Do you really follow the guide lines when making up bottles?

[stressedoutmumof3]

I think i am about to give up bf

My other 2 dcs were ff after failing to bf

I used to put cool boiled water into a bottle then add the powder when they wanted a feed.

My sister who has just had her 4th dc has always ff and makes up their bottles the same way i did, nobody has told her the new guide lines.

I know it tells you on the tin how to make up bottles but once you know how to make something you dont read the instuctions iykwim.

No. I make them with boiling water all in one go (to kill any bugs in the powder) and put them straight in the fridge.

You seem very sad about stopping BF. Are you getting support?

(((hugs)))

Is there anything we can do to help you with the bf? The national bf helpline is 0844 20 909 20 and someone would be happy to talk to you if you wanted to give them a call.

The formula guidelines changed in 2007:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanc e/DH_4123619

The problem with using cool water is that it doesn't kill the bugs that already present in the powder. Powdered formula isn't sterile and can contain nasty bugs. Using water from a kettle cooled within the last 30 mins ensures the water is above 70C, the temp needed to kill the bugs.

There are more guidelines here, including how to store bottles if essential:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Maternity/Maternalandinfantnutrition/DH_4123674

Some mums keep a flask of boiled water and make bottles up as they go along, cooling them rapidly in a jug of iced water.

i do what you do.

have for all three of mine.

i gave up bf after a couple of days with this one (DS, our third child).

The thing that kept me going with BF was the sheer terror of making up formula and making sure everything was clean etc! I was always amazed at the casual, confident way that people mixed it and the way it was popped in the microwave when all instructions seem to say don't microwave. It wasn't worth the worry to me!

Sorry-just realised that it was not terribly helpful if you are having problems. Have you tried getting help-it took me ages to get it the first time but easy after that.

No I didn't follow the guidelines for DS3 (they hadn't changed when I had DS2) - I used to make up a days worth of bottles and put them in the fridge, microwave to heat them up, good shake and feed.

The thing is we both really enjoy bf, i have had lots of rl help, we had a really bad start with bf.

My brain is telling me my son is starving and would we better off ff but my heart is wanting to bf soooo much.

I am not really having any problems at the mo its just my confidence, i dont feel a let down or leak milk, i know alot of women dont and its normal, i just find it hard to believe i can give my son what he needs.

The new guidelines of how to make up bottles sounds like a right faff.

How old is your LO? Is he doing lots of wees and poos? Gaining some weight?

What makes you think he's starving? That must feel really worrying for you .

You're right, it is so hard to have confidence, but your milk is absolutely perfect for him .

I have never really leaked -it saves lots of £ on breastpads . I don't really feel a let-down either, though can tell when dd is gulping the milk. Despite this I exclusively bf dd for 26 weeks.

He is 15 weeks but has only been ebf for 3 weeks, in the last 3 weeks he has gained 13 oz. He is weeing and pooing loads.

The reason i think he is starving is because a couple of times when i think he is still hungry i give him a bottle of ebm and he drinks the lot a is happier for longer.

He never seems to gulp milk either or swallows much, i quess this is because when drinking from a bottle he gulps that iykwim.

stressedout - glugging down a bottle after a breastfeed is not a sign of being starving. It is often a sign the baby likes sucking!

If you don't want to ff, then of course you don't have to. It sounds as if working on your confidence would be a good step forward

You know, you sound like you are doing really rather well with BF

Your little one is gaining weight and filling nappies, you have done a fantastic job to get back to EBF at this point, and you sound like you want to continue.

Congratulate yourself for getting this far despite earlier problems, and try to relax into it and believe in your ability to nourish him!

I agree, you are doing really really well .

As others have said, lots of babies will drink whatever is offered in a bottle, as it's much easier to take, and just sort of dribbles out. It doesn't mean they actucally need it. This is one reason why bf is thought to be so important for preventing obesity, because babies learn to regulate their appetite and stop when full.

The sucking mechanism from a breat and bottle it totally different, so perhaps the swallowing looks different? When he's breastfeeding if you look for a pause in his chin, then that indicates a swallow. there are some good videos on www.drjacknewman.com

Breast milk squirts straight down a baby's throat, unlike milk from a bottle which sort of gathers in their mouth first.

13oz is a good weight gain and the nappies sound excellent.

Young babies do naturally feed rather often, though it's really tiring and hard work, especially with older children. Do you have anyone to help you out at all?

Ooops, sorry about all my typos tonight

My dh is a great support i dont know what i would do without him

I will look out for the swallowing.