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Pumping only?
Ok Ladies. So this is my first pregnancy and feel clueless about breast feeding. I plan on pumping and storing and supplementing with formula whenever needed. I like the idea of my husband being able to feed the baby at night or if I run an errand, not having to worry about "being there" every single second. I'm also not able to take a ton of time off work (8 weeks) and lots of moms have said that their little ones have a hard time switching from breast to bottle. Has anyone tried this or am I being unrealistic? I've read tons, but still feel clueless! HELP!
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Re: Pumping only?
I EBF for a year and while I don't think it is impossible to pump only, I think you will find that it is much easier to just offer the baby the boob instead of pumping, washing all the parts, the bottles and then feeding the bottle on top of that THEN repeating every 3 hours.
I pumped when I needed to and when I wanted a break and so my DH was able to feed a bottle. I think that most people will tell you to try and introduce the bottle as soon as you feel like your LO has a good latch. There are so many great bottles out there that mimmick the nipple that it more than likely won't be an issue. My DD had no issues going from breast to bottle.
I had a cousin that was dead set on only pumping b/c she didn't like the idea of nursing her twins. She very quickly realized it was much harder to pump and then feed and opted to go ahead and let them nurse.
I exclusvely pumped with both of my kids and didn't think it was too terribly difficult. I much preferred it to nursing.
KKMex also did it and went longer than me and would probably have lots of insight for you. Also, check out the breastfeeding board, there are numerous EPers on there as well.
I EPd for a year and next time we have a baby, I'm going to try my hardest to BF only!
You have to have a VERY strong will to EP for an extended amount of time. It can be hard and trying and some days you just hate the pump and you want to throw in the towel. If you aren't strong willed about it, then you will throw in the towel pretty quickly.
In the beginning you are either hooked to a pump or feeding a baby and pretty much have time for nothing else. You have to get up and pump in the middle of the night or your supply will drop, the list goes on! lol
Basically, it's not a decision to go into lightly.
dd never latched, so pumping was my only option. i had a low supply and never really had enough to freeze, but if you can definitely freeze and keep a stash.
i completely agree that you need to have some available for your dh to feed as well. mine loved feeding dd and it gave me the chance to rest as well.
I've BF and pumped for the past 10 months. I'm just now weaning to formula because of our vacation coming up. Pumping all the time is a pain, but I thought it was worth it to give her BM. She would BF at home if I was there, but we introduced the bottle VERY early (like 2-3 weeks old) so her Dad could feed her. However, if he fed her a bottle, I was pumping, so it didn't let me off the hook time-wise.
The key if you are going to EP is to have a GOOD PUMP. It's worth every penny. I'm so very proud that I made it this long with BFing and EPing. She didn't reject BFing a night until 9 months, but I still kept pumping along.
Just try your best--if it doens't work, don't beat yourself up. However, if it is a priority to you, don't give up too soon, just try to get over the hump of the demands of a newborn. The first 4-6 weeks are the hardest.
Good Luck!
Well, let me start by saying there is nothing wrong with EP. BUT if the only reasons you want to is so your DH can feed and so that you don't have to be there every minute, I think you should really try BFing.
I EBF both my boys and my older one had no problem with going from breast to bottle. My younger one started rejecting the bottle when he was like 5 months old but took it up until then.
My husband has always been a very involved feeder and I have had plenty of free time. Heck, I went out of town for 4 days when DS#2 was only a couple months old. I think that your concerns are 2 of the biggest myths about breastfeeding going.
The fact is if you start BFing at birth and also start pumping right away you will likely have a better supply and more milk long term. You will also get the benefits for yourself of BFing (like your uterus shrinking back up more quickly and the extra calorie burn). On the weekends, you'll probably be surprised that you'll be more inclined to nurse since it doesn't involve anything but pulling up your shirt. Use it as a time to lay your head back and decompress.
Again, whatever you decide to do is fine but I think based on your reasoning that you should really try to BF.
I EBFed, but DH always did one bottle a day from week one. I pumped after my longest stretch of sleep, so there was milk for him to give F. It worked great. BFing is much easier than pumping, IMHO
So Tasty, So Yummy
j+k+m+e | running with needles
Have you considered that it is not an all-or-nothing situation?
It is not unrealistic to pump and feed. However, having done both, I found it easier to feed and pump as needed.
I work and started back a few months after each birth. Here's my two data points:
Lucas breastfed fairly easily (normal issues in the beginning). I worked 33 miles from home and pumped at work. He nursed evenings and once in the morning when I was working. He nursed all weekend. We only stopped due to ear infections at around his 8 mos. mark that caused him too much pain while laying on his side to nurse.
Plus side to mainly breastfeeding: Less mess. No washing up when he fed from me. Easier at night to just feed him or give a formula bottle if I was just dead tired. It was rewarding and easier.
**I only really understand this because the second time was different.**
Sean, our second son ran into some issues. We were separated by the NICU twice for extended periods in his first three weeks of his life. Nursing became further complicated by the on-again, off-again mastitis I suffered for the first four months. We just couldn't get it together, so I pumped almost exclusively for six mos. with him. **Now, at 8 mos, he is finally nursing like a normal baby -- it is soooo much easier. Right temperature, right amount, I'm not a slave to the pump.
Negatives of pumping all the time: Ten pieces of plastic to wash each time I pumped + fed a bottle. Multiply that by the number of feedings and you get the picture. Heating bottles at night. Pumping while baby cries because he wants to eat is a difficult reality. It would have been easier if he would have latched and had taken enough to get rid of the over supply.
My life was pump, feed, wash, pump, feed, wash, pump, feed wash...
That said, I am happy to have pumped for Sean all those months; I would not have stopped pumping even if I'd known how long and often I'd have to do it. He has benefited all the same.
Pumping is good - being able to feed on demand is easier for me.
I did it. It wasn't easy. It made it very hard to get out of the house and be social when I had to be home to pump every 3 hours. I never reached Dairy Queen status so I couldn't just pump a couple times a day and have enough for her.
If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't have taken the EP route.
Good point. Way easier to NIP than pump in public. I am just imagining myself trying to pump at the Galleria. LOL!
I have to imagine that it takes a very strong person to EP. With both girls I had to go back to work after 6 weeks and I pumped there and then nursed at home for a year with each. I truly hated pumping but I was determined not to give the girls formula so I made it work. Even when that meant being attached to that freaking pump every chance I got so I could go out of town without the baby for a weekend.
Disclaimer - I do not think there is anything wrong with giving your baby formula. It was a personal goal of mine.
Crazy Christmas Kids!