Have formula on hand before labor?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

You could do have a small amount of the hypoallergenic brand if it makes you more at ease.

Just remember your milk takes a few days of the baby suckling to come in. (It’s also normal for them to have a dip in birthweight.)

[Anonymous]

If you need it the hospital will provide (or, in the alternative, they can provide donor breastmilk). Brand is dependent on baby, so there's no way to know at this point. At GWU they gave us liquid Enfamil Neuropro and we stuck with that after one time trying Similac and realizing it didn't sit well with DD.

Short version: don't stock up now. If you need it the hospital will give it to you and DH can grab some at CVS or the grocery store and order online for more once you're out of the hospital.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Where are you delivering? If a baby friendly hospital, I highly recommend bringing some of those 2 oz bottles with you. It's not always true that the hospital will necessarily provide it if you need it.

And yes, have some at home in case you're desperate and baby is screaming for food at 3 am on night 3. The 2 oz RTF bottles are easiest.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

The hospital provided us with Enfamil Neuropro RTF and also provided us with a week’s supply when we left. It’s not a bad idea to have some on hand though.

[Anonymous]

The 2 ounce Enfamil Neuropro Ready to Feed bottles are what a lot of hospitals and pediatricians provide and recommend. They're the ones where you can order the tops that just screw on for feeding the baby directly.

[Anonymous]

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.

I wish I did. I had an early precipitous labor for my first baby and it took around a week for my milk to come in. Baby was hungry and miserable and I didn't know anything about supplementing.

We had a first visit to the pediatrician's office when baby was 4 days and a second visit when baby was 5-6 days. Milk had not come in on either occasion. We saw two different peds on those days. On the second visit, we lucked into getting our current awesome ped who recommended supplementing with some enfamil RTF nursettes.

[Anonymous]

Supplementing at first is a great thing. Baby gets to eat and sleep, you get a break until you milk comes in. You are recovering from a marathon before another marathon and need to SLEEP! My ped has always encouraged supplementing in the first few days. Just put baby or pump a lot too.

[Anonymous]

INOVA Fairfax gave us Similac RTF, and sent us home with an extra pack. Baby had a hard time latching on the nipples they come with (mouth was too small) so we syringe feeding him for the first few days when supplementing. Sign up for Enfamil and Similac rewards. They’ll send you a starter pack with samples, which you can use as your emergency stash if you end up needing to supplement.

[Anonymous]

^^ pediatrician will also give you a sample can if you ask. Ours had a closet packed full of samples.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Second signing up for Enfamil and Similac rewards, they will send you samples and coupons in the mail. If you're clearly having issues feeding at the hospital they will provide formula, however I'm guessing with COVID they might be pushing people out quicker than usual, so it might not be obvious. In any case you can just ask them for formula, they'll give it to you and just stash it away to take home so you have some on hand.

[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 not true. Studies show that women who supplement before their milk comes in are more likely to be successful in breastfeeding. It helps when the baby is calm and doesn't end up in the NICU with hypoglycemia or even worse, brain damage from dehydration.

Milk can take up to a week to come in - a baby will die if not given food or water within 3 days.

[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.

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.