Question about Colostrum + Formula

jlr96

Hi Ladies!  I've been lurking for awhile now & thought it was time to intro & ask a few questions.  I am due with my first baby in early November & trying to decide between BF (by pumping) or FF.  I think I want to FF but was wondering if there was any benefit to BF'ing for the first week or so before moving to formula so the baby could at least get the colostrum.  Has anyone ever done this?  I'm assuming it takes longer for your milk to dry up once you start BF'ing then stop.  I would be pumping so the baby would not have to make the transition from breast to bottle.  Any thoughts?  Thanks!!

sambrownmac10

My lo wouldn't latch in the hospital so the nurse brought a pump I got very little colostrum, what I did get I mixed with formula. I did pump for 4 weeks but only got 1-2 feedings a day, I found it too time consuming.
I'm sure there are benefits to having it, but personally I will be going straight to formula if I have another lo.

alyss0nl

I tried pumping and supplementing formula with my first, since he couldn't latch. It consumed my life being attached to the pump, and I got maybe 1.5-2 oz a day. By 2 weeks I stopped pumping and went straight to formula. With my second, I tried to get him to latch at the hospital. We both struggled, so it was straight formula after that. Going straight to formula was the best choice for us.

JustGoWithIt

It's totally a personal choice. Many people go straight to formula. Others try BF & then go to FF. I don't see any reason why you couldn't pump in the hospital & give your LO the colostrum & formula if that is what you want to do. Your milk is eventually going to come in either way so you'll still have to deal with that. GL!

clumsyatheart

I'm due in November too! Yay November babies!!!

I originally wanted to EP, but my schedule won't be compatible with pumping every two hours to establish a supply, plus this is weird, but i read instructions on massaging breasts before pumping to yield flow and they triggered me horribly (i originally thought you could just hook yourself up and go! I hope you can without massaging and such). I might try to pump a few days a week to help with uterus shrinking (is that odd?) and give LO a bit of BM, but you can never guarantee how much you'll produce, if you'll have time, how you'll feel after labor, what you'll think about pumping etc. Always have a backup plan, right?

If you want to combo feed, some argue that a bit of BM is better than none (esp early), but don't feel pressured.

harmonicbabe26

@clumsyatheart‌ who told you that you have to massage before pumping? I never did that and I pumped for 7 months. I did some compressions towards the end of each session to try to see if I could squeeze whatever was leftover, but I never massaged. I doubt that most women do. Maybe some but it is not a requirement.

littlemissmarla

I pumped in the hospital and only got a tiny bit of colostrum but the nurses were adamant about how beneficial even a tiny bit was. We used a syringe to give DD the colostrum before we FF. When I got home I began pumping (she wasn't interested in latching and frankly neither was I) and she gets about 1-3 bottles a day of BM and the rest formula. I dont really feel attached to the pump,  I probably should be pumping more on a schedule but I will pump anywhere from 3-5 hours and get enough for 1-3 bottles and freezing some. I'm working on pumping more frequently and looking into taking fenugreek to boost supply. You can always try pumping if your interested and see how it works out, or go straight to FF.. your feeding your baby which is the most important thing - doesn't matter how!

clumsyatheart

@mom2boxers‌: thank you!!! I heard pumping or nursing helps get the uterus back into shape quicker and i am so glad that isn't the case. Esp since being hooked up to a pump every two hours = not fun -_-

@harmonicbabe26‌: SO GLAD OMG. I read pamphlets online for different hospitals and they all said the same thing with detailed instructions! I freaked out! I know that's silly, but it struck me as really weird. Esp since i hadn't heard about massage on pumping blogs.

jlr96

Thanks for the input ladies!