did you have bottles/formula at home before going to the hospital?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends what your attitude toward breastfeeding is -- each mother is different, and that's OK. But if you feel very strongly about it, some other helpful things might be to have already discussed common newborn issues with your pediatrician (weight loss/gain, cluster feeding, sleep, jaundice, supplementation), have the number of a good lactation consultant and/or La Leche leader, and have some resources at hand that can help guide you through the first few weeks (kellymom, "Womanly Art of Breastfeeding," etc.)

All of which is to say, your milk won't abruptly fail one evening after the stores close. If you have trouble, you'll know about it and will have many different options to choose from. You and your husband might want to think about what you want to do now, when you're not crying at 3 a.m., chock-full of postpartum hormones. If you have a plan you've both agreed to, you (and he) will be less likely to make a quick decision just to pacify your fussy baby and his weepy, irrational mama.

I agree with this post. You are unlikely to have an emergency starvation situation that couldn't be remedied with a trip to your local 24 hour CVS. The reason the formula companies provide what they call "breastfeeding support" kits (containing one very short pamphlet on breastfeeding, and A WHOLE BUNCH OF FORMULA SAMPLES!) is so that when you're desperate and tired and uncertain of yourself and feel like you just don't know what to do next, you'll mix up some formula, give it to your baby, and voila...you're heading down the path to being a regular customer for the formula company. That's fine, if you WANT to formula feed - but if you really want to breastfeed, I honestly think it's best to keep "temptation" out of the house. If you want to breastfeed but end up truly having problems and cannot, THEN you can stock up on formula and bottles as necessary.

I swear, formula companies have people so convinced that their babies will starve the first weeks of their life if they don't receive "supplements" of formula. Rarely is that a genuine issue - keep in mind that it's pretty typical for a baby to lose up to 10% of its birth weight. They're born loaded up with extra fat to help them weather the early days of getting your milk supply regulated. Don't convince yourself you have a supply problem until a peditrician tells you your child is underweight. You will probably produce enough milk, even if you don't feel you're doing so, even if your new baby cries a ton.

I *wholeheartedly* agree with the poster who suggested having a breast pump available to deal with engorgement. You'll get told not to pump initially so as not to encourage oversupply, but in some cases, you may need to pump for just a minute to relieve the engorgement so your baby can latch on a bit easier.

I wish you the best of luck. Being a new mom is a crazy ride!

[Anonymous]

I did, but you can get the 2 oz. pre-mixed ones and nipples from the hospital that you can screw on top of the 2 oz. pre-mixed and feed - that way you have something in an emergency, say the baby is too upset to latch in the middle of the night. Or sign up for free formula samples, similac will send two 12-oz cans or so (enough for 16 feedings each) and then just get some bottles. If you sign up for Buy Buy Baby's registry you get a free Born Free bottle in their goodie bag... just a thought, or get a Dr Brown bottle or two.

[Anonymous]

Oh, by the way, you'll also get a Similac diaper bag with maybe 4 2-oz bottles on the way home from the hospital. It has ice packs and cooler packs in it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: You are unlikely to have an emergency starvation situation that couldn't be remedied with a trip to your local 24 hour CVS. The reason the formula companies provide what they call "breastfeeding support" kits (containing one very short pamphlet on breastfeeding, and A WHOLE BUNCH OF FORMULA SAMPLES!) is so that when you're desperate and tired and uncertain of yourself and feel like you just don't know what to do next, you'll mix up some formula, give it to your baby, and voila...you're heading down the path to being a regular customer for the formula company. That's fine, if you WANT to formula feed - but if you really want to breastfeed, I honestly think it's best to keep "temptation" out of the house. If you want to breastfeed but end up truly having problems and cannot, THEN you can stock up on formula and bottles as necessary.

I swear, formula companies have people so convinced that their babies will starve the first weeks of their life if they don't receive "supplements" of formula. Rarely is that a genuine issue - keep in mind that it's pretty typical for a baby to lose up to 10% of its birth weight. They're born loaded up with extra fat to help them weather the early days of getting your milk supply regulated. Don't convince yourself you have a supply problem until a peditrician tells you your child is underweight. You will probably produce enough milk, even if you don't feel you're doing so, even if your new baby cries a ton.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Completely agree with 13:16. There's a reason they send breastfeeding women home with formula samples, and it ISN'T that there's typically a medical need for them. There are tough days in early breastfeeding what with emotions, sleep exhaustion, and just learning each other.

The one factor that most impacts breastfeeding success is education -- so if you haven't already, I'd read a book or two on nursing, consider attending a LLL meeting while pregnant, and forgo the formula in the home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely agree with 13:16. There's a reason they send breastfeeding women home with formula samples, and it ISN'T that there's typically a medical need for them. There are tough days in early breastfeeding what with emotions, sleep exhaustion, and just learning each other.

The one factor that most impacts breastfeeding success is education -- so if you haven't already, I'd read a book or two on nursing, consider attending a LLL meeting while pregnant, and forgo the formula in the home.

I'm an experienced breastfeeder, and even after having EBF my 1st child for a full year, I *really* benefitted from a refresher course on breastfeeding. I was really great at and remembered how to nurse an older baby but had forgotten a lot of the tips for new babies. A good breastfeeding class (close to delivery) and a follow up with a good lactation consultant after birth make a HUGE difference.

[Anonymous]

I bought Milk bank bottles.