Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

1 2 3 4

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:

HappyCamel · 15/04/2012 22:54

The instructions are on the side of the tin. But if you gave up on day 3 it was probably just that your milk hadn't yet come in and you were still producing colostrum, which is exactly what your baby needed (small amounts of highly nutritious milk). With that in mind, be careful that you don't approach formula feeding with that belief that your baby should be taking large quantities.

I mean that kindly because from what you've said it sounds like you didn't learn about breast or formula feeding or what to expect while you were pregnant.

wigglesrock · 15/04/2012 22:57

Yes, meant to say don't force the baby to finish a bottle, just be led by them, their tummies are totey

I just used Tommee Tippee bottles but my friends swear by Dr Brown bottles.

tethersend · 15/04/2012 22:58

In the US, some HCPs recommend not sterilising anything- here for example. I have also heard that they don't sterilise feeding equipment in SCBUs in the UK, but that may have just been a rumour... does anyone know?

Anyway, it's another potential choice to make.

AwkwardMaryHadAnEasterLamb · 15/04/2012 22:58

Camel REEEEALLLy helpful post that.

AwkwardMaryHadAnEasterLamb · 15/04/2012 22:59

tethers I think they use disposable bottles in SCUBUs but not sure...my sister says that's what her twins had but that was 8 years ago.

tethersend · 15/04/2012 23:01

I am 33 weeks and am thinking of getting Tommee Tippee bottles this time round, wiggles- are they good? Dr. Brown's are great, but a pain in the arse to clean, so would rather use something else if this one isn't windy...

tethersend · 15/04/2012 23:02

Oh yes, probably, Awkward.

wigglesrock · 15/04/2012 23:02

Yup, disposable premade glass bottles in my hospital, which if you think they might be easier you can get in Boots or Asda Cazm2 but they are expensive.

Good luck, congratulations and if you need a bit of help or have any questions please post.

babyheave1662 · 15/04/2012 23:03

I remember feeling the same when I ended up FF my DS - YANBU.

I found Dr Browns bottles too fiddly, and Avent were a good one that let air back in.

babyheave1662 · 15/04/2012 23:04

DS wouldn't take tommee Tippee, but they may have improved now.

wigglesrock · 15/04/2012 23:05

Sorry premature postage! I like Tommee Tippee, I've used them with all of my 3 dds, I just get the starter packs with the variflow teats.

Oh and OP with dd3 I had to get a new steriliser and got a microwave one - it was like a revelation to me So quick, so clean!

AwkwardMaryHadAnEasterLamb · 15/04/2012 23:07

I had poncey glass bottles from an online shop...lovely to look at and BPA free but an arse when you dropped them at 3.00am all over the kitchen floor.

Midori1999 · 15/04/2012 23:47

awkwardmary What Happycamel posted may well be very helpful if the OP wishes to BF future children and isn't aware that her milk probably won't have come in by day 3 so thinks there was something wrong. It's not at all uncommon for women to think their milk should come in immediately and that there is something wrong because it has not. Goodness knows why HCP's don't tell them this is normal.

Also, as someone who has both FF and BF, I found information on FF much easier to get from both HCP's and family members etc as most people have or do FF.

Original poster

Cazm2 · 16/04/2012 01:12

Thanks for replies. Sorry my post was a,mess. I meant conflicting advice about how to make up the formula. My hv said to make up cooled boiled water in bottles which is not right. Another hv said not to make up bottles in advance.

OP posts:

FreudianSlipper · 16/04/2012 01:37

i bf and ff until 8 weeks then ff as ds was much much happier ff (have massive boobs very little milk and ds was a greedy baby). the nurses suggested i ff as ds was hungry and constaly attached to my boobs getting very little milk and me very little rest they were really nice about it, the hv was not though and told me it was rubbish of course i produced enough milk

i did switch from sma to c&g and finally to hipp which suited him best, he was a little constipated with sma, c&g made he windy

i also always fed on demand. i would make it up freshly, boil some water add a little already boiled water that was kept in the fridge mix it up then more cooled water to make up the full feed. when i went out i would make a bottle and take another bottle and carton

sunnydelight · 16/04/2012 01:53

The easiest thing when you're out and about is to use one of those powder containers with three sections, measure what you need then just bring bottles of boiled water and make them up as you need them. I did all DDs bottles like that (including night time - have powder and water by bed so you can feed seamlessly without having to go into the kitchen, heat up bottles etc.). I never warmed bottles.

