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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Clueless mum seeks ff help

18 replies

Knittingnovice · 15/10/2013 17:39

I have this thread going in general health.

But basically, I need to start chemo ASAP so need to wean EBF DD2 onto bottles

She is 6 months old.

I bought aptimal stage 1 and since Friday DH, DS, DD1 and I have been trying to get her to take more than 1/2 ounce.

I have boots wide necked bottles with stage 3 teats and avent bottles with stage 1 teats.

I might be able to get hold of some Tommee tippee bottles. Which teats would be best?

More importantly I am happy with making the formula at home ie boil the kettle, let it cool, add the powder, mix, check temp.

What do I do when out? I cannot afford cartons, I can't really afford formula if I'm honest, but DD2 takes most when the milk is warm, so room temp won't cut the mustard.

Just generally help.

Also how do I stop myself becoming engorged or mastitis setting in?

My lovely BFC is coming to tomorrow I just need to do stuff or I will go mad.

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 15/10/2013 17:44

Absolutely nothing to do with what you've asked but can McMillan not help you out with costs if you're strapped for cash . Very sorry you're in this position .

bundaberg · 15/10/2013 17:56

ahh i'm so sorry to hear that knitting, must be very hard :( good luck with the chemo!

when does the chemo start? i was just thinking that if you wanted to, and it would also save a bit of money, you could express as much as poss and get a stash frozen so that you could use a mix of ebm and formula to start with... might also help her transition to formula as you can mix the 2 and gradually increase the formula.

if you're on certain benefits you may be entitled to milk vouchers... ask your HV about that.

in terms of engorgement I would be looking to just express enough off to ease the discomfort as, like you say, you want to avoid mastitis! you can express and discard if you need to, one you've started the chemo.

in terms of going out, you could prepare your bottles slightly differently. while the best thing to do is mke it up with boiling water, cool it and then feed straight away, you can, if you need to, make it up with boiling water and then refrigerate it immediately. what you want to do is limit the time that the milk is warm and at a dangerous temp, so cooling it as quick as you can is good. you can then take it from the fridge and warm it up as needed

bundaberg · 15/10/2013 17:59

just been reading your other thread. and want you to have some un-MN life is so fucking unfair sometimes.

if DD2 is reluctant to take a bottle you could try starting her on the breast and then switching to bottle once she has overcome her initial hunger. or try in between feeds so she just gets used to the bottle?
also, when she is sleepy

Original poster

Knittingnovice · 15/10/2013 18:04

Expressing is really out, I am so run down and exhausted that I can barely manage 2 ounces.
My oncologist wants me on chemo in the next couple of weeks.
Am waiting to hear from Macmillan as my lovely colorectal nurse has referred me to them for support.

We'll try feeding her when sleepy, also thinking about using sippy cups or doidys, anyone any experience of this?

OP posts:

gerbilsarefun · 15/10/2013 18:13

When my 2 were babies, I had a little pot. It had 3 compartments which you put the right amount of powder in for a bottle. Then I would take a bottle of cooled boiled water out in my bag and just mix them when needed. It was purpose made by avent. It was 12 years ago though, and I know the guidelines have changed about storing bottles. I've just googled baby formula dispenser and found one (can't link on phone). Sorry too, you're in this position.

bundaberg · 15/10/2013 18:17

gerbil i read "i had a little pot" to mean that you had a small amount of weed
lol

Original poster

Knittingnovice · 15/10/2013 18:22

Pot would be good right now as it would probably stop the annoying eminem song! guess who's back going round in my head!?

