Bottle feeding Help needed!!

[newmummy2lucas]

Due to a very complicated birth which resulted in an emergency c section and blood transfusion DS was unable to breastfeed sucessfully as my milk did not come in.

I have had to resort to bottlefeeding at the advice of MW and doctors to ensure he starts to gain weight and at 16 days he is doing better.

I had always planned to bf and so my knowledge of bottlefeeding is very limited.

I keep reading conflicting information about how to feed when out and about - making up the bottle before going out or making it up while out - any advice on the best way to bottle feed while out would be really helpful as I am confused!!!

I used to take a carton of ready made formula out with me, bottle and of course scissors (have been caught without those and the cartons are not easy to tear/chew open!)

I also got a flask which came with a sleeve you take off to warm the milk in, think I picked that up in Tesco for under a tenner.

HTH

Thanks for the advice I have seen those little cartons - I presume they keep ok? I was concerned about making up feeds to warm as the advice is that they have to be thrown away after two hours?

Hi newmum2lucas, congratulations! I couldn't BF my PFB due to tongue-tie which was operated on unsuccessfully. I was in absolute bits about having to FF and was very at the lack of information around (and the attitudes of some of the posters on Mumsnet to anyone who FF's!!).

Anyway.....

I use the Tommy Tippee bottles with the powder barrel inserts - it keeps the correct amount of powder ready to just tip into the water when you are ready.

My friend has a blue plastic gidgy which stores powder in indivdual sections, I think it is made by Avent.

Either is fine. I usually have a couple of cartons in case of emergencies too, my DS is a porker though.

Hi CornishKK

Thanks for the message, I was really gutted that I could BF but i really tried with him and he ended up being on the breast for 6 hours at a time getting really distressed so at least now i know he is gaining weight. I am expressing what little I can so i know he is getting some goodness.

Thanks for the advice I have the closer to nature bottles so will def invest in some of those storage things!!

Its the little things that you just don't think about until it happens!!!

The cartons do keep until they are opened so are the safest option if this concerns you.

The problem with taking powder out with you is that if you make feeds up cold any bacteria in the powder (this is not sold sterile) will not be killed. You still have to heat it up to feed it so is as much faff as the cartons. Only advantage I can think of is that it is cheaper, but not by much if it is only once a day.

I've just started to formula feed my 19 week old and have found that if I put half of the boiled water needed into the bottle and allow it to cool and then take a flask of hot/boiled water out with me I can add it to the bottle when needed then no need to warm it up or feed cold. The best place for the little pots is Tesco btw, they're twice the price in Boots!