what formula to choose

[redddssak]

im 32 weeks now so really need to think about this but how do you decide what foruma brand to go with!

im hoping I can exclusively breastfeed and pump sometimes if needed however I will buy some pre-made ready to feed formula bottles for at home to keep just incase and peace of mind ill only buy 2 boxes then if I dont need use ill donate if I can to someone !

With DC1 we ended up using Cow & Gate as that’s what they had in the hospital (I wasn’t able to produce enough breastmilk or colostrum).

With DC2, we started her off on Cow & Gate and she got constipated. We switched to Hipp. But retrospectively we believe it was the pre-made bottles that were constipating her and she was a lot better on powder.

It’s trial and error, but I would recommend trying something like Cow & Gate as it can be slightly cheaper than some other brands.

I would also recommend you bring your own formula to hospital.

Some of it depends on what suits you.
Have a check of what's in stock locally to you, in the shop that you'd be buying it from.
I know it sounds silly but once we made a choice that wasn't available in the local supermarket (only one much further away) so we used to purchase in the high street boots and it was a nightmare because it was a special trip and not available at night etc

If you want one that comes premixed that lowers the number available too. You might find they sell cow and gate but not the type you use!

Some come in bottles that are proper bottles with a teat that you feed straight from... others in cartons that are bigger thus cheaper per feed, or in smaller bottles but you'd need baby bottles etc.

I'd honestly start by seeing what's available premixed in your shop

https://groceries.asda.com/product/cow-gate-first-milk/cow-gate-1-first-baby-milk-formula-liquid-starter-pack-from-birth-6-x/9100013869

These starter packs with smaller bottles and teats are handy for a newborn who drink as much in one go.

Hi OP. Formulas all follow regulations regarding their ingredients so they are basically all the same, just marketed differently.
Interestingly, Aptamil (the most expensive formula) and Cow and Gate (one of the cheaper options) are both made by the same company called Danone! They have very cleverly marketed two similar products to appeal to different audiences. Those able to spend more money on formula are lead to believe Aptamil is superior because it’s more expensive.

https://infantmilkinfo.org/type-of-infant-milk/infant-formula/. This website is unbiased and impartial and displays all of the ingredients and composition of every formula brand so that you can see for yourself. There is also a section that addresses the claims made by formula companies in their marketing, certain brands use phrases like “closer to breast milk” to make you think they are better than other brands; https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f75004f09ca48694070f3b/t/5eba3eac6a3b687667d9891e/1589264046551/Claims_made_for_infant_formula_and_ingredients_May2020_final.pdf.

I hope this helps, OP.

I wouldn't recommend buying formula if you want to EBF. You'll end up giving it to baby when you're at a low ebb. Better to just go to a 24 hour supermarket if you really do need it! You probably won't need it at all.

Agree with PP, the best piece of advice I had pre-birth re EBF... do not buy formula as a 'back up' as you will end up using it, as breastfeeding is tough! It's normal for babies to fuss at the breast a lot in the beginning to stimulate supply, in those moments you will want to give formula. But if you really wany to establish supply, it's best not to skip feeds!

i ended up with aptamil as it's what the hospital gave her to bring her sugars up so i knew she was ok with it. she came early so didn't have any starter packs so when my colostrum didn't come in they also gave me a few bottles.

But honestly nutritionally etc they're all the same so don't stress. if you want just buy the one that the most stores around you stock

OP, please, please, do not listen to this.

As you will see from my previous reply discussing formulas, I am neither a pusher of formula feeding or breastfeeding. I believe there to be pros and cons to both options. I combi-fed my own child. What I will always push is for Mum’s to receive correct information so that they can make informed decisions.

@ThisOldThang you are talking absolute rubbish. Before milk “comes in”, breastfeeding mothers are not starving their babies, they are feeding them colostrum which is incredibly nutrient rich and dense. To reply to someone who has expressed their desire to exclusively breastfeed with this nonsense could be so damaging. Not feeding or expressing in the first few days of baby’s life can be hugely detrimental to a mother’s milk supply. Please keep this misinformation to yourself.

Where did i say not to breastfeed or express?

