As there are very few choices on how to feed your baby, I thought I would share on some feeding essentials for all different types of feeding aswell as some facts about them.
*DISCLAIMER*
In this post I do not want to cause offence to the way you feed/ want to feed your child/ren, I don’t believe in fed is best! Fed is not best it is the bare minimum and breast is not best it is the biological norm!
Breastfeeding
All you need for breastfeeding is:
your boobs
breast pads
some snacks
few box sets
and a comfortable place to sit especially in the early weeks as there are a lot of cluster feeding to boost your supply to meet babies needs. Yes baby may of just been fed and is fussing for more, this is completely normal. They might just want to comfort suckle, this is normal. I will be doing a post later in the series about breastfeeding and my experience.
Expressed milk from mum
If you want to give your breast milk to baby but not breastfeed, you can fully express the milk, it is very hard work but it is so rewarding. What you would need to do this is:
Boobies
Pump (electric is best) and a silicone to catch the let down (either naturebond or Haakaa are best)
Milk storage bags (I use the Lansinoh ones)
Bottles
With expressing because the breast milk is sterile, you can just wash the bottles and depending on the pump (if manual) with hot soapy water.
Donor milk
For mums who feel happy to or are struggling with breastfeeding and are waiting for help from a qualified breastfeeding specialist or had a premature birth and their milk hasn’t came in, donor milk can be accessed from milk banks in hospitals and also a group on Facebook called Human milk 4 human babies. I am currently pumping to become a donor after being able to express 74.5 imperial fluid ounce (2116.773ml) in a short time.
Wet nurse
There are some babies like my own who will refuse to take a bottle, do when it comes to me returning to university i will be looking for a wet nurse to nurse Damon whilst im in lessons. Although wet nursing is not something that is very popular nowadays, it was very common in past times, more so for the royal families. This is something I would like to be myself.
Artificial feeding
Also known as formula, this is something that ‘should’ be considered as a last resort for feeding an infant, as it was manufactured as a medicine for those who physically could not breastfeed or if the baby was really ill.
I may not be a formula feeder but these are some things I would think someone would need to formula feed:
Bottles
Steriliser
Kettle
Formula
Always make the bottles as it states on the milk tin as this is the right way to make the bottle. I really would not recommend anyone using a perfect prep machine as these machines do not heat the water enough to kill the bacteria in the milk powder. As shown here from a team who tested the machines.
Also with formula, comes increased health risks such as increased risk of obesity and infections as shown in this fact sheet here
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif_guidelines.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjvgub195LSAhWiHsAKHZkiDYEQFggsMAI&usg=AFQjCNHHRlPX1pFRmbP7EzJeCn2yGqEDfQ&sig2=GjoAUtKpk6YdCHlRUuXWOQ a link to the World Health Organisations fact leaflet on formula feeding
As I have said before I really donn’t want to cause offence to people in this post
My sister in law is still breastfeeding her baby…he is 4 years old. She says she will stop when he doesn’t ask for it anymore…it’s part of the Doula thing.
xo, Margot
http://thepastelproject.com/luxury-white-tee-sneakers-made-recycled-plastic-bottles/
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4 years! Wow well done to your sister in law! ❤️ I plan to feed as long as my little wants to feed 🙂
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I think it’s good that there are different options available and you have found the one that is the best for you and your child.
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Thank you 🙂
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I’ve been planning to breastfeed for 6months to a year and at some point, I’ll be bottle feeding the baby with breast milk. I hope that breastfeeding will start well haha, I’ve heard that it might be a struggle sometimes.
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I won’t lie and say it’s all sunshine and daisies, the first 6-8 weeks are the hardest but I will say it does get easier, I promise this. Just trust your body 🙂 have a Google on paced feeding for when you introduce bottles, as this way babe know when they’re full. Good luck momma you have got this!
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I love reading your posts, please keep sharing!
http://paigemargaretblog.blogspot.co.nz
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Breastfeeding is so important. I have been pumping milk for 3 months for our daughter that was on the NICU. 🙂
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It’s good to see that there are options for feeding as not everyone is able/wants to feed a certain way.
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I hope to breastfeed in the future, for as long as I can!
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I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and we’ve decided to go down the formula route 🙂
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I believe is the best you can offer to your baby and every mother has its own way. I don’t have children, but if i had i would love to feed it for sure.
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Lots of useful information you’ve mentioned in your post. It is going to be really helpful for new mommies !
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I love your mommy posts. I share them with all my mommy friends
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Sound advice for mommies! 🙂
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I did not know wet nurses still existed! How interesting!
Katja xxx
http://www.katnapped.com
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