What's the deal with formula in hospital...?

[flootshoot]

With DS I struggled to breastfeed and ended up giving up pretty early due to exhaustion/desperation! Poor little sod was so obviously starving and my milk hadn't come in - anyway I ended up bottle feeding and it was a one way street as I was so knackered I couldn't face trying breastfeeding again . This time I'd like to be a bit more prepared and I am fully planning to give this baby a bottle if the same thing happens - then we can both get some sleep and try again when rested.

Anyway, I'm rambling - what I'm asking is if I need to take a bottle and some formula to hospital with me, or will they provide it if asked?

Thanks!

Some do and some don't, sorry not much help Know mine did with my previous 2 births and rang maternity ward last week to doublecheck they still are.

From the other side - my hospital don't provide anything (although you'd hope they must have some supplies for an emergency) and last time when I couldn't get baby to latch on DM had to go to shops and get supplies. They do provide sterilising equipment though for you to use yourself.

My hospital provided milk for us, but our twins were in special care as they were premature. Because they couldn't afford to lose weight they were formula fed and I topped up with breast milk that I had expressed. I am pregnant again and am not sure whether to breast feed or go straight onto bottles. I know that Asda sell already made up cow and gate milk with sterile teats packaged up and ready to go. Would be expensive to use them all the time but may see you through the first couple of days!

nancy I was in Asda last week and noticed the SMA Gold glass bottles for sale in packs of 12, think I might invest for first wee while at home.

Our hospital provides bottles and teats (as my hospitals can't have sterilisation facilities any more due to crazy infection control rules) but we have to provide our own cartons or glass bottles of our chosen milk (unless the babies are on SCBU where all milk is provided).

Hospitals will only provide formula where a doctor feels there is a medical need. You have to take cartons and your own bottles now!

It depends on the hospital ready to burst still being provided here in NI.

This topic came up in my midwife appointment last week. We were suprised to learn that we DO have to bring our own formula if we want it as a back-up.

Apparently, not having formula readily available (except for medical needs) is a key criteria for hospitals who are trying to get accredited as Baby Friendly.
In line with this, I believe it also means that the hospital also cannot accept "free" supplies from formula companies.

More info on Baby Friendly initiative:
www.babyfriendly.org.uk/page.asp?page=14

List of UK hospitals and accreditation status:
www.babyfriendly.org.uk/page.asp?page=218

Just wanted to add that I had a similar situation with DS - traumatic birth meant my milk didn't come in for over a week and he ended up very hungry, especially as he was a big baby.

I plan to do the same as you and take some formula and bottles etc to hospital this time as couldn't cope with a repeat.

I did end up feeding him myself for about 9 months after that, mixed with some bottles, so it all worked out OK in the end... am sure it will for you this time...

Hi, as others have said depends where you are but I was surprised to see my SIL merrily feeding away with hospital supplied formula straight after the birth. No medical reasons for her so must just depend on the hospital. Something to ask at your hospital tour I guess!

15 weeks ago my hospital was still providing formula feeds. Did mention they may be charging in the future as there have had a few incidents where the people have left with a supply. But she said that is unlikely to happen in the next year, which is good as I am pregnant again

Some do, some dont. If you go on a hospital tour or have antenatal classes then they will tell you your hospitals policy then. If not, just ask your mw.
My hospital do provide bottles and milk if required as a back up.

Most hospitals now do not provide formula except for where there is a medical need (low BMs for example- this criterion is usually stretched if a mum really needs it and doesn't have it. Most will provide sterile bottles and teats. This is partially for financial reasons and partly if the hospital has Baby Friendly Status.
Take either the ready made bottles or the cartons which you can store in the fridge but please ring the hospital or ask your community midwife as some hospitals even have vending machines for formula!

DD was tiny when born with low blood sugar and my milk hadn't come in, so hospital did manage to find some SMA gold for us to use.

As I planned to BF (and did, very successfully, from day 3 onwards), they suggested feeding her from a small medicine cup and letting her lap it with her tongue, a bit like a cat (to avoid nipple confusion).

Seemed to work okay. They did seem to be a bit flustered about the need to find some formula, even though it was their idea. Next time I would take some with us.

Thanks everyone! I will ask the MW tomorrow but I've no problem taking a bottle and a couple and a carton if it saves the good old NHS a few pennies.

I am quite happy to take my own, but is there a place you can buy little sterilised bottles? My son was 4 weeks early and born by EMCS so getting up and sterlising bottles won't be an option for me if I have to have another CS, so ready sterlised would be best I think.

Am fascinated by this thread as had dc1 a year ago and on the first night in hosp the midwife said I had to give him some formula and gave me the choice of all three brands. I was breastfeeding so can only presume he needed it but it seemed to be offered round the ward quite freely. Am pg with dc2 now so wonder if this is a change within the last year?

nunnie I was given the SMA Gold, and you can get little teats that attach straight onto the glass bottles.

www.smanutrition.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=646

Am not endorsing the SMA brand - as I said, I BF successfully, but the option of the teat-straight-onto-bottle sounds convenient. Not sure where you buy this though.

Ours still has the little glass bottles, although the girls were prem so in SCBU so I expressed for them then they had top ups of formula too.

I was in Asda last week they had a box of 12 (I think) SMA glass bottles, teats and formula, the same as hospital have.