Do I need to take formula in my hospital bag?

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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 :)

I wish I'd had some! I had scrawny little unsettled twins and although I was 100% up for bf and ultimately fed them for a year, it took four days for my milk to come in and they were starving. I was made to feel a real nuisance asking for formula top ups. A chart was disapprovingly filled out each time. It was doled out in 20ml doses in the cap of a bottle and I had to tip it into their mouths. Every ml that dribbled off their chins was a ml less in their tummies. So stressful. I dropped one capful and nearly cried.

@HarrietM87 no visitors are allowed just now!!!!

@IDontLikeMondays they are allowed to drop stuff off for you though.

@HarrietM87 formula is much harder to find nowadays because of shortages so it's easier to bring some with you rather than have a partner running around town trying to buy some at the last minute.

I mean why wouldn’t you just take some with you? Some really weird attitudes on this thread.

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile try reading my other posts.

For those of you considering BF please do some reading around it, especially positioning, attachment and colostrum. Milk generally comes in around day 3/4 it is different for each woman. Babies are also all different. Some take to BF almost immediately after being born and feed regularly straight from the start, some are sleepy and not really interested and can take a lot of encouragement to feed. Generally newborns feed every 2-3 hours. You need to think of breastfeeding like how yourself eats and drinks. Some days you may feel like snacking all day and feeling thirsty, sometimes you may have a full 3 course dinner and feel full and not want something to eat or drink for a few hours, some days you may eat dinner then want a snack half an hour later want something else.

Babies need to feed regularly as this increases your milk supply. If the baby doesn’t feed regularly or doesn’t attach properly and drain the milk from the breast this is when problems occur with your milk supply/sore nipples/poor weight gain ect.

The NHS has lots of guidance there’s also the baby buddy app that has videos which are really good.

@HarrietM87 What if OP needs to stay in hospital longer? What if BF does not work- a lot of people covered this in our previous post. If you read my posts f.ex. you'd know some hospitals do not release mothers unless breastfeeding or another form of feeding is fully established. I had to wait 5 days before being discharged with my 1st, 5 bloody loong days, we ended up with bringing formula, went home the next day and could do whatever without the pressure.

Having formula is not going to stop her from breastfeeding, but can facilitate a speedy discharge and then she can try at home without being under the constant eye of a midwife. I really do not understand why some posters are so obsessed that it's supposedly such a bad thing to be prepared!

Don't know if it's changed but when I had my son in 2013 at the hospital they asked how I planned to feed. I said bottle. They provided the small ready to go bottles there themselves and i was in for a week. Didn't need to buy or bring any in. Might be worth asking midwife or contacting the maternity part of hospital to find out x

@kittykat7210 I had my baby in November and with all the best intentions planned to breastfeed, I had put so much effort in hospital but had no support from staff to establish feeding and because of traumatic birth and delayed skin to skin, we couldn't achieve a good latch.

I was freaking heartbroken and had to resort to formula which was kindly supplied by my hospital. I never ever considered the possibility of taking formula with me because I was so confident and sure things would be fine so I honestly don't think we should tell new mum's to not take it with them...ultimately they don't have to use it, if they don't need it...it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to stop trying to breastfeed.

Also using formula has not changed my stance on breastfeeding or as I was very nicely told by a member of the public, being lazy by giving my baby a bottle. After 20 weeks of determination, tears and hard work, my baby will latch to the point we can combi feed.

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile you obviously still haven’t read or understood my precious posts...

*previous! Definitely not precious 🤣

I took it with all of my babies - didn’t need iy but actually it was more reassuring to have it there just in case it didn’t make me less likely to persevere with bf quite the opposite I felt like I had all eventualities covered and was then more relaxed

@Landlubber2019

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....

Currently dying laughing at this 😂

I didn't take any formula as I was sure I would breastfeed. I had complications, both me and baby were in seperate units and I literally couldn't breastfeed from across the hospital. I remember a midwife helping me hand express tiny drops of colostrum with a syringe and taking it to the baby. After a day they asked if they could give her formula because they thought she might not be getting enough and they provided it. They even asked what brand I preferred and I just said 'whatever' I didnt know anything about formula. My milk didn't come in until about day four but we successfully breastfed after that although it was tough and I doubted I was producing any. So even though It was provided then I'm probably going to take some this time round.
Went on to happily BF my daughter for two years.
Ask for help if you are struggling. My hospital had breastfeeding support who weren't midwives so they could spend time more time with you.

I wasn't going to take any formula in (I have breastfed three so far and only had issues with my first) but after reading this thread, I think I'll take some for the "just in case" planning.

I took formula and still bf for 9 months. Not a humble brag, just common sense. Baby needs feeding either way.

I planned to breastfeed, and did successfully for two years for each of my children.

If I I take formula with me into hospital. You bet I did. I saw the stress my SIL had with my nephew nearly starving to death and being unable to buy formula because it was a bank holiday. All those 24h supermarkets everyone talks about? Closed at 4pm, and my friend who couldn’t get formula milk due to panic buying this time last year?

For the sake of £6 and the peace of mind it brings buy the formula. It made me so much more relaxed knowing I had a back up, which I think is key.

Good luck op!

I think if you have it you're more likely to use it - that's what I was advised by a midwife and it makes sense. So I'm not planning on taking any as I might just be tired and just use it as it's easier in that moment.

I really don't get the panic around not having. They're hardly going to allow your child to starve if you can't breastfeed. They promote breastfeeding a lot and so it's a bit unfair if they don't tell you to take formula and then criticise you if you don't have it on you. Granted there may be areas in the country with supply issues or days when everything is closed, so it maybe makes sense if that's you, but that's not what it's like for my situation.

I BF but had some of the ready made bottles in the car. They went to the foodbank as weren’t needed.

I took 2 bags, one for the essentials and a second that stayed on the car which had more nappies, wipes, maternity pads, snacks, the formula, bigger sleepsuits etc so that DH could bring me anything extra I needed.