Help, sorry, quick answer needed before I panic!

[Sarahjct]

Sorry for demanding title. I've just arrived home with LO from the hospital and, for various reasons I am having to formula feed when I wasn't intending to. I've got enough bottles, I think but as I wasn't expecting to use them that much I haven't read up about them.

I want to be as ready for the night feeds as possible but only have a small steriliser. I'm using ready mixed formula and just want to know, how long the bottles stay sterile for and under what conditions.

For example, could I take them out of the steriliser, add the formula and put them in the fridge ready to heat up when needed? Or can I assemble the bottles empty and add the formula at room temp when needed?

I don't want to use bottles that I think are sterile and aren't.

I will get organised but just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing tonight.

Thanks

you sterilise the bottles makes them and they are fine for 24 hours. Just add the ready made milk when needed and offer it at room temp/the temp it already is.

Does that make sense?

Have you read the instructions that came with the steriliser? that would be best as the last time is used bottles was about 3 years ago and I bet all it's changed now.

As soon as you remove them from the sterilser they are no longer sterile, but they are ok.

boil your water (if its powdered formula) and leave in frigde.add powder at time of feeding.

if pre-made formula, then l;eave bottles in sterilser till you need them.

by the way this is just what i did, there may be better advice coming your way from other posters
hth

I agree. Sterilise the bottles - put them together - no need to refrigerate or anything. Then pour out the ready made as and when you need it.

sterilise the bottles - assmble them (ie put teats, lids etc on) then add milk when ready for it and give at room temp or heat if preferred - supposed to test temp on your wrist but i always found best to test on tongue.

Thanks, it does. So I can take them out of steriliser, assemble them and then add formula later? My steriliser only holds four bottles and, due to aforementioned various reasons it'll be more than four feeds from now till morning so I'd have to put two lots of bottles in. Does that make sense?

Easy writer - I never kept the water in the fridge - do not think there is any risk if it is only kept for 24 hours max.

yes take out of steriliser, assemble them and then add formula later.

Thanks, you're all lifesavers!

She's only 2 days old and I'm still optimistically offering the breast but she has blood sugar issues and needs to get something inside her that I just don't have at the moment although I'm still hoping to try. That'll teach me for assuming it'd be plain sailing and not being prepared.

your collustrum is what she needs, have you tried hand expressing your collustrum and giving it to her that way? They don't get much in terms of quantity of collustrum for the first few days that is normal - although you do need to be careful if blood sugar is an issue but if it is don't understand why they have discharged her?

Have you had breastfeeding help/support from infant feeding advisors/breastfeeding counsellors not just the midwives?

Sarah - don't lose heart, i had similar issues with dd and had to syringe feed formula.

would a syringe be easier for you? our mw suggested it.
babies tummy tiny, we were doing 10ml feeds.
use a syringe, no needle though.
may be worth running past you mw, she could show you.

for what it worth dd is (totally) bf at 8 weeks

sorry for poor typing, using one hand as dd feeding/screaming

Just wanted to say...

With a newborn (esp) I would not put the formula into the bottle until you need it. If you contaminate the milk during the process of transferring it from the sterile pack to the sterile bottle then you have up to 24 hours for bugs to grow in the milk before you give the feed. Adding pre-made formula at the last opportunity is the best practice.

Also if you put water into a sterilsed bottle for adding powder to later (I know you are not doing this now but you may do it later on when you move to powder) then do put the water into the refidgerator. This is current guidelines. Keep the bottles in the cooler parts of the fridge i.e. not the door compartment or the top shelf but well away from raw meat (which should be at the bottom - as I'm sure you know)

I'm a microbiologist and just wanted to say my bit.

btw - congrats and hope things go well for you

if you want to breastfeed, it is not too late, you can get professional help

new rules re bottles are to make each feed with freshly boiled water , that is allowed to cool for 30 minutes and you make up each feed as you need it.

i would suggest using ready made formula in the meantime, whilst you get to grips with it.. or if you want to breastfeed, then get some help now !

if you sterilise the bottles according to instructions, then they will be sterile, usually remain sterile for an hour if you do not open the steriliser.

howbreastfeedingworks.com/tag/breastfeeding/ all the numbers for the four free BF support networks are on hunker's blog

Sarah, I can't imagine why a maternity unit would discharge you without ensuring you could feed your baby safely....and why they would discharge a baby with unresolved low blood sugar. This must be really difficult for you....please tell the community midwife tomorrow that you needed to go on line (at 2 days postnatal) to get info from a website

You can still breastfeed if you want to - it is early days to feel this option is closed to you. Post if you want more info!

Sarahjct

Congratulations on your baby.

If you still wish to breastfeed (your post implies that you did but have been advised not to - sorry if I have read this wrong), then please post again tomorrow. You will get tremendous, accurate and rapid advice and practical help and support. I don't know what advice you have had from your healthcare team, but it is sadly not unheard of for midwives to give poor advice which can be detrimental to establishing successful breastfeeding.

Do check what you are told here, or on the bf helplines if you are in doubt at all.

Otherwise, wishing you a good night!

Thanks everyone. I will post properly later and digest all info - she has finally just gone off. Just to say though, that she was allowed home because she has no problems feeding from the bottle now. I tried expressing but there was literally nothing there. My milk has just started to come in this evening though so it may not be too late.

Thanks again, I really do appreciate the help and support. Will be back after sleep!

Thanks everyone. I will post properly later and digest all info - she has finally just gone off. Just to say though, that she was allowed home because she has no problems feeding from the bottle now. I tried expressing but there was literally nothing there. My milk has just started to come in this evening though so it may not be too late.

Thanks again, I really do appreciate the help and support. Will be back after sleep!

Thanks everyone. I will post properly later and digest all info - she has finally just gone off. Just to say though, that she was allowed home because she has no problems feeding from the bottle now. I tried expressing but there was literally nothing there. My milk has just started to come in this evening though so it may not be too late.

Thanks again, I really do appreciate the help and support. Will be back after sleep!

Of course not too late - you can get loads of support here if you want to bf - OR bottle feed. Bumping this so lulumama or someone can come back and help re bf if that's what you want.

Congratulations!

Thanks everyone. I will post properly later and digest all info - she has finally just gone off. Just to say though, that she was allowed home because she has no problems feeding from the bottle now. I tried expressing but there was literally nothing there. My milk has just started to come in this evening though so it may not be too late.

Thanks again, I really do appreciate the help and support. Will be back after sleep!

Oops, no idea what happened there!