Have formula on hand before labor?

[Anonymous]

^ PP

And yes, my baby had the suggested # of diapers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always do. My milk doesn't come in for a few days and no need for baby to starve. I nursed until 20 months and 2 years.

Oh gosh, this is nature. They aren’t starving. Them going bonkers to get that milk to come in is how it’s supposed to work. They definitely won’t starve otherwise humans wouldn’t have survived this long.

Ok but WHY would you want to torture your baby for them to “go bonkers” because they are hungry for the first few days? You don’t get a special badge for never having given your baby a drop of formula.

OP, I had two early babies so it was never a question of not supplementing as both were sub 6 lbs at birth. They got those RTf bottles at the hospital and at home while also nursing. I went on to pump/nurse the bulk of my first baby’s milk and essentially exclusively with my second baby. It’s fantastic to top them off and give yourself peace of mind that they are full and satisfied, vs being panicked about whether or not they are getting enough, especially in those first few weeks.

Because FTM don’t know. Their being told breast is best and it will all work out if you are committed to EBF. As if being committed to it means the milk will come in on time.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth at a so-called "baby friendly" teaching hospital earlier this year. I planned on breast feeding but ready to abandon if it didnt work out. I was also ready to fight that corner with the nurses at the hospital but it was a total non-issue. They asked are you breast feeding or formula. I told them they said great let us know if you need formula bc "fed is best" and then proceeded to provide excellent care and help getting the baby to latch and feed.

I hope everyone has a similar experience.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP, if you’re being prepared and thinking about stocking up on formula, I would suggest also making sure you have a breast pump and have set it up before delivery.

As a FTM who wanted to breastfeed and took the classes, I had NO IDEA that I would need to pump in the early weeks and was scrambling on our first day home when we had a worrying drop in weight. We ended up supplementing with 6 oz of donor breast milk until I was pumping enough to do triple duty (nurse, pump, bottle feed the expressed milk).

Sometimes you need to supplement in the early days to be successful at breastfeeding (still going at 15 months here) and formula RTF’s or donor milk are both great options! But personally, I would have saved myself so much stress if I’d known/been ready to pump when I got home from the hospital.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, if you’re being prepared and thinking about stocking up on formula, I would suggest also making sure you have a breast pump and have set it up before delivery.

As a FTM who wanted to breastfeed and took the classes, I had NO IDEA that I would need to pump in the early weeks and was scrambling on our first day home when we had a worrying drop in weight. We ended up supplementing with 6 oz of donor breast milk until I was pumping enough to do triple duty (nurse, pump, bottle feed the expressed milk).

Sometimes you need to supplement in the early days to be successful at breastfeeding (still going at 15 months here) and formula RTF’s or donor milk are both great options! But personally, I would have saved myself so much stress if I’d known/been ready to pump when I got home from the hospital.

Good luck!

Ooh, great to know. I didn’t even know that was a thing. How did you know you needed to pump? Did the lactation consultant tell you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the final week trying to get my ducks in a row. Planning to breastfeed, but should I have formula on hand in case I need to supplement? Or will the hospital/pediatrician provide what we need if we need it in the beginning? What brand should I buy? The plan is definitely to breastfeed but just realizing I haven’t really thought through the backup plan. I have the number for the breastfeeding center and everything. Trying to minimize emergency trips to the store given COVID.

I ended up with some free samples from hospital (Fairfax Inova)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, if you’re being prepared and thinking about stocking up on formula, I would suggest also making sure you have a breast pump and have set it up before delivery.

As a FTM who wanted to breastfeed and took the classes, I had NO IDEA that I would need to pump in the early weeks and was scrambling on our first day home when we had a worrying drop in weight. We ended up supplementing with 6 oz of donor breast milk until I was pumping enough to do triple duty (nurse, pump, bottle feed the expressed milk).

Sometimes you need to supplement in the early days to be successful at breastfeeding (still going at 15 months here) and formula RTF’s or donor milk are both great options! But personally, I would have saved myself so much stress if I’d known/been ready to pump when I got home from the hospital.

Good luck!

Ooh, great to know. I didn’t even know that was a thing. How did you know you needed to pump? Did the lactation consultant tell you?

DP: You can also request a hospital-grade pump as soon as you get to the recovery room. You'll be tired but 1) it's better to have the LC show you which size flanges to use, how to position, etc, and 2) it can help your milk come in faster (same theory as "keep your starving baby at the breast," without the starving baby.

[Anonymous]

Lots of strong opinions here, so I’m only sharing my experience. I did not need to supplement with formula. My two babies didn’t lose much weight, and my milk came in within 2-3 days. I nursed them every 2 hours or so though (as they were hungry). Milk comes in response to babies nursing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of strong opinions here, so I’m only sharing my experience. I did not need to supplement with formula. My two babies didn’t lose much weight, and my milk came in within 2-3 days. I nursed them every 2 hours or so though (as they were hungry). Milk comes in response to babies nursing.

I also arranged a consultation with a LC for the day or day after I got home from the hospital. For my first, it was an in-person visit. For my second, it was telehealth. Both with Margaret from The Breastfeeding Center. That visit was worth a lot, because it gave me very specific, personal advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of strong opinions here, so I’m only sharing my experience. I did not need to supplement with formula. My two babies didn’t lose much weight, and my milk came in within 2-3 days. I nursed them every 2 hours or so though (as they were hungry). Milk comes in response to babies nursing.

Actually, that's only part of it. Many hormonal changes influence milk coming in and not everyone produces the same amount of prolactin etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok this thread is stressing me out and I have a perfectly healthy breastfed baby who hasn’t needed formula or other interventions.

OP go ahead and buy some formula if it will make you more at ease. You can always donate it if you don’t end up needing it.

My child is *9* and this is stressing me out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, if you’re being prepared and thinking about stocking up on formula, I would suggest also making sure you have a breast pump and have set it up before delivery.

As a FTM who wanted to breastfeed and took the classes, I had NO IDEA that I would need to pump in the early weeks and was scrambling on our first day home when we had a worrying drop in weight. We ended up supplementing with 6 oz of donor breast milk until I was pumping enough to do triple duty (nurse, pump, bottle feed the expressed milk).

Sometimes you need to supplement in the early days to be successful at breastfeeding (still going at 15 months here) and formula RTF’s or donor milk are both great options! But personally, I would have saved myself so much stress if I’d known/been ready to pump when I got home from the hospital.

Good luck!

Ooh, great to know. I didn’t even know that was a thing. How did you know you needed to pump? Did the lactation consultant tell you?

DP: You can also request a hospital-grade pump as soon as you get to the recovery room. You'll be tired but 1) it's better to have the LC show you which size flanges to use, how to position, etc, and 2) it can help your milk come in faster (same theory as "keep your starving baby at the breast," without the starving baby.

NP but similar experience. My baby lost too much weight, and I was told by the Dr to supplement. It was the lactation consultants who told me to pump after nursing and bottle feeding. Hopefully I'll have a better supply with my second, but I plan to do the same with baby #2. I think it's generally good advice. Breastfeed, top off with formula and pump to work on the milk without risk to the baby.

[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.

I really hate how breastfeeding advocates infantilize women like this. And that they don't care if babies starve.

Signed,
A mom who EBFed until 6 months and nursed until 15 months.