Should we buy bottles if we intend to BF?

[Equreuil]

I bought a newborn bottle kit and a sterlizer. It came with different size bottles, a variety of nipples and a brush for cleaning. If nothing else, I'll be pumping/expressing at some point so I'll need them then. But I'm planning on tucking at least one bottle into the baby's hospital bag, just in case.

 

[mummyosborne]

I'm planning to breast feed but I've got a few bottles, pre made formula and Milton tablets just incase, I really hope breast feeding works out for me this time, but when my daughter was born because she was so early I just wasn't producing enough (and she was only having 10ml every few hours!) and the best thing I ever did was move her to preterm formula, I could finally relax and enjoy my baby and focus on surviving SCBU! So with that in mind, if it doesn't work this time, I wil have the supplies I need to change to formula and annoy my son xx

 

[mummyosborne]

Enjoy! Not annoy! Lol

 

[jesswishing]

I am not planning on buying any bottles (FTM), I've educated myself on breast feeding and feel confident that through hard times I will persevere as I feel it is best for my baby (not saying formula is not good as well, I just feel BF is better for me). I am returning to work after 19 weeks so I will need to express but I don't want to express for at least the first 12 weeks as I have read that it can give you an oversupply. If toy feel like you need to buy some bottles, go ahead - I know I am not a very good person at 1am so if I had bottles/formula in the house, I would ask OH to make up a bottle so I could snooze, but I'd regret it in the morning. There are pros and cons for everything - if only we had a crystal ball where we could see how successfully we were able to breastfed so we could plan for it now!!!!

 

[Amygdala]

Just wanted to say that generally speaking, 10ml every few hours is considered normal for the first few days, until milk comes in properly. The situation might have been different for mummyosborne's baby, being early and in SCBU. But I wouldn't want anyone to read that and then think their newborn isn't getting enough milk when in fact they are.

 

[babyhopes2010]

Just wanted to say that generally speaking, 10ml every few hours is considered normal for the first few days, until milk comes in properly. The situation might have been different for mummyosborne's baby, being early and in SCBU. But I wouldn't want anyone to read that and then think their newborn isn't getting enough milk when in fact they are.

but if she literally is refusing the breast shes not getting anything

 

[aliss]

There is always an alternative to express (which is done via syringe or cup for newborns to help them back onto the boob). Nearly all women who 'can't breastfeed at birth cannot do so because there is an issue with the baby (prematurity, poor latch, no latch, jaundice & won't wake etc) and then that is what leads to supply issues because the baby is not stimulating the supply. - rather than a woman who literally has no milk (which of course happens but is not as common as people think).

My first baby was born with a broke collarbone (long story), and as you can imagine trying to lay a baby on a boob with a fracture didn't work at all!!!! So we had to try and hand express wtih a syringe instead (the amount a newborn needs is too little and gets lost in pump tubing).

So, that is always an alternative. To have a problem and go straight to formula/bottle is missing a lot of steps if you wish to successfully breastfeed. There are other things that are done first, unfortunately a lot of nurses are misinformed about this.

 

[Amygdala]

Just wanted to say that generally speaking, 10ml every few hours is considered normal for the first few days, until milk comes in properly. The situation might have been different for mummyosborne's baby, being early and in SCBU. But I wouldn't want anyone to read that and then think their newborn isn't getting enough milk when in fact they are.

but if she literally is refusing the breast shes not getting anything

Obviously. My point was that, usually, if a baby gets 10ml every few hours during the first few days, expressed or directly from the breast, you're doing alright and don't need to worry about producing too little milk. Just to repeat, I'm talking generally and not about mummyosborne's situation, seeing things might very well have been different for her preterm LO.
Obviously a baby that doesn't latch at all doesn't get anything at all (which btw is also ok for the first hours or day or so). But that wasn't the topic of this post? I think we might be misunderstanding each other.

 

[sue_88]

Just wanted to say that generally speaking, 10ml every few hours is considered normal for the first few days, until milk comes in properly. The situation might have been different for mummyosborne's baby, being early and in SCBU. But I wouldn't want anyone to read that and then think their newborn isn't getting enough milk when in fact they are.

I agree. My midwife, who is also a fully trained lactation consultant (I'm so blessed with her!) says a newborn needs no more than 5-7ml per feed in the first 4 days....she'd say 10ml was fab!

There are too many misconceptions about breast fed babies and 'not getting enough milk' and unfortunately there really are not enough qualified staff to help support and educate which is a real shame. Many see weight loss & jaundice and panic when there just really is no need in those first few days.

