There are a lot of things to remember when packing for the hospital, and whether or not you need to pack formula may not be at the top of your list.
But whether you’re planning to breastfeed or not, it’s important to have formula on hand just in case.
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Five Reasons You Should Pack Formula In Your Hospital Bag
When you’re pregnant, one of the many things you have to think about is what you’ll need to take with you to the hospital.
You’ll want to pack your bag with clothes, toiletries, and a few other essentials, but don’t forget to pack some formula, too. Here are five reasons why:
The Nurses May Pressure You To Breastfeed
Nurses are not supposed to pressure you into breastfeeding if you don’t want to, but they might do it anyway.
A lot of times, the nurses are just doing their job and trying to get you to do what they think is best for your baby.
However, you should never feel pressured into anything that you don’t want to do. If you don’t want to breastfeed, then don’t.
This happened to me.
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When I noticed my second son couldn’t latch, I asked for formula, instead, they tried to stall, encouraging me to keep trying.
In the meantime, my son and I were getting stressed. In that moment, I regretted not having brought my own formula.
I don’t want that to happen to you!
That’s one reason why I’m encouraging you to bring your formula to the hospital.
Your Milk Might Not Come In Right Away
It may take a few days for your milk to come in after giving birth.
This can happen for several reasons, including if your baby was delivered prematurely, if you had a traumatic birth, if you were on prolonged bed rest, or if you were unable to nurse your baby in the first few hours after birth. Likewise, if you had a C-Section.
So, if you haven’t begun producing milk yet, be kind to yourself. It’s not your fault, and many new mothers experience it.
Breast milk is produced in response to your baby’s sucking, and the amount of milk produced will depend on how often your newborn nurses.
You can try to increase your milk supply by frequently nursing your baby, resting, massaging your breasts, and drinking plenty of fluids.
You Might Not Be Able To Nurse Your Baby Immediately after birth
There are a few reasons why you might not be able to nurse your baby immediately after giving birth.
One reason is if your baby had a complicated birth, for example, if they were born with the aid of forceps.
Another reason is if your baby was born early or small for their gestational age.
Some babies are very sleepy and don’t have enough energy to breastfeed right away.
Babies can also be unwell or uncomfortable after birth. You may also be separated after birth.
Finally, low muscle tone or a tongue-tie can also make it harder for a baby to start breastfeeding.
If any of these happen, give yourself grace.
Supplement in the meantime (if you need/want to) and get as much support (lactation consultants, family) to help you establish breastfeeding (if that’s your desire).
You Might Want To Give Your Baby Formula While You’re Trying To Establish Breastfeeding
There are a lot of benefits to breastfeeding for both baby and mother, but there are some instances where formula feeding is a better choice.
If you’re having trouble breastfeeding, you might want to consider giving your baby formula.
If your baby is unable to breastfeed and is getting stressed, you’ll also get stressed and anxious as a mom. This isn’t good for milk production.
So, giving your baby a bottle, to help her relax while you gather yourself and figure out what the problem is and the corresponding situation will benefit you both eventually.
Also, formula feeding has come a long way in recent years. There are now many different types of formula that closely mimic breast milk.
And, I do believe that fed is best! Having formula-fed my first from 10 days old and also exclusively breastfed my second for 25 months.
The Hospital May Not Provide Your Preferred Formula
The hospital will give you what they have on hand which may not be your preference.
So if you have a specific formula that you would like to give your baby, then it’s advisable, that you bring your own.
What If I Want To Breastfeed?
You might be thinking to yourself, should I bring formula to the hospital with me if I want to breastfeed?
There are many different opinions on whether or not you should bring formula to the hospital if you plan on breastfeeding.
Ultimately, it is up to the mother to decide what she is most comfortable with.
Some women choose to bring formula with them to the hospital just in case they have trouble breastfeeding, while others do not want to be dependent on formula.
If you want to breastfeed, you can take formula to the hospital and use it only if you’re unable to breastfeed. I did with my second. He was formula-fed for the first two days because he struggled to latch due to a tongue tie.
However, I was still able to successfully exclusively breastfeed him for 25 months mainly because I was determined to.
And because I had previously had a tongue-tied baby, I was better prepared.
If you are planning on breastfeeding, it is important to learn about breastfeeding before your baby arrives.
One good way of doing that is to take a breastfeeding class.
I absolutely LOVE this breastfeeding class.
It’s just 90 minutes but packed full of important and insightful information on how to successfully breastfeed, problems to look out for and practical solutions.
The best part is it is on-demand, so you can watch it again and again. It’s also very affordable.
I wish I had known about this class before having my first child. Then I wouldn’t have had to struggle with shame about my failure to breastfeed my first baby.
You can also join her FREE 5-day breastfeeding course, to see if this will be the right fit for you.
You could also express and store colostrum in advance. This is called colostrum harvesting and it’s very beneficial for many moms.
On the other hand, if you do not wish to breastfeed, you should take formula to the hospital.
How Much Formula To Take To Hospital?
Carry enough pre-packaged bottles of premade infant formula to cover the duration of your hospital stay if you plan to bottle feed or don’t mind formula-feeding if you can’t nurse right away.
We recommend buying at least one starter pack of ready-made first infant milk, which includes six bottles and six teats.
These are single-use, disposable, sterile bottles that are the safest option for formula feeding your baby while in the hospital.
You can always buy more later if you still need them or you end up staying for longer.
Final Thoughts
As you prepare for your new arrival, one of the many things on your mind may be packing all of the necessary items for the hospital stay.
This article has provided the benefits of taking your own formula to the hospital, as well as a few tips on how to make sure you are still able to successfully breastfeed despite taking formula to the hospital.
Ultimately, the choice is yours!
Congratulations on the latest addition to your family!