bottle feeding

[Mummytothree2016]

Hello everyone.

I am a mum to three. I have only ever bottle fed for one month each child (personal choice)

I am 6+ weeks and have decided to not breastfeed anymore.

Has anyone started bottle feeding from birth without having milk supple issues?

Did you give midwives notice beforehand?

How were midwives on the day, and did they accept your decision, or degrade you like they did to my friend.
She stood firm , even throughout all their comments and rudeness about her "not caring about her child".

Thanks everyone! :)

Fanny, I think the reasoning behind hospitals not supplying formula (for anyone who chooses to give formula from birth), is that breastfed babies are fed by their mothers, not by the hospital. If the mother chooses not to breastfed (as in, makes an active choice to formula feed from birth) then they are still responsible for feeding the baby, as with a breastfeeding mother.

It seems reasonable to me that if you know you're going to use formula, that you would be prepared and bring some with you. Just like you bring the other things you need for a baby. Hospitals don't (usually) provide nappies for babies, and those are a necessity too.

I'm confused.
When did I say at any point that I was not taking my own formula? I am in Sydney Australia; and as far as I know, you take your own. But then again; I have never bottle fed from birth. So would pack my home just incase either way.

Mummy, you didn't, it was something that was raised by others as a result of some of the posts on your thread.

I'm aware of the reasoning culture, its just wrong. And inconsistent. For example, if a baby is admitted to paediatrics with her breastfeeding mum, the mum will usually be given food. And rightly so. Ultimately, not feeding a newborn patient is simply failing to give them the same treatment as an older patient would get: the mother will be fed. This, rather than nappies is the appropriate comparison, since the mother is expected to provide her own maternity pads but not her own meals.

Oooh ok hehe. I was a bit confused, lol. Because some comments sounded very direct at me, so I assumed they thought, that is what I meant. :)

Fanny I didn't know that a breastfeeding mum would be given hospital food whilst her baby is admitted to a pediatric ward. I would have assumed that non-patients wouldn't be fed.

I do think that mums & babies on a post natal ward are a slightly different case to other patients. In most cases, neither mother nor baby are unwell, instead they're are recovering from the birth rather than fighting an illness or injured. The hospital expects breastfeeding mums to feed their babies. It seems reasonable to me that they expect those that choose (actively, in advance) to formula feed instead, to provide the formula milk, just as a breastfeeding mum supplies milk.

It's not so much the formula that is a problem to provide- it's the sterile bottles. You could be in the post natal ward for a few nights and it's just not feasible to bring in a steriliser etc. When my dd1 was 11 weeks old and admitted overnight, we were given formula in ready made bottles with a test for baby which were sterile. I'd have no problem taking in formula at all- it's just the logistics of how to clean and sterilise the bottles that I'm not sure would work....

Even if you want to formula feed as early as possible, you should bear in mind that giving colostrum for just that first 24 hours will have a massive impact on your baby's immune system, so for the sake of one day it's well worth doing

yy angel

in fact during a hospital stay when dd was the patient I was given those bottles of cow and gate water in order to make up the milk.

the comfort stuff she was drinking isn't available in cartons.

neither was the presciption mill she was put on. they made up feeds in their own bottles. which were not baby bottles but storage bottles which also allowed a lid with a teat to be used as well as the normal lid.

going by the temperature of the bottles there was no way it was made with freshly boiled water unless they had a very quick cooling method (which was possible I guess) and the hot water on the coffee machine in communal areas was unsuitable and no way could you monopolise the kettle fir long enough.

unless you can use those ready made bottles or have someone able to bring you new sterilised bottles from home it is very difficult.

how sterile the bottles they give are I don't know and a communal dirty microwave is not an option really.

But this was 5 years ago it might have changed...

Yeah they're meant to be culture. As for the rest, you don't offer any evidence that patients on the postnatal ward are recovering rather than fighting an illness, and even if they are its still not a valid comparison. For example, a significant minority of the women on the ward will have had sections. They will be recovering from surgery just as patients on post surgical wards will be, and they'll be fed. If you're in hospital as a patient, you're there because for whatever reason you require medical attention. In the NHS, we provide food for people in that position. There simply isn't any justification for treating one group of patients less favourably because of their age.

Sorry that should've been fighting an illness or injured above.

I have FF from birth. Not choice - double mastectomy (so can't speak for help with reducing supply).

OP - I found I had to "justify" my "decision" at every turn (most MW appts, and post delivery and home visits, even though medical history documented in notes). But I'm used to it now. Mostly asked in a factual/judgement free away (apart from one HV who told me I'd "clearly made my mind up" in a potentially snotty way).

Responding to PPs questions about what hospitals provide.

For DC1 - the hospital provided all 3 "big brands" in those little bottles with disposable teats for FF newborns, depending on what the mother planned to feed.

For DC2 I was told to bring my own (different hospital, 15mi away).

So in the UK it really does vary. They obviously DO have formula on hand for emergencies, but it's not a given, even if you're FF for medical reasons.

Youbastardsockballs- I understand that, but am still adamant not to. And I am also hoping they won't push me about it. But regardless; I stand firm with my decision.

Thanks everyone! I will make sure it's in my notes. :-D

Op I was the same

Dd has never had breast milk.... was and still is ....touch wood the healthiest happiest contented DC in the whole world.

I was never pressured.... whether my age being an older mum maybe I just said 'I'm formula feeding and have made the choice' I was treated very respectfully and never for one second felt looked down on and wasn't questioned.

Hope it's the same for you good luck

Those who bottle fed from birth or after a few days - how long did it take before your body stopped producing milk?

DS couldn't latch (medical condition) so bottle fed from birth. EBM, initially, because he was prem, then formula only from 8 weeks ish

Oh, and hospital provided formula on my request when he was born, as he just couldn't latch at all. You could tell they were reluctant, he was only a few hours old, but they never said anything. As it turned out, it's just as well he had formula

I was the only person exclusively bfing in my maternity ward (in several days as had section) and there was certainly no attempt that I heard to change anyone's mind or berate them. Mixed feeding in particular seemed to be the norm.