Formula

[ToniMuir]

Hi there.. totally new to this! My wife and I are expecting our first baby together. We are a lesbian couple, and my wife is carrying our child conceived through stimulated IUI.

im wondering what the best formula to use is? I know the benefits etc of breastfeeding, but we really would rather formula feed. Recommendations please?

Pop to you local shop and see which ones they stock, choose the most readily available.

I'd go with any brand that makes ready to feed/pre-made bottles.

You might not realise this now, but when you're ready to go out with your baby for longer than the time between their feeds, you'll need to take the formula with you. Making up a bottle from powder takes time (check the instructions - nowadays they don't allow you to pre-make bottles in advance) and you usually have to use it in 2 hours. By sheer luck we ended up with Aptamil that's both widely available and has both big and small pre-made bottles.

It gives the baby the best start in life!

Obviously going to say it gives baby the best start in life Obviously they can still stick with formula but colostrum is best thing for baby

Also not the only one that's mentioned it 🙄

Our boy had severe reflux GERD and the only thing which worked for him was kendamil organic.

Would also very much recommend a Nuby rapid cooler - literally that thing is like a dark art. I have no idea, nor does anyone I know can figure out how it possibly works, but it cools from kettle to baby bottle in less than 2 minutes for a full 8oz. You haven’t even assembled the bottle and got the bib on it that time. Incredible work of engineering! Lol you can tell I am a super fan 🤣

And I don’t even know whether I want to say this as might not be welcome - but I would try to keep open mind about the breastfeeding. I only say so because of the GERD journey we went through with our boy. It was utterly horrific (literally 24/7 screaming for 3 months) and breast feeding did help us minimise his discomfort compared with all the formulas we tried. It was so bad as it was I can’t imagine it being worse, but it would have been if we couldn’t bf and were very lucky we could and didn’t have any tongue/ latch issues with that. So maybe just see what babe is like with the formula before you write it off.

Congrats to you both 🥰

If you are going to promote breastfeeding then actually do it without sounding like you're lecturing a new parent! It is brilliant to get those first few days nailed. But it's not for everyone.

Just can't believe some women got the sense to have a go. I don't have an issue with formula. And I understand the reasons why some don't breastfeed. But you don't have to breastfeed to give the colostrum. Use a syringe. Some women don't even produce colostrum but If you do. It's the best milk for babies. Formula won't give you that amazing start. All the goodness that's in colostrum. Isn't in formula. It will help baby. And I'm not being a dick. Just stating facts 🤷‍♀️

Thanks so much for all the recommendations and all the info guys. I really appreciate it! X

Use whatever is easily available in your area. Everywhere local to me stocks cow and gate so I just went with that. You can get the premade bottles too which I found really handy.

Happy to be of help! All the best to you and your new family ❤️

I did lots of research when I moved DS2 to formula and really liked the sound of Kendamil, it's made in the UK, and as far as I know it's one of the only brands which currently doesn't use palm oil (but I know lots of them are trying to move away from this and replace palm oil eg Aptamil). Palm oil isn't the end of the world, but my little one had terrible reflux and I read that it can be harsh on baby's digestive system and also heard loads of reviews saying Kendamil was good for babies with reflux. Anyway that's what we went with and really liked it. Only issue at the time was that they didn't make pre-made bottles which was a real pain, but this was 2y ago and they now stock the pre-made bottles in Tesco and boots. I also really appreciated their subscription service which meant I just had X amount of tins delivered to me monthly and never ran out. Currently pregnant with my third son and he will be on Kendamil too. Best of luck to you and your wife!

Well I ain't a troll! Think what you like. Done nothing wrong. And I wasn't the only one to mention it. Colostrum is so important! And I'm not being obsessive about breastfeeding at all. People are just so quick to be offended on here. It's pathetic.

Yes I'm well aware of the benefits of breastfeeding, colostrum etc but as stated in my original post.. we will not be breastfeeding. I came here to ask for recommendations of formula, not to be made to feel like a bad mother for not breastfeeding!!! BF isn't for everyone, please understand that!

And for the love of god please don't start about colostrum again!!! 😂

I think our dietician said that Aptamil and Cow&Gate are literally made in the same factory and it’s just a marketing/packaging difference. So I’d go with cheapest and most readily available, with option for premade being super handy for lots of situations out and about etc.
Congratulations and good luck to you and your wife! You sound like lovely mums!

I'm not making you out to be a bad mother. I'm not saying don't formula feed. Just suggested to least give your baba that. If I never breast fed I would of still giving him it.

I appreciate your concern. But isn't this a support network? You're pushing your opinions on me when I've already stated we will be formula feeding only. You don't know our situation, you don't know if my wife can even produce colostrum. It's a personal matter. Please stop with the unwanted comments now.

@Emmamoo89 I expect your intention was good, but honestly, you've come across as tone deaf. The thread is literally called 'formula', so unless you were coming here to give advice on which formula to give (which you have yet to do by the way) then you have no business commenting. If this was a thread debating bf vs formula then I would have some sympathy but OP has literally stated she will formula feed so you didn't need to comment anything regarding breastfeeding unless it was also related to formula feeding.

I think unless you're willing to at least acknowledge that you have been of no help to OP and haven't addressed what she's asked then I suggest you jog on.

OP, on a different note, you don't need to move on from first infant milk (marketed 0-6 months) as they are suitable until a year old (or beyond). I believe the first stage milk is more highly regulated than the other later stages anyway.

On the note of cost, Aptamil is so expensive at the moment and we moved my LO to Cow and Gate at 6 months with no problems as it was considerably cheaper and no different. Both do prepared milks and teats and ready made bottles for out and about. One thing you may want for research more is bottles, as there are so many and the cost can be high if you keep having to change due to reflex, etc.

Hi everyone,

just popping our head round! Can we get some peace and love on here please?