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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

If you were planning to breastfeed exclusively for at least 12 months, would you buy bottles?

30 replies

hobbgoblin · 18/04/2009 13:36

I probably will buy some at some point but am trying to limit pre-birth purchases as far as possible.

The only reason I ask is because I will quite probably be having a C section and I guess this might increase the likelihood of me needing to express to feed at some point soon after birth. I don't want formula given so those hospital formula bottle things would be no use.

Anyone know what the deal is if for any reason you can't breastfeed post birth?

I've not been in hospital for longer than 4 hours post birth before and last two births were homebirths.

OP posts:
MiniMarmite · 18/04/2009 13:38

I did - so I could give the LO expressed milk

Bucharest · 18/04/2009 13:38

I did...Just in case.

duchesse · 18/04/2009 13:39

Nah, don't bother. I'm on number 4 and have opted to buy NOTHING (having given away all the baby stuff last year) beforehand whatsoever. There is nothing to have for a new baby (apart from one or two babygrows, nappies and bodysuits) that can't wait a few days and be bought as and when you need it. There is so much clobber available, and I can guarantee you won't need most of it!

SazzlesA · 18/04/2009 13:43

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princessmel · 18/04/2009 13:44

Nope I didn't. If I needed them I would have asked someone to get some for me .

Original poster
hobbgoblin · 18/04/2009 13:46

Mixed responses!

duchesse I'm on baby 4 too and have the same philosphy, but I just broke my promise and bought a hammock because the one I desperately want was going v. cheap on Ebay and I won the bid this morning .

I'm not even getting the car seat beforehand, have instructed friend to come and collect me from hospital with it, and am giving her my card to pay for it!

I have vests, nappies are being bought by baby's father, already have a sling.

I bought two HotMilk nursing bras in the Blooming Marvellous sell off this morning (£9 each and BOGOF).

The only stuff I'm getting is that which I find bargainously cheap on mhy travels!

OP posts:
4andnotout · 18/04/2009 13:47

I didn't when i was expecting dd1 as i was so determined to breastfeed, but unfortunately she couldn't bf so my dad had to do a mercy mission for bottles and formula as my mum picked me up from hospital.
With the other 3 i had bottles ready but i finally managed to bf dd4 and she refuses to even look at a bottle

wastingmyeducation · 18/04/2009 13:48

Having something available makes it more likely to be used, for me anyway. I am very bad with temptation.

No reason not to breastfeed after CS.
I imagine anything that would prevent you from feeding would prevent you from expressing anyway.
And cup or syringe feeding is better for a breastfed baby being fed ebm. There's very little volume of colostrum, it'd just coat the inside of the bottle and nothing would come out of the teat.

In conclusion, save the money, buy some flapjacks.

HaventSleptForAYear · 18/04/2009 13:49

NO.

How hard can it be to send someone down the supermarket for bottles if you really need some?

But I am of the "buy nothing" school of thought - even DS1's bed (delivered 6 weeks after he was born!).

ChairmumMiaow · 18/04/2009 13:49

don't bother. If you do have problems and need to express, they can syringe or cup feed, which will probably be better in the long run as you're intending to BF.

Good luck!

supergluebum · 18/04/2009 13:49

If it makes you feel a bit better to have something in the house but intend to mostly breastfeed, then I would go for one of these MC Steriliser bottle, then if you do only give the occasional bottle then you won't need all the sterilising parafinalia. Although a big pan of boiling water does the job cheaply. But if you buy a breast pump they normally come with bottles and things anyway.

everGreensleeves · 18/04/2009 13:52

I bought a bottle and a hand pump, just in case I needed to pump/express/feed ebm. I was crap at hand expressing.

Marthasmama · 18/04/2009 13:53

I've had two c-sections, one emergency, one planned and had no physical problem bfing after either of them. DS (em c-sec) was a total nightmare to feed but that was him not me, dd (elec c-sec) fed staight away in the recovery room, latched on really well. I needed bottles for ds as I had to express loads as he was rubbish at feeding. I bought bottles for dd but have used one once, she is 27 weeks old now. Also, I lost a lot of blood during my 2nd c-section (don't worry, it doesn't normally happen) and was dangerously anemic but still managed to feed dd.

Original poster
hobbgoblin · 18/04/2009 13:55

Oh wow, how handy. Thanks for that link. Didn't know such a thing existed. (I have not stepped in Mothercare for about 9 years)

Will add that to the 'please order for me if needed' list I am giving to my friend.

OP posts:
crokky · 18/04/2009 13:56

so long as you have someone who can go to the supermarket at short notice, don't bother. I've never owned a bottle and I have 2 DCs both born at 37 weeks and at a slightly higher risk of not being able to feed, but they managed it.

DitsyMe · 18/04/2009 14:00

I fed my baby in the recovery room after a c-section. No reason to bottle feed unless that is the choice you are making.

MiniMarmite · 18/04/2009 14:03

I've ocassionally seen bottles available on freecycle so maybe you can buy nothing but still have bottles ...still take up kitchen space though!

SazzlesA · 18/04/2009 14:06

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Original poster
hobbgoblin · 18/04/2009 14:14

Well there is cupboard space to consider too, actually.

Are you all pretty sure that even if I was poorly after section (for Praevia) it would be okay to not have bottles with me?

OP posts:
supergluebum · 18/04/2009 14:19

The hospitals provide those disposable ones as far as I'm aware with pre mixed formula if it is totally neccessary. So you need not worry about that. And I think as someone else has mentioned (and this also happened to me) they generally prefer to extract some collustrum from your or squirt a small amount of formula with a syringe if you intend to bf. I think you're great for thinking ahead like this. Good luck

duchesse · 18/04/2009 14:20

Poor you to have had 3 perfectly straightforward deliveries (btw I've also had two homebirths, so snap) and now to have to have a section... I suppose there's no chance of the placenta moving by now? How far along are you? Most people who have planned sections seem to have very positive experiences of them- the staff have time to take their time iyswim.

Marthasmama · 18/04/2009 14:24

I was very poorly after the c-section but still managed to feed dd. Have you got someone to help you out at home? That will be the most difficult bit for you, being at home, trying to recover and looking after a tiny baby & your other dc. You can set yourself back if you don't get enough rest.

jellybeans · 18/04/2009 14:37

Hi DS had to have formula after my CS as he had low blood sugar and wouldn't latch on. After that, though, he was bf excl. I have 2 bottles, one for the breast pump and one I got with a steriliser. Use them very rarely for top ups/baby rice/meds. DS is 22 wks and mostly excl bf still.

Guitargirl · 18/04/2009 14:45

I bought some before DD as I had no idea how bf was going to go. I did use them during the first week as she was badly jaundiced and wouldn't latch on. She was exclusively bf after week 1 and this time with DS I didn't buy any in advance. I decided to see how feeding was going in hospital and if necessary DP could go and get some. We haven't needed them though and the steriliser we borrowed just in case is still in its wrapping.

Guitargirl · 18/04/2009 14:47

P.S. And DS was born by elective section - latched on straight away in recovery and didn't need to express at any point.