having an 'oh crap' moment....

[Scheherezadea]

OMG.... following on from the expressed feed post!

I'm 28 weeks to go, and seriously know NOTHING about babies, most specifically feeding and sterilising bottles and when to use a bottle and ARGH.

I want to breast feed, but I also want to feed from bottles, so DP can feed baby if I go out.

So. I have bought 2 Tommee Tippee 'closer to nature' bottles as they're supposed to be similar to the booby. From what age can you start giving baby milk from the bottle AND STILL be breast feeding?

HOW do you sterilise bottles? I always thought they just got shoved into a pan of boiling water?

Am thinking of buying the Medela Swing or Ameda Lactaline, when can I start using them?

Panicpanicpanic. We're going shopping next weekend, I need to start buying stuff, have a few vests and babygro's, but what about the PADS?! I have no pads! Of any type! OMG.

I would say that things like this can wait until the anti-natal classes

Not 28 weeks to go, 28 weeks gone!

Will they be enough? Am only going to NHS, not NCT, and not until 3-4 weeks before baby is due!

PADS and LIDS and BAGS and TEATS, I don't even have any suitable pyjamas for hospital! brain whizz

yeah, still plenty of time to leave it!

are you planning to use expressed milk in the bottles or formula?
that'll make a huge difference to how yo uneed to prepare stuff. (eg, if you're expressing, you need to work out how you're storing the milk, and for how long - in the freezer, or in the fridge if it's being used within a day or two - so what kind of containers do you need? etc)

I think you can use a pan of boiling water - it depends on the plastic of the bottle. (and you can get sterlising powder, too, i think)

if you're doing NCT classes, you should be able to ring them and ask them.
:)

Don't buy bottles until the day you need them.

sorry, you said not NCT.
you can still ring them up, find your local team online, i think.

MTG - that's not very useful, because we live in a very rural area, a long way away from any shops, and I can't drive, and it will be winter, and DP works full time so we really do need to stock up in advance!

Am not doing NCT classes, can't afford and none in our area.

Was planning on using expressed milk - or can you FF and breast milk feed?? Seems pointless to do both... Yes! I neeed to make sure my list has adequate storing items, PADS AND BAGS and all that.

I don't know - what kind of containers do I need?! Was just going to put in the bottles, ready for re-warming!

Presumably you shop for food every few days, and any nights out are planned in advance. Seriously, if you really want to breastfeed, don't have a "just-in-case" bottle in the back of the cupboard.

I know that it is tempting to buy a lot for a new baby, but, take it from old-timers, save your money.

right,

you can use a bottle from the off. BUT it is a good idea to just get started with exclusive breastfeeding as you can confuse the baby by using the breast and teets (this goes for dummies/pacifiers too).
If you plan the occasional bottle later on that's great. I used the medela swing to express my milk and stored it in the freezer in little bags from the supermarket. These can then be used whenever you like. You should still express when the baby feeds though to keep your supply going, but don't panic, this will come to you as you get to know your own body and baby. You can ask questions later and shouldn't worry about that yet.

I would recommend getting some sort of steriliser, either cold water with tablets, or a steam one.

You can express from the off, but it will be a few days before your 'milk' comes in. Get yourself a breastfeeding MW and keep in touch with her. Ask her the questions as they arrive. She should come to your house to check how you're doing etc. I say this because everyone has different experiences and you may not be able to breastfeed easily so the advice would be different.

and relax....... anything you forget to buy can be easily bought once the baby is here and it is a great excuse to get rid of irritating but well-meaning folk when you want some peace and quiet.

Have you not got a book from your midwife? It detailed in there how to sterilise. I think we may have got them at ante natal class though. I personally bought a tomme tippee microwave sterilizer and used it as a cold water steriliser with Milton tablets.

You can start expressing when you feel comfortable but best to wait until it's established. I had some bags from boots to put expressed milk in the fridge/freezer. I would wait until it's established before investing in an electric pump.

I didn't bother with bottle lids as the lids that go over the teat seal it enough for out and about. The teats you have with the bottle will be fine for a couple of months. I only replaced mine when I needed to go on to the faster flow ones

Have I missed anything?

Don't panic!!

If you want to breast & bottle feed, it is recommended that you don't start to give baby a bottle (or dummy) until 4-6wks old, as otherwise they can get abit confused between bottle & nipple. In reality, lots of people do start earlier with bottles (and dummies!) & babies switch between the 2 fine.

Go buy either some Milton sterilising liquid (in a blue bottle) - which you mix with cold water (in specific quantities) in a washing up bowl and I believe that sterilises things in 6mins or so. Or, buy some sterilising tablets (again, Milton is most common brand). You drop one in a specific amount of water - again, sterilises things nice & quick. You can also boil in water - I believe the Tommee Tippee bottles are BPA free (will say on the pack) so are ok if heated (i.e. wont release any nasty chemicals if boiled).

