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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Do I need to take formula in my hospital bag?

95 replies

ThinkPink71 · 02/04/2020 21:52

I am planning on breastfeeding however in the event I cannot....do I need to take formula in my hospital bag? If so, how much, which and how do I make it in hospital?!

Ive done literally no research on formula feeding etc

Help!

Thanks :)

OP posts:

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MyDcAreMarvel · 02/04/2020 21:55

No if you plan to breastfeed and need formula they will give it to you. If you plan on formula feeding you have to take your own in the majority of hospitals.

Thatbloodybear · 02/04/2020 21:57

You can take some ready made single use bottles, they're about £6 for a box of 6. Cow and gate do rhem, and aptamil too I think.

dementedpixie · 02/04/2020 21:57

Depends on the hospital. I didn't take any and tried breastfeeding which did until we got home. I did switch fairly quickly once I got home. You can get newborn starter packs with pre made bottles and teats which would mean no need to make bottles up in hospital

Landlubber2019 · 02/04/2020 21:58

Only take formula if you plan to use it. Someone once said to me you wouldn't buy a cake on your way to slimming world just in case the diet didn't work....

bennyboy20 · 02/04/2020 21:59

The hospital I gave birth in did not give formula, and there were notices everywhere that you should supply your own.

Aptamil do a starter packs of 6 x 70ml bottles and pre-sterilised teats that we took with us in our hospital bag. We didn't need to use them but it was nice to know we had them if we needed them.

I would suggest not buying them (as they're quite bulky for the hospital bag) and your partner popping out and getting some if you need them but with the shortages of formula in some areas of the country it might be best to pre-buy them and take them with you

Original poster

ThinkPink71 · 02/04/2020 22:04

Thank you everyone :) Great help xx

OP posts:

Maverick66 · 02/04/2020 22:04

Dd is expecting her first baby...I didn't know this was a thing

Happyralphymummy · 02/04/2020 22:07

Honestly I don't think you should take formula in if you intend to breastfeed, it's completely unnecessary. I don't know of anyone who has taken it in unless they intend to formula feed from birth.

bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 02/04/2020 22:15

Yes, you need to take your own formula, I suggest buying a starter pack of 1st baby milk with the teats as most labour wards/birth centres don’t have the facilities to sterilise bottles and make up formula milk (postnatal wards should however have the facilities to allow you to make up formula feeds).

The NHS simply don’t have the funding to supply formula milk, and will ask you to get a relative to bring some in if you don’t have any.

caffeinefix · 02/04/2020 22:18

I took a starter pack in and planned to BF. I ended up binning it as I successfully BF for 18 months

AnneLovesGilbert · 02/04/2020 22:21

I didn’t bother. If you need it they’ll give you some. Spend your money on nipple cream, breast pads, flapjacks and as many muslins as you can get your hands on. If you haven’t yet, watch some breastfeeding videos on YouTube. I watched one which was so useful for tips on getting a good latch and comfy feeding positions which I went back to several times in the first couple of weeks.

StealthPolarBear · 02/04/2020 22:23

They won't be allowing relatives in at the moment. I was reading that a local trust allows a birth partner but they're not allowed to leave and come back.

Thatbloodybear · 02/04/2020 22:40

Honestly, it's £6. If that's going to break the bank then fine, don't. But assuming not you could always donate the unopened box to the hospital / food bank.
Is it really worth being in hospital with no milk, and no means of getting any, for £6?

AnneLovesGilbert · 02/04/2020 22:44

But she’s planning to breastfeed? If she or her baby are struggling to get it established the hospital will help and provide formula. Chances are she won’t and breastfeeding will go perfectly well.

