Pregnancy and Baby Advice Thread: From Conception to Birth, and Beyond!

[missy1978]

Hi guys, I need advice from formula feeding mummies. Trying to make the decision as to what to do re: feeding and it occurs to me that I don't really know what I'm doing as I've just been buying ready made formula for occasional feeds and sterilising one bottle at a time (we have the mam self sterilising bottles). So I need to know the details - do you buy ready made or powder? How many bottles do you have/need? How do you organise sterilising (steam or Milton)? How do you arrange the night feeds, do you have to make every bottle up from scratch or can you store in the fridge?

Any advice would be gratefully received to help me make a decision xxx

 

[Cai]

Hi guys, I need advice from formula feeding mummies. Trying to make the decision as to what to do re: feeding and it occurs to me that I don't really know what I'm doing as I've just been buying ready made formula for occasional feeds and sterilising one bottle at a time (we have the mam self sterilising bottles). So I need to know the details - do you buy ready made or powder? How many bottles do you have/need? How do you organise sterilising (steam or Milton)? How do you arrange the night feeds, do you have to make every bottle up from scratch or can you store in the fridge? Any advice would be gratefully received to help me make a decision xxx

Let me see if I can recall all the info:

I have 10 bottles - Stevie uses 5-6 a day so I can leave them to wash and sterilise in groups.

We use a steam steriliser because there is no outgoing with it and therefore can't ever run out of tablets or whatever. I've never coke across the self sterilising bottles so can't comment on those at all.

We use the powder and at £10 a tub it seems expensive but he only eats one a week so if u think about the expense there....6 bottles x 7 days is 42 bottles a week (and I'm making 7oz's which I'm not even sure the ready mades would fill to?) even if they did at 80p a carton would be a powerful amount more than the powder... £33.60 to be precise! Lol. I know there is different cartons to buy but I've only got a couple of the individual ones for my change bag.

As for how long to keep them for. The official line on the side if the tub is to mix and use within 2 hours. When I was ill I explained to my HV that I couldn't go up and down the stairs all day long (we live in a 3 story house with out kitchen in the basement, living room in the middle and bedrooms on the top)
I asked her about putting the kettle water in in the morning then mixing the powder when I needed - she said this was fine.
However she did give me a leaflet that explained the most important part of mixing the powder is making sure it hits the hot water to kill anything in the powder. And then if it is mixed it can either be kept warm in a thermal bag for up to 12 hours or in the fridge ( top shelf in door) it can be kept for up to 24 hours! - quite different from the 2hour line!!

Therefore in the morning now I make up 2 bottles , when he finished the 2 nd I mix the third so it is ready...and so on. Stevie is good and nearly finishing a feed and then not eating again for 3 hours or so. When we first started bottle feeding I would make up a full 8oz bottle and let him chip away at it bet a few hours a he seemed to eat every hour-1.5hours.

An the side if my SMA tin it says how much formula they should take in tier feeds and how many feeds a day they should have...this helped me loads cos I knew I wasn't over feeding him... Or on the odd occasion I thought I was I could check etc.

Hmmmmm hope that helps a little - I'm not saying I'm perfect or that this is what your HV would tell I but it's what we found out worked xxx

 

[MrsLmc]

Sarah, I have 6 bottles. I sterilise them and fill with fresh boiled water to do the day. Then just add formula as I need it. I'm using cow and gate yellow lid formula. We have the tommee tipee steriliser because I have the tommee tipee bottles, but I borrowed this from my sister. I think there are some cheaper options that are just as good. When my own steriliser broke with my son I used milton which was just as good too.
With night feeds I sterilise and fill my bottles as above and then just add powder. My hubby does the late night feed (1a.m-ish), so I go to bed around 9 or 10p.m and then I do the next feed at 4ish, that way we both get a stretch of sleep and feel more rested.
Are you swapping over from Breast feeding to bottle feeding?

 

[Susiew2001]

We've got a few bottles as well Sarah and I use a Milton steriliser as we go camping quite a bit and it's more portable. I also like the act that the fact that if you lift the lid to get something out (like one bottle only) the rest remain sterile whereas they don't with a steam steriliser. Clean yes but not sterile.
Anyway, regarding mixing feeds for the day, when I have made a bottle for later (just in case or cos going somewhere I don't really want to bf - like the local rugby club for a party!) this is how I do it and how a friend of mine was told to by her hv:
1) boil kettle and leave to cool for 15/20 mins
2) make each sterilised bottle up as normal, water then powder
3) Shake well and stand them all in a sink of cold water for 10mins (make sure they don't fall over-have done this and come back to find them all merrily upside down and had to start again)
4) after 10 mins (no more) stick them all straight at the back of the fridge and use as needed.

