A BF question and a FF question...

[twinklespeciallyforlittlegirls]

BF first - if you have an elective c section, will your milk "know" to come in as if you went into labour? I'm guessing so because you'll surely have oxytocin because of the baby but just wondered!

Now FF - I mix fed DC1 from about 4m but used cartons as I found mixing up feeds really annoying and could not fathom how the heck you're supposed to manage being out and about with needing to make up bottles. Most of my friends FF but they all seem to make them, let them go cold and then heat them up when needed, isn't that risky due to enteric whatever that can be present in powdered milk? I asked my HV last time who said "but aren't you breastfeeding?" in a stern voice and my friends all say I'm being paranoid about the water needing to be 70deg and not reheating etc. Maybe I am but it seems a big risk to take.

Hello I have a c section and a poorly baby but somehow still managed to bf!! The body is very clever.

I mix feed a bit and I think I used to take bottles of cooled boiled water out and then mix up with the right amount of formula when it was required (although that was 5yrs ago and have no idea if that is what the current advice is!!)

I had an ELSC booked in and asked whether it would affect my ability to bf. My doc said that there was a 30% chance I might have some problems but in those cases there were things they could do to help. As it turned out my waters broke a week before my ELSC so I had a natural start to my ELSC which may have helped my bf.

My Dsis had 2 C Sections and breastfed exlusively with both. She fed both until about 2 years old as well, so there were clearly no problems. One was 3 weeks early emergency as well, and the body still worked it out.

Can't help with FF but I'm sure someone who can will be along soon.

I think it is removing the placenta that triggers milk coming in.

Another person who can reassure you milk came in no bother after a C section - in fact it was my second baby (first VB) and the milk came in quicker than after previous.

Did mixed feed from about eight months but really can't remember what I did about that particular issue so no help there.

Oh, and with the formula - the important thing is making up the formula with 70c water. Then the best thing to do is to use it within 2 hours, but if you need to you can cool the bottle immediately and store in the back of the fridge for up to 12 hours, and then reheat and serve immediately.

For making up bottles, I agree with you and have always followed the rules to the letter, which has meant using cartons out and about and in the middle of the night. it is more expensive but I guess if you are mixed feeding the cost will be less than full ff. I know lots of people do otherwise and their babies are fine, but I wasn't prepared to take the risk. Sorry if that's not very helpful but wanted to let you know you're not the only one worrying about it!

Thanks all! I had EMCS with DC1 and had no problem with milk but was in labour for aaaaaaaaaaaages before delivery - I am likely to have ELCS this time and was a trifle confused!

Also glad it's not just me who suffers from ff panic, it did really stress me out - I am also lazy and found opening a carton very easy :)

It's not oxytocin that makes milk, but prolactin - and prolactin is produced when the placenta comes away and that comes away whether you have a section or a vaginal birth - so of course milk comes in :)

As ever - it's the temp water is at when the powder hits the water that's important (this Q must come up twice a week on these boards!) but people still confuse this with the water being boiled to kill bugs in the water only.

cold pre-boild water onto the powder is a no. It must e bild then cooled to 70 degrees.

Q for Tiktok or anyone that knows!

Does the water need to be warm when the formula is added?
I used to take out and about bottles of boiled water and add powder to that when they were ready to drink it. They were always happy to drink it with the water at room temp and I always thought that was ok!!

This was 5-10 years ago........... Eeek

Hmm it looks like DF has already answered my question!

How the heck do you know that it has reached 70 degrees?

Bizarre how Im now feeling paranoid that I did something wrong by boiling and then adding the formula hours later...........

Laura water at 70 degrees is to kill bugs that are on the powder, so really not something to worry about now! :)

Nooo Im not worried now Im just confused about how come if its a concern my babies survived (cos they drank quite a bit of formula powder added to cold milk)

And how the heck can you tell water has cooled to 70 degrees (thicko emotion)

Sorry for hijack twinkle - good luck with your new baby :)

Laura, if I do my cats litter box and then touch my baby's food, she probably won't get any nasty germs. If I dropped my baby's food on the road and pick it up and give it back to her, she probably won't have any problems.

It's just known that formula isn't sterile. (See this press release from the food standards agency, first hit from google from an official website). There is a chance that your baby might get sick. I'm sure the chance isn't very high. but would you want to risk it? And if you do, then you should at least be informed and be taking a calculated risk.

Laura - as Lilham said, it's not that using cold water will hurt the baby, it's that using cold water increases the risk. It's just like driving a car without your baby in the car seat doesn't mean they'll be injured (and many of us survived that growing up), but it does make it more likely.

I had an ELCS with DD and milk came in day 3/4 fine and she breastfed very well.
Although i had an emergency c-section with DS (DC1) and milk didn't come in till day 6 and we had huge issues with his latch as he was jaundiced.

It's not a massive risk to do them with cold water, but it is safer to make them up with hot. (and then cool down if needed)

I think it goes against the instructions and advice to make them with cold water doesn't it? Because it can be a risk. You need to kill the bacteria in the powder and the water has to be at least 70 degrees to do so.

A litre of water boiled and left in the kettle will be about 70 degrees after 20-30 minutes (hence the instructions on the box).