Is there harm in not pumping?

mel_emeraldeyes

 Hi,

I started pumping in the beginning and would spend about a 1/2 hour to 40 minutes to either get 2oz or 4oz. I was only pumping once a day but was having problems with clogged ducts and was advised to wait until after 6 weeks. Then I got thrush and had to throw out like 16oz of breast milk as I didn't know when I got it exactly. So, now I feel like what is the point of pumping. Is there really harm in giving formula once in awhile (like maybe once a week)? Has anyone else said screw it with pumping and just gave formula whenever they needed to be away from baby? I'm off work so this isn't very often.

danieliza1127

There's no harm in it at all. Some people choose to never give formula, but it's just a personal choice.  There's nothing wrong with formula.  The only issue you might have is that if it happens often, you may affect your supply because you would be skipping a feeding and not pumping to make up for it (and to relieve the engorgement you'll feel from missing a feeding).

brandyleighxx

I was EPing for a while, every 2-4 hours. It's too much. Too much. God bless mothers who find the time and patience to do it. I now pump 2-3 times a day. It has really decreased my supply but he still get some breast milk. I feed formula 95% of the time.

pinkhappyheart

With my first I only pumped and it was a major ordeal for 6 months.  With my second I don't pump, just have my mom give him formula and we are all much happier.  I don't leave him alone often or for very long so it hasn't done anything to diminish my supply, but once he starts solid foods I will start pumping so my milk supply stays strong.

MaggieF516

I know when I have missed a pumping session and also not BF, I've gotten clogged ducts which make me miserable.  I don't see a harm in giving formula (I do on occasion when we are out and about as the ready to serve formula is easier than hauling BM on icepacks that needs to be heated up), but I would think missing sessions consistently would hurt your supply.

ThePinkSuperhero

I've never pumped.  I would give formula occasionally during my maternity leave (one bottle every few days), and it never seemed to mess with my supply.  YMMV!

TMNTgirl

I don't see the harm in it if you don't get too engorged if you miss a feeding.

I only pump 2 times in the 8 hours I'm gone for work 3 days a week and on the other days that I am home with him my supply doesn't seem to suffer.

He usually gets half BM and half formula bottles when I am away. It's nice not to stress about how much I pump since he does well with either BM or formula.

laurenhankey

I EBF for 1 month and then EP until she was 4 months old and YES, it is a super pain! I pumped day and night every 3 hrs religiously!  It was hard.  And I was working, too.  There is nothing wrong w/ giving LO formula at all.  I started supplementing w/ formula about a month into it and by doing this I was also able to freeze quite a bit (about 2 months worth) of breastmilk so keep her going until 6 months.  I do about 1/2 formula and 1/2 breastmilk throughout the day.  Breastmilk in morning, formula at night.  I only got mastitis once and it was horrible so having all those other issues does not sound fun at all!!  Good luck!