I simply suggested providing formula in the first few days until the breast milk fully arrived.

In terms of formula, we used Aldi own brand for combi feeding.

Feeding formula when you're in the early days of breastfeeding is the very best way of ensuring that the milk supply will be poor.

Just breastfeed. Formula is not only not required, it causes the breastfeeding relationship to fail.

And as I said, suggesting supplementing with formula in the first few days of life can affect a Mum’s milk supply long term. You’re deliberately spreading misinformation and I think you’re most likely a troll. Hence your post on the same topic in AIBU being deleted

So much confusion would be clears up if we just explained to pregnant women that your milk takes a few days to come in. So many people I know stopped bf because they 'weren't producing any milk' but reality was it just hadn't come in yet. I was so freaked out with my first, was absolutely devastated that I had no milk and couldn't feed and it was only a wonderful health visitor who explained it all to me - colostrum that they need little and v v often in the first few days until milk starts and then feed whenever they want.

As it happened, I hated bf with a passion and switched to formula BUT we need to start telling women what to expect so they don't get to day 3, absolutely wrecked from labour and exhausted with a new born doing the normal not sleeping in big chunks thing (another thing we fail to mention 😂) and switch to formula when they WANT to bf. If you want to ff that's great, all good but if you want to bf those early days feel like months so it's so easy to turn to formula as you think your baby hasn't fed in ages and feel like a failure with no milk!

I would also say the ‘just breastfeed’ advice is also harmful. It doesn’t work for everyone. Literally.

My son wouldn’t latch at all. I could also hardly get any colostrum out. There also weren’t enough staff to help and they couldn’t given a shiny shit whether he was getting enough in the first day. Thank god for formula. Sometimes you genuinely need it as an emergency.

We had a few cartons of HIPP Organic in just in case and it was a lifesaver when I just needed to sleeeeeep - DH could give a bottle and I could retire with earplugs. Saved my sanity. Don't get guilt tripped into cancelling the backup formula plan.

But who cares if you end up using it? Isn't that a good thing?

I completely FF, I used Aptamil, both the powdered & the readymade in cartons for when we were away in our caravan. I had an emcs & was extremely ill in HDU. Afterwards, my milk never turned up at all despite the midwives trying to force me to BF when I was barely conscious & drugged up to the eyeballs. Ds only got fed on day 3 as I was finally awake & found my voice to demand a bottle, poor thing was starving & never stopped feeding until we got home & into a routine. If you are getting bottles don't forget to get a good steriliser, the new ones that don't use water look good as with the steam ones everything is still wet when you get it out.

Kendamil 100%
I think it’s very sensible to bring ready jade bottles to supplement the early days. It will not impact your supply if you keep with both then wean off once your milk comes in and your confident baby is on the right side of jaundice and gaining weight. They don’t get much those early days and some baby’s are just hungrier.

No one, but if you are hoping to breastfeed as OP states, then it can impact the establishing of your supply, as PPs have explained, there is a lot of misunderstanding about this. Obviously if you are hoping to FF or are not bothered either way then it doesn't matter.

Agree with this. With breastfeeding, your milk won't come in for a few days, if you have formula, you may be tempted to feed them that which can then interupt the baby feeding from you to bring your milk in

As someone who drove an hour to help my sobbing friend (and her screaming baby) sort out bottle feeding as her baby was losing weight and the MW wouldnt help I say Bollocks to this.
Of course try and BF if that your choice but there is nothing wrong with having a back up just in case

I went for aptamil purely as it’s readily available everywhere, including petrol stations and abroad etc.

They’re all broadly identical, despite their marketing.

I’m going for kendemill, they do an organic one too. I’ve got the pre mixed bottles for the hospital already

Another vote here for kendamil, it was the only one that DS and DD was settled on. I know all the formulas are meant to be the same but I found they all smelt of sour gone off milk but the kendamil smelt and looked better. Good luck with BF, as someone who's never been able to do it I admire those who can x

Watch the formula documentary. They’re all pretty much exactly the same, most are all the same factory and the same mix, just a different label.

Everyone makes such a fuss about formula but honestly it’s all about trial and error.