Bringing your own formula to L&D?

[BTS1022]

I was just curious to see if any of you brought your own formula to L&D because they didn't offer what you wanted to feed your baby. I want to feed Enfamil Prosobee with lipil, and my hospital only has similac. My babies have all been born with an intollerance to milk and milk protein.

My doctor told me it would be okay to bring my own formula as long as it wasn't in the powderd form, and to bring my own bottles aswell. He didn't make a big deal of it at all, since he respects the wishes of his patients whole heartedly.

Im just worried I will get a huge lecture from nurses, and I really don't want to start a huge fight over what I want or feel is best for my son. I know hospitals can be very pushy and adament to use their products, but I really don't want to take the chances. I would hate to spoil my delivery experiance because of having to tell off some pushy nurse.

If you were in my situation, knowing that there is a 90% chance your baby wouldn't tolerate the formula being offered, would you go out of your way to please the hospital and nursing staff, or would you just grin and bare it and bring your own formula?

[ashiepooh]

BTS - I think everything I have read that you said, is good!  Your doing what's right for you, and your family.  You already know your other kids have the intolerance, and my doctor even told me to go about it the same way.  Both my kids ended up drinking Soy milk as soon as they turned 1!  Due to they can't handle regular or whole milk!  

Like I said before, if they give you cr ap then give it to them!  Ahahaha!  They don't know your family like you do, so I think your taking the right precautions!  :)  

I hope you are maybe going into labor soon since your feeling like cr ap!!!

[peekawho]

I've never worked in any hospital that does not offer soy formula, and I've worked in many, both large and very small.  You have the right to insist on it if that's what you want.

You are correct in that they generally do not want to start the baby out of soy formula.  But many mothers have had other children with milk allergies or intolerance and want to begin their new baby out on soy.  

In many hospitals, a pediatricians order is needed to use soy formula.  However, a simple phone call can be made and the order gotten with little problem if this is the case.

WIC changes periodically, from requiring Similac to Enfamil.  Both formulas have a soy version.  

[BTS1022]

I think I will just bring my Avent bottles, and the hospital can deal lol. I can bring my sterilizer with me and sterilize the bottles there.

Uhg all i know is that i suddenly feel like cr ap....I hope it's a sign lol

[JoyRenee]

Well they gave me glass Enfamil one-time-use bottles at the hospital. I thought they sold them like that? I guess the only other suggestion is that you take your Avent bottles and have DH take the dirty ones home to wash and bring back! Or you could buy one bottle that has those plastic refill bags.

[BTS1022]

thats IF I ever go into labor....lol

[BTS1022]

Joy

Do you know where I can get bottles like that? They can't be glass, I already asked, they have to be disposable. I am packing my avent bottles just to be on the safe side, because thats all I have as of now. They won't dump out their formula and waste it so I can use the bottles, that and it isn't sterile that way.

Either way disposable bottles or not, I will be bringing my own formula and making sure my baby is with us at all times.

The other hospital I delivered my youngest son at...always gave me a time limit with my son. I was allowed to have him from 6am to 10pm and then he went to the nursery for the night, they claimed it was due to people trying to leave with babies at night time. This time im going to a new hospital, same doc, and I will refuse to have my son taken out of the room, even for his sugar level tests.

[JoyRenee]

They won't and shouldn't lecture you! It's your baby and if you want to bring Prosobee Lipil, then go for it (that's what we used at home!). Most of the time the nurses only came in to take our vitals and pretty much left us alone for feeding and diaper changes and baths.

They sell these glass baby bottles that come with nipples that you can scr ew on. That's probably what the doctor was wanting you to bring.

[BTS1022]

Elyz1214-

I had double checked the hospital's formula choice. They don't have the formula I want to use for the L&D floor. They are pretty stingey on the fact that you should try milk based formulas before soy...but I simply don't want to risk upsetting my babies tummy right from the get go. The Peds floor does offer my type of formula, but the doctor has to write a note...kind of like a RX for it, I know my do would do it, so I might see if he can, that way I can go home with more formula then I started out with.

WIC here no longer uses similac, im in MI and they have switched all their products to Enfamil, and my formula is available through them with a prescription, something my doc has already confirmed he will give me inorder to get it.

I wouldn't be using WIC if they still offered Similac, There is something about similac that my babies have never been able to tolerate....even Similac Soy formula they didnt handle well.

I will still bring my own formula just to be on the safe side....I have a sneaking suspicion that the nurses will use *what* they want in the nursery....so my son won't be leaving my room to go to the nursery unless my doctor or my husband goes with him. The only time my baby will be without one of us is during his circumcision.

Martika-

My doc will lay into the nurses if they pester me with the BF issue. I had a nurse up my rear about it with my youngest son, and my doc handled it very well, so im not to worried about the BF thing. I have become quite known for being a royal peice of work in the L&D lol. Im a complete b!tch if I need to be, but I just didn't want to waste my energy arguing with them over formula after Conner is here....Id rather put whats left of my energy after delivery towards bonding with my new angel.

