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Original poster

Breast feeding - hoping to but should I get a few bottles just in case

29 replies

kellyjayne100 · 26/08/2012 10:56

Hi all,

I am pregnant with number 2 and hoping to BF. Child number 1, aged 6, was born with complex health problems as so has been tube fed since birth meaning I missed out on all the 'normal' stuff last time. I really want to BF this baby if I can but am still left a little traumatised by my last experience and desperately trying to but him being too poorly etc. I expressed for 4 weeks but it was an absolute nightmare as he was in NICU so it was anything but natural.

My question is should I get a steriliser and a few bottles in just in case all goes pear shaped? There are some deals on the Tommee Tippee started set at the minute and I am tempted. I know baby will have to eventually have a mixture (hopefully of expressed) as DS is in and out of hospital and there will be times Daddy or Grandma may need to do the odd feed if there is an emergency. I do not, however, want to confuse baby as DS has enough feeding issues.

Any advice would be much appreciated, Thank you

OP posts:

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AndieMatrix · 26/08/2012 11:01

I did. I used the Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles alongside breast feeding with both of my children and they were fine, not confused at all. I did combine breast milk and formula though as they were HUNGRY and finding the time between feeds to express was impossible!

readyforno2 · 26/08/2012 11:04

Buy some bottles but maybe don't bother with a steriliser just yet. A bucket with a lid and some Milton tablets will work just as well without the expense. Especially if you might not use it all the time.

themadfiddler · 26/08/2012 11:05

trust yourself firstly/ your body and secondly you could join a local bf group which will give you access to bf counsellors and peer support. this will build your confidence :)
i never bought any bottles because i knew if things got tough then i would possibly use one. as it happened i didn't need to and did not want to. i just went with it and joined a group to meet other mothers.
congrats btw!

PeshwariNaan · 26/08/2012 11:06

I would say yes just from my experience of watching family members with newborns. It's never a bad thing to have a can of formula and a couple of bottles (and steriliser) just in case.

However I have read that you should try to avoid the bottle as much as possible to keep BFing successful (and keep your milk coming in). Even if you do feed formula or expressed milk I've read you should feed it from a cup (as newborns might get used to bottle nipples). Any experts out there? I'm curious about this as well...

OnlyWantsOne · 26/08/2012 11:07

I wouldn't tbh

If you really want to BF - at 3am when your exhausted and can't face trying to latch a baby on and off and on properly until it doesn't hurt etc & your milk hasnt come in properly etc
A bottle will look very tempting.

PacificDogwood · 26/08/2012 11:12

Weeeell, it has been show that having bottles and supplies in 'just in case' can undermine successfull establishing BFing, but that's statistics and says v little of what will happen in your individual case.

My advice whether or not to stock up before the arrival of your baby (congratulations btw!) depends on where you are:
if you live in the middle of nowwhere and any shopping has to be secured from miles away, then I'd stock up. NOthing worse than to have a distraught newborn and no way of soothing it.
if you live in any kind of urban area with 24 hr shops, then I WOULD NOT GET BOTTLES AND FORMULA beforehand. Everytime your LO opens their beak and squawks, you offer the breast! Works every time IME and helps BFing starting off on the right track.

It took me to DC3 to really successfullly BF for as long as I wanted and it was all to do with accepting that I was going to nothing else other than be a food source on legs for the first few weeks . Less stress all round, less crying (baby and me ) and no problems with supply etc...

V best of luck!

iggi777 · 26/08/2012 11:15

Well I've had a steriliser and bottles for ebf babies as I've expressed, so not wasted. I think having formula in the house is unwise, very easy to buy it if you need it.

ifiwasarichwoman · 26/08/2012 11:19

I would say no don't get them - in the early days there were times when if there was a bottle in house I would have caved bit there wasn't so I just got on with it - and am very glad I did so.

nomoreminibreaks · 26/08/2012 11:24

Personally I had some bottles and a pump for expressing but didn't have any formula in the house until BF was established as I honestly think I would have cracked in one of my weaker moments and I would have regretted it.

I had DH, DMiL and DSiL reminding me constantly that I could give up if I wanted but had to ask them not to in the end! It was hard but I'm so pleased I did keep going.

Midgetm · 26/08/2012 12:09

I wouldn't. Easy to get if you need too and like others say, there will be moments you may think its not going to work. My DD was also tube fed for the first few weeks. Got so sick of expressing I was like a bloody cow strapped to a machine. Trust yourself and if it all goes wrong then get some Milton tablets and a tin of formula. Good luck this time round.

