Some feeding advice

[finallypregnant]

I hope you can help me.

I saw my mw during the week and the subject of b/f came round as it usually does.

I said (and I wished I hadn't) that I planned on buying a couple of pre-sterilised bottles and pre-made formula in case of emergencies.

MW asked what emergencies. I explained that when my close friend had her son and he was 5 weeks old she got called into hospital to see her mum who was dying of cancer. She died that night and was with her but obviously left baby and husband at home with husband doing a formula feed. She had b/f in the 5 weeks leading up to this and enjoyed it.

I explained to m/w that my cousin had mastitis and whilst she healed she formual fed for about 10 days or so.

Once back to normal both went back to b/f with no problems and did ocassionally formula feed during the night.

My m/w went off on one like a banshee and basically said that b/f comes first (even it appears when your mum is dying of cancer in hospital).

I know I really want to give b/f a go and really hope it works out but surely I wam being sensible in being a bit prepared for emergencies.

This isn't an option out for me - just being organised. I probably shouldn't have mentioned it to my m/w but I just don't seem to get any answers to any feeding questions I have. The impression I get from her is that it is 6 months exclusive b/f and nothing else will do. I feel I am being bullied into it and now feel uncomfortable.

Sorry for the long winded post. Any words of wisdom would be helpful. I don't want a debate!

The only problem with having easy access to formula and bottles, is that if they're within easy reach, there is more temptation to use them. If they're not there, and you're struggling for whatever reason, then you're more likely to persevere.

In these days of 24-hr shops, formula is easy to access in an emergency, but having bottles in isn't a bad idea - you might need them whatever method of feeding you use.

Personally I couldn't have left either of my 100% on demand bf babies at 5 weeks for an evening - I would probably have taken them with me.

In the case of mastitis, stopping feeding is probably the worst thing to do, as feeding helps clear the blockage and gets things back to normal.

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Thanks for that. You are right about having formula in the house and ASDA is only 5 minutes away. I will keep that in mind.

Have vouchers for bottles so they will definiately be here.

As for taking baby to hospital - it wasn't an option as it wasn't allowed by the hospital at the time.

Thanks for the mastitis tips too!

I would add though that it depends what kind of person you are. I got quite panicky before DS arrived worrying what would happen if I couldn't feed him, and thought up all sorts of scenarios, such as the one that your close friend found herself in. So we did have some cartons of formula in the house, but my DH understood that they were for absolute last resort and were only ever to be used if I wasn't there. He knew that when I was having problems that he shouldn't suggest the cartons as a solution. I've now been breast feeding for over six months, despite some early problems the cartons were never used and I've just flung them out!

I think if i'd had access to formula easily i might not have exclusivelhy breastfed. As it was i deliberatly never even looked at the formula aisle, never read ANYTHING about how to make it up or anything. The first 2 weeks of bfeeding werte tough, but somehow i'd told myself that to buy formula was to 'give in' and that helped me to carry on - thank goodneess. But ultimatly it's whatever you feel happiest with - your choice!

How you feed your baby is entirely up to you, and not everyone gets on with breastfeeding for a multitude of reasons. It's worth giving it your absolute best shot, and if you don't find it easy seek help from a breastfeeding counsellor (look up the NCT and get phone numbers just in case). Your midwife should be gently persuading you to give it your best shot, but definitely shouldn't be so sanctimonious.
Keeping an emergency bottle seems pretty sensible to me. It's also worth bearing in mind that not all babies take to bottle feeding, so you might want to consider introducing some expressed milk regularly to give you the double advantage of being able to catch up on sleep while your dp does a feed and being confident that your baby will take a bottle if needed to. You could also freeze some breastmilk.
My ds got tonsilitus when he was 5mo and went on a 'nursing strike' - basically, he refused point blank to feed for a week. I'd never given him a bottle, and refused to take it. We ended up spoon feeding him expressed milk, which took hours.

Hate to rock the boat, but when DD was 2 weeks I was having huge problems b/f so we gave her a formula feed so she could get fed. I didn't look at this as giving in, I just knew that we had to feed her somehow. Next morning she was straight back on the breast without any problems. I then came down with a very bad case of mastitis and couldn't get out of bed so having DP able to formula feed while I got my strength back was a huge help. We got into a routine of giving her one formula feed a day, which my b/f counsellor didn't object to, and she would go some nights without having them. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. You might feel better having it, knowing it's there, but never feel inclined to use it. Personally I have a problem with any health professionals who criticise any parenting choices without any grounds to.

Ditto phlossie about expressing! A breast pump is one of the best things I bought!

Thank you everyone sincerely for your help.

Feeding is the one thing I seem to be worrying about most - the birth doesn't even scare me as much!

I've always had bottles and formula in for emergencies as the nearest 24 hour place is about half an hour away I think, and it didn't make any difference. I'm not surprised you're stressing, if that's her attitude!
Just to say, as with everything you usually only hear the bad stories, as that's what people tend to want advice on. Bf has gone fine for me, with just a few, easily sorted problems. I know I've been lucky, but what I'm saying is, it won't necessarily be a nightmare!

If you get a breast pump (and I would recommend it to relieve the early engorgement on top of anything else!) then they come with usually one bottle, teat etc. This can always be used for a formula feed in an emergency. I bought one small pre-made formula packet that I ended up using when DS was 6 weeks old, and having a growth spurt. My supply just couldn't keep up as he had fed non-stop the whole evening and completely drained my boobs dry. I gave in and used the formula - he only took 3oz, but it was enough to finally fill him up and settle him, and also enough to give my boobs enough time to re-stock!

Haven't used it since, although have replaced the emergency bottle for just an occasion. It's all very well saying that there are 24 hour shops everywhere, but when you've got a screaming starving baby, then 30 minutes to nip out and get some formula is a lifetime, especially for your LO, who doesn't understand that he will be fed, just not yet.

I think (in my humble and not at all educated on the matter opinion) that too much is made of the odd top-up of formula, as long as it is a one-off and doesn't have any detrimental effect on your supply. The main thing is that your LO is still getting as much BM as possible, and to be honest I doubt one formula feed will make a blind bit of difference unless you let it. [gets off soapbox]

Poor you! the inconsistencies in advice given between MWs is astounding. My baby is 3 weeks old, to date he has been exclusively breastfed though we have had our issues! I personally think that if keeping formula in the house makes you feel better then it's worth doing even if you never use it. I personally like to keep a bottle of expressed milk for the demon hours of 5-7pm as that is the time I am most tired and my milk is sometimes low - it gives me peace of mind! Reading on, I see you are waiting for your baby - my biggest tip is to get used to all your equipment now so that when you need it you know how to use it and are notdaunted by it, it really helps!