 

[ZoeyKaspian]

I intend on buying bottles and storing my milk in them. Just in case dad is alone with baby and baby is hungry or some other situation. My fiance's Aunt breastfed both of her children, but still had bottles for storage and in case her husband wanted (or needed) to feed the babies.

 

[felix555]

I wish formula feeding moms would have a bit more confidence about their decision to ff then the bf moms that quote lll and kellysmom (not saying all bf moms do this!) wouldn't have so much power over you to make you feel guilty.

I ff I have no shame about it. I was VERY determined to bf I was one of those people that were so confident I would that I didn't buy bottles or even think about formula. I remember being readmitted to hospital because my baby had lost more than 10% of his birth weight and was jaundiced and crying feeding him his first bottle because he was so dehydrated. After that he was so into instant gratification he would not latch again. I saw a few lactation consultants and it just never worked. I cried when he wouldn't latch again. I cried when I tried to pump and it just wasn't working out. And then I made peace with my decision. When I read breast is best now on every formula bottle I buy I just kinda go yeah screw you my baby is happy and healthy.

Did I try? Yes. Did I try as hard as I could? Probably not by some people's standards. But I'm a ftm and when a doctor tells you, your baby is sick and when will get sicker (in hindsight the doctor was massively exaggerating) you do what you think is the right thing.

 

[motherearth23]

Wow this thread is super duper long, I honestly only read the first two pages and the last two. But to add to the original question posted: I got a Medela brand breastpump that came with two bottles, and I bought a package of additional ones that fit my pump. They came with slow flow nipples, which I guess is better for the babies since it mimics breastfeeding (I'm a first time Mum so I really have no clue). As far as a sterilizer goes... I didn't know they were a necessity? Maybe standards are different in the UK versus America. I was just going to wash them with hot water and a natural soap that won't leave residue. When it comes to formula, I'm not going to waste my money on a container. It's nearly $20 for the small ones!! I have plenty of family members that can run to the store for me if I need it... and the hospital I'm going to will provide it if it's medically necessary and I don't have any. I'm not worried about ability to breastfeed, as I have a lot of confidence that it will come naturally to me. No one else in my family formula fed their children, but I definitely won't be looked down upon if I need to do it. But since I will be a stay at home mom, I'm pretty sure that I will have time to trouble-shoot any breastfeeding issues I come across. Feeding on demand will be no issue when I'm home all day, and I don't even have to worry about nursing bras as much since I can be topless when I'm alone or just hubby is home. Plus, we have a good internet connection here, so any questions I have are just a Google search away And I forgot to mention that the lactation consultant is literally a 6 minute drive.

 

[Amygdala]

But I'm a ftm and when a doctor tells you, your baby is sick and when will get sicker (in hindsight the doctor was massively exaggerating) you do what you think is the right thing.

I think this is a huge part of the problem, lack of support and proper information. I had nearly exactly the same experience as you, the only difference being that I was lucky enough (in my eyes) to have someone to tell me to persist and it'll work and after two weeks it did. In the end, I really think I was very lucky though. That's why I (and I think many others) feel strongly about supporting mothers who WANT to breastfeed. I couldn't care less if someone makes the decision not to. But I think it's a crying shame that so many mothers want to try, then "fail" through bad support and feel guilty about it later. So unnecessary. I'm glad you've managed to make your peace with the situation Felix, but I think you're right that many mums don't. That's why I think the key is not in convincing women that "breast is best" but in providing the support to help them breastfeed IF they want to.

 

[CordeliaJ]

Wow this thread is super duper long, I honestly only read the first two pages and the last two. But to add to the original question posted: I got a Medela brand breastpump that came with two bottles, and I bought a package of additional ones that fit my pump. They came with slow flow nipples, which I guess is better for the babies since it mimics breastfeeding (I'm a first time Mum so I really have no clue). As far as a sterilizer goes... I didn't know they were a necessity? Maybe standards are different in the UK versus America. I was just going to wash them with hot water and a natural soap that won't leave residue. When it comes to formula, I'm not going to waste my money on a container. It's nearly $20 for the small ones!! I have plenty of family members that can run to the store for me if I need it... and the hospital I'm going to will provide it if it's medically necessary and I don't have any. I'm not worried about ability to breastfeed, as I have a lot of confidence that it will come naturally to me. No one else in my family formula fed their children, but I definitely won't be looked down upon if I need to do it. But since I will be a stay at home mom, I'm pretty sure that I will have time to trouble-shoot any breastfeeding issues I come across. Feeding on demand will be no issue when I'm home all day, and I don't even have to worry about nursing bras as much since I can be topless when I'm alone or just hubby is home. Plus, we have a good internet connection here, so any questions I have are just a Google search away And I forgot to mention that the lactation consultant is literally a 6 minute drive.

