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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Should maternity units provide formula?

240 replies

hunkermunker · 31/12/2008 23:37

Or should you have to take it in with you if you're planning to ff?

I can see both sides of this - but what's your experience and how did you feel about it?

OP posts:
cazboldy · 31/12/2008 23:39

I think they should have it there just in case, but that if you are actually planning to ff you should take it in with you

expatinscotland · 31/12/2008 23:39

i am very glad they had formula when BF just didn't work out for me with DD1 and there was no help with it.

it needs to be there because people can and do change their minds about BF.

if they didn't have formula, i'd have left in the middle of the night. i really would have. i'd have called DH to come get me and signed us out.

CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo · 31/12/2008 23:40

Hmmm, not sure on this. It would reduce the amount of times formula is forced on bfers when it's not necessary. But if someone's decided on it, what difference would it make? I've not ff so I can't give a personal opinion from that side of things. It would have been nice though, if an auxilliary hadn't manipulated me into letting her give DD formula because I was a bit weepy and tired.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 31/12/2008 23:40

Yes - trying to get out of bed after a section to sterilise bottles and make up feeds would be a nightmare.

cazboldy · 31/12/2008 23:42

noone said anything about making it up yourself FiveGoMad..............

pepperrabbit · 31/12/2008 23:42

I was planning to bf and was unsuccessful, so the formula was vital for DD (10 weeks old).
They were very supportive and really really tried to get the bf to work, also the formula was locked away so people couldn't treat it like a buffet - seemed like a happy medium to me.
Not sure I agree with offering a "menu" of different types - if you are planning to ff and want a specific one you should be prepared to take it in, but I guess all the sterilising could be tricky if everyone had their own stuff?

Dragonbrandybutter · 31/12/2008 23:44

DS1 was tube fed while in intensive care. He was given small amounts of formula to keep his energy up to help him keep breathing and fighting his infection. Meanwhile I expressed and was given loads of help to be able to feed him myself.
It took 8 weeks to get him to latch on properly but eventually i fed him for his first year.
But if i'd had to worry about providing those small amounts of formula while having septicaemia myself I'm not sure that would have been fair on me.

But then i see your question was for those planning to ff. But not all those who plan to bf can do it, would they have to provide formula their own formula too?

IME, it was provided and so was the bf support, and i am grateful that they did.

lilymolly · 31/12/2008 23:45

Well I planned to bf dd and did so for 17 weeks but she still had a cup of formula when she was a few hours old, as I was almost unconscious after having an anti emetic injection for severe syntocin nausea post birth and she was starving

So yes they should have it.

CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo · 31/12/2008 23:46

Also, as DP has just said to me, unless they improve the support they give for breastfeeding, to get rid of the formula is unfair.

scrooged · 31/12/2008 23:46

I used to work on a paeds ward, they have formula in the hospital. You should check with them first though.

Expressing is a good way of getting your milk into your baby without breast feeding, even if it's just for a short while.

Original poster
hunkermunker · 31/12/2008 23:47

I don't have the answer on this, btw - as I said, I can see both sides - units want to encourage bf (or they're meant to want to!) and having formula readily available can be v tempting for some mums - and midwives.

But if you take it in, just in case bf doesn't work - it's going to be tempting to use it - and you're more likely to ff if you have bottles and formula in the house.

So I don't know, really, what the answer is, but I'm v interested in the replies so far - thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
hunkermunker · 31/12/2008 23:48

Oh, sorry, Scrooged, I'm not pg and it's not a personal q for me - I am interested for more strategic developmenty reasons than that!

OP posts:
iamaLeafontheWind · 31/12/2008 23:48

My midwife led unit was baby-friendly so no formula was allowed on site (or at least, that's what they said). They were stocked up up with pumps & always on hand, also on the phone 24/7 for weeks after. Really helpful when the reality of bf takes it's toll. I don't think not having formula available by itself would matter either way, it's the whole support package that's needed.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 31/12/2008 23:49

Happy New Year Hunker - Are we going to see you in Dorset this year

Original poster
hunkermunker · 31/12/2008 23:49

CCG, yes, this is a big bonnet-bee of mine - you can't just get rid of the formula without improving the bf support (massively in some units!).

OP posts:
Original poster
hunkermunker · 31/12/2008 23:49

Oh, hello! I shall email you forthwith, Five - love your new name! Perfect!

OP posts:
scrooged · 31/12/2008 23:50

The NHS is supposto be patient centred so should have some if this is what the patient chooses to do. It is her child, not the hospitals and she has a right to choose how she feeds her child.

CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo · 31/12/2008 23:51

I was told at the bfing group I go to by the NCT counsellor and hv running it that the bfing rates in my small area are horrifically low. Which probably explains why DD and I were the only attendees. I have to admit the bfing support here isn't brilliant, I was just stubborn.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 31/12/2008 23:52

We have a fabulous maternity unit with max amount of mdwives, great amount of auxilary staff but having chatted to a few people, very lax on breastfeeding support.

scrooged · 31/12/2008 23:55

How are you char?

scrooged · 31/12/2008 23:55

How are you char?

Original poster
hunkermunker · 31/12/2008 23:55

It's an all-too-common tale, I'm afraid, wrt bf support.

Scrooged, they don't provide nappies or cotton wool or loads of other baby-related stuff - playing devil's advocate here, why should they provide formula?

OP posts:
CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo · 31/12/2008 23:57

Thanks for asking scrooged. I'm still coughing a lot but not quite as breathless as I was. Went to docs and they gave me abs, not sure whether they are needed. My chest is a bit sore and my windpipe a bit burny but I'm getting through

CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo · 31/12/2008 23:58

hunker, they provided nappies, cottonwool and blankets when DD was born. Not sure if they still do and probably won't ever find out as I'm hoping to homebirth any future babies

scrooged · 01/01/2009 00:01

good! Tha ab's are working by the way, that's why you are feeling better.

Happy new year all!

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