Breastfeeding vs. Pumping and Giving Bottle

ccarrozza1

I had every intention of breast feeding our two week old and have been trying to every since she was born. She was born three weeks early and was 8lbs 3oz but then she was in pediatics ward for four days because of Jaundice so we had some setbacks on breast feeding. Any ladies out there pumping and giving bottle because your baby prefers it over nipple??

NoSugarCoating

8 lbs 30 oz (???) at 3 weeks early? 

ccarrozza1

NoSugarCoating said:

8 lbs 30 oz (???) at 3 weeks early? 

Yup! She was on track to be 9-10lbs at least by my due date. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise she came early. It was hard enough pushing her out after 35 hours of labor.

elizaquinn

My daughter was born 5 weeks early.. I have had to pump and bottle feed her due to her being so young that she was unable to latch on.. Right now I need to use a nipple shield and it has. Been working.. I have been going back and forth bottle/breast so far so good

ldmw

I'm pumping and bottle feeding. My baby was overdue but we've had a lot
Of issues breastfeeding. In my situation, it's what works best for us. I am trying to re-introduce the breast at some feedings now that I've been exclusively pumping for 5 weeks but it's not going well.

speu511000

My littles was 4 weeks early and was unable to latch well enough for a feeding. I pumped and bottle fed for about a month with minimal breastfeeding. I met with lactation specialists often during that time and finally gave up pumping to breastfeed for 24 hours, at their suggestion. It was torture, she hated it but each feeding was better than the last! She is 6 months now and we still use the nipple shield and she fights the breast, especially now that I'm working and she gets bottles during the day. However, she can and will breastfeed in the night no problem but prefers a bottle. I pump at work and have more milk than needed for the next day but still try to breastfeed when we are together with an occasional bottle. It's still a struggle but she is doing both alright.

marijaa333

I'm doing 25% nursing, 75% pumping and bottle feeding. Trying to increase the nursing but he's still too inefficient at 5 weeks. I hope it gets better! Pumping is very hard work... 

ccarrozza1

speu511000 said:

My littles was 4 weeks early and was unable to latch well enough for a feeding. I pumped and bottle fed for about a month with minimal breastfeeding. I met with lactation specialists often during that time and finally gave up pumping to breastfeed for 24 hours, at their suggestion. It was torture, she hated it but each feeding was better than the last! She is 6 months now and we still use the nipple shield and she fights the breast, especially now that I'm working and she gets bottles during the day. However, she can and will breastfeed in the night no problem but prefers a bottle. I pump at work and have more milk than needed for the next day but still try to breastfeed when we are together with an occasional bottle. It's still a struggle but she is doing both alright.

What is a nipple shield?

ccarrozza1

ccarrozza1 said:

speu511000 said:

My littles was 4 weeks early and was unable to latch well enough for a feeding. I pumped and bottle fed for about a month with minimal breastfeeding. I met with lactation specialists often during that time and finally gave up pumping to breastfeed for 24 hours, at their suggestion. It was torture, she hated it but each feeding was better than the last! She is 6 months now and we still use the nipple shield and she fights the breast, especially now that I'm working and she gets bottles during the day. However, she can and will breastfeed in the night no problem but prefers a bottle. I pump at work and have more milk than needed for the next day but still try to breastfeed when we are together with an occasional bottle. It's still a struggle but she is doing both alright.

What is a nipple shield?

It sounds like most people that have these issues had preemies. It's a little reassuring to know I am not the only one

Snoflakes4eva

NoSugarCoating said:

8 lbs 30 oz (???) at 3 weeks early? 

Mine was 7 weeks early at 6 pounds, 3 oz.

OP, because of my LO's time in the NICU he never took a bottle. I pumped exclusively. I actually grew to like pumping because then others could help me feed LO.

ETA: a nipple shield did nothing for me.

NoSugarCoating

OP, a pounds is 16 oz. "8 lbs 30 oz" is not a legit measurement.

Snoflakes4eva

NoSugarCoating said:

OP, a pounds is 16 oz. "8 lbs 30 oz" is not a legit measurement.