[Elyz1214]

I just saw that you said you were going to use that formula until you got established with WIC - so make sure they will allow you to continue on that formula! I don't know if it's a state-by-state thing, but where I live (IL) you have to have Similac unless there is a documented reason from your child's pediatrician. I was on WIC when I had my daughter and son and my daughter had a congenital heart defect and was required to be on a different (more expensive brand) and we had a hard time getting WIC to cover it.

[Elyz1214]

I would just double check with the hospital about what kind of formula they have - I am sure they have the kind you want to give. I am an RN and used to work in newborn nursery and in the Peds ICU and they have TONS of different formula types - including things you have probably never heard of! They have children with all sorts of allergies, metabolic disorders, etc and have to be prepared to meet the needs of all of them. If the newborn nursery wouldn't have it for some reason, ask them to get it from the peds floor.

Similiac is the formula of choice for the WIC program so a lot of moms who are utilizing that service end up getting started on that brand of formula which is why that is usually being given. Heck - in the newborn nursery I used to work at they had a rotating schedule and your baby got a certain formula based on if it was born on an odd or even numbered day!

You can bring your own, I'm sure, but I would put a note (and an unopened bottle) in the crib thing if you send the baby back to the nursery just to make sure they dont feed the baby something else on the offchance it needs a feed while you are there. However, just check - you may as well not have to pay for stuff used at the hospital if you don't have to!

[martikadragoon]

Just thought I'd tell you, if the nurses give you **** about not Breastfeeding don't mind them. I don't know why but in some places today it's like it's a crime to not breasfeed.

[BTS1022]

Ashiepooh-

Im def. going to be bringing the formula now. I shouldn't worry about what the nurses or hospital will say, I should only worry about whats best for my baby. So with that said, I think im going to put it in my hospital bag tonight before I go to bed.


Thank you everyone for your opinions, I was really having mixed emotions on this decision.

[ashiepooh]

You know, the nurses can't tell you what to do!  SO bring the pre-made formula.  Usually they want you to use their kind at the hospital, because they pay for it and don't want you to worry about it while your there.  But if all your kids have a milk intollerance, then DEFINATELY bring your own!  They have to respect yours and your doctors wishes!  :)

[BTS1022]

KellyA74

I never had a lecture for breastfeeding. My doc just simply asks, and he believes in not causing a pregnant woman a whole lot of stress, so he doesn't push the subject. He asks and if you bottle feed he asks what brand you tend on using, and if your BF he makes sure there is a BF coach or lactation specialist on hand to help get things started smoothly.

I really think im going to go ahead and bring the formula. I don't want to cause my baby any digestive issues when switching formula or using a formula that he may not benefit from. I told hubby I wanted to do it, but why I was worried, and he said as my spouse if there is any issues with the nurses and my decision, then he would take care of it for me, that way I don't have to worry about my stay in the hospital being ruined.

Rachie-

I checked already to see if Enfamil had the disposable bottles with the premade formula, which they do, but is a lot more expensive then the premade cans you can buy at grocery stores. And you can only order them off their website, and with 11 days till my due date, I dont think they would make it here fast enough lol. I have bought 2 cans of premade prosobee already, and a can of the powdered formula to last me until I can get on WIC.

I really want whats best feeding wise with this baby. My other children started out on the Similac that the hospitals used, and I ended up having a lot of issues with it, and with switching formula. I figured if I started off with soy this time, then I won't run into the issues I had before, I hated seing my babies so fussy and in so much pain. I used Prosobee with my other boys and I agree it is a godsent gift lol. It really does work wonders!

[houseofgirls]

I don't usually post on this forum, but am on the maternal and child forum.  I think it would probably be fine to bring your own formula, especially if your doctor said it was ok.  You can always call L&D directly and ask them what their policies are.  As far as why it can't be the powdered form, I believe it is because the powder isn't sterile.  The ready to feed formula is sterile, plus doesn't need to be mixed with water which also may not be sterile.

[KellyA74]

I would defiantely bring my own if I were you.......I bougth Enfamil with Lipil...only b/c I know that's what they start the babies with at my hospital (or Similac.....you have a choice)......So I bought a few cans of it...I figure if he can't tolerate it, I'll exhange......But given your history, I totally would, and if the staff gives you any problems, tell them that you already discussed it with your Dr....It's YOUR baby...not theirs!   (I'm preparing myself for the lecture on not breastfeeding!  ugh)

[rachie204]

I never thought about it...but I would do it if I were you.  My son was born and I breastfed and used formula, turned out he was allergic to Casien (milk protein) and I had to put him on Enfamil Prosobee...which I love by the way.  I so wish I had know before hand....we would have had a much happier baby boy.  
I wonder why it cant be powdered form....maybe so you can send it to the nursery with the baby if you need to.  I would check to see if they sell the prosobee in the little pre-made bottles with the disposible nipple for convience while you are at the hospital.  
I dont think the nurses will give you a hard time, it's a very popular formula.  
If it were me I would take my own....