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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Hospital Bag - Bottles?

25 replies

Jain · 04/09/2006 11:06

Hi,
I was packing my hospital bag this weekend (I'm 35weeks but told I may be induced as baby very large ), and this may sound daft, but do I need to take baby bottles with me or do the hospital provided them? I will be bottle feeding.

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LIZS · 04/09/2006 11:08

They should provide them sterilised and a selection of formula.

AvaLou · 04/09/2006 11:08

The hospital will give you little bottles of ready made formula with disposable teats that screw on, so theres no need for you to take anything like that.

cleaninglady · 04/09/2006 11:21

same as avalou - they give you small bottles of formula ready made up and have hot water and bowls to hand to warm it - i wish you could buy those bottles they are so convenient!

cleaninglady · 04/09/2006 11:25

oh and good luck - i was induced and both my lo's were largeish (over 9lbs)

Original poster

Jain · 04/09/2006 11:39

Thanks all!

OP posts:

SophieB · 04/09/2006 13:09

I know in my hospital i have to take my own formula and bottles. Im in maidstone, so all hospitals may be different from eachother

AvaLou · 04/09/2006 13:14

That's true, it is worth asking your midwife as it varies wildly.
My friend had a baby at Queen Elizabeth hospital and they have a very strict policy against formula so won't provide it, and often don't let women leave until they are comfortably breastfeeding

poppiesinaline · 04/09/2006 13:41

Avalou!

AvaLou · 04/09/2006 13:51

why? Shocked that that is a terrible procedure for a hospital to follow, or shocked that I think it's terrible?

cleaninglady · 04/09/2006 14:54

personally think its wrong to refuse to give formula from the hospital but they should of course encourage breastfeeding but up to the mother so am also a bit

what about some mothers who just cant?

pupuce · 04/09/2006 14:58

Yes- CHECK!!!!!
There are hospitals following new policies NOT to provide formula as they want you to bring ALL your equipment (including bottles and your chosen brand of formula) so that they can show you (and do it 1 to 1) how to prepare bottles safely... unbelievably 80% of mothers do not prepare bottles safely!
It is not a £££ issue but a safety issue!

pupuce · 04/09/2006 14:59

Cleaninglady... the policy is for those like Jain who have already decided to bottle feed. If you plan to BF and have a problem they do have formula on stand by of course!

AvaLou · 04/09/2006 15:02

I think (from anecdotal info) that as it is a new unit and they have even stricter guidelines, so they get less funding if whatever percentage of mothers don't leave the hospital comfortable with breastfeeding, they get less annual budget, which is just awful.
My friend was told she couldn't bring in her own formula and bottles as it was a health risk. She was in there for 9 days until her DS was deemed to be feeding well, and after a normal birth with no complications I find this horrific!
I am not speaking from personal experience though.

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 04/09/2006 15:06

I know in Salisbury when I had Jess (2004) they supplied it all (although i didnt hang around to need the bottles on offer as tried BF first)

However, Colchester ask you take all your own stuff in - they supply cold water sterilisers and that is it. I tried to BF becky, but again, didnt hang around long enough to use hospital bottles, and did my own once home

cleaninglady · 04/09/2006 15:10

the night midwife was "topping" up my dd as I just couldnt get her to latch on properly and feed - so am still a bit sad that i didnt bf her which was mainly down to that so good that
the hospitals are really pushing bf of course!
am still a bit at avalou posts about it all though but glad they have it on stand by - was a bit worried for a minute

Alexandersmummy · 04/09/2006 20:19

I had my DS last October and didn't take formula or bottles thinking that they would be provided, how wrong I was!! 10 mins after giving birth my DH had to dash to the local Tesco to buy milk! This was a horrible thing as i really needed him with me and our DS so PLEASE check with your hospital. I would hate it to happen to anyone else, especially if it's late at night and no shops are open. Lots of luck x

mumfor1standfinaltime · 04/09/2006 20:28

Ask your midwife or the hospital. It seems to depend where you go.
The hospital I went to did provide small glass bottles with ready made formula in.

shedevil · 04/09/2006 20:54

Definately ask your midwife, the hospital I went to was 'phasing out' providing the ready to use bottles so I was told to take my own and formula as well. But saying that they still had bottles on hand for those who didn't know.

Was a bit of a sham tho cos they had nothing to warm the bottles up in once you got them out of the fridge! Muppets. DH had to bring our Pyrex jug from home in to hospital (and then one of midwives tried to nick it )!!

Keepfit · 04/09/2006 22:00

Hi,

I am going to be packing my hospital this weekend and just wondering if there are any other great tips out there for "mums-to-be" .... I love the idea of everything new for me ... my baby has lots of new things! But is it really worth it?

Look forward to hearing from you. :-)

pookey · 04/09/2006 22:31

keepfit for you bring soft clothes that would be comfy in bed but also look ok for walking around in, I felt a noona in my mothercare nighties! Dont bother with reading books other than baby guides - I speant ages looking various things up!

bottles were provided for me against my will as I was breastfeeding, but they were obsessed with getting ds to do a wee.

hitchcock · 04/09/2006 22:39

southend you have to bring your own cartons or you can buy them for 75p each in special glass bottles do provide the teats thou . one midwife did shout at someone on my ward because her baby wouldnt finish all the bottle and wanted another bottle an hour later told her that she was waisting her money

hana · 04/09/2006 22:41

antiseptic wipes for toilets ( they aren't always clean)

more babygrows than you think you need - dd2 was very spitty and she ended up going home in dirty clothes!

flipflops for showers

shedevil · 04/09/2006 22:42

HC thats awful!

hitchcock · 04/09/2006 22:43

hand wash for all of your vistiors as there was none on ward only in the loo!!!! which v couldnt use

shedevil · 04/09/2006 22:48

I used a lot of milton handgel when I was in children's ward with my son, very handy when you can't (or don't want to ) leave your baby's bedside

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