2 questions re feeding

[secretgirl]

Hi. Firstly after a very rocky start breast seeing is going quite well at the minute for me. However I seem to have a very very hungry baby. She's looking for feeding about every 2 hours. I know every baby is different, but When she actually is feeding, how long approximately should she be spending on a breast feed? When she has a bottle she has 4 oz.

Secondly I am giving one or two formula bottles a day, to date have been giving the ready made aptamil milk. I got the powder form to start making bottles, aptamil, the number 1. I am very confused as it states that the water is left cooling for 30 minutes max before adding the formula and then it has to be listed immediately. You cannot prepare a couple of bottles before going anywhere or make them in the morning for the day. How do other people do it? Using a different formula or what?

Feeding every 2 hrs is normal. Is she happy, settled and gaining weight? Sometimes when my ds had a growth spurt he would feed every half hour.

What age is your baby?
After reading all the info I didn't start the formula bottle a day- it's so much faff to do it safely esp out and about when I was already carrying ready to go milk around
As to length of feeds- that can vary too. Wee short snacks or lovely long leisurely meals, it's best not to look at the clock and just go with the flow.

When i moved on to formula I just boiled the water, filled the bottles after 30 mins or so, stored it in the fridge and then when I needed a bottle just heat the water in a jug of boiling water and then add the formula!

I use the powder now. Make three up at a time and keep in the fridge. Make three up before bed for overnight. Lo is 6 months but have always done this.

I use aptamil

Do the guidelines not say that you have to add the powder to freshly boiled water? I assume to kill of any bacteria and then cool to feeding temperature. And if it's not used within a certain period of time (30min? ) then it should be disposed off.

When i moved on to formula I just boiled the water, filled the bottles after 30 mins or so, stored it in the fridge and then when I needed a bottle just heat the water in a jug of boiling water and then add the formula!

This is dreadful advice.

I used to carry little portions of formula and a flask of cooked boiled water. I'd get bouling water from a cafe and put half the total amount needed in the bottle with the formula, then top up with the cold water from the flask. I didn't often use formula (exclusively expressed) but as breastmilk doesn't last long out of the fridge a daytrip or flight meant having a top up on me.

That's for the replies. Nearly ready she is 3 weeks on Thursday and no I can't say she is very settled though she is gaining weight. She seems to be hungry a lot in my opinion. She's my first so I don't really know.

With regard to the formula I was just very surprised to read those instructions on the box that it can't be stored. I'm not sure how long more I'll breast feed for. I thought I could make up bottles in the morning for the whole day to be honest.?

Hi secret - it's normal for breastfeeding babies to feed every 2 hours or less, especially when tiny.
When bottle feeding you should make up each feed as needed. They can't kill all the bacteria in formula powder- so adding it to boiled water (cooled for no more than 30 minutes) kills harmful bacteria. Everyone and their dog will tell you their baby has been fine when it's made up in advance - but babies have been seriously ill and even died (according to manufacturers ) if the bacteria hasn't been killed off properly. It's also why you shouldn't give a bottle made up longer than 2 hours previously - bacteria grows in milk. Obviously you are a grown woman and can decide for yourself how to make the bottles, just passing on what I was told.

Ok thanks drink yourmilk. I will follow the instructions alright. She is very restless and cries a lot in the evenings. I think if it's possible evenings might be her hungry time. Could this be? At first I thought it was wind but at the same time every evening she tries to eat everything! 😀

I think a lot of babies have a 'witching hour' (or 3!). It's generally around your mealtime . Babies do cluster feed in the evenings- it's not a joke when ladies say they can't get off the sofa for 4 hours alas. Skin to skin in an upright position may help. I've also found the 'tiger in a tree' hold works wonders whether other things don't help (Google will show you).
It will honestly pass.

Ah. 2 week growth spurt.

My first used to feed every hour on the hour! Every 2hrs for such a young baby is normal as are cluster feeds in the evening. Breastfeeding does get easier as time goes on and you both become in 'tune' to one another, it's a two way process! Also be aware that as they have growth spurts the feeds will get closer together again, the big ones are 6weeks, 3months and 6 months.

