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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

formula feeding from birth

44 replies

kitkatkaty87 · 20/08/2014 12:42

Anyone done it? Looks like I'm going to have to due to medication but I'm already expecting frowns and the rest from the midwifes. Thinking of taking the ready made bottles in for the birth. Not sure how many though?
I would have chosen to breast feed but this is how it is going to be so I just wondered if anyone else had done this or been there and what to expect?

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CoolCat2014 · 20/08/2014 12:48

I know a couple of friends who've had to for medical reasons. The midwives should be understanding, if they aren't, ignore them on this point, and do what's best for you baby!

WaffleWiffle · 20/08/2014 12:51

Make sure you confirm with your midwife about being unable to breastfeed, because it would be a shame to miss out needlessly.

Assuming BF is not possible, I think hospitals use those ready made bottles for newborns. I would expect to need enough for at least 2 hourly feeds - so 12 in 24 hours - just so that you are sure you have enough.

showtunesgirl · 20/08/2014 12:51

Have you checked with the pharmacist, Wendy at The Breastfeeding Network whether your medication is incompatible?

Most doctors and pharmacists will automatically say no to breastfeeding but Wendy who is a specialist on this matter might be able to advise you better.

LBNM19 · 20/08/2014 12:51

I did and it wasn't for medical reasons its just what I wanted to do, they provided them in my local hospital instead of making bottles up etc x

Thurlow · 20/08/2014 12:57

I did it. I was all psyched up to have a big debate with the midwives over it but DD ended up in NICU and so there was no debate - they said she's poorly, shall we do formula while you're ready to express? and I said formula was fine, and there was no debate.

DD was fed hospital formula while she was in NICU but when she joined me on the ward they suggested we ought to bring our own in. They had a little side room with buckets of Milton where you could sterilise the bottles, fridges for keeping open cartons, a bottle warmer, and stickers to label everything. The only problem I had was no one really wanting to show me how to use the little room, and as we had a steam steriliser at home I did need someone to spend 30 seconds telling me how cold water sterilising worked.

Definitely check with some other professionals whether there is any way you can breastfeed, but if it has to be bottles, I would say the pre-made ones are easier while in hospital. There might be quite a lot of wastage in those few days but if the cost isn't an issue, it would certainly be a lot easier than trying to sterilise in hospital.

Miggs28 · 20/08/2014 13:03

My DSis did and was ready for a lot of explaining with the midwives and having to justify her choice but they didn't bat an eyelid. In the end it was absolutely the right decision as she was very ill after the birth and her DH had to do feeding for the first few days.

The hospital had the same set up as Thurlow described and she had the ready made bottles for her DS so she didn't have to worry about sterilising.

wigglesrock · 20/08/2014 13:53

I did it with all three of mine, hospital provided the glass bottles of milk. No one said anything to me at all. I had asked the midwife at an appt before I had my third, if I needed to bring formula in but no my hospital provides it.

Squtternutbaush · 20/08/2014 14:03

I formula fed my first from birth as I just didn't want to breastfeed, no argument from any midwives or anyone else.

Our hospital provided little ready made bottles for us you just chose the brand (I went with the one that was easiest to find in most shops but nutritionally they're all pretty much the same) but not everywhere does this so its worth asking.

In the first few days they take tiny amounts more often so you will waste quite a lot if using pre made but it has the advantage of being quick and easy whilst you're settling into your new "routine".

soapboxqueen · 20/08/2014 14:38

There is a website called lactimed which is a database of medications and their effects on breastfeeding.

However, even if you still can't or just don't feel comfortable with it, it shouldn't be a problem. I would take the pre mixed stuff into hospital.

Girlsville · 20/08/2014 15:03

My dd3 was born prem last week at 35 weeks. Very surprisingly I was heavily discouraged from breast feeding and encouraged to formula feed as she is very teeny. I decided to do formula top ups after breast feeding but by day 5 she had lost a lot of weight so I was envisaged to switch only to formula. All the drs and midwives have really pushed this so that she gains weight and been v supportive as I breasted my other two dds. At the end of the day all you want is for your baby to feed well and thrive regardless of how you are feeding

Chunderella · 20/08/2014 15:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 20/08/2014 15:40

Aptamil do 'starter packs' with 6 ready-to-go bottles. perfect size for a maternity bag.

Tangoandcreditcards · 20/08/2014 15:47

I've had a double mastectomy, so I did.

I used the "starter pack" bottles of premade formula for the first few weeks. (Cow and Gate) in fact, at 6mo DS still has mostly premade because he's even more sicky on powder.

In hospital they just asked what formula I was using and gave me one of the little bottles. You may want to check with your hospital, as I understand that some won't provide formula so you will need to bring it in yourself in your hospital bag.

Of 10-odd HCPs I dealt with in my pregnancy and first few weeks, only one said anything negative about formula-feeding. They ask a lot, but for information rather than judgement.

VashtaNerada · 20/08/2014 16:01

SMA do cute little ready-made starter bottles. Six is probably the right amount to put in the hospital bag in case of an overnight stay (pretty sure they don't supply them anymore), but buy some for home too as they are so much easier than powder for those first few days! Make sure you've figured out the bottles/powder/steriliser before you have the baby too - so you're not trying to figure it out while sleep-deprived!

SquattingNeville · 20/08/2014 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jerryfudd · 20/08/2014 16:14

I did with all 3 of mine (twins first). I was never harassed by anyone. I think it was noted on my greens. I had one doctor on her rounds ask (having just had an emergency section with twins) whether I wanted to try so my body could fulfil it's use or some other such nonsense but having told her no was never asked again. The hospital supplied the ready made bottles of formula on demand.

Looserella · 20/08/2014 16:32

I did out of choice. No hassle from any of the midwives. I brought in some ready made cartons or bottles of SMA and I think they provided disposable sterilised bottles. There was a little kitchen with a fridge and I can't remember if I warmed the milk. Don't think I did. I took a few cartons but was in and out pretty quick.

Original poster

kitkatkaty87 · 20/08/2014 18:14

Thanks for all the great replies. Lovely to know others have done it. I had been looking at hipp formula and they also do the ready made bottles. So will get a load of these to take with me. I will double check that I can't breast feed but I'm pretty sure I can't and not sure I'd want to chance it even if someone said yes. I think I would worry.
Thanks again. Good note about working out the steriliser and all before baby is born too!!
Thanks again

OP posts:

beccajoh · 20/08/2014 18:18

I took ready made Cow and Gate in my hospital bag. It was a 12 bottle starter pack with individual 3oz bottles of milk and separate teats you screwed on when you're ready to feed. It avoided the need to sterilise.

beccajoh · 20/08/2014 18:24

I can highly recommend a Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine for full time formula feeding. They're £100 RRP if you shop around you can get them for £65-75.

Chunderella · 20/08/2014 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

frames · 20/08/2014 20:51

Glass bottles here in hospital. Then different formula at home, follow on milk. Didn't want to BF. No debate. My decision was respected.

Original poster

kitkatkaty87 · 21/08/2014 07:04

Glad that they seem respectful of people choices

OP posts:

Squtternutbaush · 21/08/2014 11:11

Framed do you mean you used Follow on milk once you got home with your newborn?

Follow on milk isn't advised by health professionals for older babies because of the rediculously high sugar content and its definitely not supposed to be used for young babies.

Superlovely · 21/08/2014 11:17

Ask a midwife to write on your notes that you are bottle feeding and why. That way you won't have to go through the same conversation with each midwife and they should all support what you are doing and give good advice.

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