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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Bottle feeding in hospital

29 replies

DeeDee3311 · 04/02/2017 09:50

I would like to bottle feed my LO when I'm in hospital, breast feeding wasn't for me last time.

I asked my midwife about how it all works and if they provide bottles etc and she's told me to speak to the hospital when I'm next there at 32 weeks. When I asked the midwife at the hospital a few weeks ago, she said ask my community midwife! So I'm none the wiser.

Do I bring my own bottles? Because surely they won't remain sterile. If so how do I wash and sterilise them in the hospital?

Do they provide milk? I want to use aptimil as that's what I used last time.

Do they have facilities to warm bottles up?

Sorry for the questions I just don't have a clue and am keen to know! Might be useless but I am due to give birth in birminghams Good Hope Hospital if anyone has been there?

OP posts:
Afreshstartplease · 04/02/2017 09:52

When I had all of mine including 15 wk old I was given the little pre made bottles of my chosen formula

I think it's easier for the mws TBH

melonribena · 04/02/2017 10:02

My hospital provided premade bottles and presterilised teats. I'm not sure if they all do. Could you speak to someone who recently gave birth at the hospital you'll be attending?

Drmum123 · 04/02/2017 10:03

Hey, most hospitals will not hand out bottles of formula unless there is a medical need as most are trying to be "baby friendly".....ie breast feeding supportive. Everywhere i have worked they will provide cold water sterilisers for your own bottles, and then you can either use premade formula, or make your own. However it is a massive faff and some people dont like the smell of milton on their bottles!

The easiest way is to buy a starter pack from the supermarket. These are expensive but great when in hospital. You get six ( or maybe 8) little bottles of premade formula with foil tops and teats which screw on the top of the bottles. All gets thrown away when finished. Can be done in bed and ready as soon as you need. There is about 70ml per bottle which os more than enough for a newborn feed. I breastfed mone but i always had a couple of these in my bag in case i needed them. I used aptamil and bought from tescos.....thonk the whole lot was a tenner? Anyway hope that helps and good luck!

SaorAlbaGuBrath · 04/02/2017 10:03

They do provide wee bottles, but at my local hospital there wasn't any choice so I took pre sterilised bottles and cartons of the formula I wanted.

McBaby · 04/02/2017 10:05

Some hospitals provide milk in an emergency if breastfeeding is not going as planned but not if your just planning to formula feed. Others do.

I your take the premade bottles of your chosen formula with teats attached for the time you are in hospital.

dementedpixie · 04/02/2017 10:06

You can buy starter packs with bottles and teats that might be easier.

www.boots.com/aptamil-1-first-milk-starter-pack-ready-to-feed-6x70ml-10175040

Anothernamesake · 04/02/2017 10:07

My hospital has always given pre made milk in little bottles with sterilised teats that you screw onto the top. Been that way for the last 10 years, that's when my d's was born there. There's a choice too. Usually Sma, cow and gate or aptamil.

Bubspub · 04/02/2017 10:30

Do aptimil sell the little pre-made ones? Like cow and gate do, where you get a few ounces in a disposable bottle that is sterile? You may be expected to bring your own if you know that's what you're going to do. I think they provide some if you're having trouble breastfeeding etc, but not loads, just to tie you over. If you're there a couple of nights or more I guess you'd be expected to bring them. Loved those disposable bottles, great idea.

manhowdy · 04/02/2017 11:25

My MLU provided 1 feed from a starter pack - these are disposable ready-made bottles that comes with sterilised teats to screw on. They had all the main brands. I also took a starter pack of my own in. No bottle warmer needed as you can feed baby room temp milk. We have not warmed any of our 10 day old's feeds so far.

For Cow & Gate there are 6 x 70ml feeds per starter pack, I guess the same for Aptamil as I believe they are made by the same company.

I didn't ask for the milk - the MW just supplied it when I told her I wasn't breast feeding. No issues Smile

So in summary: take a starter pack and don't worry about anything else!

Trifleorbust · 04/02/2017 13:56

I intended to bf but didn't know how it would go so I bought a couple of MAM self-sterilising bottles - you just need the milk (I bought ready made) and access to a microwave.

