Formula feeding when in hospital

[19annie86]

The hospital I will be attending supply formula milk, just wondering from experience does anyone know do they come around and offer you the formula to give to baby at certain times throughout the day or is it up to you to ask for it

You will need to ask for it as baby should be fed on demand

I took formula to the hospital with me but they then told me when I was in labour to keep it as they supply it.

After I had him they gave me one of the little bottles to give him and then they left me 3 in the room (it was the little ready made bottles with the teats). I went home the same day and so I only used the 3 but if I wanted more then I'd have needed to ask.

Don't worry about it though, after you've given the last bottle just ask them for a few more so that you've got them for when baby next wants fed

I had to press the buzzer every time I needed some. It was horrible. If I’m ever lucky enough to get a next time giving birth then I’ll be bringing my own and sterilising stuff etc.

When I had my first tbey did this and it was in the snack room where we could go and snack anytime day or night they had cereal and bread and fruit and a coffee machine. Then they had a cupboard full of little glass jars of different baby milk then a tub full of teats then screwed onto the jars. We helped our selfs when ever. Of course if you were not upto getting up then you could press the buzzer and ask and they would go and get it. However they stopped doing it when I had my next and I had to take my own. I found boots do the newborn back and it’s the same, glass jars and screw on teats all disposable. I think it’s 6-8 in a box so I got a few boxes so I was set for a good few days

Ok so this is them now what I sued they have obviously changed a little bit it’s a great idea
www.boots.com/cow-and-gate-1-first-milk-starter-pack-ready-to-feed-6x70ml-10175041

Maternity staff are incredibly stretched so if you can afford to take your own then I would so that staff can prioritise other tasks.

You'll need to buzz for it. Post-natal wards are very busy and you could be waiting 15-30 minutes of buzzing to be seen with a crying baby. Take your own.

Ours kept the formula bottles (the little bottles & disposable teats) in a drawer in the chest on the room (the bay of 4 beds) (with the extra baby blankets). I was told to help myself and just let them know when the drawer was running low.

I did take a box in the baby bag though, just in case.

You can by the little bottles with the disposable teats from Boots or Amazon; I would take those. They give you if you ask for it, but if they busy your baby won't have to wait.

It may work differently in different hospitals but in my one they said they only really offer it in emergencies. Ds1 had it as I had no colostrum after a difficult birth but they waited for me to ask and said they weren’t allowed to offer. With Ds2 I planned to formula feed so I just packed the little presterilised bottles and teats in my bag.