Only pumping, not using skin to skin. Okay or not?

ChrissMariee

I am 35 weeks pregnant, I tried signing up for breastfeeding classes but the affordable ones are full and the over priced ones are way too expensive. I've been looking online for helpful tips but it seems everyone has their own views & I'm still very undecided if I'll be able to even do this.

 I made the decision early I wanted to breastfeed due to better health for the baby, got the pump & all supplies at my shower so I am set.

 I am now just confused, I've seen things say that if you choose to only pump your breast, the baby doesn't get the same nutrition. I'm really uncomfortable with doing the skin to skin way (not sure why) but I know your nerves will ruin your milk production so I don't want to put myself in a position where I dry up. 

Can someone with experience please give me some quick advice if you chose to not do the skin to skin method also? Or should I just make it easier and use formula? 

 

Thank you! 

mesmom2011

Not that there is anything wrong with EPing, but maybe you should see how you feel once your LO gets here.  Even if you could give breastfeeding a chance to get your supply built up (baby is much better at getting milk out than the pump), you could always go to EPing if it wasn't something you enjoyed.  For me, nursing is so easy (no bottles to wash, warm up. . . not being tied to the pump).  At night, when my LO wants to nurse, her food is ready immediately.  Maybe you'll find that you enjoy the bonding time with your LO and maybe you won't, but perhaps you could give it a good try and see how it goes.  I don't enjoy pumping, and I think it would be hard to get your supply built up in the beginning using the pump.  Good for you for wanting to give your baby breastmilk!  I hope you are able to find a solution that works for you and for your baby. 

lbolin

I found the class I went to to be not very helpful. Hopefully your hospital has good LCs, they are what made the difference for me. I originally had no desire to breastfeed or do skin to skin, just didn't feel comfortable but after research I decided that I owed it to LO to try. I only lasted about 2 weeks BF because or poor latch but I do pump and have found I really enjoy skin to skin. Every morning after my shower I cuddle up with DS before I pump. I find I get a lot more pumping after skin to skin than when I have to skip it.

SnoopyLuv

Most (like 99% of women) only EP when they cannot breastfeed. Usually after a NICU stay. It is NOT easy. Some women can do it for extended periods, many can't. 

Here's a good website:

https://www.mother-2-mother.com/ExclusivePumping.htm

You will have to pump, feed baby, wash pump parts, pump, feed baby, wash pump parts. ALL day long. Feeding at the breast is so much easier and you'll actually get to sleep.

Many women have trouble keeping their supplies up past the 3 or 6 month growth spurt.

I bet when your baby gets here you will be just fine with them latching on. It is definitely easiest.

flamencogal

EPing sounds easy in some ways but believe me it is VERY difficult.  I EPed for DS1 for a year and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  If you EP you will literally be doing feeding related things all.the.time.  You will bottle feed, pump, wash bottles, wash pump parts and repeat.  To build your initial supply with only EPing you will need to pump 10-12 times per day in addition to feeding your baby that often.  In between you will have to wash all the bottles and parts.  This results in even less sleep than most people get with newborns (which is very little!).

So yes, you can EP but I don't think most people would willingly choose this option--it's a last resort for most. 

changingnames

I think ts is world health org-feel free to correct my source that published the preference for feedings 1.Mother's milk from breast 2. Mother's milk from a bottle 3. Another mother's milk from a bottle (milk bank) 4. Formula So if you really can't do skin to skin then eping is still a highly editable way to feed dc, much mo desirable than formula. Skin to skin just means you take your shirt off and lay your baby's bare skin against your bare skin and enjoy the smell and warmth of your baby. If you feel uncomfortable with this then I think you would benefit from discussing our feelings with a professional therapist or ibclc. I say this because this is one of the most tender joys of motherhood and I would hate to think anything would stand in the way of your enjoying it. Skin to skin does not have to be mouth to nipple to help milk production just tummy to tummy. BUT it would be great if you give bf a try bc you may feel differently when you have your babe in arms, there is nothing sexual about bfing, and at least for me it does not feel weird or gross, it feels like I am giving my baby exactly what he needs and wants in the most natural way possible. If it doesn't work for you that is ok and you can find oth ways to give lo what he wants or needs but you might as well start with the easiest option, no need to reinvent the wheel or fix it when it isn't broken eping is a ton of extra work, it does carry incredible health benefits over formula for both you and baby so I do recommend ep if you want to give breastmilk and do not want to bf. Can you go to a la leche meeting? Free and always open. If you email them right now you can even correspond by email with one of their leaders. Sorry for my iPad formatting

darmca

ChrissMariee:

I am 35 weeks pregnant, I tried signing up for breastfeeding classes but the affordable ones are full and the over priced ones are way too expensive. I've been looking online for helpful tips but it seems everyone has their own views & I'm still very undecided if I'll be able to even do this.

 I made the decision early I wanted to breastfeed due to better health for the baby, got the pump & all supplies at my shower so I am set.

 I am now just confused, I've seen things say that if you choose to only pump your breast, the baby doesn't get the same nutrition. I'm really uncomfortable with doing the skin to skin way (not sure why) but I know your nerves will ruin your milk production so I don't want to put myself in a position where I dry up. 

Can someone with experience please give me some quick advice if you chose to not do the skin to skin method also? Or should I just make it easier and use formula? 

 

Thank you! 

Just to echo what some of the other women here have said. I have the Medela Swing single electric pump which was not cheap ($230 here in Canada but the PISA is $380!). I EBF and pump to build a freezer stash. I fed LO until 9:00 last night and woke up at 7:00 this morning and pumped for 30 minutes before he woke up. I got 3oz which is really good for me and unusual (I usually get about 2oz). During the day if I pump (like 2 hours after LO goes to bed) I get 1oz in 20 minutes. So basically, if I get lucky, I can get 1, 4oz bottle for my son in an hour of pumping. I've had him weighed after feeding and he gets about 4oz in a feed and that takes him 20 minutes.

Basically, pumping takes most people (and I say most, as some EPers on here are really good at it) longer than BFing which is awful those first couple weeks when you're getting no sleep already.  People who EP are more likely to stop BFing because of the time/effort involved. That said, if you are so uncomfortable that you can't BF (I'd recommend trying at least) then EP for as long as you can- each day they get BM is a good day. My SIL EPed for about 3 weeks. I've been BFing for 2.5 months and still am going strong. I LOVE being able to go out and not have to pack formula, bottles, find a way to warm them etc. . . everything I need is ready to go.

kat81again2

I am putting in another word for considering BFing instead of EPing. But I will give a different perspective. 

I respond very well to my pump (medela freestyle); better than average. It does take me 20 min to empty, or more if it's been a while since I pumped, but it always works, pretty much. If I had had to EP, I would have been able to do it just fine and would probably still be doing it now (DS is 8 mo old).

At the same time, we had an unusually hard time getting BFing working at first. It took about 2 mo. DS was the laziest/sleepiest eater ever. I'd feed him for over an hour, then pump, and then give him the bottle of pumped milk (he did better with the bottle).  It was totally hell and at the time I knew that EPing would have been so much easier and faster. However, I also knew that this would probably pass, and then BFing would be better/easier. 

I was right. After the 2 mo mark, I was SO glad I had stuck with trying to BF instead of EP. I only pump for work now. DS eats super fast. And it's SO much more pleasant to do that with him than to have a pump attached. Not to mention the equipment cleaning, etc (even though we have a dishwasher).

Definitely consider BFing. And stick with it even though it will probably be painful and slow at first. In the long run BFing is more comfortable, fast, and FUN than pumping.