Bottle Feeding Tips

Question by Miss America:
First time bottle feeding mother needs tips?
I’ve never bottle fed a baby from the beginning because I always breastfed exclusively for as long as possible. However, because of some health problems I have to be on medication that is excreted in breastmilk and would be dangerous for my baby so sadly I have to bottle feed but I know it’s ideal considering the situation.

Everyone else in my family has always started out breastfeeding as well so I have no one to look to for good bottle feeding tips. I know some of my questions seem dumb and I am sure the hospital would be more than happy to help, but I will have so much on my mind by then I will probably forget so I want to be prepared ahead of time and I am ready to take notes here LOL.

I am stocked up on about a weeks worth of ready to feed because this is my 4th baby and it would be much easier on me that way. I know I will get plenty of the 2 oz ready to use bottles from the hospital too but those will only last a day after we get home.

I have bought 6 four ounce (BPA free) bottles to start out with, my husband will be home to wash them for me so I do not think I will need to buy more. Is this enough? Do I need to use a different bottle with each feeding? Or can I rinse them out for another feeding later? With a newborn I doubt this but maybe when the baby is older? I have many more of the 8 oz bottles from my last baby for when this one is older. How long will I use the 4 ounce ones and for how long will I need to sterilize them?

How much formula will my baby drink and how will I know she’s done (don’t they over drink till they spit up with a bottle?) and when do I offer another bottle? I know to throw leftover formula in a bottle away…how much do I start off making and when will I need to start making more, I want to eliminate waste LOL.
Oh, also, I have a reverse osmosis water filter here at home, but will I still need to boil this water? The filter in the unit will be replaced shortly before baby gets here.
When I start using powder, can I make it in the bottles ahead of time for a whole day and store in the fridge or put it in a pitcher or is this only fit for an older baby?
Sorry, I am on 4 different antipsychotics, and was informed by the pharmacist’s information and my psychiatrist that it would not be safe to nurse my baby especially with the dose I am on.

Lithium
Ativan soon to be Valium
Atarax
Abilify

and I am on diabetes medications which will be switched after the birth.
My physicians have told me I will be on medications such as these for the rest of my life, especially since I have brain damage from a automobile accident that has caused my bipolar disorder, it wont get better, neither will my diabetes.
My physicians have told me I will be on medications such as these for the rest of my life, especially since I have brain damage from a automobile accident that has caused my bipolar disorder, it wont get better, neither will my diabetes.

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