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Pregnancy

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

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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:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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orangejuicer · 03/04/2020 20:24

We had the starter pack fully intending on bfing. Glad we did in the end as we had all sorts of issues and I just wanted to feed my baby! Do what you're happy with OP.

quarantinevibes · 03/04/2020 21:38

I also agree you should take it. Just take some ready made bottles just incase. You never know how your labour is going to go. I did breast feed my ds when we got home and planned to in the hosp too however I was too shaken up after birth (nothing “traumatic” happened as such) but it was just very fast and had to go in an ambulance etc I was shook up and didn’t feel up to it. I will be taking some pre made bottles this time just in case for peace of mind.
Don’t worry if you end up using a few in hosp you can re establish the bfing when you get home x

lucie8881 · 03/04/2020 22:16

My hospital is one that pre-warns you that they don't supply formula. I'm sure if things were desperate they would rustle up a bottle, but they are very clear it's not to be expected, fair enough. I don't agree that taking formula is setting yourself up for failure (such emotive, unnecessary guilt-tripping language)

With my first 2 DC I breast fed from the outset no issues at all, so when it came to DC3 it never entered my mind to have a back-up plan. My milk supply didn't come in readily enough/colostrum wasn't sufficient so we ended up having our discharge delayed and supplementing with formula. Hospital begrudgingly gave me a little ready made bottle but I had to have the rest brought in. All in all is was a pain to sort , stoped us going home and caused undue stress some of which I could have avoided.

With DC4 I decided to be prepared for every eventuality so took a small pack of the ready made bottles and teats, but this time I didn't need it. It was worth every penny of the £7 just for the piece of mind.

Furthermore, having a baby during this pandemic really does make a difference. Shops opening hours being reduced, reduced/no access to the maternity unit for partners and potential issues acquiring the pre-made bottles at short notice. It really is just one less thing to worry about.

Original poster

ThinkPink71 · 04/04/2020 09:51

Thanks everyone. I didnt know ready made bottles were a thing so will get a few of them so I am prepared. I want to be as self sufficient as possible given the current hospital situation xx

OP posts:

Secondsop · 04/04/2020 15:51

Wishing you the very best with it all @ThinkPink71. I’m steeling myself to the possibility of giving birth without my husband as there’s nobody we can ask to look after our other children without putting more people at risk, and I’m going to get anything ready that I can to be self-sufficient and avoid needing midwife help for things that I could sort myself.

PatchworkElmer · 04/04/2020 16:09

@ThinkPink71 I think that’s a sensible approach.

FWIW, I took some in but did intend to breastfeed. DS ended up quite poorly as his blood sugar kept dropping- I don’t think that the colostrum gets got was all he needed. Hospital stepped in and initiated formula so I didn’t need to have it really- however if I had a second I would take it in again. It’s better to be prepared, like you say.

PatchworkElmer · 04/04/2020 16:09

^ that should be “the colostrum he got”

PatchworkElmer · 04/04/2020 16:10

... “wasn’t all he needed”. Wish there was an edit function on here!

HarrietM87 · 04/04/2020 17:00

All the people talking about how their milk didn’t come in when they were in hospital...do you realise it’s entirely normal for milk not to come in until around day 3 after birth? The baby has colostrum until then. You wouldn’t expect to have milk at all until after youd left hospital (for most people who are only in a night or two). So if you’re planning to bf I don’t see why you’d need it at all. You’d only need it if you tried and failed to get bf established AND were stuck in hospital for a few days, in which case you’d have time for someone to get it for you.

IDontLikeMondays88 · 04/04/2020 19:30

@HarrietM87 but there is a pandemic going on - you may just now be able to get someone to pop out for it.

Mothers giving birth during a pandemic need to be practical.

HarrietM87 · 04/04/2020 19:32

@IDontLikeMondays88 so have it at home, you don’t need to pack it in your hospital bag

happymummy12345 · 04/04/2020 19:35

I did as I knew 100% I would not even attempt breastfeeding as I did not want to. I took a starter pack of formula as it's easier for in hospital.

opticaldelusion · 04/04/2020 19:40

Don't worry about bottles. They can lap from a tiny measuring cup if you're struggling to establish breastfeeding and choose to give a bit of formula.

IDontLikeMondays88 · 04/04/2020 19:42

Why would you have it at home but not take it to this hospital???! There are no visitors just now so your partner cannot pop out and get some.

Some of the evangelical breastfeeding above all else comments on this thread are stupid.

