Help- never bottle fed before and confused

[Clangerschick]

I’m currently 30 weeks pregnant with baby number 4 and have fully breast fed by previous three so have no experience or knowledge about bottle feeding. Last year I was successfully treated for an early breast cancer and although I would be able to breast feed this baby they are unable to do mammograms whilst still breast feeding or for three months afterwards so it would delay my check up by at least another 9 months if I fed this baby upto the recommended 6 months. Therefore I’d like to bottle feed and get my check up. However I have no idea where to start. It’s so easy when breast feeding to just get it out and stick them straight on it! I’m dreading night feeds as before I barely woke up whilst feeding them. So looking at it I think I’ll opt for a perfect prep (one downstairs and one in the bedroom as yes, I am that lazy at night!) so home feeding is covered I think as long as I just read the instructions.
But what about going out? From looking at other threads the advice seems to be to take premeasured formula and a flask of boiled water. How long will the water stay above 70 degrees in the flask roughly? Can I use the same flask for a couple of feeds whilst out? Does anyone know of a flask with a temperature indicator? I’m guessing I wouldn’t need to sterilise the flask before putting boiled water in it or would I?
Also along the same lines of sterilising, how long do bottles stay sterile for in an electric steriliser and if I then opened it and took one bottle out would I then need to re- sterilise the others?
Also, I’m concerned about bottle feeding in hospital. I’m due for a c-section so won’t be able to be up and about sterilising , washing and filling bottles which normally would be fine as husband could do it however my understanding is partners can’t stay overnight now due to COVID so will the midwifes do all that for me??? Also what would I need to take into hospital? Would I need to take a steriliser and the prep machine or do they have that already?
Really wish I could just breast feed as so much easier but have to think of my own health aswell so any help and advise from you ladies would be greatly appreciated

It seems a bit daunting at first but you will quickly get the hang of it. Perfect prep machines are great so you are sorted for in the house. There's no benefit to buying an expensive formula brand as they legally all have to have pretty much the same ingredients.

You can buy wee premade bottles of formula, so if I'm going out I just take a sterilised bottle and one of those rather than taking water and making one up.

Im not sure about different hospitals but in ours, they use mini versions of the premade bottles with single use teats you can put right on them. There was a store cupboard to go and help ourselves, or you could ask them to bring one. I had an elective with my 2nd and was up and moving pretty soon after anyway.

Hope that helps.

Hospital - take a newborn starter set (or 2) which comes with pre filled bottles and teats
Steriliser - once finished assemble all bottles and they are OK for 24 hours
Out and about - take sterilised bottles and cartons of ready made formula

I think different brands of steriliser vary. Once you have opened it and taken the bottle out technically the others aren't sterile anymore so I just put it on again. I've been a bit less strict about this after they turned 6 months though.

You do not need to resterilise the bottles again. Assemble them and you're good for 24 hours

Thanks all. I should have mentioned ds3 was diagnosed with IgE mediated CMPA at 6 months (basically as soon as I used formula to add to his baby rice he came up in red patches over his face and I should have realised as I had to have a dairy free diet whilst breast feeding him or he would get dreadful colic) so I’m reluctant to use the pre-made cartons as these aren’t suitable for CMPA babies and I’m going to ask the consultant about prescribing Peptil formula for this baby until he’s been tested for CMPA.

OP, there is a huge amount of scaremongering out there when it comes to bottle feeding and formula preparation. It's worth noting that the UK guidelines are based on the guidance from the WHO, so is not UK specific. I would encourage you to look at formula preparation guidelines from other countries as well as the UK if you need reassurance as it varies greatly and will allow you to better assess risks.

For the hospital you can get bottles of prepared formula which come with sterile teats. Two boxes should be plenty to get you through your hospital stay, and more can be dropped to you if needed.

I used MAM bottles as you don't need to have a separate steriliser, you take the bottle apart and stack up the sections with some water in the bottom and pop it in the microwave.

For the first week or so at home I'd probably use pre made formula, it's just a bit easier when getting to grips with how much your baby takes and how often.

