Is it ok?

[goldenaxe32]

To take no bottles/formula into hospital if you're planning to breastfeed? I haven't bought any yet because I want to see how breastfeeding goes first but a few friends said it's best to have a back up option like the pre made bottles with teats just to be safe.

Really not sure what to do...

I didn’t take bottles.

If you couldn't breast feed for any reason would hospital provide them? I haven't bf before so not sure what the procedure is. A lot of the advice I've been given is that you should try to avoid giving a bottle if you can as it can interfere with your supply and baby's ability to latch. But what if you're not producing anything?

I'm not going to, simply because I did an antenatal class where the midwife said not to bother, that it could act like a mental block to breastfeeding. I'm in a lucky enough posution where I could send DH to the shops to get some formula if needed though. I don't think you're expected to bring it in unless you know you're not going to bf though.

I didn't take any in to hospital when I had my son because I really wanted to breastfeed and let the midwives know this.

I ended up getting an infection and staying in for 5 days, my son wouldn't stop feeding (as is normal in the 4th trimester) and I was sleep deprived. With my permission, they cup fed him a small amount of formula and it gave me enough rest to feel able to breastfeed again. We fed for 20 months. If I had some formula there I would have definitely given up.

the midwife said not to bother, that it could act like a mental block to breastfeeding.

See I find this problematic. Aslong as this is your choice it's fine, but professionals saying things like this is part of the problem that there is so much guilt and disappointment around not being able to breastfeed, or your feeding journey not going as you had hoped.

The hospital were able to provide small bottles of formula where I am OP.

I planned to breastfeed so didn't take any. We weren't able to and the hospital gave us bottles. This time I'm taking some with me even though I'm hoping to breastfeed again. I had to buzz the midwives every time I needed a bottle and obviously they couldn't always come straight away. I'm not remotely concerned that it'll be a barrier to breastfeeding. If you want to breastfeed having emergency bottles with you won't stop you. I completely agree with a PP that people saying things like that is so unhelpful and makes you feel more of a failure if it doesn't work.

the midwife said not to bother, that it could act like a mental block to breastfeeding

I do think there is something in this actually. I had one ready made bottle of formula in the house "just in case" and one night when DD was a week old, I desperately wanted her to stop feeding and go to sleep already, so I gave it to her. Of course she took it and then conked out. But that wasn't actually what I wanted - I wanted to breastfeed! - so I never bought any more. I think having formula around can be a crutch you fall back on in difficult moments, which is totally fine if that's what you want, but can also be a slippery slope if your goal is BF.

Besides, if your baby needs formula they will provide it, and they will also show you how to hand express / pump your own milk if necessary.

The hospital will give top ups if you're breastfeeding and there's an issue. Only if you change your mind, would they expect someone to bring some in for you.

Have you read about colostrum harvesting? You can take in small syringes of pre expressed colostrum as a back up. That’s what I plan to do.

Baby not born yet so no experience.

I'm also planning on breastfeeding but I have got one of those ready made boxes with 6 lil bottles.

I know some people say not to take them but I'm a very anxious person and I feel better knowing I have them. Touch wood I don't need them and I can donate them but I don't think it hurts to have that safety net there because you never know what's gonna happen.

Posted too soon- I doubt a hospital is going to let a newborn starve for whatever reason I imagine they will have some reserves if need be.

Your baby won't starve if you struggle.

I've had 5 and never took a bottle to hospital. The first time was hard, I'm not going to lie, and for sure if I'd had bottles there next to me I'd have resorted to them. I was in for 10 days with him.
The next time I was confident enough to know that I can do it, that my body is enough for the job.

I didn’t take any. Turns out I couldn’t breastfeed due to extreme pain and had to buzz the midwives every time my son wanted feeding as they kept the formula in a fridge I had no access to :(

I’d suggest taking some as a backup just in case.

If you are planning the breastfeed but it doesn't work out straight away, then ask about cup feeding baby. The midwives did this for both my babies in the hospital the first day or 2 until my milk came in. It helps to avoid nipple confusion. They will have formula for you to use, they take such miniscule amounts the first couple of days/weeks anyway so there's no point buying the bottles.

I think it varies but with my trust they would provide formula if needed to a mum who couldn’t breastfeed for whatever reason eg in theatre or sleepy baby etc but if the mum just wanted to formula feed from the off the parents would need to provide it.
This made sense to me. I didn’t need formula but with my first took some of those little pre mused bottles with the teat you can attach and my second I didn’t as there was a shortage due to Covid so I figured the hospital would provide in an emergency.

Ask your midwife. My hospital has signs saying you plan to breastfeed and it doesn't work out they will provide formula. I did however take 4 ready made bottles with me last time just in case.