That said, as you have seen there are lots of ways you can do it and every hv will tell you different!
X

 

[Susiew2001]

An additional point, they all must be used within 24hrs of making. Xx

 

[sarah_lou1981]

We have 12 bottles but only because they were on offer. I use a cold water steriliser, the tommee Tippee closer to nature one. It's a microwave steriliser too. I use it as a cold water one. You have to change the water and put a new tablet in every 24 hours. The Milton tablets are £1.24 or something from Asda for 28 (Boots charge double this!) so it's just over a pound a month. I like cold water sterilising because I can just open it, take a bottle out, put a clean one in and leave it. They don't all have to be used straightaway, they can sit in the water.
I'm using C&G milk but we're still using the ready made stuff. One of the big bottles lasts us a day and half at the minute. They're about £2.69 from Asda. They're more expensive than powder but convenient for us. Once we get in a four hour routine (hopefully) we're switching to powder.
Cole has 2-3oz every 2-3 hours roughly. Because I use the ready made stuff I don't make bottles up in advance as it's easy to just pour one out. If we're going out I make them up and keep them in the insulated bit of my changing bag unless there's a fridge.

 

[pjallen1982]

Hi mummies, Little question about boobs! My apps for the last few weeks have mentioned leaking boobs, but I literally have nothing and am 35 weeks tomorrow. Is this normal? Or does this mean something bad like I'm not going to get any milk come in? I know that must sound silly but it worries me seeing as I want to try breast feeding. Like, when she's born and tries to latch on I worry I'm not going to be able to? So my question really is for anyone who has been 35 weeks pregnant or later - have you had leaking boobs yet? And to those mummies who have had their babies - did your boobs leaking/not leaking have any affect on milk coming in whether you breastfed or not? Thanks in advance Xxx

I've had no leaking boobs at all... Hoping that doesn't mean I won't be able to bf. Don't panic Hun x

 

[Jess<3]

for me with Jacob we had about 8-10 bottles. Id make a few in the morning so they were ready and heat up when needed. Then few more when needed.... Was easier to sterilize in bulk on the evening when he was asleep.

Night times id make 3-6 bottles depending how much he was waking and kept in fridge once cooled. I did this because trying to make a fresh bottle when hes screaming, hubby at work in morning THEN got to let it cool was a nightmare!!!
They advice not to make them up and keep in fridge but Jacob is fine so i dont see the problem. Any not used by morning feed id throw away though...

You;ll find routine that suits you. To start with i used the carton ready make for the night and when we went out but it csn be costly! xx

 

[missy1978]

Thanks for the advice ladies.

Laura - yes, we're thinking of swapping as bf is making me miserable and my husband thinks I'm depressed (he's probably right). So trying to weigh up at the moment as to whether the benefits of bf for Seth outweigh the detriment to me.

For everyone who uses Milton, do you have to rinse/dry the bottles after they come out of the liquid? Or can you use them straight away? The self sterilising bottles are mega useful (you can do them one at a time in a microwave) but am thinking of mass sterilising options.

 

[Susiew2001]

Thanks for the advice ladies.

Laura - yes, we're thinking of swapping as bf is making me miserable and my husband thinks I'm depressed (he's probably right). So trying to weigh up at the moment as to whether the benefits of bf for Seth outweigh the detriment to me.

For everyone who uses Milton, do you have to rinse/dry the bottles after they come out of the liquid? Or can you use them straight away? The self sterilising bottles are mega useful (you can do them one at a time in a microwave) but am thinking of mass sterilising options.

Ah bless you hun. Hope you feel a bit better soon.
Re the Milton you don't have to rinse, you just put them together and on you go! You can rinse if you really want to in boiling water but I've never bothered and Abigail doesn't seem to mind! I like the smell - reassures me they are clean! Xx

 

[missy1978]

Ah bless you hun. Hope you feel a bit better soon. Re the Milton you don't have to rinse, you just put them together and on you go! You can rinse if you really want to in boiling water but I've never bothered and Abigail doesn't seem to mind! I like the smell - reassures me they are clean! Xx

You don't even need to leave them to dry? Result! Thanks hun xxx

 

[sarah_lou1981]

Thanks for the advice ladies. Laura - yes, we're thinking of swapping as bf is making me miserable and my husband thinks I'm depressed (he's probably right). So trying to weigh up at the moment as to whether the benefits of bf for Seth outweigh the detriment to me. For everyone who uses Milton, do you have to rinse/dry the bottles after they come out of the liquid? Or can you use them straight away? The self sterilising bottles are mega useful (you can do them one at a time in a microwave) but am thinking of mass sterilising options.

