Instead of sterilising, can you not just constantly buy the bottles with tests on them that are pre sterilised?

[BoyMumToBe34]

Can I use this to feed a new born if I stock up on them? Do people not use them because it’s expensive or for another reason?

It’s not always just ‘the first few days’ and it’s not ‘giving up’ to have to stop 🙄

I had a csection and she latched, she got colostrum for the first few days (I couldn’t feel anything but she was content). I was worried my milk wasn’t coming in but by day 3 it was noticeable and I was feeling let downs and getting full.

I took a 6 pack of those aptimil with teats with me but never used them in there. I used one bottle in week 2 when I was in pain and sore from feeding (she had a tongue tie just cut) but she would only take 15ml. I forgot about the other 5 bottles and they have just been thrown due to being out of date 7 months later. We are still going strong somehow (although I’m ready to stop when she bites me with teeth).

I pump once a day and my DH gives her a bottle. Started on week 3. For that we use Milton steriliser and two lansinoh bottles. Rotate them and just sterilise once a day, could be every other day but I try to sterilise the pump parts too.

Mam bottles can be sterilised in the microwave which was very useful for the first months of bottle feeding my son. Very quick process, just be careful getting it out the microwave if it’s straight after it’s done.

You don’t need to give formula if you plan to breastfeed? Best not to, you want to be getting baby on the breast as much as possible to stimulate your supply. And there is colostrum there before your milk comes in. Most babies dont need much initially anyway. If you want to prepare for BF, have the details for the local breastfeeding support groups to hand and / or recommendations for lactation consultants . It is usually hard the first few weeks, so be prepared for that.

good for you, genuinely. I had a section with twins and mine simply didn't. I was 36 weeks so not overly early. the midwives had a go at expressing colostrum. didn't happen. babies wouldn't latch. in the end I managed to get some out with a pump which got us through the first month then it dried up. So yeah, I guess I gave up cos I'm a lazy one.

Cost of this would be outrageous once baby gets a tiny bit bigger. Fine for first week or whatever.

Our dd was doing 180ml x 6/ 7 per day whixh equates to £30/40 per day based on the ones you selected)
do the maths on that...!!! 😵‍💫

We did use the ready made milk in bottles a fair bit and those were £££... £1.10 each for 200ml iirc
Hipp organic was our go to.

Your baby will not starve waiting for your milk to come in, it’s very rare for milk to not come in actually. Hospitals have emergency bottles for situations that cannot be planned for. Watch videos and try and get some advanced advice on breastfeeding, local women who have breastfed are great to connect with (I’ve done 1:1 mentoring in the past)

Please don't feel like anybody is calling you lazy. A C Section is a big trauma on the body and it can make it harder to let down that colostrum, and pumping doesn't give your body the same physiological response to making and letting down milk feeding directly from the breast when using cold, plastic and immobilising pumps. Pumping is bloody hard work and you can't just willpower it to work. It is one of those things that works for some and just doesn't work for others, and it is not down to how much blood sweat or tears you shed trying to make it work.

On top of that, having one baby that struggles with latching, causing sore cracked nipples, and not feeding effectively is hard enough, never mind two. Knowing when it is time to try a different route is a strength, it is intuitive and it is done out of love.

You definitely weren't lazy, there is a huge lack of breastfeeding support, and it is much harder to bring a supply back than it is to continue feeding when you've had little to no issues and more support in those early days and weeks.

Don't let anybody make you feel less than proud for looking after 2 beautiful babies.

@BoyMumToBe34 i used these in hospital and for the first few days of being home just for ease and until i got into the swing of it, x

Lazy and wasteful!

@bizkittt you don’t know people’s circumstances to comment that

🙄🙄🙄

@Blue2020 when baby starts biting, even before she has teeth, you unlatch them, put them down and let them fuss and cry for 30 - 60 seconds. Then put them back on the boob. Mine started biting when he was teething around 5 months. I did this maybe 5-6 times and he got the message loud and clear.
He tried again once a few months later, same thing, except he got it the first time. Be firm and quick. I'm still breastfeeding him at 15 months and teeth are not an issue whatsoever.

@BoyFTM645but I’ve been unable to produce or harvest any colostrum, if I had syringes, I wouldn’t have even thought any formula :-(

How far along are you? Many women can't harvest colostrum and I only did it as I was anticipating issues. Babies are a lot more efficient than you. If you want to breastfeed, I highly recommend seeing a lactation consultant and also watching some videos on the proper latch. I found midwives in hospital to be either clueless or, the few that did know what they were doing, were rushed off their feet doing an insane amount of work.

Why are you trying to harvest colostrum OP?

Maybe you need to speak to someone about breastfeeding. It seems to be causing a fair bit of anxiety.

I had 3 babies and didn't harvest colostrum. They're pretty efficient little tikes once they're latched on.