[nippa&pippa]

Just getting my labour bag ready:clap just 9 weeks to go but both children was early babies...so i need to be prepare!
However I never brought formula milk in NZ before and can you able to tell me which brands would you recommend for newborn? I am planning to bf for 1 year plus again but just in case it fail, I need back-up plan...(saw it happened to my sister for few days before baby did bf)
Also can you advice me on baby clothes size? what do 0000, 000, 00, 0, 1 mean???????? which is newborn size???:o :exit
Thanks btw!

[lockstock]

Absolutely no idea about any of your questions but good luck and I hope all goes well for you with everything xx

[jubjub]

0000 is newborn size, 000 is 0-3, 00 is 3-6, 0 is 6-9, then 1 lasts till they are 1. Just beware sizes do vary between shops mostly my boy is now in 2, but still has the odd size 1 that still fits.

Formula, its such a personal thing to the baby and mum, but when I stopped BF we went onto Karicare Gold, but apparently SC26 is quite highly regarded too. Heinz nuture is about the cheapest, but has a different base (think its casein) that can cause constipation. You get standard and Gold versions of all of them, again its just what suits baby, or what you want to give them. You can get sachets in the supermarkets for an emergency supply, rather than buy a big tin.

Is it really getting that close now???!!! :exit

[nippa&pippa]

Thanks sal! Yep getting closer..aaaahhhhhh:exit

I am now more prepare for shopping tomorrow to get clothes for baby after birth as can't face put this baby in same old clothes when my other two wore it for first 24hours. This baby deserve new and fresh clothes for first day of life..how sad I am??!!

Thanks for tip on formula milk, I have brought formula milk packets when i had my other two and never used it in the end, I just gave to someone else once there was no problem with bf...

[SharpBlade]

Hey Sophia,
As you probably know, there are plenty of sales all around town at the moment, really cheap stuff at Kmart but also 10$ pijamas at BabyShop (or is it another name? On Colombo st, just across South CIty). And you can find neutral colours if you don`t know if it s a boy/girl.
So, what did you put in your "labour bag"?
Anyway, take care, I hope you iron level is good again.
Laura

[Tia Maria]

My babies tend to be very sicky as they tend to have an intolerance to milk in the first year, so I nearly always have to try different types.

After trying a couple out the one that suited my kiwi baby best was Karicare Nurture - starter formula. It comes in sachets so it would be easy to have on stand by if things don't work out with the breastfeeding.

Like jubjub says, I think it all very much depends on the baby as my first son could only tolerate goat's milk formula, whereas the other two were very sicky on it.

Are you still considering a home/water style birth? Will they let you if you go into early labour?

Cheers

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

Laura, thanks for your tip and just do labour bag same as what we did in UK..items for yourself like spare clothes, spare nightdress, socks, pads etc, wash kits etc, items for baby like clothes, nappies, wipe etc and items for labour like food, drink, book, camera etc.

Tia Maria, Snap, my both children was sicky too with reflux and I already got several tin of hypoallergic formula milk left over from my dd's for this baby as I was advised to put "next" baby on this tin by UK Dr just in case as something do with research confirm that once you have baby with milk intolence (which my dd has till she was nearly 1 year old) then next baby is highly likely to have milk intolence..however I don't want open whole tin for just one or two feed as I am keen to bf again. So with your experiences, I will buy same formula milk sachets you mention for emergency reasons.
I am still hoping for waterbirth at home, but suggested to do labour bag just in case the baby decide to arrive before 37weeks (midwife said she will make final decision on around 36-37weeks whether we have to go to hospital or not) because baby is class as premature if born before 37weeks. Or any (very rare happen anyway) complications that occur during labour at home.