I don't dry them. I take one out of the solution, shake the excess off over the sink then put the milk in. I know they're sterilised but don't want to run them under un sterilised water or wipe them with a cloth. The steriliser I have fits four bottles if you use it as a cold water one so as soon as I take one out I put another straight in. A friend of mine didn't even use a steriliser, she bought a bucket and used that and put a plate on top to hold all the bottles under the water.

 

[MrsLmc]

Laura - yes, we're thinking of swapping as bf is making me miserable and my husband thinks I'm depressed (he's probably right). So trying to weigh up at the moment as to whether the benefits of bf for Seth outweigh the detriment to me.

Aww it shouldn't be making you miserable. Sounds like you are doing the right thing. No point in you being miserable, has a knock on effect on baby and hubby. I breast fed both of mine for about 8 weeks, had to express though...long story. Anyway when I swapped (with a really heavy heart) over both babies didn't seem to care at all and just went on feeding. I was secretly raging, thought they'd at least give out a little lol....anyway point being baby Seth will just be happy he is being fed and mammy is happy. I don't see anything wrong with either form of feeding, it just needs to work for you! I am bottle feeding this baby, didn't even attempt breast this time, it just wasn't practical for me this time, and to be honest sometimes I feel guilty and then sometimes I'm glad. Hubby can help me and I'm alot less tired and stressed. Best of luck in your decision and go easy on yourself xxxx

 

[Susiew2001]

You don't even need to leave them to dry? Result! Thanks hun xxx

Nope! Once the milk is in I dry the actual bottle off but the teat etc is just a little wet. Good idea re the bucket as well. One of my friends did similar but with a really big plastic box (you know the ones for cakes etc?)
Xx

 

[PrincessPeach]

Tip for getting baby to move - down a pint of cold water!!!! Just spent 2 hours trying to get mine to wriggle...had coke, laid on left side, right side, got on all fours amongst other positions... Prodded, poked, wiggled my bump...nothing!!! Was getting worried so called MAU who suggested cold water and a lie down for 30 mins. Downed it and 1 minute later she is going mental!!!!! Phew!! Little madam lol xx

 

[missy1978]

Aces, thanks for the Milton tips ladies! xxx

 

[missy1978]

Aww it shouldn't be making you miserable. Sounds like you are doing the right thing. No point in you being miserable, has a knock on effect on baby and hubby. I breast fed both of mine for about 8 weeks, had to express though...long story. Anyway when I swapped (with a really heavy heart) over both babies didn't seem to care at all and just went on feeding. I was secretly raging, thought they'd at least give out a little lol....anyway point being baby Seth will just be happy he is being fed and mammy is happy. I don't see anything wrong with either form of feeding, it just needs to work for you! I am bottle feeding this baby, didn't even attempt breast this time, it just wasn't practical for me this time, and to be honest sometimes I feel guilty and then sometimes I'm glad. Hubby can help me and I'm alot less tired and stressed. Best of luck in your decision and go easy on yourself xxxx

Thanks Laura We've not decided for sure yet, I have a pump on order so going to try expressing first but if that doesn't work then it's formula all the way or at least mixed feeding.

We all have to do what's right for our babies, I just keep second guessing myself! You're doing the right thing for you and Ellen and it sounds like she's doing just fine with bottles. I'm sure Seth would too, I just need to get over my own issues and make a decision xxx

 

[Jess<3]

My gosh talk about extreme pressure low down! Ouch. Didn't have this so early last time@

 

[Kim26]

Hi mummies,

Little question about boobs!

My apps for the last few weeks have mentioned leaking boobs, but I literally have nothing and am 35 weeks tomorrow. Is this normal? Or does this mean something bad like I'm not going to get any milk come in? I know that must sound silly but it worries me seeing as I want to try breast feeding. Like, when she's born and tries to latch on I worry I'm not going to be able to?

So my question really is for anyone who has been 35 weeks pregnant or later - have you had leaking boobs yet? And to those mummies who have had their babies - did your boobs leaking/not leaking have any affect on milk coming in whether you breastfed or not?

Thanks in advance

Xxx

Hey hun, i've not really had leaking but last night (don't ask why......i just wanted to know) while in the bath i did a little nipple squeezing and definitely a little colostrum came out (a miniscule drop i may add!).....i was wondering exactly the same thing as you and wanted to know if there was anything there so decided to try.

Aparently the BF is triggered by the detatchment of the placenta and the hormones associated with that so have faith in your body, it will do what you need it to do at the time! and remember babies stomachs are teeny so they only need a little bit to start.

 

[Kim26]

My gosh talk about extreme pressure low down! Ouch. Didn't have this so early last time@

Oh i know how you feel - i just got up to go to the toilet and the pressure was so intense on my bladder and cervix i wasn't sure i could actually walk to the bathroom - i sort of waddled/shuffled out the office trying to move as little as possible!
I wonder if it's a sign that baby has engaged?