You may decide to bottle feed your baby from birth. There are a few options for bottle feeding.
You can:
Find out about feeding options during antenatal classes.
Talk to your midwife or obstetrician if you have any questions.
Feeding your baby in the first few days
What to get before the birth
You will need:
- bottles
- teats
- sterilising equipment
- first infant formula milk
You can use boiling water, chemical steriliser or a steam kit to sterilise your equipment. A steam steriliser works best. You can also get plug-in or microwaveable sterilisers.
Do not buy a formula preparation machine, bottle warmer or UV steriliser. There is not enough research on the safety and effectiveness of these machines in preparing a baby's bottle.
If you are considering feeding your baby expressed milk, talk to your public health nurse, midwife or lactation nurse or midwife about getting a breast pump.
What to bring to the hospital
You do not need to bring bottles or first infant formula with you to hospital.
The hospital will give you first infant formula feeds for your baby. This is liquid formula that comes in small bottles with a pre-sealed sterilised teat so it can be given to your baby straight away.
Your baby's first bottle feeds
Your midwife will show you how to hold your baby and how to give a bottle.
They will also show you how to pace a bottle feed.
Feeding is a good time for skin-to-skin contact. Babies feed better if fed while on safe skin-to-skin contact.
Your partner can also take part in skin-to-skin contact when feeding your baby.
It is important that you or your partner give most of the feeds.
Feeding your baby: the first few days
How to do paced bottle-feeding (video)
How much to feed your baby
In the first 3 days, your baby only needs very small amounts of milk. This is usually around 10mls to 30mls per feed. This is because newborn stomachs are tiny.
Babies should be fed very small amounts often to avoid overfeeding, especially during the first few days.
Your midwife will talk to you about how much formula your baby needs.
Support in the hospital
Your midwife and other hospital staff will teach you how to prepare formula feeds.
If you decide to bottle feed your baby with breast milk, they will give advice about expressing, pumping and storing breast milk.
Your breasts may become firm and heavy from about day 3 to 5, as they will not be relieved through breastfeeding. Ask how to manage this before you leave hospital.
Support with feeding a newborn baby
Helpful things to know in advance
There are some things about bottle feeding that can be helpful to know before your baby is born.
For example, learn about:
- types of formula milk
- how to prepare baby formula
- how to sterilise equipment
- where to get bottle-feeding information
Restarting lactation
Some people try to breastfeed after they have been bottle feeding. This may happen after you leave hospital, especially if your breasts become engorged (too full of milk).
It is possible to start breastfeeding after bottle feeding. Talk to your PHN, lactation nurse or midwife about how to relieve engorgement, and help your baby to latch.
