New advice dept of health-storing formula milk(baby bottles)

essexhoney

http://www.smanutrition.co.uk/products/specialfeeds.htm

dont know if you noticed that page jellyhead might be some use to you

Crispy_Ambulance

*Louise* wrote:

I think that is terrible - not everyone wants or is able to breastfeed, and it's a mother's choice to make, not the hospitals.

My wee one would have starved when he was born if my hospital had tht attitude - he refused to feed for 24 hours, and even then wouldn't suck - I had to feed him formula milk from a dropper.

Sorry, I will probably be shot down in flames for this one, but the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe which is why health professionals try so hard to encourage women to breastfeed.

The low breastfeeding rate is potentially a huge public health issue, with increased allergies, ear nose and throat problems, gastroenteritis in babies, obesity etc.

Having a new baby is overwhelming. Sometimes the struggle to get breastfeeding established is all too much but if women get the support and help they need to stick at it, then it gets so much easier. not everyone wants to breastfeed. That is fair enough and every woman should be able to make an informed choice about it. But it is sad when women stop because they haven't had enough information and support to carry on.

I guess the advice on making up bottles has to err on the side of caution because people will get it wrong and it can be very dangerous for small babies if they do.

essexhoney

Crispy_Ambulance wrote:

Sorry, I will probably be shot down in flames for this one, but the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe which is why health professionals try so hard to encourage women to breastfeed.

The low breastfeeding rate is potentially a huge public health issue, with increased allergies, ear nose and throat problems, gastroenteritis in babies, obesity etc.

Having a new baby is overwhelming. Sometimes the struggle to get breastfeeding established is all too much but if women get the support and help they need to stick at it, then it gets so much easier. not everyone wants to breastfeed. That is fair enough and every woman should be able to make an informed choice about it. But it is sad when women stop because they haven't had enough information and support to carry on.

I guess the advice on making up bottles has to err on the side of caution because people will get it wrong and it can be very dangerous for small babies if they do.

i do agree with what you have said 99% of women are not given enough information and support for them to consider breastfeeding, and i can completly understand why the hospital is doing so, but surely if it is a milk that is used to treat an illness then surely they should stock it?

Crispy_Ambulance

essexhoney wrote:

i do agree with what you have said 99% of women are not given enough information and support for them to consider breastfeeding, and i can completly understand why the hospital is doing so, but surely if it is a milk that is used to treat an illness then surely they should stock it?

Hmm, not sure on that one. Maybe because true lactose intolerance is quite rare so milks might pass their useby date? I think there is a worry amongst health profs that people are very quick to assume that their children are lactose intolerant when there might be other issues, or it is just that their babies are colicky or cry a lot. And by giving out specialised formula from day one, they are reinforcing this? Just a thought.

Some babies are lactose intolerant but not that many.

essexhoney

even though i have been advised to put my next child onto soya milk due to the fact that myself and both my other 2 children have been lactose intolerant?

with my daughter who is now 15mths i personally believe that they did jump the gun in saying that she was lactose intolerant as she can now tolerate cows milk and all other dairy products. wheeras my son on the other hand at 6yrs is still unable to.

i feel by them doing this they have taken the right to find out whether my child is indeed lactose intolerant away from me by not supplying any formula milk in the hospital meaning if i wanted to find out i would have to take into the hospital normal formula soya milk as well as the bottles sterilising equipment etc it is going to be too much.

Bun

I agree that it will be way too much to expect to do all the sterilising yourself. Have you considered taking in cartons of ready made (it will be room temperature in there with you - remember to take some nail scissors or something to open it) and the packs of ready to use sterilised disposable bottles? I have friends who've found them invaluable on holiday, so this could be a solution. Also you will be able to be self sufficient ie you don't have a delay in somebody come to see you after you have rung to provide milk, you can just open and go.

I also had a baby who wouldn't breastfeed for nearly 48 hours as he had a sore head due to forceps and venteuse delivery. I had to be provided with formula in the meantime, so they must have it for this purpose?

essexhoney

they no longer keep any formula milk in the hospital AT ALL.

i dont have the option of the ready made stuff in the cartons as the particular milk i need you cant buy pre made in cartons.
Im actually considering ringing the sma careline and seeing what they suggest. Got to be worth a try

Bun

Sorry, didn't realise about the ready made, but the disposable bottles are one less thing I suppose that could help. Absolutely ridiculous if you ask me.

Spendless

Do you have to make the bottles up yourself too? . I have had 2 c-sections both times arm/s in a drip, once I was in high dependancy unit. I had problems breast-feeding and used formula, going home after delivery wasn't an option due to c-section and how I was, but neither could I have made up my own bottles.

Alleycat

Hi Essexhoney,

Have you thought about maybe trying to breastfeed, but bringing in the Wysoy as a backup in case your little one is lactose intolerant? I've just been having a read on the net about breastfeeding lactose intolerant babies and there is some stuff about it about there. I am sure you have probably read loads of stuff anyway, but thought I would mention it.

Heres a couple of links to some breastfeeding sites which might be of use to you:-

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/lactose.html

http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/lacintolerance.htm

The second one is quite good as it explains it a lot of detail how it is possible. Would certainly save a bit of the extra stress especially as you have said that you don't want to be forced to automatically put your new baby onto Wysoy if you can help it.

Hope the info helps and good luck with the soon to arrive!