Bottle feeding UK -FTM Due March

[Dlou31]

Hi all

Im going to be a mummy for the first time in March, and for personal reasons, I've decided I want to bottle feed. I know there's many benefits of breast feeding which I have considered when making my decision.
I feel like breast feeding is being forced upon me at the moment and it making me feel like people are frowning upon me already before my babies even here. It's definitely dampened my excitement for what should be the best time of my life after wanting this for so long.
Has anyone else felt like this or have any experience of them choosing to bottle feed from the get go they can share? They also said ill need to take formula and multiple bottles if thats what I want but no more information on how im meant to sterilise bottles etc in hospital?

Any advice would be great.

Usually there’s a little kitchenette type area on maternity wards where you can store stuff in a fridge, make cups of tea etc as it usually has a microwave and fridge in it. This is where you’d be able to sterilise bottles. I would buy a microwave steriliser and bottle cleaners and pack that with the bottles and formula etc.

one of mine was predominantly bottle fed. I used glass bottles because I tasted the milk once out of plastic bottles and could taste the plastic in it. I worried about what he was ingesting - you have to make the formula up with boiling water, which means the plastic bottle gets v hot. I don’t like heating food in the microwave in plastic containers as the high temps release chemicals into the food from the plastic. So this was a red flag for me. Glass is so much cleaner and healthier. I used a mixture of new bottles and used ones found on ebay and fb marketplace - they are quite expensive new.

Hi @Dlou31 , I'd a csection and for different reasons decided to bottle feed and so far it's working really well.

Please know that MOST hospitals will provide formula...you do not need to make it up as suggested, the ready to go disposable sterilised formula bottles are provided to you...so the little premade bottles for newborns. I was given the Aptimal ones to feed my baby straight away with (they also had other brands).. absolutely no 'making up bottle' required. It would have been impossible as I couldnt move from my bed following surgery, and was quite sick. So they need a quick way to feed babies for lots of reasons. I also brought my own Aptimal ready to go premade sterilised newborn bottles with me just in case hospital didnt provide...you can get the packs in many many places e.g. Boots or any of major supermarkets etc. So I did bring my own, but in the end used hospital stash while an inpatient. It took away so much stress and my baby took to it right away, in fact she loved it and is a great eater. She is thriving and was her birthweight by day 5.

Remember fed is best and a happy mum = happy baby. Breastfeeding doesn't work for everyone and no one should feel guilt over not doing it, for whatever reason. Please do what works best for you & baby - its your journey and buisness. In advance, you can find out what your hospital provides, but as said, most will provide ready to go formula .....even if they don't, you absolutely do not need to bring bottles that need made up and sterilised ....buy the disposable ones already done to start you off for ease all round.

Google the ready to feed from birth starter park Aptimal 1 milk for info. That's what I brought, but there is other brands. Hope this helps - good luck and congrats!