[Oregonkiwi]

on the subject of baby formula...

http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2007/fos.htm
NZFSA has been notified that Karicare Nutriprem Gold Plus Ready-to-Feed Pre-term Formula; Karicare Gold Plus Ready-to-Feed Infant Formula; Karicare Gold Plus Infant Formula; and Karicare Gold Plus Follow-On formulas are non-compliant under the joint Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.[continues]
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10451822
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority is advising parents using two brands of infant formula to gradually change to alternative products.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority (FSA) acting chief executive Andrew McKenzie said Nutricia Karicare Gold Plus infant formula and Karicare Follow-on formula contained an additive that could cause "softer, looser and more frequent bowel movements". [continues]

[nippa&pippa]

Thanks, I spotted it last night on the news...hmmmm, with history of my babies' allergies and reflux, my OH and I am not keen on using these brand now to be on safe side. Will speak to midwife this afternoon about formula milk.

[Tia Maria]

nippa&pippa,

Its not all Karicare formula that they are advising against. The basic Karicare formula that I use doesn't contain the additive so that is still considered OK. (Karicare Infant Starter Formula - whey dominant - blue lid, number 1 on the front)

To be honest it seems more a case of NZ not having tested FOS yet but it is considered safe elsewhere, from the article Oregonkiwi posted:

It had been approved in the European Union for addition in restricted amounts to infant formula (for babies up to six months) and follow-on formula (for babies between six and 12 months). Infant and follow-on formula products containing FOS have been sold in the EU for seven years.

So essentially if you were still in the UK formulas containing FOS would be considered OK.

Hope this helps. :)

Cheers

Tia

[Park City Partner]

It seems to me that the NZ govt is just a bit miffed about them not following the process. My wee girl fights constipation problems so it is probably a good thing for her and it seems to have been used by millions without issue. If it were really harmful they would pull it from the shelves which they aren't doing....

[Familyofmonkeys]

On the subject of lactose intolerance...my sprogs were all bf for over a year, but when the older two were weaning they reacted with excema when I cooked things with normal milk until they were about one, so I used milk called Lactolite (found it in Tesco). It was not lactose free, but reduced content by about 95%. As we have never used formula, I would be in interested to know if anything similar is available in NZ, and the names of any brands you have tried? Baby no 3 is almost ready for weaning, so it's about time I got prepared.

[nippa&pippa]

On the subject of lactose intolerance...my sprogs were all bf for over a year, but when the older two were weaning they reacted with excema when I cooked things with normal milk until they were about one, so I used milk called Lactolite (found it in Tesco). It was not lactose free, but reduced content by about 95%. As we have never used formula, I would be in interested to know if anything similar is available in NZ, and the names of any brands you have tried? Baby no 3 is almost ready for weaning, so it's about time I got prepared.

Because of milk and soya intolence, I was advised to not give any milk apart from rice milk as no soya in it (have you tried that?) or hypoallergic formula milk that you CAN add into your cooking for your baby like I did. Fortunately this brand I used is available in this country from GP, it called pepti-junior hypoallergic formula made by Cow & Gate. Hope that help??

[Familyofmonkeys]

Thanks for that...might try some if problem arises. At least I now know what to ask for....didn't get much advise on problem in UK. Health visitor was meant to send me some samples of stuff and never got round to it, so I just tried stuff out for myself. Baby no 3 has just started getting patches of excema and is not weaning yet...so likely will have same problems as others...but luckily no reflux and projectile vomiting with this one!!

[nippa&pippa]

My dd also got ezcema and found NZ's creams too harsh on her as made her ezcema worse as allergic to most of cream :( . If you have same problem as well, I suggest this cream "Hemp cream" from Bodyshop done fantastic job :nice1 and I know lots of mums with child got ezcema in UK is now using Hemp cream as well as aveeno cream (aveeno cream made ezcema worse in my dd btw)
Hope that help :nice1

[Familyofmonkeys]

Thanks...so far have remains of huge tub of prescription E45....we use the stuff everyday and it seems to work well as an emollient. Don't even know if you can ge the stuff over here. It's one of those things I haven't got round to checking.
I have previously tried some olive oil based stuff which worked well for me, but haven't tried it on the kids. Also find Aloe Vera Gelly very good for itching, but it is really expensive to get hold of. Most cheap ones have too many additives, and the one I found easiest to get (Forever Living Products) is really expensive. Might buy some of the hemp cream next time I go to CBD for a shop.