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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How many premade formula bottles to take into hospital?

46 replies

sarah13xx · 23/05/2021 22:27

I’m planning to attempt to give colostrum in hospital if I can but I’m having a section so unsure if there will even be any there at first. I’m going to then use Hipp organic and I’ve just seen the pre made bottles come in a starter box of 6. There is 90ml per bottle and the suggested feed for a 0-2 week old would be 70ml but they need it 7-8 times per day. Do I literally need to take 7-8 of these bottles per day that I could be in so 2-3 days worth or will a newborn baby never drink that amount straight away? I just need to have them as a back up or possibly as well as colostrum. Help! I’m clueless 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
sarah13xx · 01/06/2021 23:26

@lukiebebe yip! no way of knowing what you’ll need! Saw a thing about harvesting colostrum too and taking it in syringes and I thought how much easier would that be just to do some syringes then move onto the bottles but no, that would require a freezer and all sorts 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
sarah13xx · 01/06/2021 23:28

@devilsice123 I’m sure I’ve seen some places say since January of either this year or last year they were no longer supplying it. I will ask my midwife about mine but have bought one box of the pre made bottles so far, will get another one

OP posts:
Original poster
sarah13xx · 01/06/2021 23:29

@NoNobramma haha thanks, I want to have it anyway and might do a mix of the two depending on how long I’m in for

OP posts:
Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 01/06/2021 23:33

[quote sarah13xx]@NoNobramma haha thanks, I want to have it anyway and might do a mix of the two depending on how long I’m in for[/quote]
Definitely read up on combined feeding as mixing the two can negatively affect supply.

Original poster
sarah13xx · 01/06/2021 23:40

@Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo I don’t want to breastfeed and only planning to give colostrum if I decide to do it after he’s born so not too worried about supply etc, just hoping he can get something

OP posts:
Iggi999 · 02/06/2021 06:51

Where do you think colostrum comes from? Confused
This is a confusing thread!

HungryHippo20 · 05/06/2021 17:20

@Iggi999

Where do you think colostrum comes from? Confused This is a confusing thread!
Fairly sure OP understands HmmConfusedit's ok to want to stop after baby has had colostrum OP you don't need to put pressure on yourself and I think if you struggle like I did it will reassure you to know you have formula rather than your baby being hungry (dairy milk diet comment was a bit confusing in the context 😆)
bullyingadvice2017 · 05/06/2021 17:25

Don't feel bad about that decision op. Wish I had made it. Would have made my new born days so much less stressful and maybe I'd have bonded better. Way too many breastfeeding warriors about that actually put people off even more

Iggi999 · 05/06/2021 19:11

My point about it being a confusing thread was that the OP didn't mention her plan to only give colostrum (and not continue bfing) until her 8th post on the thread so hardly surprising she got advice about bfing as no one knew she wasn't planning to keep going!

JewelGarden · 06/06/2021 02:53

My hospital supplies them but I'm bringing a box anyway just in case. I need to have formula for baby as I have GD and it will probably be needed to get her blood sugars up. Like you I'm intending to give colostrum as well but don't foresee a long breastfeeding journey ahead although never say never.

drawerofwater · 11/06/2021 04:06

70mls is an ENORMOUS feed for a newborn, and the mini premade bottles need to be used within an hour of opening so prepare for a lot of it to be wasted. A newborn should feed every 3-4 hours, so you’ll need 6-8 bottles per 24 hrs

Original poster
sarah13xx · 11/06/2021 05:04

@drawerofwater I thought it might be. I’m fine with wasting them as long as I have enough! If I was only going to bottle feed I think it might be more straightforward but it’s the fact I’m not sure if I want to try breastfeeding in hospital to give colostrum, I’ll know instantly when he’s born whether I want to try it or not so I can have spare milk in the car for my partner to bring at the next visit if I need to

OP posts:
drawerofwater · 11/06/2021 12:00

Good idea. See what happens

Miawebster · 07/12/2021 17:29

Hi new mammy to be here, I’ve bought the sma pro 70ml ready made bottles just for in the hospital to make it easier for my partner rather than him having to measure powders and stuff. I’m just wondering how many of these 70ml bottles should I take in as I don’t want to take the full 32 pack if it isn’t necessary. Thankyou :)

peaches1991 · 07/12/2021 18:13

@Miawebster I would take 12 in your bag and leave the rest in the car so they can be collected easily if you need them.

Miawebster · 07/12/2021 19:15

Yeah that’s what I was thinking of maybe taking 12-15 because we don’t drive so won’t be able to take them to leave in the car My baby girl is needing to come early due to her being small so hopefully tomorrow when I’m at the hospital I’ll get the dates and know if I’ll have to stay in or anything. Thankyou for your help :)

Taenia · 08/12/2021 11:27

I took a starter pack of six in with me for when I had my c section, I was only in for 24 hours but needed a second box as DD drank very little amounts and the midwives were too busy to keep running backwards and forwards from the fridge for me. So ended up throwing more milk away per bottle than we used. It was expensive but the poor midwives were run off their feet so was worth it to reduce some of the pressure off of them a bit. The midwives gave me a few when I ran out and my husband turned up with a box when he was able to come in. I hadn't realised how little a newborn would eat, and how long those bottles could stay out for - it's our first baby so been a bug learning curve. I know if I do thid again to take in a couple of boxes, they've been helpful back at home. I had planned to express colostrum but was able to get very little and wasn't able to harvest in advance as c section was very suddenly happening at 37 weeks :)

chaos76 · 08/12/2021 11:33

When did maternity hospitals stop providing formula for the first few days ?? am I missing something ?

MangoM · 08/12/2021 11:40

@chaos76

When did maternity hospitals stop providing formula for the first few days ?? am I missing something ?
It definitely wasn't a thing when I had mine (2.5 years ago).

Midwifes weren't even allowed to say anything that might come across as promoting formula feeding.

Italiandreams · 08/12/2021 11:42

My hospital provided them. actually because my baby was big by day 3 he needed to be having a bottle and a bit per feed. Don't think it's the norm but can happen, hasn't expected it as it took my first ages to work up to drinking a whole bottle!

Hoppinggreen · 08/12/2021 11:48

It was a long time ago but when I had DS I ordered a tray of ready made little bottles with teats.
I think they were Cow and Gate, they were tiny so not much waste

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