Feeding questions

[SuperVeggie]

Hi, I am 31 weeks so trying to get everything ready for baby's arrival which is currently a planned section booked for 38 weeks (although this could potentially change to induction, still TBC). Anyway I am planning to BF and hoping that if I have a section my milk will still come in quickly enough. However I'm aware that it doesn't always.

I am also planning on returning to work 2 days a week from when baby is 4 months old and so I would like her to get used to a bottle ASAP as my DH will be looking after her on the 2 days I'm at work. Friends I have spoken to have said that even if you are BF it is important to get baby used to a bottle early on, and quite regularly, to minimise chances of having a bottle refuser later on. So I was planning on expressing from quite early and giving her 1-2 bottles a day just so she is used to it. I also like the idea that DH could give her this as it will hopefully help them bond and also maybe mean I get some sleep occasionally

So my questions are:

• What do I definitely need to buy? I have a bottle steriliser already, lansinoh cream, breast pads and nipple shields. I still need to buy nursing bras and some bottles - how many bottles? What type? What teat? I'm finding it all quite confusing. Should I get some formula on stand by too - how much and which one?

• I'm thinking of not buying a pump until baby is born, because if it turns out I can't BF for whatever reason I will have wasted my money. But I want to know which one I plan to get, so I can just add to amazon cart ready. Is the madela swing worth the money? And will I also need breast milk bags for freezing?

• Finally, any advice on doing this? When should I start expressing and trying baby on bottles, if BF starts off ok? I've read you should wait 6 weeks but that seems a long time.

Sorry this is long, grateful for any help!

• What do I definitely need to buy? I have a bottle steriliser already, lansinoh cream, breast pads and nipple shields. I still need to buy nursing bras and some bottles - how many bottles? What type? What teat? I'm finding it all quite confusing. Should I get some formula on stand by too - how much and which one?

I wouldn't buy bottles at this stage - you can think about it afterwards when you really know whether you can breast feed or not. Remember - many supermarkets sell bottles and teats and are open 24hrs or Amazon prime (if you haven't got it someone else could order and you pay them back). It is recommended that you don't introduce a bottle until 5/6 weeks after breastfeeding (if you can/want to) to ensure your milk supply is regulated.

• I'm thinking of not buying a pump until baby is born, because if it turns out I can't BF for whatever reason I will have wasted my money. But I want to know which one I plan to get, so I can just add to amazon cart ready. Is the madela swing worth the money? And will I also need breast milk bags for freezing?

I would agree, you can get this after - in my experience the Medela Swing was totally worth it as I pumped a bottles worth of expressed milk everyday for 10 months! I froze milk in ice cube trays - the old school white ones, as each cube is about 1oz, so it made it easy to judge what DD was having. Put the tray in clear freezer bag and write over each cube the date it was expressed - you can keep it for 6 months. I also used the Tommee Tippee milk pots - each one is approx 2oz, I used these for storing in the fridge.

• Finally, any advice on doing this? When should I start expressing and trying baby on bottles, if BF starts off ok? I've read you should wait 6 weeks but that seems a long time.

I worked on the 5/6 weeks basis, as I believe that it takes about this long to really regulate milk supply. With DS I left it longer, and he ended up refusing a bottle until 10months!

Pumping is not as efficient and a baby feeding so you need to wait 6 week to establish your supply. Some people are really good at pumping but others just don’t produce any milk when the pump.

The American website kellymom is a great place to find out information.

I agree, Kellymom is brilliant for advice as most of it is evidence based. Plus I found it useful for practical advice, like the 666 'rule' - 6 months frozen, 6 days refrigerated, 6 hours at room temperature.