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Breastfeeding
OctGirl80
member
Nursing, Pumping or both WWYD?
OctGirl80
member
DH & I are agreed that we want our LO to have breastmilk for at least the first 6 months. However, I am up in the air on method. (We're assuming everything goes well and I can supply. If that's not the case, we'll adjust.) I keep thinking that nursing would be easier/simpler (not bottles to deal with, no pump cleaning, food on demand where ever we are), but then I would like DH to be able to fee his little girl as well as leave her with someone when we want to go out. I also plan to return to work (somewhere between 3-6 months ideally) so I would have to get her used to bottles eventually anyway. Should I get her get used to bottles right from the beginning? Should I bother nursing if I'm going to be pumping half/most of the time? Any thoughts, suggestions & info are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Re: Nursing, Pumping or both WWYD?
Nurse and add pumping as you need to. Nursing is 100xs easier, especially in the beginning when you need to nurse a lot. It's also a much better way to bring in your supply.
Your DH will still have plenty of ways to bond with baby ;-)
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
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Personally, I would do both. At first we had latch issues so I had to pump, but by about 2 weeks we were bf. At about 2 months I started pumping after his morning feeding to work on my supply and in the evenings DH gave him a bottle while I pumped. That way we got him used to a bottle, and DH got to feed him. Looking back I wish I had started pumping earlier to have a really really good freezer stash. My supply tanked at about six months and has been quickly dwindling and so did my freezer stash.
Try not to stress out too much, it will work out. And if it is not how you thought, that's okay too. I remember many nights crying because LO would not latch and would just cry (and I cried with him). But he's doing good. I have a ton of sadness/guilt for not being able to give him exclusive bm the entire first year, but that is how things go. And I am just grateful for a happy healthy little man!
I BF exclusively for the first 4 weeks, then added pumping to get her used to the bottle and so DH can feed her. I think since breast milk contains living organisms and is perfect when fed from the breast, why mess with that by putting it in a bottle when you don't have to.
THat being said, I am not strict about it. I think DD eats more from a bottle because of wardrobe restrictions than anything else.
So that DH has a special bond with DD, he does her bedtime ritual. It is their little special alone time.
Trust me when I tell you that once the baby is here, the best laid plans mean very little. You will do what is best for your family whatever that may be.
This !