Feeding at hospital

[Karina84]

Hi there

I'm getting stuff together to pack in my hospital bag, but just wondered, I do plan to try and breast feed but as this is my first time, what if there's a prob and I can't breast feed, do I bring in formula milk just incase??
Also may be needing a c sec (will find out for definite at end of month) does your milk take longer to come in?

Thanks x

 

[Sarahcake]

Ive packed 2 of the SMA ready made bottles and their disposable teats just in case hun. Im gonna give breastfeeding my damn hardest shot but for peace of mind I wanted to take some in just in case

 

[Becki_k1]

My hospital doesn't provide milk so I have bought the ready made SMA bottles from asda 12 bottles for £10, most milk brands make these ready made bottles now x

 

[Karina84]

Thanks, think I will do the same then. x

 

[Dawnlouise30]

I did not take milk as planned to breastfeed, however they had to feed him formula after birth (traumatic labour and both myself and him were tired), they povided him with formula for that first feed and after that i breastfeed, but different hospitals may have different rules

 

[aliss]

There is no reason to bring in formula/bottles to the hospital if you want to breastfeed. Remember that the first few days are just colostrum and babies are designed to subsist on almost nothing at that time (your milk doesn't come in until 2-5 days).

IF there is an emergency (ie. mother/baby separation) then the hospital should provide as that is a medical need, not a lifestyle choice. If you are personally not the one with the problem, you can express colostrum and syringe feed.

By bringing formula (if you want to breastfeed), you are "jumping the gun", so to speak. It is very easy to reach for a bottle when you are still learning how to breastfeed, I would recommend not having them around at all.

I have FF (a complicated delivery) and BF (the uncomplicated one), and that is just IMO.

 

[skunkpixie]

If you are going to give breastfeeding a good go then I probably wouldnt bother taking in any formula as it could be a useless expense! Also even though alot of hospitals dont provide milk for formula feeding mothers, they do provide it if breastfeeding does not work out and in emergencies. xxx

 

[KeriEloise]

I plan to breastfeed and will not be taking any backup formula...
A LO first feed i learnt lastnight is supposed to be around 5ml.... that not much atal. I think even if your milk doesnt come in ( can sometimes take 5 days!) a babys natural instinct is to feed only 5 ml at a time.

xx

 

[Bean66]

There is no reason to bring in formula/bottles to the hospital if you want to breastfeed. Remember that the first few days are just colostrum and babies are designed to subsist on almost nothing at that time (your milk doesn't come in until 2-5 days).

IF there is an emergency (ie. mother/baby separation) then the hospital should provide as that is a medical need, not a lifestyle choice. If you are personally not the one with the problem, you can express colostrum and syringe feed.

By bringing formula (if you want to breastfeed), you are "jumping the gun", so to speak. It is very easy to reach for a bottle when you are still learning how to breastfeed, I would recommend not having them around at all.

I have FF (a complicated delivery) and BF (the uncomplicated one), and that is just IMO.

Agree 110% percent.

 

[Kyla]

I was also wondering about this. This is my second baby and I breastfed my first but then moved onto combined feeding. I really want to bf exclusively for as long as possible this time and would rather not feel pressured into buying some ready to feed bottles as I know how easy it would be reach for them when I'm exhausted and sore. I would like to think that hospitals do provide formula for emergencies/medical need so I will be checking with my hospital to see as I was worried I'd have to make my own provisions. Thanks

 

[b4baby]

Although my hospital doesn't give out formula they have a shop there which you can buy it from or I am sure they will have an emergancy supply if not.
I am refusing to buy formula becuase I knwo what I am like and if I am finding BF hard I will switch all too quickly to FF.
There is many supermarkets around me that open 24 hours and I have bottles and a sterilser already which I got cheap. So if worst comes to worst I can FF easily enough. If that makes any sense

 

[2016]

There is no reason to bring in formula/bottles to the hospital if you want to breastfeed. Remember that the first few days are just colostrum and babies are designed to subsist on almost nothing at that time (your milk doesn't come in until 2-5 days).

IF there is an emergency (ie. mother/baby separation) then the hospital should provide as that is a medical need, not a lifestyle choice. If you are personally not the one with the problem, you can express colostrum and syringe feed.

By bringing formula (if you want to breastfeed), you are "jumping the gun", so to speak. It is very easy to reach for a bottle when you are still learning how to breastfeed, I would recommend not having them around at all.

I have FF (a complicated delivery) and BF (the uncomplicated one), and that is just IMO.

This! Most women will be out of hospital before their milk comes in so you normally wouldn't know if you needed formula or not until you are already back home anyway.

Breastfeeding is something both you and baby need to learn even though it is a natural thing. There can be bumps along the way but there is no reason why it shouldn't work out for the majority of women.

 

[discoclare]

Yep, your milk will be unlikely to come in before you leave hospital anyway so you are more likely to have problems when you get home. I wouldn't bother taking formula (I didn't this time), if you can't get baby to latch at all and take any colostrum they will provide formula. They do provide it for people who cannot breastfeed or have problems, some hospitals just don't provide for people who are choosing to FF from birth.

Yes, with a c section your milk is usually a day later than for a vaginal delivery. Try to stay calm, baby will be fine with an extra day colostrum. I have had two c sections: my first one my milk came in on day 4, my second one my milk came on day 3. Baby will be fine until then, you just need to try and stay calm yourself!

 

[Karina84]

Thanks everyone. Think I do want to give it a good shot at breast feeding, just didn't know what the usual protocol was. I will save my money and if it doesn't work out for any circumstance then will sort that when the problem arises I guess.

I guess the hospital will help out if needs be.

Thanks for your sharing experiences x

 

[Indi84]

I went I'm trying to bf, and needed to give a little formula in the hosp, because I'd tried the hosp provided it for me.

 

[orangefish]

Yes, after a section, your milk may be delayed by an extra day or so as you don't release the same hormones as you do when delivering vaginally to start off the lactation. However this has no impact on te cholostrum and you'll still be able to feed as a normal delivery mum would. So please don't let this worry you

We're made to breastfeed. You'll be fine. And if its something you really want to do, you'll do it. They won't allow you home if they see that you haven't established the feeding first. I actually syringe fed my first baby for nearly 2 weeks as we couldn't get it right - I was so determined to breastfeed. She then self weaned herself at 10months. Then I fed my son for 18 months and of course, I plan to nurse this baby

If you have any worries or questions- however small.... Please please don't sit at home worrying and crying nct are a big organisation that offer counsellors for Breastfeeding. There is so much help out there. Take it

Well done for wanting to nurse your baby xxxx

No need to take formula as if you can't quite get it, you can express and syringe feed xxx