'I was about to feed my baby when the bottle exploded - now I might be scarred for life'
'I was about to feed my baby when the bottle exploded - now I might be scarred for life'
Megan Elston was scalded by the baby formula which sprayed over her stomach and thighs
Megan Elston, 23, with her seven-month-old Koah Keidel
(Image: Kennedy News & Media )
A first-time mum fears she'll be scarred for life after a baby bottle 'exploded' on her tummy and thighs - spraying her with scalding formula. Megan Elston says she was preparing her seven-month-old Koah Keidel's evening feed on May 1 using a MAM Baby bottle that she had been using for the last three months.
After waiting 20 minutes for the boiled kettle water to cool down she says she filled the 9oz bottle and added the milk formula. But just before the 23-year-old went to shake the cup to mix the solution, she claims the bottle exploded at both ends - spilling liquid over her thighs and lower tummy.
Shocking photos show the full-time mum's inner thighs with large red burns on them, which then developed into blisters. After taking a 15-minute shower to try and cool her wounds, Megan went to North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, North Devon, where she claims her left leg felt like it was "on fire".
There, she had the blisters popped and bandaged and was prescribed antibiotics before being discharged to recover at home. Now healing, Megan says she fears she will be left scarred for life and feels self-conscious about wearing shorts and dresses this summer.
Megan Elston's burns after they were bandaged in hospital
(Image: Kennedy News & Media )
The mum-of-three is raising awareness about what happened to her to stop it from happening to other parents. Megan, from Westward Ho! in Devon, said: "I was just sterilising bottles like I normally do.
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"I boiled the kettle and waited 20 minutes and then put the water in the bottle and put the powder in. I put the lid on and I hadn't even shook it yet and the lid just popped off. Both the top and bottom popped off and it kind of exploded.
"I waited for 20 minutes because any longer than 30 minutes and the water wouldn't be warm enough to kill the bacteria. The formula went over both of my thighs and some of my belly. Luckily my baby was in the other room when this happened.
"The blisters all started coming up. At the hospital they popped the blisters on one leg and dressed them.
"When they started to blister it felt like my leg was on fire. I then went to the doctors the following day as I had woken up and the other leg had started to blister too.
"It wasn't painful getting them popped but getting the burns dressed was painful as it was sore to touch. I was worried that I'd be left scarred for life. It's such a big area and summer is coming up too."
Megan needed hospital treatment
(Image: Kennedy News & Media )
Since the accident, Megan says she has been back to the doctors and hospital a few times to have her burns cleaned and re-dressed. Megan is now raising awareness about what happened to her as she claims she followed the correct procedure when making Koah's milk formula.
Megan said: "Koah is seven months old and I have been using MAM bottles since he was born. I used the smaller bottles and now I have moved up to the 9oz ones.
"I moved onto this bottle about three months ago and have never had any issues before with them. Koah has a bottle at least five or six times a day so I am very used to doing this procedure.
"All I can say is make sure you're not holding your baby when you're putting the bottles together. It's left me feeling self-conscious and quite rubbish. I'm quite conscious of going out in little dresses and shorts now."
Megan Elston fears she'll now be left scarred for life
(Image: Kennedy News & Media )
Megan says she has since reached out to MAM about her burns. She says they have told her to send the bottle back to them so they can investigate further.
A MAM spokesman said: "The safety of our customers and their babies is at the forefront of everything we do and MAM is committed to ensuring the highest quality standards.
"All of our products are rigorously tested and meet applicable safety standards. The bottle type in question is certified to EN standard 14350:2020.
"We are very concerned about Megan's injury and have requested that we collect her bottle to enable us to thoroughly test it and investigate the circumstances around the accident. Clear instructions on safe use are supplied with every bottle.
Article continues below
"These include never pouring boiling water into the bottle and allowing boiled water to cool for at least 20 minutes before introducing it to a bottle to reduce the risk of scalding. While preparing a bottle, we recommend that you never do it with a baby close by.
"You should always wrap it in a towel or cloth to ensure the base is tightly screwed on and any shaking should be done gently over a sink with the base facing away from you."
