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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Help, sorry, quick answer needed before I panic!

61 replies

Sarahjct · 12/01/2008 22:17

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

OP posts:

lulumama · 13/01/2008 12:22

expressing is not a good indicator of your milk supply, nothing extracts milk from the breast more efficeinetly than a new born.. lots of skin to skin,and going to the breast as often as possible, will help get things going if you want to breast feed. and feeding in the bath.

if you want to breastfeed, it is not too late

Original poster

Sarahjct · 13/01/2008 14:10

Back again. Had a really good visit from the midwife who put everything into perspective and gave me a lot of advice which, although went against what the hospital said, made a lot of real world sense to me. It really helped and I feel a lot more positive.

So now having to make the decision which way I'm going to go with the feeding. Would really really prefer to bf so I'm going to have a trawl round here for advice (thanks Lulu for the encouragement - I thought I might have missed the boat where bf is concerned).

Thanks again. I know you shouldn't have to go to a forum for answers about this type of thing but MN saves the day again. And sorry for being such a panicker - first night nerves!

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CarGirl · 13/01/2008 14:13

there are several bf counsellors who post on MN so post away here and I'm sure they'll be around by the end of the day to help out. the kelly mom website is supposed to be helpful and the la leche league one too.

lulumama · 13/01/2008 14:15

I bottle fed DS. i then had DD, and wanted to breastfeed, literally , until she was born. i had no desire to put her to the breast, so i didn;t. and then at 4 days old, i was desperate to breastfeed, and had no advice, no support and no help. so i could not get her latched on, and she was bottle fed. she is 2.5 and i regret that so deeply. i didn;t have the information, the helpline numbers, mumsnet..and i know if i had, i could have breastfed. you have not missed the boat at all!

hunkermunker · 13/01/2008 14:20

You need to speak to someone in RL about this, Sarah. Please ring one of the bf helplines that Lulumama's linked to.

Your hospital haven't supported you very well at all When your baby's a bit older, you might want to think about complaining. I'll help you, if you like?

But in the meantime, you need help to rescue your bf - it's perfectly possible for you to bf, but you need to speak to someone in RL.

Congratulations on your new baby

Original poster

Sarahjct · 13/01/2008 14:36

Thanks, I will contact them. Just reading the page now.

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verylittlecarrot · 13/01/2008 14:43

You have NOT MISSED THE BOAT.

As hunker says, you need to speak to someone in real life who KNOWS what they are talking about.

Then you may want to look at these online videos which show how to get good latch and positioning. It's really important to get this sorted to avoid your nipples getting sore, but also to ensure your baby is geeting your milk.

Get into bed with your baby, both naked, and have a feedathon. Get waited on hand and foot.

Lots of skin to skin.

Feed every time your baby so much as squeaks. Even if this feels like the baby is constantly on the boob - this is normal in the early days, despite what you may be led to believe. You may have to wake your baby to feed if she is very sleepy at first. You should be aiming to feed every couple of hours at least.

Feed, feed, feed!

Supplementing with formula reduces the amount of milk removed from your breasts. Which causes your breasts to make less milk in response. It's important to break the cycle of supplementing so that your breasts are stimulated efficiently enough to produce an adequate supply for your baby.

This needs to be done safely so that your baby doesn't miss out on feeds - best take advice from an expert on how to reduce the formula, I don't know whether it should be dropped all at once, or gradually.

Keep posting on here. Ask for help!

Rooting for you.

BTW, what did your midwife say? (nosy)

hunkermunker · 13/01/2008 16:59

How are you doing, Sarah?

tiktok · 13/01/2008 17:12

It should not be hard at all to restart breastfeeding - your biggest problem will be confidence. Day 3 is absolutely not 'too late' . Just put your baby to your breast and have skin to skin ad lib.

No one gets much out of their breasts on day 2-3 - whether hand expressing or pumping, BTW!

Ring someone and talk

And FWIW, I think the maternity unit have been useless. It is hardly ever necessary to give formula for blood sugar issues as early as day 1-2

Original poster

Sarahjct · 13/01/2008 18:33

Hi everyone

I'm going to ring for help and I know I've got to do it now, not next week etc. Just a couple of questions though, as I'm a bit of a wimp, what will they do? Will they talk over the phone or what?

Also, I know this is probably a really silly question but, having looked in the mirror this morning, my bosoms have taken on the size and weight of the sort of things usually found flying down a bowling alley (seriously!). Would this make any difference. I don't want to suffocate her... Someone made a comment at the hospital and, although it was indirect, she sort of implied that very large breasts wouldn't help.

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hunkermunker · 13/01/2008 18:39

A breastfeeding counsellor might visit you, or might just talk things through on the phone. They're volunteers, so, as I say, you might want to get someone else to make the first call, in case it goes through to an answerphone.