Frogqueen13 · 04/02/2017 14:04

I work there. You need to get your own starter packs of aptimil with the pre sterile teats in they come in boxes of 6 I think, they won't provide milk and as a trust do not stock aptimil at all, just c&g or sma

Hope that helps

Keepingupwiththejonesys · 04/02/2017 14:24

At my local hospital you bring your own pre made milk, the ready made stuff you can buy in little bottles and the hospital provides little bottles to put your milk in.

girlelephant · 04/02/2017 14:30

I would call the maternity ward and ask them directly. In my hospital readymade formally was provided and there was a choice of three brands. But I've heard of other hospitals where only "emergency" formula is given until you can arrange for a visitor to provide it

Original poster
DeeDee3311 · 04/02/2017 14:40

Brilliant, thanks frogqueen. I'll start getting some, quite expensive!!

OP posts:
monkeyfacegrace · 04/02/2017 14:46

I took 12 mini bottles with individual teats that you just screw on.

They aren't cheap but it's only for the first few hours until you're discharged, all being well of course.

EurusHolmesViolin · 04/02/2017 21:51

They will certainly provide milk if you insist, since the alternatives would be donor milk which they won't have enough of to give to anyone not in desperate need, or the neglect of a baby in their care. And they all have formula. However, they may not have your preferred brand and they've no obligation to provide aptamil over sma or whatever. So if you particularly want one brand I'd take it just to be sure.

Sparrowlegs248 · 04/02/2017 22:25

My hospital doesn't provide bottles or milk unless in an emergency. There us sterilising equipment you can use.

MollyHuaCha · 04/02/2017 22:38

So lovely planning for a new baby. Good luck with your final few weeks of pg Smile

sycamore54321 · 04/02/2017 23:39

I am horrified at the information on this thread. The OP has chosen not to breastfeed. How will refusing to provide food to her newborn infant, a patient, in any way be seen as 'supporting breastfeeding'? It is absurd and disgusting. There is a nasty strand in 'breastfeeding promotion' that appears to be focused on punishing women who make a choice that isn't approved of. This thread shows it. A baby can be given formula is the mother has tried hard enough to breastfeed, but not if the mother chooses how to use her body and her breasts in any other way? Disgusting.

OP, you have been badly treated by the midwives refusing to provide you with information so far. I really hope that you don't encounter the same attitudes in hospital. Best wishes for the new arrival.

Afreshstartplease · 05/02/2017 07:16

Fwiw I took my own starter pack but insisted I use theirs. 'No need' she said

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 05/02/2017 07:22

two different hospitals have provided formula and given me a choice of which one! I bought 4 boxes of the starter kit and didn't use them as they said to use theirs so they came in handy for night feeds for a few days, so even if you buy them and they give you it instead, they are worth havingSmile

MrsNuckyThompson · 05/02/2017 07:27

Watch out. My local hospital no longer provides any formula at all - there are signs up everywhere in the maternity wing.

sweetchilli77 · 05/02/2017 07:32

I have been told my hospital will only supply the teats and bottles, NOT the milk, however if really needed they do have supply of milk and they use Cow and `Gate.

My 1st baby was prem and was on cow and gate nutriprem which the neonatal unit did provide as this is a prescription milk.

Im not breastfeeding either so i intend to take the cow and gate starter packs which are made up bottles with teats.They sell in most supermarkets, Tesco for defo.

JammyC · 05/02/2017 07:37

When I had DD I tried bf and it wasn't for us so the midwives asked me which brand formula I wanted (Aptamil, SMA or Cow & Gate). I chose the latter and they supplied those little bottles with teats on, ready to use formula. You can buy packs of them. I suggest you take a pack in with you but only use it if you need to. I found if I buzzed the midwife they bought over the milk, no questions.

Good luck with the birth!

EurusHolmesViolin · 05/02/2017 07:55

Watch out. My local hospital no longer provides any formula at all - there are signs up everywhere in the maternity wing.

I'm sure they say that, but there's simply no way they could execute that policy in reality and so they will have a supply. If a woman gives birth, is clear that she isn't breastfeeding/can't for whatever reason, and there is nobody else providing any, the baby will be fed. They would be grossly negligent if they didn't. I can see the referrals to the GMC and NMC now.

It's just that many people like to take their own so they know the preferred brand is available, and that's probably a good idea for OP as she definitely wants Aptamil.

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