You can start using a breast pump from day 1 if you want, but I dont think you'd need to until 4 or so weeks (once you've established BF with baby). You can buy breast milk storage bags to store breast milk in fridge (for 12hrs or 24hrs - check cos i'm not sure!) or in the freezer (for 6 months). Just defrost and heat to desired temp in a jug of hot water.

Re: pads, I like Johnson ones best, but there are loads of different makes.

You can buy everything you need above in mothercare, or probably even a big supermarket. Good luck!

Thanks supa :) have saved this thread for rereading when less panicked! DP wants to feed the baby aswell, which is why I'd like to use bottle and boobie. Can you formula feed and bf?

How do I get a bf midwife? Will my community midwife know?

icravecheese - perfect, thank you!

atm I can't see forumla feeding weakening resolve, as it seems so much more confusing - washing and sterilising and making up and everything. At least bf = get out the boob and go!

It's all so new and strange to me!

No probs! I FF my first born & BF my 2nd born - BF is soooo much less hassle, but getting it established can be hard work (I couldnt manage it first time, hence firstborn FF from 4 wks). If in any doubt about latch / technique, ask ask & ask again the midwives / HV etc. Use local BF support groups (even if you can't get to them, they often have phone no's you can call for support). Good luck, don't feel afraid to ask anyone / everyone for help. And don't be afraid to unlatch / latch your baby back on every feed if need be, if you think the latch is incorrect (otherwise you end up with terribly sore nipples - i thought one of my nipples was going to drop off with DC1, hence why I gave up!!). But with plenty of advice and help, BF my daughter was pure pleasure!

If you want someone to talk through all this with you so you feel a little less overwhelmed then I recommend calling the NCT breastfeeding advice line - you don't need to be a member or going to classes, it is for everyone. The line is staffed by breastfeeding counsellors who not only know lots about breastfeeding but are trained in listening etc as well, so really good people to vent to. They will be more than happy to talk to you before the baby is born, and will also have loads of info on where to go in your local area to get support.

Read breastfeeding books while you have a chance! I read "How to breastfeed and what to do if you can't" by Claire Byam (I think) and it gave me a huge heads up in regards to what to expect. With regards to when to give a bottle, I waited until 4 weeks and gave an ounce in a bottle (because I was giving Colief which can only be given in milk). It did not seem to affect breastfeeding at all.

I breastfed and bottle fed expressed to all 3 of mine from birth. No confusion issues (or 9 month old won't take a bottle issues). The bottles you have r good. I used avent pump though (hand one) as got big boobs and the tommee tippe one leaked. Meant sterilising 2 bottles though (avent for pump then poured into tt one for the feed). U just need steriliser, pump, bottles and breastpads (tt ones or Johnson good). Microwave steriliser the way forward. Also baby vests and some grows and muslins. Seriously the shops are packed with gadgets that you buy and realise you don't need. Baby carrier(bjorn active good) also great. Ps I had only held a baby once before having one - all seemed like a strange and confusing world but they're very simple. They just want milk, sleep and cuddles.

I second the clare byam book recommended by banana87....bought it 4wks before due date with my 2nd baby, read it cover to cover, I swear it massively helped me get off to a successful start with bf.

thanks lollystix - am hoping to pick up an electric pump off ebay, just need a steriliser, and pads are definately on the needed list! Going to start buying stuff frmo next week properly. DPs mum has made a beautiful nursey for the kid, and i slready buying nappies and wipes - I just have a basket that everything is shoved in, don't have any spare wardrobe or cupboard space! Need to nag DP to take me to ikea more....

This is a great source of evidence based information on BF: www.kellymom.com

Also have you seen this thread? 5 things I wish I'd know before starting breastfeeding some good advice there.

A couple of tips on using EBM / bottles

1. Get some Breast milk storage bags They're great, really easy to use.

1. When you put the breast milk into a bottle, don't be tempted to put lots of your milk into it, especially at first. BM keeps for a while unused and can be frozen too (see www.kellymom.com for how long exactly, I've forgotten!). However once it's been used for a feed it's got bacteria in it from your baby's saliva and can't be kept for another feed. It's heartbreaking to throw lots of milk away which you spent ages expressing but which your baby has had a couple of sips from and decided s/he doesn't want it right now!

1. Sterlising. We used milton tablets. If you're going to boil-sterilise you need to make especially sure any plastic bottles are BPA-free (most new ones made in the UK are these days I think, but BPA has only been known about relatively recently so some second-hand ones or cheap ones from abroad (e.g via the pound shop!) might not for example). Not trying to scare you! It's easily dealt with by buying brands which state they are BPA free (see BPA link above). But just thought you should know about it.

Only one of mine has his own drawers. The other two each have a big ikea shallow basket full of clothes which is shoved under my bed. I don't iron - I just shove it all in. My colleagues are horrified but it works. One day well sort out drawers and wardrobes but my new baby due October will probably just have a big cardboard box for his stuff. I find after they've worn something for 5 mins the creases fall out. Have u got a few baby sleeping bags - these are essential - about 4 I say cos they leak through their nappies at night when very little and they take ages to dry