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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Which formula??

67 replies

DueInFebruary · 17/01/2015 14:50

I'm sure you will all be sick of hearing from me by the time baby is here! Due date is still a few weeks away but I'm trying to get our hospital bags packed and organised. After many discussions with midwife and gp it's been decided due to medication I'm going to FF instead of BF. Looking at buying the formula how do I pick which brand to go with? Do I order a couple of different ones? Or a few of the same? Don't really want to be continuously changing her milk if she gets on with it. Is it common for babies to have a natural preference for one or will she just go with whichever I buy asking as there's no lactose intolerance?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

StillinShockAhhhhhhh · 17/01/2015 17:46

That's what we have gone for at the moment but am going to look into BF again of it is possible with the medication

EssexMummy123 · 17/01/2015 17:50

"Aptimal and Cow & Gate are actually completely identical"

Actually not quite, one of them has one ingredient in a greater quantity than the other, cow&gate hugely upset my little ones tum, aptamil was fine and sma made her constipated - i'd stocked up on c&g as well!

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 17/01/2015 17:51

Oh, also, if you say you would be keen to bf if it weren't for your medication, have your team talked to you about colostrum?

You have mentioned that you aren't on your medication now and need to start it soon after birth. If your medication is a bar to bfing, have you spoken about whether it needs to be started within minutes/days/weeks of birth.?

For example, you could plan to bf in hospital and ff once at home, and start your medication when you go home. A few days of colostrum might be a nice thing to do if bfing is something you'd otherwise like to do but can't?

Now, that may not work for a number of reasons (you need to start the medication immediately, you need to be in hospital when you restart for observation, etc, etc) but it should have been discussed and your posts don't make it sound like it has?

StillinShockAhhhhhhh · 17/01/2015 18:06

No nothing like that had been discussed they basically said due to the medications BF isn't really an option they want me to start the medication as soon after the birth as possible but after 9 months of not having it I can't really see it being an issue for a couple more days x

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 17/01/2015 19:14

Well, obviously I know nothing about your medication or your condition. There may be really good reasons to start ASAP. But there may also be very little difference in waiting a day, or week or a fortnight. It's something that is worth asking about. It doesn't sound like they've really talked to you about the full picture.

If ff from birth is right for you, obviously do it and don't give it a second thought. But if bfing is something you would be keen on, it's worth exploring all your options.

Jodie1982 · 17/01/2015 23:02

Cow&Gate made my lil girl poo really badly, through the eye of a needle! It would literally be so explosive that she'd have poo up to her neck, I took her to the Doctor who said that Cow@Gate has quite a rich ingredient in it, and best to change it, I switched to Aptamil and within a day she was pooing normally. I can't see how they're identical Formula milks?

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 17/01/2015 23:03

They aren't identical. But no one is inherently better.

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 17/01/2015 23:24

Essex & Jodie -Cow & Gate and Aptimal themselves said they were the same formulation and could be safely swapped between, depending what you could get your hands on, back when there was a formula shortage problem (I can't remember if it was latter half of 2012 or early 2013 - but it was during DS's first year).

Prior to that I had heard they were identical, same parent company and factory and checked the details on the formula tins. I couldn't find a difference in ingredients or nutritional values, and it said made in ... factory for ... company on both.

Christelle2207 · 17/01/2015 23:37

Even the tubs are the same other than the colour and branding. I sent my dh out to get formula on about day 6...he came back with aptamil which luckily dc loved. When I asked him why he'd picked that one he admitted to being sucked in by the "cute bear" branding. So that extra £2 per tub that goes on marketing clearly works

lunalovegood84 · 18/01/2015 13:37

I used Cow & Gate from the start. No issues.

Meplusyouequals4 · 18/01/2015 13:52

sma I used for DD and I've bought some for DC2 due in 4 weeks

sma do starter packs the look great for while in hospital 6 X 100ml bottles ready to use with teats and everything.

StillinShockAhhhhhhh · 18/01/2015 21:48

If it's confirmed i will be unable to breastfeed what happens with regards to milk supply? Will I end up full of milk and uncomfortable?

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 18/01/2015 21:55

Yes, your milk will almost certainly still come in. You can get advice on here- but generally I think it is to strap them tightly in a sports bra for a few days and it will pass.

fattymcfatfat · 18/01/2015 22:00

The milk shouldnt be a problem your breasts may be sore for a bit after but DO NOT I repeat DO NOT mess with them or squeeze milk out! It will take longer for yiu supply to dry up if you do. I used c&g from birth for both of mine and plan to with this one. Both of mine were greedy and ended up on the hungry baby milk but dont get sucked into buying the follow on milk from 6 months as there is no need for it. Sorry to hear you wont be able to bf but there is still plenty of help and advice regarding formula feeding and the bond with your baby will still be as strong...nothing compares to mum

EssexMummy123 · 18/01/2015 22:19

I tried the C&G starter pack but found the teats were to hard, but hospital had a couple of different kinds of sterilised teats to try.

Re difference between aptamil and c&g - it was either aptamil or c&g product support phone line that told me the ingredients were the same however one of the prebiotics was present in a slightly larger quantity than in the other.

I'd guess the greater quantity one was in c&g because (quote from Which?) "All formulas, apart from SMA, include an additional prebiotic ingredient (Oligosaccharides, which are often referred to as FOS/GOS). However, the efficacy of prebiotics has been questioned by EFSA and the adverse affects of looser stools" my little one had much looser stools on c&g.

Sorry to hijack OP, I'm sure you'll find the best one for you - good luck!

Sonoma · 18/01/2015 22:39

drugs in breast milk helpline

If these guys don't think you can feed then ask the doctor prescribing your meds to also prescribe drugs that make the milk dry up. There was one called cabergoline but it may not be the only option now.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 18/01/2015 22:46

That isn't generally prescribed in the UK I don't think.

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