If you are worried about having time to make up bottles then the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep thing is amazing. Takes less than two mins to make a bottle which is then correct temp for baby to drink. I think full price is about £100 but always on offer somewhere for maybe £50 or £60.
Agree with PP that boobs are much more convenient (and cheaper, good for mum and baby etc etc) but my DD is mixed fed and the machine is so useful, esp when you are knackered and forget to make bottle in advance. (My son was bottle fed and was unpredictable with timings. Could have been one hour, could have been five hours in between feeds.)
Water for making up bottles has to be over 70 degrees centigrade so agree with poster above who used freshly boiled water at first then added cold water - mimics what the machine does. If you will be out without access to freshly boiled water then a good thermos flask will keep water hot enough for a few hours, then add cooled water. Make sure you do your sums properly

Thanks nickety. So if I'm giving her 4oz of formula, fill the bottle to 2oz of hot water, add the 4 scoops of milk and then add the remaining 2oz with cold water? Like cold water from the tap or bottled water???
I'm finding the bf very hard at the minute. She's been up most of the night feeding. I feel my milk isn't filling her

Just buy the ready made liquid formula for now. Aptamil do little bottles of it with sterilised teats.
If you decide to do more formula feeding then the perfect prep is a godsend.
To make powdered formula correctly:
Sterilise bottle (this can be done in advance)
Add scoops of powder as desired
Add water at 70 degrees Celsius to kill bacteria in the powder. Water is considered to be at 70 degrees Celsius 30 mins after boiling in a standard domestic kettle
Cool bottle in a bowl of water

As this is a total faff, the perfect prep is the way to go

In the early weeks breastfed babies feed regularly to boost supply. They will often cluster feed, as a PP mentioned. It doesn't mean there is a problem with your milk. By all means use bottles to give yourself a break but don't feel you have to as she is hungry.

Just to add you need to put the water in the bottle first before the powder otherwise it's too concentrated and can cause constipation.

Thanks nickety. So if I'm giving her 4oz of formula, fill the bottle to 2oz of hot water, add the 4 scoops of milk and then add the remaining 2oz with cold water? Like cold water from the tap or bottled water???

You should never use bottled water. Cooled, boiled water from the kettle is fine.

I make up Aptamil powder and what I usually do is.

Let the water cool for 20 minutes.
Make up 3 or 4 bottles (DS is on 240 ml)
cool them rapidly in ice water
Stick them in the back of the fridge. They'll keep there for 24 hours, even the NHS says you can do that.

For going out and about, I just use the premade Aptamil bottles. Much easier and less faffing about.

Lapin
Add scoops of powder as desired
Add water at 70 degrees Celsius to kill bacteria in the powder. Water is considered to be at 70

That's wrong, you should always pour in the water first and then add the powder.

We use the ready made little bottles of milk when out and a perfect prep at home. I used to carry a bottle of cooled boiled water and a tommee tippee flask of boiled water and a pot of powder and made it up as explained above but it was so much of a faff I switched to ready made. Once they are 6 months old it's much easier as you can use a bit of boiled water from the kettle then top up from the tap.

I boil water then leave for 15 mins then put in a thermos which can be used to make up bottles when needed. Means the water stays at a temp that can kill the bacteria in the powder but don't need to boil the kettle every time! Cool it in a jug of cold water. Works well as long as you recognise babies feeding signs before they get to screaming stage!

Hecantbeserious
Just to be clear it wasn't advice, I was telling the op how I do it, each to their own, I have a very healthy baby, fuck off with your criticism. I wasn't telling her what to do I simply told her what works for me. Kindly piss off and look after your baby your way and the rest of us will do the same

And just to clarify I do not add the formula until I am going to use it, I just store the boiled cooked water in bottles in the fridge, I reheat the water and then add the formula and use it straight away

*cooled water not cooked obvs