Pregnancy #53

[aggytha]

I make a few up at a time and keep in the fridge and warm up when needed! I’ve recently bought the dr browns formula mixing pitcher and it’s a game changer! You can make up to 32oz at a time and keep it in the fridge and just pour how much you need! Out and about I did used to use the ready made bottles but they got expensive so I keep a couple in my bag just in case but I take out a flask of hot water and nuby rapid cool and only takes a few minutes to make a bottle that way!

ooh I didn’t know about the pitcher! That’s looks great! I’ll look into it.

I’ll definitely carry a few ready made bottles around with me for emergencies but I know they’re pretty expensive.

I still don’t even fully understand how to “properly” make the formula up. I know on the NHS website it says you have to use the hot shot to kill off the bacteria (makes sense) but then they reckon to run it under a cold tap to cool it down?! There must be an easier way from what I gather if you pre make it, it can stay in the fridge safely for up to 24 hours?

I know the Prep Machine is controversial but from what I gather they’re fine if you keep them thoroughly clean and the main issue is that it’s claimed that the hot shot doesn’t always come out at the correct temp? I’ve seen some people say they just double check it with a thermometer so maybe that would be an option. I have no idea

thanks for everyone’s help so far!

 

[I’mThankyou_]

With all of this chat about bottle prep etc I’d love to hear people’s experiences of how they make formula/what works for them/what they’re planning on doing!

I’ve breastfed my first for 3.5 years and she never took bottles or needed formula so I feel absolutely clueless!

I’m hoping to be able to combi feed the twins, but I am fully open and accepting to the fact that will likely change. Does anyone have any tips on how to make formula quickly and make life easier? The thought of having 2 babies screaming at me desperate for milk gives me huge anxiety what do people do at night time and when out and about? Am I going to have to spend a small fortune on finding bottles they like, flasks etc?! TELL ME EVERYTHING.

For my Twins I made bottles in advance.
the NHS guidance now is you can prep 12 hours in advance as long as it’s left at the back of the fridge to cool.
And any HV that tried to warn me against it I politely told them where to eff off, because none of them had ever juggled twins.
I did this with my singleton 11 years ago and more recently for the twins, and it was a life saver when I had 2 hungry screaming babies.
we started with TT and they took to them well but due to reflux and needing thickened milk we moved to MAM as the teats allowed more through in the bigger sizes.
I had 10 bottles so each twin had 5 bottles each and it was the perfect amount.

 

[aggytha]

For my Twins I made bottles in advance.
the NHS guidance now is you can prep 12 hours in advance as long as it’s left at the back of the fridge to cool.
And any HV that tried to warn me against it I politely told them where to eff off, because none of them had ever juggled twins.
I did this with my singleton 11 years ago and more recently for the twins, and it was a life saver when I had 2 hungry screaming babies.
we started with TT and they took to them well but due to reflux and needing thickened milk we moved to MAM as the teats allowed more through in the bigger sizes.
I had 10 bottles so each twin had 5 bottles each and it was the perfect amount.

thank you! I am fully open to any suggestions and no judgement from me on how people choose to do things!

maybe a silly question but when you prepped the bottles in advance, do you have to leave them to cool at room temp before putting in the fridge? And also when you take them straight from the fridge, did you warm them up before giving to the babies?!

thanks for the advice on how many bottles you had! So helpful and one of the many twin related questions I’ve had going on in my head

 

[I’mThankyou_]

thank you! I am fully open to any suggestions and no judgement from me on how people choose to do things!

maybe a silly question but when you prepped the bottles in advance, do you have to leave them to cool at room temp before putting in the fridge? And also when you take them straight from the fridge, did you warm them up before giving to the babies?!

thanks for the advice on how many bottles you had! So helpful and one of the many twin related questions I’ve had going on in my head