I had all three of mine in an area where, even 18 years ago the health professionals gave you a really hard time if you didn't BF. After a miserable experience with both my boys (I just don't produce enough milk) it was such a relief to make the decision before DD was born (ten years after my first) that I was going to FF. I got my midwife to put on my notes "do not talk to this mother about breast feeding" which got me some funny looks but the result I wanted

Moominsarescary · 16/04/2012 01:58

Tomee tippee do a flask which is useful as you always have boiling water ready so no need to wait for the kettle to boil if you are feeding on demand

Moominsarescary · 16/04/2012 01:59

You shouldnt make bottles up with cooled boiled water as that doesn't kill the bacteria in the formula

kipperandtiger · 16/04/2012 02:26

Tommee Tippee do this dispenser to carry the formula when you're out - I found it the easiest to use. www.boots.com/en/Tommee-Tippee-Closer-to-Nature-Milk-Powder-Dispensers_49910/ The book "What to expect in the first year" does have a lot of info about formula feeding - the manufacturers like Avent, Tommee Tippee, etc often do useful lealets too. WRT health professionals there is as much conflicting advice as there is about breastfeeding!

CherryBlossom27 · 16/04/2012 04:06

I agree with Awkwardmary that some posters are to put it nicely being unhelpful! My HV is shite so I can't get "professional" advice re. bottle feeding and no, unfortunately it's not as simple as "read the box". Shame there isn't a rolls eyes emoticon....

OP if you want to make the bottles up whilst out, the best thing to do is as below:

Sterilise the bottle, take 70 degree water in a thermos flask, and the milk powder pre-measured in a milk powder dispenser, then you can make up the feed as you need it whilst out.

You should be using 70 degree boiled water as otherwise it won't kill the germs found in the milk powder as the milk powder itself isn't sterile.

nightowlmostly · 16/04/2012 04:30

I just found this too. Had my first baby two days ago, and he just won't latch on. I had a bit of a hard time with the birth, then stayed in the ward for a further 24 hours trying to get him to feed every 2 hours. He just won't have it!

Anyway, in the end I decided to give him a bottle so we could get some food in him and get home, and to keep trying with bf, or express and give it to him in a bottle. When we had decided to give him the formula, the midwife went to get it, gave it to me then just left us to it. I had no clue how much he should have, my DH had to look it up on google on his bloody phone!

I know breast is best, but when it isn't working out foe whatever reason, I really think they should give you the same level of help. The midwife that came round today to see me was much better, and I'm going to a baby brasserie tomorrow, so hopefully we'll get there with bf, but I agree with the OP.

YANBU!

nightowlmostly · 16/04/2012 04:30

foe = for!

NannyPlumIsMyMum · 16/04/2012 04:50

awkward I agree.
OP I know you won't have met your HEalth Visitor yet , but ring your doctors surgery and ask to speak to one. This way you can get the info you want and some support at the same time .

Original poster

Cazm2 · 16/04/2012 05:04

Hi thanks I have been seen by health visitor and left to it now. Have to take babies to be weighed in our area unless I phone. I just think if advice is to use hot water all the time then they shouldn't be giving advice its ok to use cooled boiled water. I am feeding on demand so erratic so can't make up feeds as go along. Then told not to make up feeds in advance as bacteria can grow in fridge also apparently since they stopped telling people to do advance the number of cases of tummy bugs dropped 60%. It's a minefield and I am petrified of giving my dd upset tummy thereby buying cartons of ready made but its costing a fortune!!!

OP posts:

TheSkiingGardener · 16/04/2012 06:28

I did this:

Made a bottle according to guidelines and noted finished volume.

Then I would make up half that volume with 70 degree water and all the powder, mix, and then top up with cooled boiled water. One bottle, sterile, ready to go. It meant I took 2 flasks of water wherever I went but that was fine.

I agree, the advice you get is just rubbish sometimes. The HV that told you to use cooled water was an idiot.

Flip

1 2 3 4