View Full Version : bottle feeding in hospital
i have not decided if i will bottle feed bub from the start or not yet as i dont want to make that decision till bubs is here. with my ds i struggled to b/feed for 3 days and couldnt get him to latch on due to medical reasons. as i had gone into hospital thinking i would b/feed i was unprepared to bottle feed so the hospy provided everything. this time however as im going in with the mindset that i may bottle feed, i was intending on taking a couple of botlles, but should i take my own formula or do they like you to only use the hospital one?
I took bottles with me and the seraliser and formula. But the midwife said that they rather you use thier bottles but you have to use your own formula. So I would say you would need to take in the formula and thats it. What I did though was take in a flask and a bottle of cold water so I could have my own hot and boiled water handy, so when bubs was asleep I could go to the bottle room and get new bottles and I didnt have to rush off to get a bottle later it was all there. So that might be a little helpful. :cool: Good Luck hun
it sounds like you had a rough trot with things last time. i hope things go better this time.
have you considered planning to succeed at breastfeeding? you may find things are totally different this time around. i took heaps of easy to read breastfeeding info to hospital the second time around so i would have a reference. i also had phone numbers of breastfeeding counsellors who i had met while pregnant.
getting in touch with an lc while pregnant would be helpful too.
breastfeeding is a lot about having confidence, it can take some time to establish, but with help and support most problems can be overcome.
good luck with it all:)
Goosie22
30-07-2006, 09:42
I agree with meme :thumbsup:
"Bestfeeding" (http://www.capersbookstore.com.au/scripts/shop_item.asp?by=cat&item=714) is a user friendly book pointers on Attachment and Positioning. STEP BY STEP pictures by Chloe Fischier
All the Best :fingerscrossed: .
~Emmylou~
30-07-2006, 11:06
My hospital tells you they have "emergency" bottlefeeding supplies but if you intend to bottle feed from the start to take your own formula.
I think this would vary so you'd need to check with them what their policy is.
Good luck with bfing this time round.
melfunction
30-07-2006, 11:32
I was given ready-made bottles of S26, when I decided enough was enough.
They even gave me a few to take home until I could get formula.
Mummy2Amelia
30-07-2006, 20:57
When I finally had enough of trying to get my DD to latch onto my breast I decided it was time for a bottle...she was two days old....and as hungry as anything. I was not offered a breast pump so I could pump her osme milk. So I exploded and asked them to get me a bottle for her. They eventually told me I should have my DP to bring in formula and my own bottle for her to use. They were not too happy about us using their formula and bottles. My DP worked the entire time I was in hospital :crying: so I had to wait until he finished work for him to go to the supermarket and pick up a bottle and formula...We had planned on breastfeeding so were totally clueless as to what kind of formula to get and bottles etc... But if you are intending on formula feeding from day go then I think it is fair you take your own formula/bottles.
Good luck:thumbsup:
Mamaduke
30-07-2006, 21:05
They eventually told me I should have my DP to bring in formula and my own bottle for her to use. They were not too happy about us using their formula and bottles. My DP worked the entire time I was in hospital :crying: so I had to wait until he finished work for him to go to the supermarket and pick up a bottle and formula.
What a pack of 'female dogs'...to deny a newborn baby nourishment because they don't approve of the way it's administered...that's shameful!
When I'd had enough the bottles and the formula were provided by the hospital.
From the sounds of it every hospital is different so it is probably the best idea to ring the hospital you have chosen and ask them what they prefer and provide etc...
I agree with Mamaduke what a joke I cant believe they denied a baby "food"... :thumbsdown:
I bring my bottles, (microwave) steriliser and bottle brush 'cos I don't like the Milton bleach stuff. I don't buy the formula till I'm sure I'm not going to breastfeed - formula's too expensive !
I agree with Meme, though - each baby's different and things might be a breeze this time. My last baby was BF but I'd had all sorts of problems with the others - you might be luciky this time round.
subaruforestermum
30-07-2006, 21:37
When my son was 4 weeks old, he began to have rapid weight loss, he was being breast fed, (and there was no problems there), so he was placed into hospital and as he was so young and breast feeding i had to stay in with him.....after a few days in the doctors insisted that he be put on formula, and the whole time we were there they provided it.
Unforetunately I'm not exactly sure about bottle feeding from get go, like another mum said, maybe you should check with the hospital policies, you should just know though that if they supply it, you should be prepared to continue to use that formula, as babies stomaches dont adjust well to continually changing formula brands...(I was told very sternly by the hospital doctor.......:shame: )
Best of luck which ever way you go....
Heidi & Jaxon
SamanthaJane
30-07-2006, 23:27
Every hospital is different... but at mine, if we intend on bottle feeding we have to bring everything... formula, bottles, teats, steriliser, bottle brush cleaner etc etc etc....
Best to ring and check :thumbsup:
In the hospital i went to (private) they supplied everything. The midwifes were aware that i was bottlefeeding from the start and i didnt have to take a thing. They even supplied a steam steriliser instead of milton. I think you should check with them and see what their policy is.
Because of my gestational diabetes my man had to have formula top-ups till my milk came in (ie I gave formula after a breastfeed). I hadn't thought much about it in advance. Next time I will take in my own bottles as the hospital ones were not great as far as nipple and one was so leaky he had the whole bottle in 2 seconds!
But the hospital supplied us with S26, sterliser and bottles. My husband was expected to make it up (I was post-caesar and he stayed in with me, thank heavens!!).
PS I am still exclusively breastfeeding and did so from Day 3 when the milk came in, no probs with swapping from the top-ups to straight BF.
Sue
Hi Sue...what hospital are you going to ? I was in Pindara and they were wonderful...I did bring everything though becuase I knew before hand that I had decided to bottle feed...I went through every emotion trying to decide what to do b4 hand, even after birth about 3 weeks later I wanted to bf....but anyway, each to their own with their decisions...some days I was yes I will bf, some days no, some days I was going to just express feed....but in the end it was wonderful to walk into hospital with my formula and bottles (they have a steriliser and other bits and pieces if you don't bring) and know that bubs could be fed and full within an hour of being born! God she slept well too! Don't forget to ask for 'the tablet' after birth which makes sure your milk doesnt actually come in...I remember how painful that was when DS was born!! Good Luck!
jessgray
31-07-2006, 10:53
i had ds at geelong hospital and they knew i wanted to FF from the start and told me to bring in some formula and i could use their bottles if i wanted.i ended up bringing in formula and a few bottles :)not that he used them lol
Hey Sue!
I had Bailey at GC hosp which from memory is where your having your bub. I went in thinking i would breast feed and then had all sorts of probs where the LC suggested I give a complimentary feed because Bailey was going jaundice. From that point I had to express as much as I could (which was not much!) and top up with formula. They had plenty of bottles and stuff there so if your intention is to BF and your unsuccessful or cant do it, then dont worry they will give you bottles and formula there. They have S26 and Karicare.
Good Luck!
Leanne
First time we had to take everything, bottles and formula they provided the steriliser so that was great.
Second time they provided everything.
This time I am planning on taking everything again even our steriliser as its something that doesn't seem to be being done much these days.
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