Mamato2gorgeousboys · 04/04/2020 19:47

@HarrietM87 I had an awful labour with ds1. I was feeding and feeding him and he was getting colostrum but he was constantly trying to feed and was unsettled. The midwives (who were very pro breastfeeding for the first 2 days) watched me feed constantly and told me everything was as it should be. On day 2 after giving birth, ds1 was so frustrated that the midwives took him to try and settle him so I could get some sleep. They came in an hour later asking if I would mind trying him on a bit of formula (they saw I had packed the pre made bottles with teats) to see if that would settle him or whether they needed to look for other reasons. One of those little bottles later and he was out cold for 4 hours. My colostrum just wasn’t enough for him and my nipples were so sore from his constant feeding and rooting. On day 3 my milk came in and I then exclusively breastfed. Ds1 needed a few bottles of formula to get him through to the time my milk came in. You were lucky that you were able to give your baby enough but I wasn’t. Ds1 was upset and unsettled and extremely frustrated. You also don’t know how long you’ll be in hospital for. Your posts could make some new mum feel guilty about having it as a back up, when they shouldn’t. It doesn’t mean they don’t want to breastfeed, it’s just impossible to know what will happen.

Lunafortheloveogod · 04/04/2020 19:51

Take it with you, plain n simple you can’t give what you don’t have. They might give you some but I remember waiting ages on a midwife to come (epidural couldn’t move so had to buzz n wait) with a rather displeased hungry baby who couldn’t latch.. we got it eventually by that time he was too tired to feed properly so that started a whole new saga.

Ds2 I took a box my milk wasn’t in properly, I was exhausted (up for over 24hours) and i gave him some over night to help settle him, still offering me before hand but enough to top him up to sleep a few hours instead of Velcro baby feeding constantly. We got home and finished the box now I express at night and give him bottled breast milk which means dp can do a night feed if I’m shattered and I’ve always got a little stash going incase I just want a long bath.. simple things

MichelleOR84 · 04/04/2020 19:51

I planned to breastfeed and I did ( still am 13 months strong 🙌) but in the hospital I was so tired , my baby had a tongue tie and wasn’t latching . My midwife asked if I wanted to give him formula and I said yes and she got me some no issues .

However if you plan to formula feed from the start I believe you need to bring your own . That might depend on your hospital though.

Secondsop · 04/04/2020 20:04

I needed formula because my son’s blood sugar was dangerously low when tested at birth and colostrum wasn’t enough to raise it. Nothing to do with me not understanding when my milk comes in...

HarrietM87 · 04/04/2020 20:10

@Mamato2gorgeousboys you know nothing about my personal situation. I was just responding to the people who seemed to be shocked that their boobs weren’t producing milk immediately after the birth - that’s totally normal - and if you’re planning to bf you don’t need to panic and give formula straight away because you don’t have milk. Obviously midwives will advise in specific circumstances like yours. If you’re in for more than a day or 2 then you will have people visiting your. Partners aren’t allowed to stay anymore so they will he coming and going from home.

@IDontLikeMondays88 because you don’t need it in the hospital unless you’re in more than a couple of days. In that time your partner will be coming and going so can pick some up for you. This is all assuming you’re intending to bf. If you plan to ff then of course you should pack it! It’s not a question of being evangelical about bf, it’s just understanding how and when milk supply happens.

lucie8881 · 04/04/2020 20:11

@HarrietM87 As I stated in my post I had breast fed my first 2 DC from birth, no problem. The full supply of milk didn't establish until a couple in but it was fine, they were getting what they needed and were settled for short periods between frequent feeds. My third was a totally different story, whatever I was producing initially was not enough, I don't know why this was. I'd done nothing different, carried to term and it was a straight forward vaginal birth.

Sometimes a little extra is required, there's nothing wrong with that, nothing to feel guilty or ashamed about. It's just how it is. Best to be prepared for every eventuality, if possible.

HarrietM87 · 04/04/2020 20:11

@Secondsop in that situation there is no doubt the hospital will have provided some.

lucie8881 · 04/04/2020 20:14

DC3 did need supplementing during my first day in hospital, albeit towards the end of the day.

Secondsop · 04/04/2020 20:16

@HarrietM87 no doubt, but they first asked if I had any of mine (I did, both times, as it’s happened to both my children) and in a situation where the services are stretched and where (for my upcoming baby) I’ve been told my husband won’t be allowed to stay on the postnatal ward to help me generally, from a practical perspective I’d rather give the midwives one less thing to source and give me one less thing to worry about. I’m finding it hard to see what the harm is.

HarrietM87 · 04/04/2020 20:23

There is no harm! It’s just not necessary. If it was you’d be told to bring it with you. I was just reacting to pp who said they had to give formula because they had no milk on day 1 or 2. It’s important that people know that’s normal.

LolaLollypop · 04/04/2020 20:28

I always planned on BF my second but i took formula with me just incase. No harm in bringing it.
As it happens my son took to the boob fine but I had to top him up with formula anyway after a couple of days due to jaundice. Now fully BF once my boobs caught up with his demand

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