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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Am I irresponsible not to buy bottles/formula before the birth

41 replies

PinkPepper · 10/05/2012 00:22

I am due my first in a couple of months and am planning on breastfeeding. I really don't see not breastfeeding as an option and so wasn't planning on buying anything except lanisoh and breast pads and then later when more established getting any expressing stuff then.

If for some reason I needed formula I am 5mins (literally) away from a big tescos that is open 24 hours every day except saturday night and sunday night. I am also 5mins from the hospital if that makes any difference. I have enough support that I feel someone could bring me something if I needed it.

However my mother is a bit worried that I might be 'caught without anything' and now it seems to have contagioued DP, who, though really supportive of me bfing, is scared I might be at home needing something when he goes back to work (which will be two weeks after baby is born)

Am I mad? I don't want to put my baby at any risk of starvation or anything but I want to be confident in breastfeeding and feel that in a tired state if I am having problems or percieve myself to be having problems I'd rather have a bit of an enforced stop gap before getting a bottle out the cupboard.

I hope that makes sense. None of my family or DPs have breastfed so I'm kind of going against the grain it feels at times.

OP posts:
HipHopOpotomus · 10/05/2012 13:42

OMG I'm in a muddle! Op you'll be fine and it's not irresponsible to do what you are planning.

fhdl34 · 10/05/2012 13:46

If you can, see if there is an expectant parent breastfeeding workshop in your area, my DH and I went to one and it was fantastic. It explained how breastfeeding works and what to expect. I've learnt loads more since then on here and on kellymom but honestly, the workshop was great. It was run by a local breastfeeding charity in my area so was free but I saw one on a lactation consultant's website the other day and she was charging about £50. I'd honestly say the workshop I attended was definitely worth paying that if you can afford it but you never know, there might be one running free nearby.

MadameChinLegs · 10/05/2012 13:48

I planned to BF and did so for the 48 hours I was in hospital. At home, I struggled, mainly at night, and decided with DH to switch to FF. First thing in the morning he went off to Tescos and came back with microwave steriliser, bottles and formula. We had nothing before this. Even though I was unable to BF, I was still able to put DD to the breast for comfort for the 30 mins he was away.

DuelingFanjo · 10/05/2012 13:49

Youo are not mad at all. I had a baby who was taken into special care just after the birth and stayed there for 10 days. We didn't have any formula and didn't buy any.

What you need for breastfeeding is your boobs, determination and perserverance. You need to know when to bat away 'helpful' people offering top-ups or trying to convince you that your baby needs more than you.

Your baby will not starve.

NarkedPuffin · 10/05/2012 13:53

You're due in a couple of months?

You've missed Christmas and Easter. The shops won't be shut again until December.

Bumpsadaisie · 10/05/2012 13:59

?? You are right. You really do NOT need to take bottles.

If you have a straightforward birth you'll be home before your milk comes in and before baby wants to get down to serious feeding, anyway.

If you are in for longer and for some reason you need a bottle you will be able to get someone to get one. If your baby is so hungry he is starving then you will be in NICU and they will have plenty of bottles/tubes to feed the baby.

All you need to do in the first couple of days is keep baby close to boob as much as poss. All they do is rootle around and have a little practice, getting colostrum on the way. My son was asleep for the first 24 hours or so. My daughter was quite alert but she just wanted to cuddle and nudge around my boobs from time to time.

Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal · 10/05/2012 14:03

No, I think you are being realistic and I like your attitude towards this situation! I would do just the same. Smile

Bear1984 · 10/05/2012 14:09

I didn't have any bottles or anything as 1) I was planning on BF and 2) DD came 3.5 weeks early unexpectedly lol. But after I tried to BF and it didn't work, my mother went out the next day and brought me some bottles and formula so it wasn't a problem. The hospital had given us an already made bottle with forumla in when DD wouldn't BF but this was 10 years ago so don't know if they would still do that.

nannyl · 10/05/2012 14:17

i did not have formula in the house

this was a good thing.... in those early weeks there were 3 occasions, where had we have had any, DD would had formula.... one of these occasions was when she was about 50 hours old

my rational side of me KNOWS that a 50 hour old baby is fine with colostrum... the sleep deprived hormonal me, could not think rationaly at this point in time.
OH was telling me that i was starving our his baby as she had fed for about 8 hours non stop therefor could NOT be getting anything, therefor needed formula... of course this is normal baby feeding behaviour, but at the time he convinced me that i was starving our child Sad

My DD is now 8m old and exclusively breast fed Smile, i do now have 1 carton of formula in the house (in case i get hit by a bus or something) but if you are determined to breast feed i recommend NOT having formula in your house.

(i had 2 bottles though, just not formula)

Longtalljosie · 10/05/2012 14:18

Well, if you're irresponsible, I was too! I never bought formula, either before the birth or after it! You're minutes away from a 24-hour Tesco. What do they think is going to happen?

I think you're wise, anyway. It'll go from "just have it in the house" - to "let's just give him/her one feed, it's just there in the cupboard..."

lagoonhaze · 10/05/2012 14:30

When the ambulance whisked me away 8wks post natal and my DP only had 3ozs of milk to offer my DD still refused it. She finally feed 13hrs later when she feed from me in hospital. She's the same now. Baby have a funny way of coping even when we dont!

Nannyls post above about colostrum is a good experience about what happens in reality which is why having the facts is really important.

I have heard too many times how friends didn't have any milk when really it just hadn't come in. One friends DP proclaimed to me you clearly aren't satisfying her. When you going to give her a bottle I told x she had to put him (new son) on a bottle the first night as he wouldn't stop crying. It great she couldnt feed him as I can now.

Prepare yourself for being up against pricks like him. Ignorance or arrogrance that he knew better I don't know or care- I was 2 wks post natal and couldn't be bothered to shoot him down anymore than we are doing fine thanks.

It's not unusual for newborns to cry (often at night as their day/night are mixed up!) They are just getting used to their new surroundings...... We treated the first 12wks as the fourth trimester. Worth looking into.

FioFio · 10/05/2012 15:37

It might be worth reading a breastfeeding book before you have the baby so you know the mechanics of it. I had a nct one (wasn't a member) and it was really helpful. Will look on line for you...

FioFio · 10/05/2012 15:39

I had this one I think

lagoonhaze · 10/05/2012 15:55

Baby led breastfeeding - Gill rapley. Excellent book.

nickelhasababy · 10/05/2012 15:57

the NCT book
baby-led BFing

mememummy · 10/05/2012 16:26

I bought one bottle and one carton of formula in case I ended up in hospital without my baby they are still in the cupboard Wink they aren't necessary tho good luck x

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