Emergency baby milk

sneezyboots

Hi all,

Currently 33 weeks pregnant and although I fully intend to breastfeed I have just had a thought that maybe I should have some emergency milk in the house. My cousin recently had a baby and had to go to a + e 2 days later leaving baby with the dad and I just thought what if something happens to me and husband is left with a hungry baby. Is it normal to have some formula in for emergencies? If so how much and what is best as I have done no research into formula what so ever and am now freaking. I don't want to buy a giant tub and waste the money not using it- just enough to get by in an emergency. I do have 4 bottles and a steriliser for emergencies as I figured i'd need them anyway when baby can drink water.

Thanks in advance

peachyprice

I think I would get 24 hours worth of ready made formula in cartons. You can always pass it on to another mum if you don't need it, or keep it for later, it's long life.

chunkychocky

I agree with getting a few cartons of ready-made 'first' milk in. Things may well have changed but when my oldest was a baby (7 years ago!) my midwife said that they aren't allowed to recommend brands but that Aptamil was supposedly the closest to breastmilk, and I successfully mixed fed him - sometimes breastmilk sometimes Aptamil. Also just so you know you don't ever have to use a bottle. My youngest only ever had water from a cup. He was exclusively breastfed until 6 months when we introduced finger foods and water in a cup alongside breastmilk.

fluffnutter

It won't hurt to have a ready made carton. If you struggle and you're still in hospital, they'll have formula there. If you live near a 24 hr supermarket you can also get formula (and bottles although if you're planning to reintroduce breastfeeding cup feeding might be easier. To tell the truth I've never been that convinced about 'nipple confusion' but some midwives and HVs will bang on about it).

Molly41

Its not so much nipple confusion but who feeds the baby formula. Baby will smell and want breast but if Dad or someone else feeds formulae it is generally easier.

sneezyboots

Thanks, i've just googled cartons. Didn't even realise they existed- powder was all I was aware of. Will do some more googling to get a little more informed but do you just pour the cartons into a bottle? And does the carton milk need warming like powder milk?

thorsoak

A long, long time ago, a wise midwife advised that if my OH had to give a bottle, that he should have something that I wore draped over his shoulder - so that the smells were mixed.

anmarj

sneezyboots wrote: »

Thanks, i've just googled cartons. Didn't even realise they existed- powder was all I was aware of. Will do some more googling to get a little more informed but do you just pour the cartons into a bottle? And does the carton milk need warming like powder milk?

All I did was pour into a bottle and feed it him, my little boy never liked having his milk warm. . We only used it because we were going from Scotland to England for a few days and did want him to have an upset tummy with the different taste

trudie15

If you are fully intending to breast feed please do not get formula in just incase, because when your baby is three days old and feeding around the clock, you will convince yourself you need to top him up with formula which will then result in your milk not been stimulated and your supply dipping and there begins the problem.

If I were you I would find your local breast feeding clinic and make an ante natal visit for information. Honestly that is the only thing that made our breast feeding journey happen as we were told all the ups and downs.

meer53

I went into hospital as an emergency admission when my son was 2 weeks old. He went with me.

It's highly unlikely that you'll end up in hospital though. Supermarkets are open 24 hours, you will always be able to get formula.

lucyvdb7

I was a midwife, and have 2 little boys; I considered getting formula 'just in case' but didn't, since supermarkets are open 24 hours so if it was a dire emergency there'd be no trouble getting hold of formula. I didn't want to have it 'just in case', for fear that when breast feeding seemed too much hassle and seemed unsuccessful at 3am that I'd give a bottle instead. I breast fed my first until 7 months, and my youngest is 8 months and still breastfeeding exclusively, and it wasn't all plain sailing, lots of perseverence and sleepless nights is inevitable for getting breastfeeding established!