Quick question!! Giving birth in hospital/birth centres

[Spagbolpls]

Apologise in advance if this sounds silly but I Just wanted to know if birthing rooms have a kettle? Or if I should bring my own?

I intend on breastfeeding my baby, however if for whatever reason I can't BF regularly... I've just been wondering how I can make formula milk or sterilise bottles if needed.

I know so many women who have had an uncomplicated labour and are discharged on the same day. However I need to be realistic as I've had a very complicated pregnancy so far with high blood pressure and currently having tests done for preeclampsia. So won't know how long I'll be in hospital??

Any feedback or advice is greatly appreciated!

I wouldn't take formula. If you have it it makes it easy to give up trying with feeding. If you're having terrible trouble feeding they'll either help you or give you formula.

If you do decide to formula feed before birth you'll need to take some ready made into hospital with you

Good luck with your pregnancy- I'm having BP issues too. Just an FYI, they prob won't let you go to a birth centre so I'd prepare yourself for a hospital birth

Hospitals don't allow formula that needs preparing. You will need to get a 'starter pack' which contains small ready made bottles.

You take the starter packs which include throwaway teats. I had them in my bag incase baby didn't latch but I didn't need them in the end.

The room where I began labour in at the birthing centre didn't have a kettle in either.

The hospital will provide formula if needed, you don't need a kettle

@mrsed1987

The hospital will provide formula if needed, you don't need a kettle

Depends on hospital. In our trust you are given a letter explaining that the hospital will not supply anything to mother's and to be prepared with the items you need. They do have it but only under extreme circumstances.

You can get the starter kits from most supermarkets. They come with pre sterilised tests. You won’t be allowed to take powder or bottles. Kettles weren’t available in my hospital and you weren’t allowed to take them as space is limited and health and safety

Starter kits all the way for formula. I think the hospital do have some bottles for "emergency's"

Last time I went for a scan I noticed the shop in the hospital sold the starter bottles so maybe see if that's an option and you can send OH down to buy some if needed?

I bought these from Boots just in case

Hi Ladies, thank you so much for the responses! Greatly appreciate it. As you might've gathered by the pondering question I am a FTM 🙈 and didn't know formula powder were not allowed. Definitely will look into supermarkets for the starter packs, it'll save me from taking a bunch of bottles and equipments to sterilise everything 😅

How many boxes of starter packs will be enough to take for a few days? And how many feeds per day will a newborn require?

🙏

If you want to try to breastfeed, really don’t bother bringing formula with you. The midwives will support you in getting the baby to latch etc. The hospital won’t let the baby starve.

If things do go wrong, you are in there for days, and it turns out that you decide not to breastfeed, do you have a partner who could bring you the pre-prepared formula?