Bottle Babies

Jimmy has been bottle fed since he was 5 days old. He had both EMB and formula between birth and 12 weeks, then weaned onto formula only.

The day we first gave him the bottle DH and I felt hugely relieved. We'd honestly thought Jimmy was going to choke to death when we tried to feed him via a cup, and were at the end of our wits after the unsuccessful battle to BF. This really lovely nurse came in to our room at midnight, took one look at us and said "You're not going to try and feed him all that via cup are you? I'll get you a bottle if you want". We haven't looked back since.

We were given a pamphlet on formula feeding by another nurse in hospital (when we asked for info) but no verbal instructions on how to bottle feed. The whole attitude towards bottle feeding is quite scary really - its really important to know how to sterilise correctly, not to reuse leftover formula, that you should throw out freshly made up formula if you can't remember how many scoops you've put in (which happens often with nappy brain  ) etc etc.

Here is my tip for preparing fresh formula as quickly and safely as possible (v important in those early weeks when bubs has no patience and wants the bottle NOW!):

** Sterilise all your bottles and teats etc at once (I found it helpful to have at least 4 bottles - we use the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature ones)

** Pour a set amount of boiled water from the jug into each sterilised bottle and leave to cool. You will top this up with freshly boiled water just before feeding bubs. The ratio that works for us at the moment is 130 mls cooled boiled water, topped up with 70 mls boiling water for a 200 ml feed. Experiment until you find out what mixture works for you.  

** Store the bottles in a cupboard or somewhere out of direct sunlight and use within 24 hours, otherwise tip out the cooled boiled water and start again.

** When bubs wants a feed, fetch a bottle containing cooled water, top up with boiling water, add req amount of formula, shake and you're good to go. 

** You can also speed up the process if you leave just enough water in the jug to make up the next feed (so it doesn't take too long to boil).

I wish I'd worked this out when we first came home from hospital, not weeks later.

Catgirl, that isn't too good that they didn't test him, Spencer was having blood taken from his foot sometimes up to 3 times a day and I had to syringe expressed milk into him after each breastfeed to make sure he was getting enough, and he absolutely was not allowed to go more than three hours between feeds, as you know they tend to be more sleepy when jaundiced. The billibed was awesome though, he was in it for 24 hours and his levels came right down. I was stuck in hospital for 6 days which was a bum though, especially as I had already been stuck there for 3 weeks before he was born. I so wanted to go home.

Yeah I was also told the gold formulas can block them up.

lucky3rdtime wrote: I have nothing against bfing, but it was never going to be for me. I have never wanted to bf and never did, my wee girl has been formula fed since she was born and she is a healthy happy little bubba, who has not been sick for one single day of her life.    I get so sick of people judging me for it though, why should i feel guilty because I choose not to bf, she's my child and there is nothing wrong with formula feeding. I personally think there is too much emphasis on bfing, if its not for you why should you feel forced to do it. We use nuk bottles and teats, but I also have some phil and teds latte bottles, which are great for travelling, and Gabs doesn't seem to care either way.

You have no idea how glad I was to read this. I don't want to bf. I know all the facts, how it's better for baby, free etc but I DO NOT want to do it.
People keep telling me 'you'll probably change your mind but I'm pretty sure I won't.
I have been worried about saying anything on here or starting a thread on it for fear of being judged. It seems to be 'the done thing' and every pregnancy book/leaflet/website I look at just assumes that every new mum will breastfeed.
I am worried about saying anything to my LMC/midwife/hospital because I get the impression my choice will not be respected and they will just try to talk me out of it.
I feel like I will need to make plans to leave hospital as soon as possible after the birth just so I can feed my baby the way I choose to and not face disdain from the medical staff.

Edited to say: I have got nothing against breastfeeding - and would never judge anybody for their choices, after all we're all different, and we should all have the right to make whatever choice is best for us and our families.


Edited by Spirals

neeandsam wrote: On a side note, I was watching TV this morning and there was something on the news about breastfeeding, and when asked what are the options for women who can't or won't breastfeed, the only option given was GET HELP to breastfeed.   Which isn't fair IMO, because for some of us, help to breastfeed isn't an option. It would be nice for women to be able to access resources about formula, bottles and even expressing. Anyway! Rant over.

a mum in my antenatal group fully expressed for 5 months(her baby couldnt latch on) now that to be is legendary honestly I think I would have just switched to formula.

Thanks MissAngel

My husband is happy with my choice, and he's looking forward to doing some of the feeding too.

My siblings and I were all bottle-fed and it doesn't seem to have done us any harm - we were never sick as children.

I do aim to try and be strong with the hospital but I know it will be an emotional time and I'll probably be tired, so hubby knows he''ll have to fight my corner with me on this one.

Yeah I shake them swirl the formula, might start shaking it less hard though. Caden hasnr had bad winf for a while now, so thats good, I make sure I burp him really well.
He does huge burps lol

My nipples are all healed up now, so Im going to try and relactate, I want to breastfeed him 3 times a day if I can, so Im going to see if I can get my milk coming back in, I still get the let down feeling so I hope I can do it. Cadne latched on really well this morning when I tried, he sucked for a few seconds then realised he wasnt getting anything and stopped, but I will keep trying.

He will still be mostly formula fed though as I dont think my milksupply will be any better if it comes back in.

we gave ryan 100mls of formular last night at 5.30 then went out for dinner, he slept till 10.30 when i woke him to bf him cause i wanted to go to bed myself. he then woke every 2.5 hours after that. BF him each time. My milk is just not enough for him. I've just bort a couple of sachets for us to try but it looks as though it's heaps better  so maybe that's it for us.  Will save all the fuss with nipple shields too.

So how many bottles will we need. And what do you do when you go out shopping etc do you prepare the bottle before hand?? i don't want to ask my MW as she'll flip.

i think i still might like to BF during the day, as long as milk doesn't dry up. Though it's already looking and feeling funny. are your boobs meant to go squishy again instead of hardish?? and milk as someone said up there like trim cows milk.

When i go out i take bottles with the set amount of cooled boiled water in them and a thermas of boiled water that way ill either ask where i am if they have a microwave to heat it or tip out some of the water and add the boiling water so its the right temp.

Make sure you make up the formula with the correct amount of formula to water or if you start having constipation problems add a little more water than its says but never unless directed by a professional put more powder than it says. Thats the only thing my midwife kept telling me.

Oh and squishy boobs are fine, I have gallons of milk but by evening they feel squishy, they're only really hard in the morning when she hasn't fed for ages, so if you want to keep up day feeding you should be able to. Also, breastmilk always looks like trim cows milk, esp the foremilk which is really thin and watery, the hind milk is thicker and creamier. (I became an expert of the consistency of breastmilk after weeks of expressing for the gremlins 24 hours a day lol!)

Maya - weren't your bottle babies twins though?