breastfeeding and bottles?

[rosedavo]

Just wondering, i am currently 26 weeks pregnant and planning on breastfeeding, i know from reading here that it can sometimes take a while to establish breasfeeding and sometimes you might find it really hard etc. So my question is, should i buy some bottles and the accessories that go with ut (ie steriliser etc) and some formula just in case, so im not panicking if i cant feed my newborn baby?

Opinions may vary, but I would. For one thing, a lot of people who do BF may find that they want at some point to express milk and so they'd want the kit for that anyway.

Congratulations!

Same as above. My DC1 struggled to bf for 3-6 weeks. I had to use bottle - thankfully I had some. Everyone I know gave up bf between 6-11 months for lots of reasons so needed them eventually. (Choice / work etc)

If you're on a budget it's probably worth getting a hand pump which comes with a microwave steriliser and a bottle and teat.

I BF DD2 and I was awfully glad I had this kit tucked away from when I had DD1 as DD2 was tongue tied so I had to express and bottle feed her for a week. I bought a few cartons of ready made formula for that week too.

DD2 went on to BF for another 15 months.

If you need more kit you can buy as you go along.

BF in my experience is exhausting and can take a while to get the hang of, but if it suits you and your baby it's so much easier than FF.

Some people say not to, because "if you have formula in the house you'll only be tempted to use it".

Big mistake. Enormous mistake.

So, needless to say, I highly recommend having bottles, steriliser, pre-made formula on standby.

I would. I'd also get a pump and a couple of bottles of formula too. my DS had a brilliant latch but was jaundiced. Had to stay in hospital where he was only allowed to bf for 15 mins at a time the rest had to be formula or expressed. We had to carry this on at home as he was too hungry for my supply...This was all because he was jaundiced. without pump, steriliser, bottles etc I'd have had to go out and buy the first things available rather than shopping around. The pump I got from eBay and replaced all of the milk touching parts. got an electric one for a fraction of the full retail price. Ignore anyone who says it'll tempt you into giving up bfing. If you want to bf you will but sometimes circumstances mean you may have to do a bit of both too.

I would. I'd also get a pump and a couple of bottles of formula too. my DS had a brilliant latch but was jaundiced. Had to stay in hospital where he was only allowed to bf for 15 mins at a time the rest had to be formula or expressed. We had to carry this on at home as he was too hungry for my supply...This was all because he was jaundiced. without pump, steriliser, bottles etc I'd have had to go out and buy the first things available rather than shopping around. The pump I got from eBay and replaced all of the milk touching parts. got an electric one for a fraction of the full retail price. Ignore anyone who says it'll tempt you into giving up bfing. If you want to bf you will but sometimes circumstances mean you may have to do a bit of both too.

We used a tommee tippee electric pump when my boobs were really engorged after the milk came in (just to get enough milk off so my boobs weren't so much like rugby balls and she could latch). We also used the little ready made bottles of formula a couple of times to top up as she wasn't gaining.

She is now 6 months and exclusively breast fed.

We used a tommee tippee electric pump when my boobs were really engorged after the milk came in (just to get enough milk off so my boobs weren't so much like rugby balls and she could latch). We also used the little ready made bottles of formula a couple of times to top up as she wasn't gaining.

She is now 6 months and exclusively breast fed.

Yes, buy whatever things you think you might need in advance. A steriliser is useful generally, although you can do cold water sterilising with Milton which is cheap and simple.

A hand pump could be helpful, but you can learn to express by hand if you need to and you don't have a pump. The ready made formula in little cartons is the easiest thing to store, if you want to have some to hand.

I would also find out in advance where you can get decent breastfeeding advice and support (LLL meetings, breastfeeding drop-ins, what support is there in the hospital that you might deliver in etc). The website Kellymom has lots of useful info about the details of breastfeeding.

I wouldn't personally.
My view is why but something that you may never need? I would never recommend buying a breast pump either until after your baby is born.

Most towns have 24 hour supermarkets anyway if necessary.

I would. I'd also get a pump and a couple of bottles of formula too. my DS had a brilliant latch but was jaundiced. Had to stay in hospital where he was only allowed to bf for 15 mins at a time the rest had to be formula or expressed. We had to carry this on at home as he was too hungry for my supply...This was all because he was jaundiced. without pump, steriliser, bottles etc I'd have had to go out and buy the first things available rather than shopping around. The pump I got from eBay and replaced all of the milk touching parts. got an electric one for a fraction of the full retail price. Ignore anyone who says it'll tempt you into giving up bfing. If you want to bf you will but sometimes circumstances mean you may have to do a bit of both too.

Oh my. sorry for the multiple posts!

3 bf children, I approached each birth with a "if bf works, great, if it doesn't, then don't beat yourself up" attitude. I had ready made formula, breast pump and bottles ready every time. Dc1 was a bottle refuser, so dc2&3 got a bottle of expressed milk every night from the early days (given by dp while I went to bed early). Dc2 ended up having formula for that one feed as I couldn't keep up with expressing and a toddler too. Dc3 was pretty much exclusively fed breastmilk, though had much expressed milk as I had to return to work early. Personally, I'm certain that a relaxed attitude of "whatever works" with regard to feeding will help maximise your chances of breastfeeding successfully if that's what you want.

I agree with having a written note of all the breastfeeding support numbers so you're not frantically searching for them whilst tired.

I bookmarked the KellyMom website on my phone and laptop for the same reason, it's a great resource of well-researched advice.

