how to feed while out?

Question

I just had a baby and i am not producing enough milk yet so i am supplementing with formula for now, so my question is if you're out do you just have the bottle of formula in the bag, and I don't know how you would warm it up say you were in the car or in a grocery store any info is greatly appreciated!!
Anybody else out there pumped and not produced alot at the beginning?? I just feel so bad!! And same question when I have bottles of breastmilk in my bag do i give it at room temperature or how would I warm it up in public??
Thanks for your help

Answer 1

Expressed breastmilk can be kept at room temperature for 10 hours unless it is insanely hot. 24 hours in a cooler bag with an icepack. There is also no need to discard breastmilk if the baby drinks from the bottle and doesn't finish it, studies have shown that even 10 hours later an untouched sample of breastmilk and a partially consumed sample of breastmilk are virtually identical.

Formula depends on whether it is powdered or liquid concentrate. Powdered formula is NOT sterile from the manufacturer and should NOT be prepared ahead of time. Keep the formula and water separate, preferably use boiled water to prepare; if using tap water do not use warm or hot water this may be convenient but it is not as safe. Liquid concentrate or liquid formula can be kept at room temp for 2 hours. Partially consumed formula feeds should be discarded.

In either case you can serve the baby's milk or formula cold, room temperature or warmed. It makes no difference to the nutrition of digestibility. Some babies will only tolerate feeds of a certain temperature though. To warm the bottle place it in a larger bowl of hot water either from the tap or boiling water from a restaurant. If using tap water you may need to change the water a few times. Most food service places are more than happy to give moms some boiling water though. If the bathroom you are in doesn't have a separate temperature control talk to the staff, there is *probably* a different sink somewhere that has hot water.

Answer 2

You must stop this supplementation with formula right away if breast feeding is what you wish to do. Your body produces what your baby needs, supply and demand. You don't make less than what your baby eats. Babys also find nursing from a bottle much easier than at breast and many times will choose bottle over breast because of this. Even the hospitals feed at room temperature, you don't need to warm it. If you were solely breastfeeding you wouldn't have to worry about it anyhow. I nursed four for two yrs. each and I was able to discreetly nurse in public. I just used to use my shirt to cover up a bit. I never pumped and fed from a bottle although as a dairy farmer I worked at home so never did the baby need to eat while I was away. My babies were always with me. Why is it you think you are not making enough milk anyway? As long as your baby is doing well and growing you are.

Answer 3

I didnt produce a lot of brestmilk by pumping. Pumps dont work as well as a baby. If u think ypur brest milk supply is low the best thing to do is to pump more often or put the baby to your brest more. When you supplement it takes away stimulation from your brests. formula is only good at room temp. for an hour. If i have to go out with my baby I try to feed him right before i leave. You can get a car bottle warmer or bring a cup fill it with warm water to heat the bottle up.

Answer 4

Did your doctor tell you to supplement with formula? Breast milk is on supply and demand. The more you breastfeed or pump, the more milk you will produce. If you are supplementing with formula, it will decrease your milk supply. I wouldn't give the baby formula at all unless the doctor specifically told you to. I was lucky, I just breastfed and never used bottles with my son and didn't have to worry about heating it up. With my daughter, I wasn't able to breastfeed for a year, and I did give her formula. Just run the bag under warm water from the sink for a few minutes.

Answer 5

I don't know about formula, but with breastmilk, I carried it in a bag with some ice packs. Ever smell spoiled b-milk?! Yech! I'm not sure how old your baby is, but I don't think cold b-milk is a big deal. If you want to warm it up, maybe you can just hold the bottle close to your body for a few minutes. Oh, I miss those days!

Answer 6

Breastmilk is supply and demand. Every ounce of formula that you give is an ounce that your body doesn’t know it needs to make.

Are you working with a lactation consultant? Have you contacted your local La Leche League? To make more milk you need to nurse your baby MORE, not pump and supplement.

I know it’s scary. I didn’t produce enough in the beginning because of some bad advice. My mom told me the only true thing: nurse your baby as long as the baby wants whenever the baby wants and you will make enough. It was so scary giving up the formula supplement and nursing, but within a couple days I was making enough. I’ll link more info on it below.

Answer 7

If I am in the grocery store/any store I usually take the bottle out about 15 minutes before I know she is going to want to eat just so it is not freezing cold.
Also, I found this to be easier for me when out in public when formula feeding. I got a couple of the containers that have the 3 sections and put my pre-measured powder in there and just took bottles of water and mixed when she was hungry so that way the bottle was at room temp.

Answer 8

Just because when you pump and you don't get much milk doesn't mean that you don't have enough milk to feed your baby. I can hardly get 3 oz out of both breasts combined when I pump. I have been successfully breast feeding my daughter for almost 9 months though. She is a happy, healthy baby so I am sure she is getting enough milk. Don't worry about pumping, breast feed and bond with your baby! Your body will make enough milk, they are much better at getting milk out than a pump is. Formula is unnecessary. Once you are good at breast feeding it will seem like such a pain to make up a bottle. It is so much easier to feed the baby right from the breast!

Answer 9

Just get one of those formula dividers (they divide the correct amount of formula into three compartments, (available at Target) and then pour however much water you need into the bottles....( 6oz, 8oz..etc). This way, the water will be room temperature (more than warm enough for baby) and you don't have to worry about keeping bottles cold, or warming them up!!! Worked like a dream for me!!

Answer 10

You can run warm water over the bottle in any sink or you can purchase a bottle warmer that has a car adapter on it. It plugs in the ciggarette lighter. Per my pediatrcian its not necesary to warm formula you can give it room temp but if your baby is breastfeeding she might be used to warm. You can store cold breast milk in an insulated bag and warm it when ready.