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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
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And she recently told The Sun she was 'broody' and was willing to defy doctor's orders to go through with another pregnancy. Advertisement But in a blistering interview, Megan, who spent her childhood seeing her mum pregnant 'almost all the time', hit back: 'Broody? I think Mum is being selfish to try to become a surrogate again. It's time she retired her uterus. 'I honestly can't believe she's trying again and is talking to doctors. 'She's too old. How many more last times can there be? 'When she announced she's coming out of retirement I was shocked and dismayed. 'As an emergency medical worker I see the best - but also the worst - outcomes in every possible type of scenario. Advertisement 'I worry for mum. She wants so badly to help others, but I said to her: 'The risks are too high. Don't do it. It's time you enjoyed your amazing achievements but also your well earned retirement. 'She said 'Let me have one last try'. She wants me to support her. 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Scottish Sun
a day ago
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Fat jabs left me in agony – it hurt to even put a bra on but it was worth it to be thin & lose a stone in 4 weeks
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Seen before Credit: Jam Press 6 Megan says the side effects were worth it and has since gone from 11 stone down to 10 and loves her new body Credit: Jam Press The customer service worker says she was hit with flu-like symptoms the day after she started on weight-loss jabs. The 25-year-old began taking Mounjaro last month after struggling to reign in her comfort eating, which saw her weight go up to 11st – overweight for her 5ft 1ins frame with a BMI of 29.1. 'I woke up feeling like absolute rubbish,' Megan, from County Durham, says. 'I felt like I'd been hit by a bus. 'My shoulders and neck were so sore and felt bruised like I'd done some sort of hardcore workout.' Megan wondered if she was coming down with the flu, and noted her lack of appetite and soreness around her shoulders – saying it even hurt to put a bra on. She adds: 'I had never heard anyone on Mounjaro talk about those symptoms so, at first, I didn't think it was causing it.' 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I was dreading going on holiday and wearing a bikini but now I'm really looking forward to it because of the weight loss Megan Houchan 'I was struggling to lose that stubborn weight and I was struggling to keep myself disciplined. 'So, I started Mounjaro to get me out of all of those bad eating habits.' Megan says she was warned by her provider of the potential side effects, although she hadn't linked her symptoms the following day. And, with her symptoms quickly subsiding that same week, she has gone on to be thrilled with her results, dropping down to a healthier 10 stone. She added: 'I would definitely recommend it based on my experience. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. 'I recommended it to my dad and he has now started his journey and is going really well for him too. "Now, I feel more confident when I put outfits on to go out, and when taking photos." Megan says that her weight loss has had a positive impact on her mental health too. "I just feel much better in myself. "I was dreading going on holiday and wearing a bikini but now I'm really looking forward to it because of the weight loss. "I've had a lot of comments about it too. "People at work say they can really tell, on my face especially, and have said I look really well for it. "My family is always telling me that they can see such a difference. "My mum always comments on my weight loss and it makes me feel really good because some days I think 'Am I losing weight?' and sort of doubt myself – so it's nice to have reminders. "For other people to notice it makes me feel a lot more confident."
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
'I was about to feed my baby when the bottle exploded - now I might be scarred for life'
A first-time mum fears she'll be scarred for life after a baby bottle 'exploded' on her tummy and thighs - spraying her with scalding formula. Megan Elston says she was preparing her seven-month-old Koah Keidel's evening feed on May 1 using a MAM Baby bottle that she had been using for the last three months. After waiting 20 minutes for the boiled kettle water to cool down she says she filled the 9oz bottle and added the milk formula. But just before the 23-year-old went to shake the cup to mix the solution, she claims the bottle exploded at both ends - spilling liquid over her thighs and lower tummy. Shocking photos show the full-time mum's inner thighs with large red burns on them, which then developed into blisters. After taking a 15-minute shower to try and cool her wounds, Megan went to North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, North Devon, where she claims her left leg felt like it was "on fire". There, she had the blisters popped and bandaged and was prescribed antibiotics before being discharged to recover at home. Now healing, Megan says she fears she will be left scarred for life and feels self-conscious about wearing shorts and dresses this summer. The mum-of-three is raising awareness about what happened to her to stop it from happening to other parents. Megan, from Westward Ho! in Devon, said: "I was just sterilising bottles like I normally do. "I boiled the kettle and waited 20 minutes and then put the water in the bottle and put the powder in. I put the lid on and I hadn't even shook it yet and the lid just popped off. Both the top and bottom popped off and it kind of exploded. "I waited for 20 minutes because any longer than 30 minutes and the water wouldn't be warm enough to kill the bacteria. The formula went over both of my thighs and some of my belly. Luckily my baby was in the other room when this happened. "The blisters all started coming up. At the hospital they popped the blisters on one leg and dressed them. "When they started to blister it felt like my leg was on fire. I then went to the doctors the following day as I had woken up and the other leg had started to blister too. "It wasn't painful getting them popped but getting the burns dressed was painful as it was sore to touch. I was worried that I'd be left scarred for life. It's such a big area and summer is coming up too." Since the accident, Megan says she has been back to the doctors and hospital a few times to have her burns cleaned and re-dressed. Megan is now raising awareness about what happened to her as she claims she followed the correct procedure when making Koah's milk formula. Megan said: "Koah is seven months old and I have been using MAM bottles since he was born. I used the smaller bottles and now I have moved up to the 9oz ones. "I moved onto this bottle about three months ago and have never had any issues before with them. Koah has a bottle at least five or six times a day so I am very used to doing this procedure. "All I can say is make sure you're not holding your baby when you're putting the bottles together. It's left me feeling self-conscious and quite rubbish. I'm quite conscious of going out in little dresses and shorts now." Megan says she has since reached out to MAM about her burns. She says they have told her to send the bottle back to them so they can investigate further. A MAM spokesman said: "The safety of our customers and their babies is at the forefront of everything we do and MAM is committed to ensuring the highest quality standards. "All of our products are rigorously tested and meet applicable safety standards. The bottle type in question is certified to EN standard 14350:2020. "We are very concerned about Megan's injury and have requested that we collect her bottle to enable us to thoroughly test it and investigate the circumstances around the accident. Clear instructions on safe use are supplied with every bottle. "These include never pouring boiling water into the bottle and allowing boiled water to cool for at least 20 minutes before introducing it to a bottle to reduce the risk of scalding. While preparing a bottle, we recommend that you never do it with a baby close by. "You should always wrap it in a towel or cloth to ensure the base is tightly screwed on and any shaking should be done gently over a sink with the base facing away from you."
