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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Bottle feeding newborn in hospital

12 replies

Dav87 · 11/04/2020 14:38

Hi - not sure if this is the right forum for my question, but hoping someone can help me :)

I will be bottle feeding my baby when she is born, but unsure how much formula I need to pack in my hospital bag. The hospital where I will be giving birth are not giving formula, so I need to take my own.
I am planning to take the Hipp Organic Ready to Feed bottles (90ml), but just wondering how many would be best to take?

I know each baby is different and it will depend on how long I need to stay in hospital, but I just feel so confused by it all :(

Can anyone help me with their own experiences please?

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 11/04/2020 17:15

Is it the newborn starter pack with 6 bottles/teats? There will be a lot of waste to start with so, depending how long you are in for, you may need a few boxes. Will you be giving colostrum at all even if you arent planning on continuing to breastfeed?

bookish83 · 11/04/2020 20:10

We were able to store ready made open bottles in the fridge so this cut down on waste. Our ward gave single use small bottles out. Perhaps take bottles with teats if you can or call the ward and ask if they do these. We did not have access to a steriliser there.

I'd take more than you think you need just in case you stay in longer (sorry) as we had to ask people to bring in extra and I believe that could be more difficult currently.

It was helpful to express colostrum using tiny syringes, so if you don't want to breast feed you still are able to give colostrum without actual feeding.

I use HIPP (combi feed) and it is great. Much better on baby's tummy than aptimel we also struggled with milk coming in and a tongue tie so my plans went out of the window. Those little ready made bottles saved the day!

Good Luck with your birth xx

Twinberry · 12/04/2020 21:46

If you’re using the ready made pre prepared bottles you’ll need 1 every 2 hours plus spares.

Etinox · 12/04/2020 22:14

I’m sure you’ve thought this through but if not, do try and breastfeed. I mix fed dc3 and at one point couldn’t bottle feed him, due to availability of milk and ability to sterilise. Being able to breast feed made it a difficult time so much easier. You don’t know whether you’ll always be able to get hold of milk or how easy getting it and bottles, teats and sterilising equipment will be and if you can breastfeed that’s one less thing to worry about. Apologies if you know for certain you can’t breastfeed, just wanted to suggest it based on my experience.

gamerchick · 12/04/2020 22:21

Maybe ask your midwife. I'm sure they have a decent idea.

I know you didn't ask but colostrum is like liquid gold. It prepares little stomachs for a milk feed after a few days as well as a immune system boost. Your milk will come in anyway, you could give that first. In a bottle even if you want. You don't have to breastfeed at all.

Good luck. Take some snacks, I was starving afterwards.

Hope06 · 15/04/2020 18:37

I mixed fed my newborn in hospital due to poor latch and ended up expressing, giving her the tiny amounts I expressed at the start plus the cow and gate 70ml bottles. Not that she took 70mls until much later on.
I would say I used about 4-6 in a 24hr period whilst in the ward, as they only last for 1hour once open. I didn’t really count as the ward just gave me one when I asked. Sorry that’s a bit vague!

MrsApplepants · 15/04/2020 18:42

I used 6 of the starter bottles per 24 hours at first. The hospital provided them but I also used them at home for a while afterwards.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 15/04/2020 18:54

All hospitals have different policies and facilities for storage and provision of formula milk so high need to ask your midwife or the hospital you plan to have your baby at what facilities they have.

Don't worry what brand of milk you have. All first stage infant milks must, by law have the same key nutritional content. Anything else is just marketing and has no evidence base for being beneficial.

perniciousdot · 15/04/2020 18:59

I’m sure you’ve thought this through but if not, do try and breastfeed.

I didn't take any but when my youngest was born the hospital still provided it. I would take a good amount unless you live nearby and have someone who can bring more in quickly.

Etinox · 15/04/2020 23:42

@perniciousdot you highlighted my words- Mothers to be are given many many reasons to breast feed and I was pointing an advantage I’d never have considered, but might be relevant. When access to bought milk and sterilising equipment is uncertain, it’s really handy and takes away a lot of stress not being reliant on having to go out and buy stuff.

perniciousdot · 16/04/2020 00:15

you highlighted my words- Mothers to be are given many many reasons to breast feed and I was pointing an advantage I’d never have considered, but might be relevant.

Really? The words I highlighted were...

I’m sure you’ve thought this through but if not, do try and breastfeed.

Sanctimonious pish and nothing more. If OP chooses to formula feed that's her choice. This post is about how to do just that, not for people to suggest OP hasn't even thought about BF

Haworthia · 16/04/2020 00:19

Why are so many people wanging on about colostrum? Totally irrelevant to the thread.

Just as an aside, I had two babies and wasn’t able to get a single drop of colostrum out of me either time despite endless hand expressing. Looking at my children now, I think they’ll turn out OK despite the lack of “liquid gold”.

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