Hot water isn't recommended, but if you have a dishwasher it's fine. I don't have a dishwasher so I bought milton tablets which is what they use in hospitals to sterilise the bottles - they're only a few £s from any pharmacy. I'm a FTM too, I did a bit of research and asked midwives, and other mums etc as I also don't plan to get a steriliser unless I really need to.

 

[CatherineK]

Wow this thread is super duper long, I honestly only read the first two pages and the last two. But to add to the original question posted: I got a Medela brand breastpump that came with two bottles, and I bought a package of additional ones that fit my pump. They came with slow flow nipples, which I guess is better for the babies since it mimics breastfeeding (I'm a first time Mum so I really have no clue). As far as a sterilizer goes... I didn't know they were a necessity? Maybe standards are different in the UK versus America. I was just going to wash them with hot water and a natural soap that won't leave residue. When it comes to formula, I'm not going to waste my money on a container. It's nearly $20 for the small ones!! I have plenty of family members that can run to the store for me if I need it... and the hospital I'm going to will provide it if it's medically necessary and I don't have any. I'm not worried about ability to breastfeed, as I have a lot of confidence that it will come naturally to me. No one else in my family formula fed their children, but I definitely won't be looked down upon if I need to do it. But since I will be a stay at home mom, I'm pretty sure that I will have time to trouble-shoot any breastfeeding issues I come across. Feeding on demand will be no issue when I'm home all day, and I don't even have to worry about nursing bras as much since I can be topless when I'm alone or just hubby is home. Plus, we have a good internet connection here, so any questions I have are just a Google search away And I forgot to mention that the lactation consultant is literally a 6 minute drive.

Hot water isn't recommended, but if you have a dishwasher it's fine. I don't have a dishwasher so I bought milton tablets which is what they use in hospitals to sterilise the bottles - they're only a few £s from any pharmacy. I'm a FTM too, I did a bit of research and asked midwives, and other mums etc as I also don't plan to get a steriliser unless I really need to.

Hot water is just fine in the US...we are not big on sterlizing everything. The only time I've ever sterilized anything is when I buy it new and bring it home, otherwise just hand washing with soap and water is considered perfectly fine by the the American Academy Of pediatrics. It's just another difference between the UK and US, like laying babies flat to sleep (not a worry in the USA, which is why we don't have prams). Different countries have different concerns. It's kind if amusing. Another example, most people are told to dress babies in at least two layers in the UK, where in the US, I've never known anyone to do that. Doctors stress that overheating is bad, especially at night. Yet despite this, babies turn out just fine in both countries!

 

[Amygdala]

Even in the UK, I've come across midwives who's view on sterilising is "don't bother". It's more tradition that necessity these days, provided of course you wash everything well. I still used a microwave steriliser until we started introducing solids but I'm sure baby would have been perfectly fine without. I just figured it wouldn't hurt either.

 

[CordeliaJ]

I will have to find the bits and pieces I read, but it's to do with bacteria in the hot water here in the UK. It is definitely dangerous for newborns, perhaps not so much a few months later on. I remember being concerned when I read it because it wasn't just a precaution etc.

In any case, for £1.50 for a packet, I would rather sterilise my bottles with milton tablets

 

[lynnikins]

I brought bottles with ds1 and it did make moving to formula easier and having no support ment that i quit expressing and just gave formula instead when i had issues. with ds2 the tounge tie he had ment he wanted to feed so much i was exhasted and my nipples sore and cracked in little over 15 hrs after his birth, so i gave in and let him be cup-fed formula the worst mistake of my life as he threw up everything for 24 hrs following that and was still starving hungry but i got him back to the breast and fed him for 15 months

Formula isnt a fix-all its got as many problems as breastfeeding and I completely refused to buy any for ds3 he didnt get formula till he was 9months plus and even then less than one bottle a day because i kept bf and it just worked out for us that way. this baby wont get any till 6 months plus though I hope not at all and that i'll manage to express any bottles needed.

 

[roberts08]

if u have a homebargain by (uk) they sell tommee tippee steriliser and you get bottle,or asda /aldi baby even,pre made carton £1?

 

[Bud123love]

totally agree with you Smudge101. ppl are too quick to batter you if you are not sure what you intend to do. I want to try and breastfeed, but there is no harm in being prepared if for some reason you end up not. its not really responsible not having a back up plan if your baby does not take to the boob??xx due 13/07/13 with a girl xx