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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Taking Milk to hospital

23 replies

MB1080 · 14/01/2019 16:59

Hi all mums/dads,

I am due to give birth in a few weeks and I'm currently sorting out my hospital bag. My hospital has advised me that if I don't intend to breastfeed to take in powder milk, 2 bottles and bottle brush.
I do intend to breastfeed however I am not putting too much pressure on myself to do this, if the baby does not take I will bottle feed.

A friend has advised to take the pre bottled milk you can buy from any supermarket.

I am just wondering what the best option is? Also if I don't take in any powder milk can the hospital provide this?

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babysharkah · 14/01/2019 17:00

Get the starter kit, it has cartons and sterile disposable teets that you screw on.

The hospital won't provide it.

babysharkah · 14/01/2019 17:01

www.boots.com/aptamil-1-first-milk-starter-pack-ready-to-feed-6x70ml-10175040

DobbyTheHouseElk · 14/01/2019 17:03

I breastfed, but I would take the ready made milk. You can get little bottles of pre made milk. I would have thought it was easier in the hospital as sterilising bottles and washing up would be problematic. The little bottles come with teats and are ready to go. Migh be ok for a few days in hospital.

The hospital won’t provide milk or bottles. They will encourage you to breastfeed. So if you don’t want to then go prepared.

coffeekittens · 14/01/2019 17:04

Get the started kit of premade bottles that you just screw the teats onto, most supermarkets and pharmacies do them. The last thing I’d want with new baby is getting up and leaving them to make bottles on a postnatal ward.

nos123 · 14/01/2019 17:09

I’d give the Aptamil pre-made bottles a go. I’ve seen them in Tesco Extra going for about £8 x 6 (the ones that come with teats).

Congratulations on your soon to be little bundle!

donttakethebiscuit · 14/01/2019 17:11

Get the aptamil starter pack. It has everything you need and aptamil seemed to work best for my boys

DrWhy · 14/01/2019 17:12

I took a box of the ready made ones with the teats from Asda, Aptimil I think. She’s 9 weeks now and I haven’t needed to use one but they were reassuring to have.
Beware, a recent thread on this topic turned into a massive breastfeeding vs formula feeding bunfight

ShowOfHands · 14/01/2019 17:15

Our hospital will provide milk if you are struggling to bf but not if you have decided to ff from the beginning. I never took in formula and was lucky not to need it.

Sunshineonthesilverlining · 14/01/2019 22:56

Hospital I had my DD provided all the milk, always had. Is it a new thing where you have to take your own milk in?? I've never heard of this.

Cosmoa · 14/01/2019 23:21

It's really not that hard to nip out and buy formula.. Maybe take some bottles if you really want but other than that it's best not to have the temptation of formula if you really want to breastfeed.

Oh and they do sometimes provide formula because when I was crying at 5am after a full on night of cluster feeding, the midwife said she'd take my baby for a feed whilst I rested. I was like "NO! It's fine I'll do it!!!"

GG2233 · 15/01/2019 01:32

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Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

mumofmunchkin · 15/01/2019 06:43

If you are intending to breastfeed then I wouldn’t take anything- if you have problems feeding then the hospital will provide milk. It’s only if you intend bottle feeding from the start that you need to take your own. Supermarkets and shops are open such long hours that it’s easy to pick up stuff if you do need it.

CountessVonBoobs · 15/01/2019 06:48

You don't need to take milk if you intend to breastfeed. The hospital will always give you milk if your baby is struggling to feed. You only need to take milk if you intend to formula feed.

TheBabyAteMyBrain · 15/01/2019 06:52

Have you thought about collecting colostrum and storing it in syringes? I have done this both times now as back up in case breastfeeding gets off to a tricky start.

AndWhat · 15/01/2019 07:28

Both my DS had cow and gate as that’s the one available in our local shop if I needed some in an emergency

PandaMa · 15/01/2019 07:49

It was somethibg that was never mentioned to me before I went i to have my baby. I intended to breastfeed but after four sleepless nights in hospital, a csection and a baby who wouldn't latch properly or allow me to put him down without screaming - I pushed the buzzer and askd the nurse for a bottle. However I got the impression they were not allowed to offer and it had to be me asking. I would recccomend taking in the cow and gate starter kit just so you don't end up in the same position. Handy pre made bottle with a screw on lid. You need your sleep afterwards and you can always try the breast feeding again after a well deserved snooze.

Maryam18 · 15/01/2019 13:27

I would take the little ready made bottles of whichever formula you prefer and a pre sterilised bottle. All you have to do then is pour the milk into the bottle.

PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 15/01/2019 13:42

Can you call and ask the midwives on the antenatal ward what their policy is with providing milk for mums who have attempted BF but it’s not working out?

I was intending to BF so didn’t even look at any FF paraphernalia. When dd wouldn’t latch despite coaching from HCAs and midwives, I asked for a bottle. A midwife asked me which brand, as they had a selection. I didn’t have a clue so I just asked for whatever one seemed most popular and she brought me one of the screw top aptamil.

They’d drop a few of the disposable bottles off every few hours, and once I ran out and the HCA scolded me saying I should be asking for more than I needed so I had a supply for when I got home to save me having to buy them myself .

This was in 2017, so I’d like to think your hospital would have a backup for women who had tried to BF without adding more stress to the situation.

Cariadxx · 15/01/2019 17:56

Hospitals do have formula milk as a backup but they're not allowed to offer it to breastfeeding mums as it's seen as not encouraging breastfeeding.
Tbh if you plan on formula feeding from the start I don't see why the NHS should be providing you with the formula, it's not a medicine and it's your choice to use it. You should take your own in if that is the case

ILiveForNachos · 15/01/2019 18:13

With my first, I planned on breast feeding but took pre-made bottles just in case. I like to be prepared. I will do the same this time. I never used them though as managed to breast feed and my first was a bottle refuser anyway 😂

ThorsMistress · 15/01/2019 22:17

I took a cow and gate starter pack in with me.

Although my hospital provided formula and tears. DS is 3 months so not that long ago.

Thetigerwhocameto · 15/01/2019 23:57

DD was prem and struggled to feed, we were offered formula to ‘top her up’ until my milk came in properly.

We were later encouraged by a paediatrician to formula feed because DD was severely jaundice (we are talking exchange/transfusion level) apparently breastfed babies are more likely to struggle with prolonged jaundice, combined with her preemie feeding struggles and low weight gain we were given formula and told it’s the best way forward.

GummyGoddess · 16/01/2019 00:07

Take a box of the aptamil in and have another few at home for someone to be able to bring you if you have to stay in. Then you'll have spare ones for out and about the first few weeks.

I'd suggest persevering with the bf as I mix fed dc1 and it was such a pain having extra washing up, sterilising and bottle building, as well as having to sort the bottles (even though we had a prep machine, I didn't like going downstairs at night and it's easier to just remain where you are) and remember to buy formula. When we stopped mix feeding and just breastfed I was so relieved at not having so much washing up.

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