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Infant feeding

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

to expect a bit more support and information re formula feeding

97 replies

Cazm2 · 15/04/2012 21:45

I have been ff since three days after my 3 week old was born.I had terrible labour and lost a lot of blood . I coukdnt get a proper supply going and in baby's,best interests we switched m. However cos nhs health professionals won't be very forthcoming with information re cf. I know breast is best but I can't fins hardly info. Official doc were made bug xestoyed. Very conflicting info re making up feeds in advance et !
Ldnt

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 15/04/2012 21:53

I think I've got what you're saying.

Have you checked online?

There must be loads of info on there?

kelly2525 · 15/04/2012 21:53

What sort information are you looking for?

All the formula manufactures have websites, or you can buy the ready made cartons, that's what my family had to do because I was too ill to look after my son, its more expensive but convenient.

JellyMould · 15/04/2012 21:54

The NHS website is pretty good I think.

Pumpster · 15/04/2012 21:55

The instructions are on the side of the tin!

FirstLastEverything · 15/04/2012 21:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

curiositykitten · 15/04/2012 21:56

Not sure what support you need to FF? The instructions were always on the tin when I FF?

featherbag · 15/04/2012 21:58

The latter part of your OP makes no sense! But YANBU regardless, I had to switch to ff after my long & tortured efforts to bf failed and my prem DS was becoming dehydrated and constipated. Once I finally made the decision, ALL support from the health professionals ceased. In fact, when I phoned the NICU for advice, the nurse skirted around the issue as I sobbed down the line before telling me, in hushed tones and after checking there was no-one else in earshot, that she wasn't allowed to tell me to stop bf so she wasn't saying this, but go and buy some formula.

wigglesrock · 15/04/2012 21:58

If you pop over to breast and bottle feeding there should be a thread knocking about re advice and what other posters did etc. There's an NHS leaflet that your midwife should have - mine did.

featherbag · 15/04/2012 21:59

Do you mean things like how much, how often, on demand or try to get a routine going, which brand, what're the differences in types of bottles, etc. etc.?

MadameChinLegs · 15/04/2012 22:06

Op if you have questions, list them and ither ffers can maybe help?

knowwhenyouhavebeenbeaten · 15/04/2012 22:10

What do you want to know? YANBU but tbh the information you recieve about Bf can be pretty wrong limited. Smile

Midori1999 · 15/04/2012 22:28

Surely the instructions are on the tin and there are guidelines on the WHO website too.

Also, I know it's not what you asked, but there is a lot of misinformation out there and at 3 days post birth your milk may not have even come in yet and that can be normal after a 'normal' birth too. If this was the case, colostrum is enough until your milk does come in. Might be useful to know if you want to try and BF your next baby.

LentillyFart · 15/04/2012 22:32

I'll try to help.

You have a baby right?
You can't BF through no fault of your own.

Ok. FF. Follow instructions on tin.

There are no other choices.

glamourousgranny42 · 15/04/2012 22:41

Hi op. My daughter has just had the same experience. I used to make up feeds in the morning but now this is not advised. We have beeen told sterilsed bottles and boiled water can be kept at room temp during the day. Just make sure that water is warm enough for powder to dissolve. Feed at least every 4 hrs or when they need it Don't beat urself up abou stopping bf. You need to do what's best for you n baby x

ABigGirlDoneItAndRanAway · 15/04/2012 22:43

I found that a lot of formula feeding was trial and error, like you I had planned to breastfeed but for similar reasons it didn't happen. I found the avent bottles best for a refluxy baby, the ones with the ring that fits inside the bottle. A lot of it depends on your baby, some formula fed babies prefer the formula warm, DD preferred it at room temperature. Don't worry too much what the guidelines on the tin say about volumes that the baby should be taking at different ages, it's only a rough guide and the baby will let you know if they need more or pull away if they need less. I used the ready made cartons when out and about as it was so much easier than faffing with powder dispensers.

WorraLiberty · 15/04/2012 22:45

Lentilly

Of course there are other choices

She could buy herself a lactating dog and lay the baby underneath it.

God, you're such a pessimist at times....

Shagmundfreud · 15/04/2012 22:45

Instructions on the tin:

How to make up a feed
How much to feed baby

Formula companies ALL have helplines for info on ff

Really though, it sounds like what you are actually looking for is to feel supported in your decision not to bf. Thats not unreasonable.

Shagmundfreud · 15/04/2012 22:47

Glam - formula should be made up with water of no less than 70 degrees.

wigglesrock · 15/04/2012 22:47

No, the water is boiled in the kettle around a litre of water - leave to cool for no more than 30 mins if its a litre.

Make up the bottles - water first then add the formula, shake.

If you need to make up more than one bottle at a time, make them up, flash cool them then store them in the back of fridge until needed. Although making up several bottles at a time is not best practice this is the "safest" practical way of doing it, or use cartons.

The formula is not sterile that's why the water needs to be freshly boiled

I made up 2/3 at a time, my dds have all been fed on demand so no routine until they found their way. They also cluster fed took around two bottles or so in quick succession.

Don't keep the premade bottles out all day and throw away any formula that your baby hasn't drunk within an hour or so.

MorrisZapp · 15/04/2012 22:51

Yanbu

FourYolksAche · 15/04/2012 22:51

YANBU. I started a similar AIBU a few weeks ago as I was pissed off not just at the lack of info, but that HCPs frequently give the wrong and unsafe info on how to make up bottles. GlamorousGranny, for example, is wrong Sad Angry Powdered formula should always, always be made up with water over 70 degrees to kill bacteria present in the powder. That's the single most important thing. Sterilise all equipment and bottles, store premade bottles in fridge if you want and reheat safely for no more than ten minutes.

I'll say it again - YANBU.

FourYolksAche · 15/04/2012 22:52

Cross posted with wiggles - exactly!!!

Shagmundfreud · 15/04/2012 22:52

The formula is not sterile, which is why the water needs to be 70 degrees or above. To kill the bugs in the powder. And sorry - you are right that the water should be boiled first.

This is a good leaflet:
here

tethersend · 15/04/2012 22:53

"Ok. FF. Follow instructions on tin.

There are no other choices."

There are I'm afraid...

I had a very windy FF baby and switching to easy digest formula and Dr Brown's bottles made an incredible difference. Two variables straight away.

I also fed on demand. Many prefer to schedule feeds.

It's not just 'breast or bottle' and then no further choices.

AwkwardMaryHadAnEasterLamb · 15/04/2012 22:53

Oh some of you are SO rude. "Instructions on the tin" indeed!

Do you think FF babies have NO issues with bottles or food EVER??? Or that parents might sometimes struggle with cleaning, heating and prep???

Idiots who wrote that about instructions.

OP...have you spoken to your health visitor?

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