TokenGinger · 02/04/2020 22:57

Our hospital made it clear they wouldn't provide formula. I didn't produce milk, so I'm glad I took a box of six pre-made with the teats. I'd have donated them to another lady on the ward or a food bank after if I hadn't have used them.

strawberry2017 · 02/04/2020 23:03

I was told by the health visitor not to take any formula with me if my intention was to BF, she said when midwives are busy in times such as these if they realise you have formula they may not take me seriously and offer the support I need to learn to BF. Obviously not everyone would be like that but I'd rather not take the chance. Plus I worry it would be too easy for me to give a bottle IF BF was hard.

CoolNoMore · 02/04/2020 23:06

Ah, this is interesting! Before my DS I absolutely wouldn't have bothered (and didn't). We had feeding issues and were sent back in after a few days. The midwife who arranged this reassured me that they would provide everything I needed so we just got in asap. When I asked for formula a grumpy (read overworked) midwife said that they didn't have any. This was at 3am, no shops open, husband not allowed in overnight anyway etc. Half an hour later a different midwife magically found some, and all was well. It was a pretty rubbish 30 mins though, with sleep-deprived, hormone-filled me feeling like an abusive failure of a mother

Long story short... yeah, just chuck some in! I did manage to breastfeed him for the next 14 months btw, but when we needed formula, we NEEDED formula.

Amanduh · 02/04/2020 23:07

Our hospital does not provide milk and stress this.
However I was in recovery with no access to my hospital bags as they were on a different floor and ward... they just said ‘are you bottle or breast feeding?’ and when I said bottle, gave me some. However I’d just buy a pack of ready made with the teats for a fiver in case, as partners can’t pop out and no visitors at most hospitals at the moment.

Mamato2gorgeousboys · 02/04/2020 23:08

I took a newborn pack with the sterilised teats like other pp’s have suggested. I breastfed both my ds’ but I wanted to have some just in case. I’m glad I did as it meant I knew I had a back-up if my milk didn’t come in or I was unable to feed for any reason.

CIT80 · 02/04/2020 23:10

If you really want to BF don’t take formula. You don’t have milk in first few days you just produce colostrum this is all baby needs until your ‘milk comes in’ . Baby will feed constantly to bring your milk on - if you are anxious at all it will be all too tempting to reach for the formula because the hormones lack of sleep etc will make you doubt the natural process.
If it doesn’t work out no maternity ward in the land is going to see your baby without milk ! Good luck hope it all works out x

wondering7777 · 02/04/2020 23:14

when midwives are busy in times such as these if they realise you have formula they may not take me seriously and offer the support I need to learn to BF.

I’m expecting the midwives to be so busy that they probably won’t have time to help anyone BF. Especially as they’re aiming to discharge new mums as quickly as possible at the moment. I will definitely be taking ready-made formula just in case.

wondering7777 · 02/04/2020 23:16

I’m glad I did as it meant I knew I had a back-up if my milk didn’t come in or I was unable to feed for any reason.

That’s what I think - it’s one less thing to worry about in these very worrying times!

crazyforpiggies · 02/04/2020 23:22

I was told by a baby class to not take formula if planning to breast feed...really wish I hadnt listened to them. I couldnt get baby to latch on and the hospital reluctantly let me have 2 bottles of formula but were very clear that someone needed to bring some in. It made me feel awful.

I suggest taking some of the little pre made bottles that come with teats as a just in case.

If you do struggle to breast feed at hospital, please dont stress too much. You can give baby a bottle and re introduce the breast at home or you can mix feed at home. This is something I wish I had been told in the hospital when I was stressed out and upset that baby wouldnt latch on.

Runkle · 02/04/2020 23:28

Those saying don't take formula...Crikey for the sake of a few quid and peace of mind OP just take it. These are unprecedented times and resources are extremely stretched, best to be prepared.

PsychoWiener · 02/04/2020 23:38

I would take some of the pre-made bottles, just in case and if you can breastfeed, give it away. I'm sure someone would happily take unopened milk, I know I would've. I couldn't breastfeed but I knew beforehand but my hospital gave us the pre-made bottles. My DS had to drink most of one of those before we could leave as well.

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