How many should I pack? (feeds)

[MrsLianeB]

I am not going to be able to breastfeed due to a medication I have had to take during pregnancy (4 prev mc so has been essential to sustaining this pregnancy) therefore I have to take ready made formula bottles with me in my hospital bag.
I have got a starter pack of 6 * 90ml bottles how long are these likely to last me 1 day or 2 I would assume? I have powder for when we come home, hopefully next day all being well!
Thanks

Look on side of bottle?

Fwiw I had a baby last week and there were two mums in the ward next to me who were given formula by the midwives when needed. I think it came in ready to use mini bottles. It might not be the same in every hospital but might be worth checking out

nowhere near enough for a day ime, newborn will feed little and often and then you have to throw the rest of the bottle away. I'd allocate a 12 box per day tbh, although the hospital would have emergency supplies if you ran out, but might not be the brand you chose.

Are you sure the hospital won't provide it? Mine wouldn't let you bring your own in.

They advise that you feed a newborn every 3 hours at the least and you would have to waste most of the bottle. Can you take cartons in? My hospital will provide srerile single use bottles but not formula. You can then decant what you need from the carton to the bottle and keep the rest in the fridge

Unfortunately my hospital doesn't provide milk, sterilisers or prep areas so you have to take your own premade stuff in with you. They have a fridge to store feeds in once they have been opened but i don't think I would trust it not to be touched or used (even by accident) by someone else.

I will get another box just to be prepared they are so expensive though!

Check the rules at your hospital. At mine they won't let you use ready made as they want to make sure you can make it up correctly with powder.

They don't feed a lot, BF babies just get little drops of colostrum for the first 24 hours. I would use a carton like Rhubarb says so you can feed on demand without wasting anything.

Sorry if you have but have you double checked with that helpline (sorry can't remember the name) that you can't BF on your particular medication? Sometimes docs are cautious but actually you can on some medicines now, I did on clexane and all sorts of stuff.

I wouldn't worry about the fridge, they use it to store expressed milk for prem babies . Also you can sterilise stuff in a container filled with sterilising fluid on the table next to your bed.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

Could you ask your partner/Mum/a friend to bring in some more for you when baby is born? At least then you don't have to worry about it now?