreed and their DD is now ff. Its not her DH's fault at all, but my friend does regret it now... What is your DP/DH's attitude?

I think the reasion a lot of people say don't have them is that the stats actualy show you are less likely to sucsead at BF if you bottles in the house.

I'd say the best thing to have is a list of helpline phone no's by your phone.

Plus if baby isn't gaining weight well there are things that can be done with BF to help with weight gain you just need the right help.

National Breastfeeding Helpline
0300 100 0212

NCT Breastfeeding Helpline
0300 330 0771

La Leche League Helpline
0845 120 2918

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
08444 122 949

Good luck, and well done you for wanting to try again.

I didn't have bottles in the house. And there were times (mostly nights) that I would have definitely reached for them if they were there. So in hindsight I'm pleased that I didn't but I did have some tearful nights (me and the baby) in the first few weeks which weren't fun!

Thanks everyone. I might just go without and see how we go. We have a brilliant peer support system in my borough too which I have memorised the number to to make sure someone comes round as soon as we are out of the hosp to help me.

I think I will forgo the bottles until I decide about a breast pump and I want to get established first.

Sorry for using the word fail - I hope that didnt upset anyone who didnt manage it like me, just made me feel like I failed a little the first time esepcially but am very pleased that I am going to try again.

Good for you mixedmama- sounds like you have a really good positive attitude.

There's loads of great info on kellymom.com and you can watch videos of a good latch and good drinking at drjacknewman.com.

...and you know you'll get lots of help and encouragement on here if you do happen to run in to any problems.

Hope it all goes well for you.