OP posts:

elvislives2012 · 15/10/2013 18:22

No experience with this but when a baby is boob refusing because they like the bottle so much, people suggest giving a few ounces of formula then finish with boob. Would the opposite work for you? Give a little bit of boob so that baby's hunger is satiated then finish with bottle.
So sorry this is happening to you xxx

plannedshock · 15/10/2013 21:28

Those little pots are £2 from asda or more from a big boots.

catsdogsandbabies · 15/10/2013 21:37

I would see if she will take formula from a sippy cup too. My 6m old will.
Ok so out and about most places have a microwave so I would think easiest is to make up the bottles, chill them and take out in an insulated container thingy and warm up in microwave where you go or ask staff for hot water to warm it in. Or get a flask and a little pot as mentioned and put water at correct temp ( 30 mins after boiling) and mix when out.
At home to save a hungry baby situation I have a pot of cooled boiled water on the side - add formula powder to 2oz of boiling water then top up with 5oz cooled boiling water to create perfect temp 7oz.
Hope that helps - as long as the formula is mixed with boiling or

ReluctantCamper · 15/10/2013 21:37

re heating the bottle when out and about, I used to take a flask of hot water and a measuring jug, then stand the baby bottle in the jug for a bit in the hot water. You can get 'proper' bottle warmers like this, but I was too skint to buy one, so made do.

I used to make 24hrs worth of bottles up in one go and refrigerate them straight away, against the rules, but it worked for me. When going out, I would take bottle in a cool bag with a cool brick. DS is 2.5 has never vomited ever, so I'm certain this approach never poisoned him.

ReluctantCamper · 15/10/2013 21:38

ps, meant to also say best of luck with the chemo, so sorry this is happening to you.

catsdogsandbabies · 15/10/2013 21:38

PS if you are weaning - increase the dairy as much as poss in food - some BF babies never take to drinking loads of formula but the deficit made up in food. Not ideal and watch the iron but possible.

catsdogsandbabies · 15/10/2013 21:41

PPS you may want to try other types of bottle - MAM, Dr browns, you can pick them up on ebay for cheaper than new.

catsdogsandbabies · 15/10/2013 21:43

PPPS - sorry keep thinking of things - I would choose size 2 teats. Size one will frustrate her as very slow flow and size 3 even for my 6m experienced FF baby is too fast and chokes him. I would pick size 2.

CaptainUndercrackers · 15/10/2013 21:53

My baby won't take formula unless it is very warm, so I understand your worries re: going out. Generally it's very easy to get bottles warmed in cafes. But for other occasions try taking out a mix of hot and cold water to mix. Do you have a thermos flask? If so then fill it with boiling water, and fill a sterilised bottle with cooled boiled water. Pack an empty sterilised bottle as well. When you want to make up the feed put half the required amount of hot water in the empty bottle, add all the powder and mix, then add the cooled water to make up the full feed and cool to a safe temp. So for a 7oz feed you would mix 3oz boiling water with 7 scoops powder, then add 4oz cooled water to make up the full amount. That way you safely kill off the bacteria in the formula with the hot water, but still get a warm feed for your baby. You would need to experiment with quantities to get it to the right temp for your baby.

With both my DSs I found that getting them to take formula was much easier if the milk was very warm (obs check to make sure it's not hot), I think because they were EBF for the first few months they got really picky. Warm milk was the way forward. DS2 even now (a month after stopping BF) will stop mid feed if the milk has cooled down too much!

This is the pot for formula I think Gerbils means - they are v handy.here

To stop getting engorged express enough for comfort only whenever you need to. Mastitis can be nasty so try to reduce your supply slowly if possible. You can wean your baby onto bottles quickly but continue expressing regularly for a while, discarding the milk and slowly reducing the amount you express. I have an Avent hand pump I can send you if you need one, PM me if you would like it.

Your baby will take a bottle sooner or later, and she will thrive. Once you get into a formula-making routine it will be easy. We usually make up half a day's bottles at bedtime, cool and store in the back of the fridge. Then make up the other half in the morning. That way we have bottles ready to go at all times, but they're never more than 12 hours old.

So sorry you are having to go through this.

Bertiebiplane · 15/10/2013 22:07

I couldn't get my 6 month old to take any kind of bottle or teat combination at all - even with me out of the house and her absolutely starving. We did have much more success with the doidy cup although it was very messy and produced epic burps as she gulped.

Very best of luck to you.

Original poster

Knittingnovice · 16/10/2013 16:29

Thank you for all you helpful tips I am taking them all on board.

In good news my DM is here as I have to have a blood transfusion tomorrow and need someone to look after DS, because his teacher is striking, and she has given dd2 3oz of formula.

Now to work on cutting the bf's and increasing the ff's

OP posts:

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