Making up formula- half hot/half cold?

[raininginbaltimore]

You will see from my other post (bottle nursing) that I will be FF pretty much from birth for medication reasons, so please don't make this thread about how BF is easier! I know and I wish I could!

Anyway, I am thinking ahead to FF and I know that you need to make it with hot water so that it kills the bacteria in the powder. But what about when out and about or at night feeds? I can't imagine waiting for a hot bottle to cool with a screaming newborn. I know I could use ready made, but it is so expensive. In fact formula is bloody expensive as it is!

I am sure I saw somewhere that some people make up half the feed with hot water then add cool boiled water, so it is the right temp. Does that work? has anyone tried it? i am concerned it won't be the right concentration.

You would need to measure the water before adding it to the bottle, as it is you measure the water then add the formula, so you get the right concentration. I guess you could say use 4oz of water, add 8 scoops of formula, then add 4oz of cooled boiled water.

Well done for planning ahead. What Anita said makes sense. Ready made is probably a sensible option for the first few days though whilst you get used to things.

Have you checked with the bfing drug helpline that you definitely can't bf or that there are no alternatives?

There alternatives, (Olanzepine) but MH team not happy to start me on an anti-psychotic that we don't know in the postnatal period.

I am not happy taking lithium and BF as it is such a nasty drug. I have to have regular blood tests to check liver, kidney and thyroid function. I just don't think I would feel happy. However, I will ring them tomorrow and check.

Will definitely be using ready made to start with! Planning ahead is making me feel better about the decision. I feel like I am in control, which is good.

Tbh it does sound as if you have thought very carefully about things.

Just one more consideration, and that is your feelings about breastfeeding or not and the role of oxytocin in helping you to sleep between feeds and improve well-being hormones in those early days. Are the team helping you experienced with the postnatal period and how to adjust the drugs for that stage/phase?

Raining Google "Koo-di Fridge to Go". It 's a little compact cool bag, a bit like a binocular case with ice packs that slide in the sides. It keeps bottles cool for 8 hours (properly cool, it often feels colder than my fridge) and is brilliant for days out with ff DD.

Thanks BikeRunSki

The perinatal team will be looking after me and yes, they only deal with women in the pregnancy and postnatal period- usually up to 12 weeks, but can be in their care until 1 year if necessary. They work out of the mother and baby ward and my Psych assures me that they know their stuff when it comes to postnatal women. I will be seen regularly (every day if necessary) by a community mental health nurse.

I have read all the studies (I am a bit of a research freak!) and have talked endlessly with my partner about it all.

Sounds like you're in good hands and well researched then. Your new baby will be lucky to have you for his/her mother!

Her! Well unless I am the 10% they get wrong at scan! I can't wait to meet her now.

I used to keep a bottle of boiled, cooled water in the fridge. For each feed I then boiled the kettle, mixed boiled and cooled water to the right temp for making formula and then topped up again with cooled water to reach drinking temp.

It takes a bit of experimenting with the quantities, but it worked really well. I had a little "how to make bottle" list stuck to the fridge.

For going out I filled a small thermos flask with freshly boiled water and another bottle with boiled, cooled water (in lunchbox-style bottle bag), plus the empty drinking bottle and a dispenser with the right amount of formula.

You'll be fine & good luck!

Measure the correct amount of water out into bottles, and pre-measure correct amount of formula into a formula container-they do these in Tesco or mothercare and when needed tip into bottle and shake

I have formula fed 3 daughters from birth and after using ready made for the first few days. I make up two/three bottles at a time. I make them up following the recommendations - flash cool them, then store them at the back of the fridge until needed, then heat them. I keep them a max of about 8-10 hours. Discard any bottles not used within an hour or so.

My daughters all fed on demand and cluster fed so sometimes went through 2-3 bottles in quite a short space of time, making them up in advance was the best way I felt of managing this. I used ready made when going out.

Hope all goes well

Oh I also bought a cheap extra kettle and used it for making up the bottles, therefore waiting for the boiled water to cool didn't interfere with my copious amount of tea drinking!

pumpkinsweetie the water needs to be hot (above 70) when you add formula to kill the bugs.

I like look of those cool bags.

Yes, just read that guidelines say you can make in advance and keep very cold.

I always batch made my bottles the night before.. Rapidly cooled then kept refrigerated until I needed them. Then I either stood them in hot water (or blasted them for 15 seconds in the microwave)

I forgot to say keep the bottled water in the fridge
I used to make all the daytime bottles with hot water but at night it is just not possible
Coolbags sound good

Pumpkin, - as mentioned already you need to make them with HOT water, regardless of whether you make them in advance or not.

Yes i know that, that is obviously what i meant.
Boil water let it cool for 30mins, pour correct amount into bottles before rapidly cooling putting in fridge ready for the night.
Measure powder with scoop level off, put correct amount into
I have had 4dds, i was told this was ok for days out and nightfeeds ??

If it isn't ok then how on earth do you feed a baby whilst out the house??!

Pumpkin, your way suited you but it isn't recommended and could make someone's baby very ill.

Powdered formula should be made up fresh with hot water. Not made in advance and stored in the fridge.

Raining, which guidelines say to make up in advance and store cold?

Pumpkin I did the same with both mine. I understand the advice but waking the whole house with a baby screaming for a feed in the middle of the night while you make a fresh bottle. Heck no!
I was totally OTT about cleanliness surrounding bottle making and checked temp of fridge.
Prepares for flaming!

I suppose you could always tip toe downstairs, boil kettle, wait 30 mins pour water into bottle, scoop powder in, shake them wait for it to cool-another 30mins or more by that time your baby has wailed for over an hour for a bottle.
Cant believe anyone actually does the above at night?
My midwife said doing what im doing with pre made water and pre measured powder was fine for night feeds and outings

Oh and before you flame me even more-i was GIVEN that advice.
All 4 of my dds are healthy & everything was sterilised, clean and most of the time made from scratch when i could.
Why do they sell formula containers if this isn't allowed?

But what is 'premade water' ?

You could take a flask of hot water (previously boiled) upstairs and use with pre measured formula.

That would be even quicker than getting a bottle of water or formula out of the fridge - and much safer. The bacteria are in the powder not the water.

Good idea Finally, but wouldn't that make the feed 'hot' therefore it would need cooling?

Ice rapidly cools it pumpkin.

Takes less than 5 minutes.

The Dective, so op is going to take ice cubes to bed?, won't they melt?