Bottle Feeding

Hi,

Let me introduce myself, I am Alison Brown one of the gurgle experts, I am a midwife and answer some of the questions that come up on the site.
I have just notice your thread and thought I would offer some advice.
How you choose to feed your baby is entirely up to you and your decision should be respected by all health professionals.
As a midwife it is my job to give you all the information on infant feeding so that you can make an informed choice.
Exclusively breastfeeding your baby for 6 months is recommended by the Department of Health and the World Health Organization, ensuring your baby has the healthiest possible start to their life and providing endless health benefits for years to come for both of you.
Exclusively bottle feeding formula milk, designed to be used from birth, is an alternative to breast feeding but it does not carry the same health benefits as breastfeeding. This is not to say that your baby will be unhealthy, far from it many formula fed babies are well nourished and thriving nicely.
Another method of feeding is giving breastmilk via a bottle. The baby is getting the benefits of the breastmilk but it is being delivered via a bottle. Breast milk is obtained by mum expressing. Expressing all your baby’s feeds is not for the faint hearted and is quite challenging but a few mothers are doing just that. Here are a couple of links about this.
http://www.mother-2-mother.com/ExclusivePumping.htm
http://www.exclusivelypumping.com/
I am often asked which formula is best or which one would I recommend. ……There is no particular formula milk that stands out as being the best and as the regulation on their production is very strict they are all pretty similar and which ever one you choose your baby will get use to.
The formula milks that are for ‘hungrier bottle fed babies’ I do have a few concerns with as they say they are suitable from birth. They are casein based rather than a whey based formulas and are harder for babies to digest.
This link is very informative.
http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/info-centre/how-do-i/view-43
Some hospitals do not provide formula milk so you must check with your midwife about whether your local hospital does or doesn’t.
Hope that has helped a little.
Alison

id ring and ask because my hospital provided bottles of milk when i was last there but when at midwife apointment last week she told me that if i planned to bottle feed that they no longer provide milk and that i should bring my own bottles & milk she said most people take loads of ready made cartons of milk they do have sterilising equipment for you to use id phone them and find out xx

oh... and bottle feeding great to let other members of family bond with baby. I am now bottlefeeding as my baby didnt take to the breast at all, she was premature and it was too hard for her..... but its great as dad can take half of the feeds throughout the night.

i would check with your local hospital as the one i gave birth in didn't supply any, the lady in the next bed to me was bottle feeding and had to supply her own.

worth asking beforehand so you dont get caught out.

Thanks for the advice! :)
it has put my mind at ease alot now! - i packed a hospital bag the other night, and i put bottles in, as i wasnt sure whether i needed to take them! But in that case, i will take them out! :)
I saw my midwife last night, and when i mentioned that i wanted to bottle feed, she just marked it on my book, and said no problem! - so i do feel better after seeing her, and not my doctor! :) xx

That's awful! If you feel that it isn't something you want to to then nobody should pressure you into it, when all's said and done it's your baby and your body. Good luck with your little one. The hospital will provide you with bottles and formula but if you want to use a certin type then I'd check with the hospital that they carry that brand. If not you may want to take cartons of your own in. Also remember that newborns tummys are tiny so don't think that your baby has to finish the bottle to be well fed in the first couple of day's. I'm sure they say their tummys only hold as much milk as the size of their fist. When I was in hospital having my little boy a poor woman was in there getting herself all worked up because her bottle fed baby was only taking 1/2oz of milk. Think she thought her little one should have been having 4 or 5. Wasn't till her husband called a midwife and they spoke to her that she calmed down xx

I thought that the Midwifes would have been a bit funny as I wasnt going to breastfeed, but they wer fine when I was in. The hospital provides milk and stuff for you! At the end of the day its ur baby and u decide what is best! x

I have decided to bottle feed, but have been told that alot of Midwifes aren't very supportive at this decision. When i do go into Labour.. Do i need to bring Bottles and Formula with me when i go to the hospital? Or will this be provided?? I have tried talking to my doctor about this, but as soon as i mentioned that i wanted to bottle feed, as i felt this would be best for me, she gave me a horrible look, and said 'do what you want' but when i asked for information on this, she just ignored me and kept changing the subject! Any ideas or advice would be greatful! x