There are microwave steriliser bags you can buy instead of a great big steriliser kit; much less space taken up, you can use each one twenty times, and they're easy to take with you to other people's houses.

I would suggest buying the pumping stuff if you think you would want to express some milk anyway. It is hard if you have to get a partner to go to shops to buy a breast pump, it's something you'd probably like to select for yourself! However any fool can buy ready made formula from a supermarket, I can't see why you'd need it in the house unless you live in the back of beyond. And I do think it would make you (or indeed someone else in the house) more likely to use it. I wonder how much money is spent on "just in case" formula, it sounds like a good marketing tactic to me! Best of luck with your pregnancy.

Do you live very rurally in the middle of nowhere? If yes then buy a few things for peace of mind, otherwise you can pick up a bottle and formula pretty much anywhere.

As for a steriliser you can just boil things until you know you need one, is that not right?

Hospitals can lend you a pump if you need one and you can go from there. Some people find they can express with any kind of pump, others need a high grade one - again not worth spending money until you know what you need and what works for you.

I went along to my local breastfeeding support meeting before I'd had dd, which made it much less daunting with newborn in tow (first car journey after getting home from hospital).

It was great on so many levels, discussing latch options, advice on mastitis, gaining confidence feeding in public.

I did have bottles, steriliser and premade formula which were invaluable when I was convinced fussy dd was starving, but by offering the bottle could see she wasn't hungry as not interested in the formula. I used about 8 pre made bottles up until 6 months plus some expressed milk.

Hmm I would disagree with some people. We were discharged at 15.00 on a Sunday. by the time we got home shops were shut and we needed a bottle that first night home. I also wasn't in a position to spend hundreds on a brand new pump which I would've done had I not bought a second hand one in advance.

The worst advice I received in pregnancy was to not but bottles etc in case you give in. makes it sound like the need to top up with formula, give one bottle before bed or combination feed is the most terrible thing ever. do what's right for you but please don't feel like you're giving in if you have to use any of the kit.

Also fwiw....I was so intent on bfing. didn't understand how it could go wrong or not work. had a breakdown when I had to top up with formula and then became a woman obsessed with pumping to maintain my supply. without pumping at hospital and then at home my milk would've dried up and I'd have felt even worse.

oh and my hospital laughed at me when I asked about borrowing a hospital grade pump so check with yours first if you follow that piece of advice.

I would get them in. I don't know of anyone who never wanted to use a pump or bottles, even those who ebf wanted to give a bottle of ebm at some point. I'd also go with a couple of pre made f cartons too- they're inexpensive so if you don't end up using them you've only wasted a couple of quid.
Also learn how to use your pump/steriliser. I had a awful time starting bf and at one point my nipples were so sore I wanted to express. Hand expressing is usually easier but I wasn't having much luck so wanted to use my pump. The adaptor was broken, we didn't have the right batteries, we didn't know how to put it together- it just added more stress to an already stressful situation.

Thanks for all the advice! Id like to breastfeed and i will try to, if its fine and i persevere with not many set backs then that's good, but think after seeing what everyone has said it seems a good idea to get some kit in, just in case! I dont think people need to beat themselves up at a stressfull time about being 'tempted' to use formula, just seems good to have in so i dont panic if i cant seem to breastfeed!

There are other things you can do to prepare, without parting with your cash

Find out where your local Bfing Support Groups are and go to them for a cuppa before LO arrives.

Put the numbers for the Bfing Support Groups into your phone and have a read of this

Ive got a huge list that my midwife gave me of numbers etc like la leche legue etc so i feel lkke if i needed support if it was there, was just thinking that in the first couple of weeks what if things dont happen as easy as it should, i need to feed my baby lol. How long does it take for your milk to come in even??

I never used a pump or bottles for dc2. Found out with dc1 that is was just hassle and it was far far easier, and better for supply and effectiveness, to just bf.

I went into hospital with nothing. We're in a large city and mothercare is a short walk. I bf from the start, and felt I was doing fine. However it didn't stop me being offered formula every time a m/w passed the bed- was I sure I didn't want a bottle, g'wan, give yourself a break...

One midwife gave me a good telling off for not bringing formula as "everyone needed it". I never did- dc1 I just fed only until 6 weeks. I did pump and buy a steriliser because I felt I should, and people told me I should. As I said, wish I didn't bother as it was just hassle.

When I took dc2 for her check up at 15 weeks the Dr didn't believe she's never had a formula top up.

So it's up to you. I experienced so much pressure I'm glad I didnt, as it made it easier to refuse the offers of formula somehow.

Weird so much conflicting advice, i.e : breastfeeding is best and even thing about formula is bad and then being offered formula every two mins at hospital!

I bought bottles while I was pg with DC1. Wish I never had because he wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole, so personally I wouldn't have bought them, and would advise against buying them. I BFed him for 17 months and never used a bottle or formula - and I went back to work FT when he was eight months old, so it's quite possible to make do with neither! I'm doing exactly the same with DS2. It's not recommended to use bottles in the first six weeks anyway as it can interfere with latch, and if you have a baby that doesn't latch well, they will be far more enthusiastic about a nice easy bottle which may scupper BFing altogether. When DS1 lost too much birthweight, jaunduce and I was having major problems with tongue-tie, shredded nipples, thrush etc. I topped up by cup-feeding him expressed milk, as shown by the midwives. DH even did a full night of night feeds using the cup for me when DS1 was just a week or two old so I could sleep. So I'd say get a good pump and sterilising kit for the pump bits but bottles - no.