Have formula on hand before labor?

[Anonymous]

Odds are the hospital will send you home with some if you need it. In my mind, though, the bigger question is will you feel more comfortable and relaxed if you know you have some formula at home just in case? If so, then pick up some formula before you have the baby. If you never need if, you can probably find a place to donate unopened containers (e.g., womens shelters).

Hospitals generally use Similac or Enfamil RTF unless a baby can't tolerate it (which you can't know in advance). So if you want to have something in, I would get some of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. If you plan to BF, you don't need any bottles or formula. Having it around just makes it easier to doubt yourself and give up. Unless you had issues previously, I wouldn't even worry about it.

This is terrible advice, and part of the culture that shames women for not 100% breastfeeding in a way that is really detrimental to the mental/emotional health of new mothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. If you plan to BF, you don't need any bottles or formula. Having it around just makes it easier to doubt yourself and give up. Unless you had issues previously, I wouldn't even worry about it.

Disagree strongly. I took this advice when I was a first time mom and on day 4 at home, I was in tears trying to get a hold of a Lactation Consultant while my baby shrieked from hunger, my nipples bled, and I couldn’t figure out how to get my pump to work, because I was just going to breastfeed. A woman who is tempted by a can of formula in their house was never fully committed to only breastfeed.

Um, I supplemented the first week and nursed exclusively after that until 20 months and 2 years.

Many studies show that supplementing before the milk comes in leads to more successful, long term nursing, not less. My babies were calm and not half dead by the time my milk came in. It only takes a day or two without sufficient food and water to kill a baby or cause brain damage from dehydration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. If you plan to BF, you don't need any bottles or formula. Having it around just makes it easier to doubt yourself and give up. Unless you had issues previously, I wouldn't even worry about it.

Disagree strongly. I took this advice when I was a first time mom and on day 4 at home, I was in tears trying to get a hold of a Lactation Consultant while my baby shrieked from hunger, my nipples bled, and I couldn’t figure out how to get my pump to work, because I was just going to breastfeed. A woman who is tempted by a can of formula in their house was never fully committed to only breastfeed.

My midwives and LCs kept telling me baby was fine even though I knew he was latching but then stopping sucking. I was FTM and didn't trust my instincts. They sent us home and at the 2 day visit my DS was immediately hospitalized for dehydration and spent 2 days at Children's practically comatose. Horrifying. I wanted a breast pump but didn't know enough to demand it. I would bring a hand breast pump at the minimum- they are like $30.

[Anonymous]

We are just overgrown apes. What do you think the gorillas do? Formula the first week is a disaster - your body makes colostrum which isn't milk but still really necessary for your baby so giving formula is not a good idea. Just relax, let your body take over and embrace your inner gorilla.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are just overgrown apes. What do you think the gorillas do? Formula the first week is a disaster - your body makes colostrum which isn't milk but still really necessary for your baby so giving formula is not a good idea. Just relax, let your body take over and embrace your inner gorilla.

Gorillas in the wild have a 30% infant fatality rate - sometimes as high as 50 -80%.

If you're okay with a 1 in 3 chance of death for your kid, you're probably not a very good mother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. If you plan to BF, you don't need any bottles or formula. Having it around just makes it easier to doubt yourself and give up. Unless you had issues previously, I wouldn't even worry about it.

Disagree strongly. I took this advice when I was a first time mom and on day 4 at home, I was in tears trying to get a hold of a Lactation Consultant while my baby shrieked from hunger, my nipples bled, and I couldn’t figure out how to get my pump to work, because I was just going to breastfeed. A woman who is tempted by a can of formula in their house was never fully committed to only breastfeed.

Um, I supplemented the first week and nursed exclusively after that until 20 months and 2 years.

Many studies show that supplementing before the milk comes in leads to more successful, long term nursing, not less. My babies were calm and not half dead by the time my milk came in. It only takes a day or two without sufficient food and water to kill a baby or cause brain damage from dehydration.

I'm OP and I loled. I mean, it's not a loling matter but I still loled. There are so many ways I can accidentally kill the baby, I feel like I learn a new one every day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are just overgrown apes. What do you think the gorillas do? Formula the first week is a disaster - your body makes colostrum which isn't milk but still really necessary for your baby so giving formula is not a good idea. Just relax, let your body take over and embrace your inner gorilla.

This is OP and I think a lot of the gorillas just die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are just overgrown apes. What do you think the gorillas do? Formula the first week is a disaster - your body makes colostrum which isn't milk but still really necessary for your baby so giving formula is not a good idea. Just relax, let your body take over and embrace your inner gorilla.

This is OP and I think a lot of the gorillas just die.

Also I'm really identifying better with cows right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are just overgrown apes. What do you think the gorillas do? Formula the first week is a disaster - your body makes colostrum which isn't milk but still really necessary for your baby so giving formula is not a good idea. Just relax, let your body take over and embrace your inner gorilla.

This is OP and I think a lot of the gorillas just die.

Also I'm really identifying better with cows right now.

DP. This made me laugh. OP, you're going to be just fine, whatever you decide. Not because your concerns are silly, but because you can laugh about them too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are just overgrown apes. What do you think the gorillas do? Formula the first week is a disaster - your body makes colostrum which isn't milk but still really necessary for your baby so giving formula is not a good idea. Just relax, let your body take over and embrace your inner gorilla.

This is OP and I think a lot of the gorillas just die.

Also I'm really identifying better with cows right now.

DP. This made me laugh. OP, you're going to be just fine, whatever you decide. Not because your concerns are silly, but because you can laugh about them too.

That’s just my inner hyena.

[Anonymous]

Just ask companies for samples. I did had like 5 tubs ready to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are just overgrown apes. What do you think the gorillas do? Formula the first week is a disaster - your body makes colostrum which isn't milk but still really necessary for your baby so giving formula is not a good idea. Just relax, let your body take over and embrace your inner gorilla.

Gorillas in the wild have a 30% infant fatality rate - sometimes as high as 50 -80%.

If you're okay with a 1 in 3 chance of death for your kid, you're probably not a very good mother.

They don't die from lack of milk. There are lots of ways to die in the wild.

[Anonymous]

Yes, just get some ready-to-feed 2 ounce bottles. I was sent home with some from the hospital, but buy a 6 pack before hand. Newborns only need a very tiny amount of milk at first. If you open the 6 pack, order some more right then.

The peace of mind of knowing I had food for the baby, no matter what my boobs were doing, was priceless.

I also think we do a lot of damage saying people have to "exclusively" breastfeed. You can nurse AND formula feed here and there. It's ok. Nothing bad will happen.

[Anonymous]

OP supplementing in the first few days was best for me and my children. We aren't gorillas. Formula isn't poison. Your new baby will be happy, sleepy and content if you decide to go that route. I EBF my kids for over a year each and supplemented in the first few days to give my body some much needed rest.

Those of you advocating against this should ask yourself a why.