A perfect prep machine will become your best friend, providing you follow the instructions and use the correct filters and cleaning program.

When out and about you can use premade formula. When DS was a little older I would take a bottle of cooled boiled water and add the formula powder straight to it.

Good luck with everything OP.

Will they even do that before trying them with normal formula? I would imagine you will be advised to try cows milk formula first.

It's also worth knowing that if your baby should be prescribed a milk free formula, check the preparation instructions carefully. Neocate should not be made with water warmer than 40°. When preparing this using the Perfect Prep machine I would add both the hot shot and the cooled water first, then add the formula. I would swirl the bottle to mix rather than shake to stop the powder clumping in the teat.

I don’t know if they will test him without symptoms but I had to go dairy free with my first two whilst breastfeeding and my third has diagnosed CMPA so there is a very high chance he will have issues with cows milk too. And the last thing I want is to be giving a newborn colic and reflux whilst trying to get to grips with bottle feeding/recovering from a c section without husbands help. So I will ask my consultant if they will test at birth or at least prescribe a couple of Peptil 1 formula boxes until at least I can get him home and test myself by dropping a few drops of cows milk near his mouth ( ds2 came up immediately in red blotches). I do suspect like you that as this is the nhs there will be issues in regard to funding for ‘just in case ‘ tests and for issuing prescriptions and tests for a baby that hasn’t been born yet but I’m not risking giving my newborn colic like we experienced with ds3. I’ll buy the hydrolysed powder direct from Aptimil if necessary and keep him on that until I can test at home when he’s a bit bigger if the consultant says no.

Thanks I had no idea some formulas had to be prepared at different temperatures. So much to learn!

Definitely get a perfect prep machine! We liked Mam bottles because you just put a bit of water in the bottom and sterilise them in the microwave. Basically it’s like breastfeeding. When baby seems hungry make up a few oz’s the prep machine does it to the perfect temp in a minute or so! We only started bottle feeding at 6 months and I found it so daunting at first, but the worst bit is the price of formula 🙄 all formula has to have the same basic ingredients so don’t be fooled by more expensive ones, we got cow and gate because it was the cheapest branded one so we knew we could get it anywhere, and they did premade bottles too.

For out and about you can use the prep machine to make up a bottle if you’ll use it within and hour or so, keep it in an insulated bag, or take premade. You can take formula and hot water etc but it’s a faff!

Could you breastfeed just while in hospital as you feel comfortable with this form of feeding? Then baby will get the colostrum which is great for them if you can manage it and provided you weren’t expecting a bc review within 3 months of the birth you’d still be able to have this when it’s due.

Your partner can then help with making formula when you get home from hospital.

Would love to breast feed in hospital but I’m going to taking tamoxifen tablets from the day after he’s born and I can’t breast feed whilst taking those :(

Have you discussed it with your breast consultant ? Can they do mri rather than mammograms ?

This is a very small point but you can move a PP machine easily. I would just buy one and take it upstairs with you at night.
No clue about the dairy free stuff! Good luck OP.

Can't comment on perfect prep as I didn't have one and managed just fine without it. Whenever I was out I had a plastic lidded pot with 3 compartments for the formula powder and some hot water in a tommee tippee thermos which had a container I could warm the bottle in.
I usually had boiled cooled down water in the bottle already, just added the powder and warmed it up in 2mins.
The ready made stuff is good but pricey but you should warm that up as well.
You will get the hang of it.

They won’t do MRI. The protocol is yearly mammograms. Probably due to cost (MRI def cost more than mammograms). Oncologist said to go ahead with pregnancy and they would resume mammograms ASAP. Also cant breast feed due to wanting to start taking the tamoxifen as soon as baby is born.

Thanks for all the advice. Will be screen shotting some of the replies for when I need a quick refresh of some info during the early hours of the morning with a screaming newborn 😊

Yeah I couldn't breasfeed either due to the medication I'm on. I was disappointed initially but both my girls are absolutely fine. Good luck!