The size of your breasts should make no difference to your bf success. You might need to express a bit off if you're very engorged in order to soften your breast and make it easier for your baby to latch on - otherwise it's a bit like, if you've read James and the Giant Peach, the shark nibbling the underside of the peach!

Wags · 13/01/2008 18:41

No she definitaly won't suffocate, but may have a bit more trouble latching on. My boobs were huge before I was pregnant, never mind when the milk came in and thank goodness I never heard any comments like that as its complete rubbish. You may have to try and hand express a bit off just to make it easier for her to latch on but that will settle anyway in time so ignore any comments like that. Huge boobs are not a disadvantage. What are are you in, you really need to get a BF councellor round to see you or maybe there is a drop in clinic near to you? Were there any BF councellors at the hospital you could pop back in and see. Someone sitting with you and helping would be invaluable at this stage.

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/01/2008 18:51

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Original poster

Sarahjct · 13/01/2008 18:51

That rang a bell and, looking at my notes there is a breastfeeding clinic near me tomorrow morning. Maybe that should be my first step then. It might be possible for them to give me some physical help?

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hunkermunker · 13/01/2008 19:02

Yes, go for it. In the meantime, try being skin-to-skin as much as you can with your baby. Have a look on my blog (the link that Lulumama's put on this thread) at the breastcrawl video - there's a link on the bottom right of the page to it. Try having her on your tummy, naked but for a nappy, you with your top off, and just relax and get to know each other. Make sure you're both warm enough, but don't fall asleep with her on you under a duvet!

Wags · 13/01/2008 19:39

Oh that sounds promising if there is a drop in clinic. Make that a mini mission for tomorrow then (and it does feel like a mission in the early days) . Don't worry if DD is crying and hungry when you get there, neither of mine went very long between feeds when they were newborn and I was a regular visitor to the drop in clinic. Sometimes it was easier if when I arrived that baby was rearing to go for a feed then they could help latch on and see exactly whats happening. Good luck and congratulations by the way.

lulumama · 13/01/2008 19:42

link again to hunker's blog, so you don;t have to scroll down the thread to find it

you might find if your breasts are large, and engorged, it does temporarily make it harder for baby to latch on , but hand expressing a bit off first, might well help....

the size of your breasts and / or nipples , should not stand in the way of succesful breastfeeding.

you might want to find out if your hospital has or is going for Babyfriendly status.. because if they are, they should have been a damn site more supportive.

also, it is easy to presume that MWs, doctors, paeds and HVs know a lot about breastfeeding, the opposite can more often be true.

sheila kitzinger has a good book called 'breastfeeding your baby', IIRC, with really good pictures and advice on feeding positions , it is clear and no nonsense

Walnutshell · 13/01/2008 20:31

Oh I am glad this thread has taken such a positive turn and I hope you get the help you need Sarah. Whatever you do, you'll get MN support but it really is worth trying bf and good luck.

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/01/2008 23:52

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Message withdrawn

Original poster

Sarahjct · 14/01/2008 03:14

Hi, yes off to the clinic tomorrow. I've hit that horrible middle of the night period when I'm convinced already that my child hates me so am not feeling that great about everything at the moment. I've looked at videos, illustrations and read techniques and still can't get her to latch on. I just hope that tomorrow isn't another bout of the five minutes manhandling and muttered comments about being too big that I had at the hospital. I'll let you know how it goes anyway...

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Walnutshell · 14/01/2008 07:37

Definitely does not hate you - you are her Number One. Really good luck at the hospital and don't let them tell you about your boobs being too big.

cmotdibbler · 14/01/2008 09:34

Hope you get some good support today Sarah.
My colleague was a K cup when bfing, and it was no problem for her. You might need to prop a boob up to bring your nipple round to the front (depends on your shape, but a bfc will be able to help.
I found getting in the bath a really nice way to have a relaxed feed.

cmotdibbler · 14/01/2008 09:35

Original poster

Sarahjct · 14/01/2008 12:23

Hi everyone

Just briefly, went to the clinic and they were terrific. Said it was absolutely not an issue that she was four days old, it is very early days so you were all right! Gave me loads of tips on positioning and supporting breast during feeding. I'm going to hire an electric pump and spend lots of time in bed and bath with her and go back to the clinic regularly. They've alerted HV to the fact that I need lots of help too.

I still don't know why she turns into her evil twin at night but feel loads better about the feeding. Thanks ever so much for all your help, I really mean that. I will keep you posted on our progress.

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Wags · 14/01/2008 13:59

Great, I am grinning like a madwoman for you ! Keep going back to the drop in if you need more help. I was a weekly visitor to mine for... well.. weeks! Isn't it a fantastic feeling when you come away from something like that with positive things to work on. Sounds like you are doing a great job. There will still be lots of lows I expect but the highs outweigh all of that.

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