SirBoobAlot · 26/08/2012 12:16

I wouldn't. They're easy to get if you need to, you will probably be absolutely fine, and actually having them in the cupboard may do more to undermine your confidence than reassure you.

Go along to a local breastfeeding support group before baby arrives and discuss things with them if you're feeling a bit anxious about it. :)

Badgerina · 26/08/2012 15:34

I wouldn't. You probably won't need them, and if you do, it's no hassle to send someone (DP) out to get a couple.

You're more likely to "need" them if you have them in the house (this is the principle behind formula companies giving out free samples in US hospitals)

OddBoots · 26/08/2012 15:43

I had no trouble breastfeeding so it wasn't needed but I did buy some ready made cartons, a couple of bottles and a microwave sterilisation bag which I left with a supportive friend just in case. I liked having that security net without them being just at hand.

ZuleikaD · 26/08/2012 17:29

I wouldn't. As others have said it'll be very easy to pop out to Boots for a couple of bottles if necessary.

newtonupontheheath · 26/08/2012 18:39

I bought the lot with DS and wish I hadn't. It took up loads of space, and I didn't use the steriliser even when DS had the odd bottle of expressed milk/formula (was about 6months old)

It was tough to get bf established but I was never "tempted" by having those things in the house but maybe because I'm a. stubborn or b. lazy

When we did introduce the odd bottle, we used Milton anyway. I've just given unused steriliser to my DSis-in-law for her new baby, despite being 35wks with dc2.

PicaK · 27/08/2012 07:45

Well I had a steriliser and some cartons in the cupboard.

Personally, I felt happier knowing they were there if I needed them. And glad I bought them for special offer 20 quid not the usual 40.

And I did BF and needed the steriliser for expressing. You had an awful time of it before. Can you see the hospital BF person if there is one or a midwife there just to discuss this.

ZuleikaD · 27/08/2012 10:30

You don't need to sterilise bottles for expressed breast milk, only for formula. Plain washing is enough for breastmilk.

iggi777 · 27/08/2012 11:25

Oh Zuleika that would save me a bit of time - does that apply to the breastpump too?

blackcatsdancing · 27/08/2012 11:41

i bf for 15 months and DC had the odd expressed bottle when i wanted to go out/ have a break, Dc's dad and grandmother gave those, no confusion at all. i needed bottles and a steriliser for that reason. I've never heard that expressed bottles shouldn't be sterilised. I was never tempted to give formula because i had bottles and a steriliser in the house!!

if they are on special offer right now then i'd personally buy to be prepared, you've already said you will have to get someone else to do the odd feed.

ZuleikaD · 27/08/2012 13:12

No, the breastpump doesn't need to be sterilised either. You can look at the breastpump manufacturer's websites for clarity if you like - a new one should be sterilised by boiling it but then you don't need to do it again ever.

blackcatsdancing · 27/08/2012 14:47

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/sterilising-bottles.aspx#close

according to the NHS you should sterilise for expressed milk as well as formula.

whatsoever · 27/08/2012 16:25

I was going to get the works in 'just in case' but have decided against it now, as I think it will be too easy to give in and make up a bottle during a hard night, and I'd probably never go back if I found that easier.

However as PacificDogwood says, I am in an urban area, and I know if I was really desperate, DH could be shipped off to the shops to get formula and a few bottles (boiling the lot on a big pan would sterilise at a push too).

ZuleikaD · 27/08/2012 16:53

blackcats, that page simply tells you how to sterilise if you're going to - it doesn't say that you should, and the breastpump manufacturers themselves say you don't have to.

blackcatsdancing · 27/08/2012 17:14

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/expressing-storing-breast-milk.aspx

Storing breast milk

You can store breast milk in a sterilised container:
in the fridge for up to five days at 4°C or lower
for two weeks in the ice compartment of a fridge
for up to six months in a freezer
Breast milk must always be stored in a sterilised container. If you use a pump, always sterilise it before and after use.

i don't know why manufacturers say you don't need to sterilse their equipment.
I personally would sterilise whatever they say but as with everything its personal choice what you do or don't do.

CountryKitty · 27/08/2012 17:20

definitely yes!

Who's to say how you may feel. First time round I didn't buy any and found breastfeeding completely unnatural for me (yes I know it is natural but it didn't suit me). We then had the panic rush to buy all things bottle feeding related. DD2 was bottle fed from the start and DC3 when he/she arrives will be bottled fed too.

I hope it all works out well for you if that's what you choose but if it doesn't please remember that thats OK too. Goodluck!

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