Leaving hospital early/baby friendly hospital/formula feeding

Re: Leaving hospital early/baby friendly hospital/formula feeding

• yellingbanana member

  October 2016

  I'm sure if you let your doctor know ahead of time, they will be understanding. I would definitely write a 'birth wishes' and make sure your nurses and doctors get a copy. Every parent is entitled to their own decisions, as long as you are taking care of yourself and your baby, your decisions should be respected. 

  
  
  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• bakerstreetboys member

  October 2016

  I left the hospital a few hours after having my third.  We were both doing fine, and I just wanted to get home where I would be more comfortable.  As you said, I knew what I was doing by this point, and didn't need help with newborn care.  The only condition was that I had to take him to his paediatrician within 48 hours for another check up, which was easy to do.  No one gave me a hard time or tried to convince me to stay.  As long as you make your wishes known, and there isn't a medical reason to stay, I can't see why they would give you a hard time.  I don't have any experience with formula feeding in the hospital, but I do know from friends that my hospital offers bottles and formula if that's what the mother wants.

  Report1 Reply
• sourlemon member

  October 2016

  I had a lot of pushback when I asked for formula in the hospital. But DD had severe jaundice and it was truly medically necessary according to the pediatrician but the nurses were rude about it and forced me to try to breastfeed for 5 minutes before each bottle. Just be firm. If you ate concerned about dishes just bring those small 2oz disposal bottles. Yeah there's lots of waste but at least you aren't doing dishes. 

  DD1 5/23/14, DD2 12/5/16   Baby #3 on the way!
  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• yellingbanana member

  October 2016

  When I had DD2, she ended up getting a fever and she had a cephalohematoma (lump on head from vacuum). She spent a few hours in the NICU, and they were pretty adamant that a bottle of formula could make a big difference. My milk hadn't come in, and she was super angry, so I said go for it. They gave her a bottle, I don't know where it came from and didn't have to wash it afterwards. I'd think that the hospital would be accommodating to your needs, and not make you wash bottles? Idk...

  
  
  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• whitneyp26 member

  October 2016

  Thanks for the advice ladies! I hadn't thought about the fact you could buy disposable formula bottles. I had it in my head they only came as samples lol. @yellingbanana I'm not sure what to expect because I have always breastfed and even with that they still have LLL coming in making sure you get the whole soapbox. I have heard horror stories about women being pressure hugely to BF and being refused formula so I thought I should be prepared. Kind of nervous about this decision. 
  

  Report0 Reply
• zubenescamali member

  October 2016

  I totally understand where you are coming from with the nursery thing. With DD2, I was all for using the nursery so I could get some sleep, but on our 3rd night they refused to take her stating that since I was technically "discharged" and baby was still admitted she had to stay in the room so it wasn't considered "unoccupied". I think that nurse was just being a bitch and hated babies. if that happens again I'm signing both out AMA and coming home, even if it's midnight since at least DH can help at home. I got zero sleep that night.
  but I've never heard of a hospital not having formula to provide to a baby. They don't make you bring in your own food do they?  They usually have butt loads of the ready to use formula. You may not get a brand choice but they can't not provide food.  Of course they are going to give you guilt and they might even make you sign a consent form, but you just need to be ready to shut it down.
  

  
  My Wedding Bio!

  
  
  

  
  

  

  Report1 Reply
• Christinaruth74 member

  October 2016

  I have never heard of them refusing formula. That's nuts! I would hope they would be accommodating to your requests but, ya, maybe have a conversation with your dr ahead of time. 
  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• Upromise9687 member

  October 2016

  Our hospital is baby friendly with a nursery only if needed. We also found out that if we want formula, a dr has to prescribe the formula. A nurse cannot just go and grab formula. It may help to call the hospital to find out their policy or go for an hour hospital tour and ask questions. 

  

  Report0 Reply
• DiFazette member

  October 2016

  Check your insurance first.  I've heard they can refuse to pay if you sign out AMA.  If that's the case it's certainly not worth leaving early.  

  
  
       
  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• maamawaabangi member

  October 2016

  With our second we left prior to 24 hours total time there. The only thing that was a delay or "issue" was we had our son circumcised and they wanted to observe him and make sure he was ok to leave. So that might be something to consider. 

  
  Due December 27th with baby #7
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Report0 Reply