The Baby Feeding Series with Mum From Brum

Welcome back to another instalment of The Baby Feeding Series, where we spotlight real stories from real parents navigating the messy, emotional, and often confusing journey of feeding their babies. My hope is that this space becomes a comforting corner where others who feel lost or overwhelmed can read these experiences and feel a little less alone. Parenthood is hands-down the toughest role out there, but it’s also the most beautiful. Through these stories, I want to honour both the struggle and the joys.

This week, I'm thrilled to have the lovely Becki from The Mum from Brum guest posting for The Baby Feeding Series. I was so excited when Becki reached out to join in, as she runs a fantastic guest series on her own blog called #bottlefeedingstories. Be sure to check out her website and consider contributing—I'm sure she'd love it!

Over the past few weeks, we've had many wonderful guest posts sharing breastfeeding journeys, which are always beautiful. However, it's refreshing to hear about baby feeding from a formula perspective. When Becki offered to share her story as a bottle-feeding mum along with some amazing tips, I immediately said YES. So, without further ado, let me introduce the lovely Becki...

MY JOURNEY AS A BOTTLE FEEDING MOTHER

As readers of my blog will know, I had planned from very early on to exclusively breastfeed my son. I couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't plan to, but was firmly in the Fed Is Best camp and far from anti-formula. I was formula fed myself and I don't think I've turned out too badly!

X's birth wasn't a straightforward one, and I only dodged an emergency section by the skin of my teeth. I lost a lot of blood and it's fair to say I was a bit knackered! But so was X. The after affects of a 23 hour labour and Pethidine had knocked us both about. When it became apparent that X wasn't keen on breastfeeding, I panicked. I couldn't get him to stop screaming long enough to keep him on my breast, but he'd happily gobble up anything I'd managed to express into a syringe.

Despite my constant requests for help, by the time we went home 3 days later, X was a formula fed kid. We still had a go at breastfeeding but his latch was appalling, and I was in agony... the first week of his life was probably the longest in mine. But I'm not here to bore you with the tales of my breastfeeding failure. I'm here to talk about muddling through, and starting to use formula when it wasn't the plan.

We had NOTHING in for formula feeding. No formula, no bottles, no steriliser - nothing. There was a lot of panic buying in those first few troubled weeks. I didn't even know how to make up a bottle safely. So these are my 6 tips for things to get or do when you suddenly find yourself reluctantly bottle feeding...

1. Premix formula - yes, it's more expensive, but in those first heady days of being exhausted, on top of sleep deprivation and still trying to figure out when water is at 70 degrees, they are life savers. They're also super handy for when you want to go out and haven't figured out a way of making up a bottle that works for you.

2. Get a flask - I had a Tommee Tippee one. It keeps water hot, but not boiling, literally for HOURS. Got a screaming child and need to feed them asap? Keep a stock of cooled boiled water in the fridge, use the hot water from the flask to "hot shot" your formula then add the cooled water et voila - a safely prepared bottle at perfect drinking temperature. Alternatively, you could go along the Perfect Prep Machine route - there's been some bad press lately, but just like everything when it comes to babies, you need to ensure you're cleaning it properly, only using the correct filters and checking it regularly for any problems. The flask, however, is cheaper, easier to clean, and suitable for taking out and about...

3. Talking of Out and About & Treat yourself to a nice change bag - I needed a bigger bag than I thought I would, so the cute little thing I'd picked up from Babies R Us wasn't going to cut the mustard. So instead I treated myself to a beautiful turquoise number from Oi Oi. It wasn't cheap, but it easily held all the extras you need as a formula mum, and it's GORGEOUS. Certainly made me feel a bit better too.

4. Cold water or microwave sterilisers are better than electric ones - for one, they're smaller, and they're not going to burn out on you and screw you over when it's suddenly not sterilising your bottles.

5. Ask your midwife for help - yes, officially, they are not supposed to promote formula over breastfeeding, but at the end of the day they want to see your baby happy and healthy - and that means FED, and fed safely. If you're not sure on the current recommendations for making up a bottle safely, get them to run through it with you.

6. Don't beat yourself up - yes, this wasn't the plan, but since when do kids do the things you want them to do? Please, please, remember that you're doing the very best for your baby. Mummy guilt is a git, and it doesn't like to leave you alone. You'll be dragging it around with you for years to come, so please try to lighten it by remembering you're doing your best.

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About Becki

Becki is a 30 year old stay at home mother to her darling son X and a grumpy wife to her darling husband. As well as being a wife and mother she has a very successful family lifestyle and photography blog. Like most, she started her blog as a means to stop her brain from turning to complete mush, she envisioned pink angel delight. Becki is Brummie born and bred but has now started a new life with her lovely family in the beautiful Northampton. You can take the girl out of Birmingham but you can't take the Brummie out of the girl. As well as being an amazing blogger, Becki enjoys lots of adventures, going on long walks to find new places and to sing along to Musical Theatre soundtracks.

Remember you can find the lovely Becki over at The Mum From Brum