I think its safe to assume OP means 8 pounds 3 oz.

ccarrozza1

Yes, typo

AngieD82

Yes!! And we both LOVE IT!!!!!

ccarrozza1

Hmm. Wonder if it's worth it to try the nipple shield.
BTW my baby sometimes chugs too quick when she takes the bottle...when she is very hungry she does this. I have tried various kinds of techniques and nipples to slow her down but sometimes she actually grabs my hand and won't let me pull the nipple out!

mdaugherty8

My baby was born the day after his due date at 6.11. He also could not latch, but that's because I have pretty flat nipples. We used a nipple shield for a couple of weeks. It did help some but it was still difficult and took a while to get enough milk. It had to be adjusted frequently (Just my experience). I ended up making the decision to exclusively pump. I won't lie it is a LOT of work. In addition to feeding/changing and taking care of your baby, you also have to sit and pump for 20-30 minutes every 2-3 hours (at first. It gets better). And when times come like baby won't let you put him down or will only nap in your arms pumping can seem impossible. But it also has its benefits. You are able to know exactly how much your baby is getting, and other people can feed baby and give you a break.

ccarrozza1

mdaugherty8 said:

My baby was born the day after his due date at 6.11. He also could not latch, but that's because I have pretty flat nipples. We used a nipple shield for a couple of weeks. It did help some but it was still difficult and took a while to get enough milk. It had to be adjusted frequently (Just my experience). I ended up making the decision to exclusively pump. I won't lie it is a LOT of work. In addition to feeding/changing and taking care of your baby, you also have to sit and pump for 20-30 minutes every 2-3 hours (at first. It gets better). And when times come like baby won't let you put him down or will only nap in your arms pumping can seem impossible. But it also has its benefits. You are able to know exactly how much your baby is getting, and other people can feed baby and give you a break.

Yeah it's hard to balance but I like having the control of knowing how much she is getting. And my husband helps out with feeding at night so that is a benefit. It is a lot of work. I was just pumping 20 minutes every other feed and having enough for two feeds but now she is upping her intake and when she clusterfeeds it gets harder. Sometimes she will breast feed in those in between cluster feeds and other times I feel I don't have enough so I use formula. It's all just juggling and hoping it will get easier soon...

jcreamer25

Honestly my baby was a few days early and caught on to breast feeding so well that all the nurses commented on how well she latched and what a great suck she had. Let me tell you that caught up real fast after a week of feeding and doing all the nipple precautions I still cracked and started bleeding so bad that I had to use bottles once or twice a day just to have a little bit of a break to try and heal! So I wouldn't feel to guilty about it I don't feel like I'm a bad mom because of it, I think there's a lot of stress and pressure about breast feeding and you just have to do what works for you!

kmerkle1

My LO takes both breast and bottle no problem. Except when he is over tired. Then he will only take the bottle-I'm thinking because it comes out faster and easier.

ccarrozza1

kmerkle1 said:

My LO takes both breast and bottle no problem. Except when he is over tired. Then he will only take the bottle-I'm thinking because it comes out faster and easier.

She is hard to feed with the breast when she is overly hungry because then she has very little patience. Strangely when she is a little tired she takes it better

marijaa333

@kmerkle1 said:

My LO takes both breast and bottle no problem. Except when he is over tired. Then he will only take the bottle-I'm thinking because it comes out faster and easier.

Same here!!

ccarrozza1

What nipples do you guys use, for those that have babies that like to chug the bottle? I have tried to pace her but she likes to chug when really hungry. I ordered some slow flow medela nipples - not the ones that have the three part nipple with the big hole at top...she doesn't like those. Any thoughts on bottles and nipples?

ccarrozza1

kmerkle1 said:

My LO takes both breast and bottle no problem. Except when he is over tired. Then he will only take the bottle-I'm thinking because it comes out faster and easier.

Yeah, if you think about it, it makes sense eventhough somewhat frustrating at times if you are trying to bf. If you were really hungry, wouldn't you want what's easier and quicker to eat too?