Yeah so I’d cool them to room temp and then fridge them, then I’d get them out the fridge about half hour before their feed was due and they were the right temp for them to take. They hated them too cold and they hated them warmed up (honestly they were fussy sods) and we’d be off.
my saviour in the early days was a twin feeding pillow! We used it till they were around 10 months and honestly I’d of not of survived without that and a seriously strict feeding routine

 

[Elle Woods]

I feel so overwhelmed by all the stuff you need to know and do for feeding etc. People keep saying to me when the baby is here it will just come naturally but I'm so panicky in case it doesn't and I just have absolutely no idea what I'm doing

 

[LavaFlake]

I feel so overwhelmed by all the stuff you need to know and do for feeding etc. People keep saying to me when the baby is here it will just come naturally but I'm so panicky in case it doesn't and I just have absolutely no idea what I'm doing

I feel exactly the same All my friends who’ve had kids have told me it’s very much learning on the job which is a relief lol. Also if I get stuck when the baby’s here which I’m sure I will then there’s always places like here to ask questions haha.

 

[Pontiac_Bandit]

thank you! I am fully open to any suggestions and no judgement from me on how people choose to do things!

maybe a silly question but when you prepped the bottles in advance, do you have to leave them to cool at room temp before putting in the fridge? And also when you take them straight from the fridge, did you warm them up before giving to the babies?!

thanks for the advice on how many bottles you had! So helpful and one of the many twin related questions I’ve had going on in my head

The NHS website recommends using all hot water not a hot shot, which is why the bottles need cooling - if you're going to store them in the fridge you need to cool them ASAP so we put them in a saucepan with cold water and replace the water every 5-10 minutes until they're cooler (usually after about 20 minutes). I'm not sure about all formulas but with ours once it's been in the fridge you don't HAVE to reheat it (i.e. safe to drink from chilled) but baby bandit's tummy gets painful if he has cold formula so we heat it either with boiling water in a pyrex jug or using the Nuby bottle heater. When you remove a bottle from the fridge you need to use it within 2 hours, and once baby's started drinking you need to finish it within an hour (due to bacteria). If you're going out and want the bottles to last longer you can take an ice pack and the bottles then last 4 hours - we do this at the moment as his current formula doesn't come in the mini ready to use bottles, but previously we used the little bottles as they're so handy and you don't have to worry about when baby will want feeding or how long you'll be out!

 

[Jasminexx02]

Just had my scan at the EPU, measuring exactly right with a little heartbeat

 

[watermelon sugar]

Just had my scan at the EPU, measuring exactly right with a little heartbeat

Awww yay I’m made up for you

 

[fudgebox]

thank you! I am fully open to any suggestions and no judgement from me on how people choose to do things!

maybe a silly question but when you prepped the bottles in advance, do you have to leave them to cool at room temp before putting in the fridge? And also when you take them straight from the fridge, did you warm them up before giving to the babies?!

thanks for the advice on how many bottles you had! So helpful and one of the many twin related questions I’ve had going on in my head

I stand them in the sink filled with cold water to cool them down usually only takes 10 mins! But now I’m using the pitcher I stand that in a jug of cold water takes a bit longer to cool down
And then I warm up in the microwave when needed, not recommended but I do 10 seconds at a time and swirl in between so there’s no hot spots!

 

[LavaFlake]

Just had my scan at the EPU, measuring exactly right with a little heartbeat

This is fantastic news! Over the moon for you

 

[Bumblebee2019]

Just had my scan at the EPU, measuring exactly right with a little heartbeat

So pleased for you!!

 

[amyy]

Can someone help me please with bottle buying! Planning on breastfeeding so not sure whether to buy bottles incase, worried this will jinx everything haha

I guess I could buy bottles, as I am planning to pump eventually so my husband can help if needed, what size MAM bottles should I buy I'm so confused

 

[Brewtime87]

Just had my scan at the EPU, measuring exactly right with a little heartbeat

The best news to be reading this morning, so happy for you!

