How do you formula feed from birth?

[BBQueen]

I know this could sound like a stupid question... I’m currently pregnant with DC3 and breast fed my first two. For various reasons, I want to exclusively formula feed this time.

How soon after birth do you offer a bottle? Do you take sterilised bottles and ready mixed formula to the hospital with you? Will midwives be OK providing hot water to heat bottles until I’m able to get out of bed?

It varies with different hospitals. I would take your things with you just in case or ask your midwife what your hospitals protocol is.

I ff my first from birth. After she was weighed etc the midwives provided formula for her. I don’t remember how long it was after but I had a nasty tear so while they were sorting that my dh fed her.

I'd take a starter set of pre-made bottles to hospital, personally. No faffing with separate bottles as they come with sterile tests and don't need to be refrigerated after opening as they are small enough to contain one feed per bottle.

They do these teeny tiny sterile bottles that include formula and teat - I think ours were aptamil. You can feed as soon as you're both ready :)

I think less and less hospitals are providing formula to new parents now, unless there is a medical need. So IMO if you plan to formula feed you would be best to go prepared.

They do a little starter set. Cant remember if aptamil or sma. Prob both.

I didn't decide until after horrendous labour ending in EMCS and seeing DD fed formula as her bloods were too low. I just asked for formula and they brought me the brand I wanted. I don't think all areas do this though so check (But you will be fine if you are in Basingstoke )

Not sure where you're based/ which hospital but I ff from birth and they provide you with tiny disposable pre-made bottles of milk. They suggest you feed as soon as you get down to post labour ward. I doubt ant hospital would be providing hot water, too dangerous and time consuming, and it's much easier to just have the pre-made ones lined up on your beside locker- you don't even need to heat them.

They provided formula when I had my FF DC, but your midwife will be able to tell you if your hospital does.

DP fed her after she’d been weighed, while they dealt with the afterbirth.

They gave them it at room temperature - don’t know if that’s still the case though.

I also recommend the little sterile bottles with sterile teat- we used aptamil. They’re ridiculously expensive but you may only need a box or two if you’re only in a day or so. My DD drank them at room temp in hospital but I’m sure the midwives would heat if necessary.

Depends entirely on your hospital’s policy. If you have to take your own formula (you will at many hospitals), it should be the pre-made kind as they are unlikely to have the facilities for you to mix up powder. The hospital will likely provide disposable sterile teats and bottles and a fridge to store open bottles of formula. The ‘starter pack’ bottles are far too large for a newborn so it’s much more economical to decant the little bit they need into a smaller bottle and pop the rest in the fridge. You can also just buy the large pre-made bottles and pop them in the fridge once opened - they work out much cheaper. Cheating with your midwife what their specific policy is though! You’ll probably have to warm up the cold formula (if from the fridge, room temp will be fine otherwise) in a pot of warm water. If you have a vaginal delivery and no serious complications you’ll likely be expected to largely sort yourself out.

Just as a side note - the WHO/BFI reccomend that all first feeds should, where possible, be done in skin to skin contact with mum, regardless of the method of feeding and should be offered within the first hour following birth.

Thank you all, I don’t think I’ve seen the disposable sterilised bottles before so will definitely look out for those.

Really useful to know about the guidelines for feeding in the first hour too, both of my other DC breast fed straight away but I wondered if it would look weird cracking open a bottle as the baby is handed over!

I will investigate the policy for the hospital and see what they will provide, but sounds like it will be useful to have a few things lined up and see what’s easiest as I go along.

Do hospitals not provide those little one use bottles with screw on teats these days in a choice of formulas? 😮 wow. I’ve had several children ff all from birth and hospital just provided the milk when you asked for it? Last one was 11 years ago though.

You used to be able to order the hospital bottles from boots or can you get one of those new prep machines to take in? Or are steri bottles still a thing? Or take ready made formula in cartons.

Formula fed both babies about 30 minutes after birth.
You have to start with a tiny amount or they will be sick. So the sterile bottles hold 3 or 4oz but the midwife will probably advise you not to give more than 1oz for the first few feeds.
Lots of brands do the ready made bottles including hipp (on their website only) cow and gate and aptimal sell the ready made bottles in Boots.
I bought a few packs of 12 bottles as I found them handy for when we got home until we got ourselves settled. They are expensive though!

In fact, my local hospital provided cow and gate or aptimal for free in the pre made bottles, you just had to ask each time you wanted one. I think this has changed now and they just provide cow and gate.
But with baby 2 I wanted Hipp so I took in my own!

Pennine PCT refused to provide formula at 2am two days post partum. I was in a terrible mess DD was getting more and more distressed and I couldn't lift her or move much. I kept being shouted at for falling asleep.
DH had to make a dash to tesco. He brought a litre bottle of formula, I got shouted at again because it was taking up too much space and it 'would spoil because we have to open the door a lot'.

Try for first breast feed then have a starter pack in your bag. I am not sure they even need to be kept in the fridge so you keep them with you.

Hopefully you'll be in and out.

I've had a baby in the past year and heard the midwife tell the woman in the bed opposite that they don't provide any formula so her mom would have to pop out to the shop to buy some so she could feed the baby.

I did buy some prepackaged bottles of formula just in case I wasn't able to breast feed. So that's probably the easiest option whilst you're in hospital.

I agree with above, those starter packs are easy to use and don't require additional equipment.

Also even if you're planning to ff, you could consider bf the first 2-3 days before your milk comes in, just so your baby gets the benefit of your colostrum, before switching over to ff.

Apologies if this suggestion isn't suitable as obviously it may be you can't bf due to medication etc.

I took ready made formula with me.

Our hospital has every formula available in the premade mini bottles and you just help yourself when needed - most midwives now know FF is a right and they cannot challenge it and must treat it same as BF choices.

Phone up the hospital and find out what's available and work it from there - last thing you want is to start one kind and not able to get it locally again.

Good luck!

I was at a big London hospital's MLU and they had either sma or cow and gate formula available in the ready bottles. My son fed about 1.5hrs after birth and drank a very tiny amount.

Just ask what they have available and bring your own if you need to.

Good luck

Most hospitals don't provide formula any more. Take a pack (maybe 2) of starter packs (Aptamil, Cow & Gate And SMA all do them). They are in little boxes. They are sterile and don't need refrigerating. I think they need to be thrown after an hour (check the box, DS drained his first few bottles so I didn't have to throw any.)
I fed DS a bottle around an hour after birth (was in theatre) and fed him again about 40mins later when he was rooting.

Like you, I breastfed my first but don't intend to this time. I'm going to buy a starter kit from Amazon and feed at room temperature (makes it easier when out and about too!).

It's very very hospital dependent on whether they will provide any support with formula feeding.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00LL6CQZY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ref=plSrch&keywords=formula+starter+pack&dpPl=1&dpID=515zi%2BeL10L&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1532947753&sr=8-3

They are half the price in Sainsbury's! don't get them from Amazon, they're so expensive.

You guys are amazing! Thank you for all the advice.