Newborn Formula (please read before mummy bashing :) )

[auslass]

Hi!

I'm about to have my first baby, and fully intend on breastfeeding. In some books I have been reading, one of the midwives suggested keeping a stash of newborn formula in the house. In case of low supply, feeding issues, or if I plain need help from hubby.

Does anyone have any ideas on what the best formula for newborns is?

Sorry for the preemptive request for no mummy bashing, but have had quite a number of friends where breastfeeding has been very challenging and it seems like the pressure applied to new mums who are struggling seems very difficult to deal with when you're vulnerable. So if you have any hard core breastfeeding views, please try and frame them nicely, I'm fully aware of the benefits and intend to giving breastfeeding a good go. Thank you!

There is no best one. Maybe get a few small cartons

There is no best one. It is literally the same formula.

Get cartons and a box for when you feel less tired and confident to make bottles up. Both of mine had aptimel and were fine but I think they are all pretty high standard now. Sometimes its trial and error.

Aptamil is the one my breastfed babies eventually preferred when they had done.
Not the ultra expensive one though just the big standard “1”
All three didn’t like ready made they preferred the powdered it id different.

Good luck !

They are all very, very similar and made to the same guidance.

They’re all the same. I’d probably get some of the little ready made bottles that come with the tears. Saying that except Sundays you can probably find a 24hr supermarket and the best advice I had was never to decide to stop breastfeeding during a particularly bad moment, but to give myself time to think about it. So if you don’t by formula In advance you would probably still be okay.

It’s not “literally the same” at all but in the scheme of things the brand is not likely to make much difference. Aptamil is probably most widely available (in ready made and powder) so could be best to start the on that. Once they are used to one, they might not take another so think of convenience. Although Aldi’s own is def cheapest and will be just as good.

There is no best one - they all have to meet the same legal requirements.
My DS liked cow and gate, so I bought some of that for my DD which she hated and she has Hipp Organic.
And don't believe the hype about some formula being "from the gods" - Aldi own brand and Aptimil are made in the same factory.

Aptamil is the most expensive but doesnt mean it's the best. Cow and Gate is made by the same company

They're all pretty much the same.

A lot of my friends use hipp organic and love it.

Personally I used the readymade cow and gate ones in hospital and then stayed with cow and gate formula. I used aptimal with my first (7 years ago) but since then they changed the balance of the powdered formula a bit and I've heard it's not so good any more (doesn't Mix well) and it's more expensive

I got the ready made Aptamil.
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

Good luck with breastfeeding, but please don't beat yourself up if you have to use the formula.

Like others said they are, essentially, the same one. I used cow and gate on my other 2 and aptimil on this one. I prefer cow and gate as it mixes better but all of them do the job and they are fine. Find out what stocks decent stocks in the supermarket you shop most in and go with that. Good luck

They're all very similar, we use Hipp organic- I think it's the only organic formula on the market.
You can buy ready made bottles which are good for emergencies/ night feeds, as well as the powdered formula. If you just want a stash in case of emergency, I would just buy a couple of bottles of ready made stuff. Most brands do it.

Good luck with the breastfeeding

Thanks everyone this is super helpful. Definitely plan on it being an in case of emergency thing. I have heard horror stories from a friend who was never told breastfeeding might be hard and not work out, and she practically had a breakdown.

Would rather have it and not need it then the reverse like said above.

Thanks so much everyone xx

Just go with what your baby likes, I had to mix feed and my milk lasted for 5 months - don't panic it all works out

I gave my two sma will be the same with dc3.

Hipp organic was the one i found most gentle on my newborns, you can get it in ready made cartons so you can just a few in just case.

I'd say you need to try it for a full six weeks. It gets a lot easier after that!

My paediatrician said they aren't actually all the same... the small difference being the pre and pro biotocs (good bacteria) which can make a very big difference to some babies. At the time Hipp organic was the only one with both, also the only organic brand so she recommended that. Apatmil contained one of them and SMA contained none which is why some babies don't get on with it so well. This was nearly 7 years ago but was correct at the time

Re the made on the same factory part ... doesn't mean they are the same product. Ginger nuts and rich tea are also made in the same factory

When my first was born I had the premade bottles with the teats (aptamil). The first feed was breastfed but after a traumatic labour the midwife said I was to tired to feed him the next one so would fed him for me. It then took three months for me to settle into breastfeeding with my son. Tbh it was an awful time. I did not find out until months later that breastfed baby's only need the tiniest amount of breast milk. A breast feeding consultant said that second feed probably stretched out his stomach so it was harder for him to feel full.

I don't know if that is the main factor but for me it felt like it was. If you're hoping to ebf i think it is important to know information that will make your journey easier (however very much do what you need to- I'm not against formula feeding and was quite happy for the midwife to fed him some). However in hindsight I did regret that one fed.

I also did a breast feeding support course and aptamil has a couple of brand names. They specifically aim their marketing as being scientifically close to breastfeeding and include lots of science symbols to look more technical, at worried mothers. However it's a very similar recipe to most (and cheaper formulas) on the market.

Taste them.

               😊

My tip is to try the one that your nearest shop sells first! Nothing like running out and having to get another brand that your baby might not like or driving round trying to find a shop that does have the one you need. Good luck!