Bottles?

Kittymom6

FTM here. I am hoping to EBF for at least the first 4 weeks, so that breastfeeding is (hopefully) well-established before starting to pump and bottle feed. I will pump sooner if I need it to help establish supply.

I haven't bought any bottles and I only have sample formula in the house. Maybe because I know I'm weak, and at 3 am, I'll give in to formula if I'm desperate and it's available?? Anyway, am I being terribly naive here? Should I have a supply of bottles available and sterilized JIC?? I can't get my pump until after I give birth, so I was waiting to see what type of bottle fit the Ameda Purely Yours. Help a panicky FTM out!

BrittanyCupcakes

FTM in the same boat. I can't get my pump until baby is born, I haven't bought any bottles yet because I don't see the need for them. If for some reason I need to supplement or something, someone can always run out to Walmart for bottles/ formula.

Married2PreMed

If you think you will be tempted, you could always donate it, remove it from your house...whatever.  I never kept a "backup" and breastfed my first 3 children without issues.  YMMV.  If you really think you would be tempted, I would remove it. 

That being said, I am presterilizing bottles and keeping formula on hand this time, because of my history with severe PPD (really more PP Anxiety.)  I am actually panicky about how the heck to mix formula, all the formula packages I have received say to ask your doctor-I don't know if I have to boil the water, use nursery water, or if tap water is just fine.  Ugh!  I'm asking my doctor at the next appointment.

SnoopyLuv

The standard neck bottles - Dr. Browns, Medela, Gerber and a few others fit the Ameda pump, I know there is a website somewhere that lists them. It's not essential to use bottles that fit, though. We used Drop Ins because they were the only thing DD would take.

Some people feel that having formula in the house is a detriment for nursing. If I had it in the house, I know for sure I would have used it, and quite honestly I probably would have FFed full time after that first blissfull feed or sleep. I had a horrible first 8 weeks of nursing, but I didn't have bottles, didn't have formula (though I did have a pump and a syringe to feed) so I kept on nursing. This time, I have formula on hand but know I'll be strong enough not to use it because of what I went through last time.

I would HIGHLY recommend going and getting a manual pump like the Medela Harmony. It was a great backup pump and I used it on the go on date nights, in the car, as a backup at work, etc. If you learn to use it, it can be just as effective as an electric.

Kittymom6

BrittanyCupcakes said:

FTM in the same boat. I can't get my pump until baby is born, I haven't bought any bottles yet because I don't see the need for them. If for some reason I need to supplement or something, someone can always run out to Walmart for bottles/ formula.

I was thinking that I would just send DH to Target to grab some, but then today started to second guess the idea of having a screaming, hungry baby on my hands while DH takes a 20 minute trip to Target and then having to boil them for 10 mins. I guess I'd have more notice that bf'ing wasn't working? I'm just way overthinking things now...

SnoopyLuv

The hospital may also send you home with the little 2 oz formula nursettes. You could always have those on hand, your OB and pedi will give you samples if you ask as well.

I don't think it hurts to have bottles, but I'd buy one bottle each of a few different brands because babies are picky sometimes.

MrsShankly1012

I really don't think you need emergency formula/sterilized bottles on hand.  From my own experience, and from what I've read on these boards, the breastfeeding moms that do turn to formula for supplementing do it after their pedis tell them that there's a weight gain or jaundice issue.  Which would give you plenty of time to sterilize bottles or just buy ready to feed formula which comes with a sterilized nipple.  

huntjul

I have bottles someone gave to me, used, that I'll use for pumping/feeding to acclimate LO to a bottle before returning to work. I haven't bought a pump yet but will after LO comes. I don't plan to keep formula in the house unless we develop a need for it.

Kittymom6

Thanks for your responses! I feel a lot better in my decision to not have bottles readily available.

@Married2PreMed, I hope that you don't have to deal with PPD issues this time! Hopefully your doc will be able to ease your mind on the formula questions!

hartsl01

Not sure on the bottles, but I got the Ameda Purely Yours through insurance. From what I can tell, the bottle that fits it is through Ameda. Mine came with 2 of them that I can attach. However, mine also came with an attachment that the milk bags attach right too. So you can take the bottle off and attach the milk bag that could go straight into the freezer, eliminating having to transfer from bottle to bag.

I didn't look into these, but they may have something...

https://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?281542-BOTTLES-THAT-FIT-AMEDA-PURELY-YOURS-PUMP

https://www.ameda.com/breastfeeding-products/single-user-breast-pumps/purely-yours