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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

FF just curious

34 replies

catwhiskers10 · 23/02/2011 20:31

This isn't a thread about FF vs BF.
I BF my DD so have never used formula and there's a few things I've wondered about.

  1. if you formula feed from day one, does your milk still come in and if so what happens? Do they give you tablets to take it away or does it just go away itself?
  2. just say you are going out and can't get hot water to make up a feed? What do you do? Or do the rules of 70c water and not making bottles up on advance not really work in practice?
  3. do you feed formula "on demand" or to a schedule?
  4. do you have to give the baby water aswell or is it an optional extra? I'm just being nosey really. :)
OP posts:
Udderly · 25/02/2011 03:01

Gaelicsheep ya see, I wouldn't have a clue as I don't FF, but would have presumed that it was ok as its being sold for that purpose! There is a lesson in there for me!!

OnEdge · 25/02/2011 03:51

Monoid It is written on the side of the Boxes of Formula.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 25/02/2011 03:57
  1. if you formula feed from day one, does your milk still come in and if so what happens? Do they give you tablets to take it away or does it just go away itself?

I FF DS2 from 3 days old, my milk finally came in about day 6 Shock (my boobs were just, well normal boobs before that was most odd Hmm). Anyhow, it came, and it just kinda went again.........eventually actually no - it took about 6 months for my boobs to stop producing milk when tweaked Shock

  1. just say you are going out and can't get hot water to make up a feed? What do you do? Or do the rules of 70c water and not making bottles up on advance not really work in practice?

I used to break all the rules and either take a bottle that was really really hot - and then cool it down when needed, or a cold one from the fridge (yes broke that rule too Blush) and heat it up when required.

  1. do you feed formula "on demand" or to a schedule?

Fed on demand.

  1. do you have to give the baby water aswell or is it an optional extra?

No never did

gaelicsheep · 25/02/2011 20:21

Baroque, the guidelines I linked to do allow for making up bottles safely in advance, refridgerating and taking out on a cool bag. Smile

gaelicsheep · 25/02/2011 21:03

New ff guidelines for parents just released. They do allow for making up in advance, but it is very hidden away. They are very much pushing for making up as needed or using ready mades, which certainly are the safest options. However it can be very difficult if you are feeding a very unpredictable baby on demand. Anyhow lots of useful information in there. Smile

wigglesrock · 25/02/2011 21:08

Hi, just had baby no3 (10 days ago) and formula feed :

Yes, milk comes in, its very sore, lasts a while, a bit leaky then stops as its not being used.

I use ready made cartons when I'm out and about, but she usually sleeps when out in the pram.

I ff on demand and have no need to give her water yet.

By the way re info on formula, making up bottles correctly etc, before I left the hospital, the midwife came round and talked to all those formula feeding and double checked we all knew what we were doing re change in advice etc, gave out leaflets. The community midwife also did the same. Today was my 1st Health Visitor visit, she also walked/talked me through the bottlemaking, had lots of info and the same leaflet again. She had a tick sheet, she was working through to make sure she had covered everything.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 26/02/2011 08:32

really gaelic - that's interesting so they changed the guidelines again - wish they'd make up their minds - it doesn't reallly help parents who do FF Grin

Was definitely "breaking the rules" when I did it with DS2 and 3 years ago I just didn't want to sit around waiting for 1/2hr to feed, and I certainly wasn't buying ready made Shock

Original poster
catwhiskers10 · 26/02/2011 09:59

Seems they change the guidelines for FF a lot!
I found that when I was pregnant there was not much info given on FF and you were really pressurised to BF. I think I would have done it anyway and I'm lucky that I have never had any real problems BF but the way FF was discussed at the parenting class I went to when pregnant I think I would have been scared to ask about FF at all. In a 2 hour talk on feeding baby there was a quick chat about FF and that was mainly to say how much trouble it was, how it wasn't best for baby etc and the rest was all BF promotion. Considering most of the people at the class were planning to FF I didn't think this was acceptable and would put people off asking HV for advice re FF and could mean people aren't following the guidelines.

OP posts:
gaelicsheep · 26/02/2011 20:43

Sorry no, not changed the guidelines, just issued a new publication that spells them out. Why they didn't do that 4 or 5 years ago I don't know.

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