 

[aggytha]

The NHS website recommends using all hot water not a hot shot, which is why the bottles need cooling - if you're going to store them in the fridge you need to cool them ASAP so we put them in a saucepan with cold water and replace the water every 5-10 minutes until they're cooler (usually after about 20 minutes). I'm not sure about all formulas but with ours once it's been in the fridge you don't HAVE to reheat it (i.e. safe to drink from chilled) but baby bandit's tummy gets painful if he has cold formula so we heat it either with boiling water in a pyrex jug or using the Nuby bottle heater. When you remove a bottle from the fridge you need to use it within 2 hours, and once baby's started drinking you need to finish it within an hour (due to bacteria). If you're going out and want the bottles to last longer you can take an ice pack and the bottles then last 4 hours - we do this at the moment as his current formula doesn't come in the mini ready to use bottles, but previously we used the little bottles as they're so handy and you don't have to worry about when baby will want feeding or how long you'll be out!

bloody hell my brain is scrambled I’m not sure if it’s pregnancy brain but my I really can’t quite compute all of this thanks for all of the advice!

 

[watermelon sugar]

bloody hell my brain is scrambled I’m not sure if it’s pregnancy brain but my I really can’t quite compute all of this thanks for all of the advice! ❤

I’m the same as you but I’m only having one I’ve got a 4 year old but whenever I read about formula, bottles, prepping bottles, the rapid cool and the prep machine my brain just goes to mush Feel like I can’t remember a thing and my mind just can’t comprehend a thing I’m blaming pregnancy brain

 

[aggytha]

I’m the same as you but I’m only having one I’ve got a 4 year old but whenever I read about formula, bottles, prepping bottles, the rapid cool and the prep machine my brain just goes to mush Feel like I can’t remember a thing and my mind just can’t comprehend a thing I’m blaming pregnancy brain

I’m glad I’m not alone in this my little one will be almost 4 when the babies arrive and I honestly feel like a first time mum again! I thought I’d feel more confident this time around but I feel completely clueless and terrified

 

[Jasminexx02]

Thank you all so much they also found a small haemorrhage or something like that and the sonographer didn’t seem concerned and just said not to worry if I experience a bleed but then I spoke to the nurse afterwards and the way she worded it kind of worried me a bit, she said it doesn’t necessarily mean anything and doesn’t “necessarily” mean the pregnancy could end but her wording has made me anxious. Did anybody else have this?

 

[littlepup]

Thank you all so much they also found a small haemorrhage or something like that and the sonographer didn’t seem concerned and just said not to worry if I experience a bleed but then I spoke to the nurse afterwards and the way she worded it kind of worried me a bit, she said it doesn’t necessarily mean anything and doesn’t “necessarily” mean the pregnancy could end but her wording has made me anxious. Did anybody else have this?

It’s probably because they can’t say the only reason for bleeding would be the haemorrhage. If they said ‘don’t worry about any bleeding, you’ll be grand’ and you didn’t get it checked they’d be in trouble so just covering bases. They can never at any stage say that you’ll end up with a healthy baby. You’ll find they are very non committal about everything.

Can someone help me please with bottle buying! Planning on breastfeeding so not sure whether to buy bottles incase, worried this will jinx everything haha

if you do the baby Amazon wish list, you can get a free pack with either one Mam bottle or a few tommee tippee ones. They come with the first size teet. Mam sometimes do a ‘just pay postage’ or I think someone said boots baby club was giving one away too so keep an eye out.
One Mam was enough for me BF and supplementing with formula here and there for the first few weeks. I had a couple of TT ones but switched to the anti colic version probably so 2 for feeding and used the spares for storing milk in the fridge.
I got pumping bags as I’d see posts of people with bulging bags of milk and thought that’s was the norm but I could only ever muster about 30ml from pumping so just used the bottles. You can get free deals with some bags in too which I’d suggest looking for before buying until you know what your supply is like.

 

[dax]

Does anyone have a Quooker tap? Varying advice online on whether it’s safe for making up feeds. If not, I’ll just get the cheapest kettle I can find and use that!