BFing Question

Re: BFing Question

• [Deleted User] member

  June 2013

  Maybe just wait and play it by ear. If bfing works out I'd say you wouldn't need more than 3 bottles? The storage bags might not even be necessary if you're only going to do it occasionally. But I'm a FTM here, so I don't know.

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• PrimRoseMama member

  June 2013

  It depends on if you want to build a decent stash of breast milk for when you are out. Usually pumping after a nursing session is encouraged to 1.) help with your supply and 2.) build a good stash to stick in the freezer. 

  If you build a good stash you could be gone a whole afternoon in the beginning, but you would still want to pump whereever you are to keep your supply up. Like, excuse yourself to pump somewhere because the less you nurse (even an afternoon can be hard to recoup) your body will respond to that and produce less for baby. So its a catch 22. Hence the commitment of BF.

  So I'd look at 2 hour feeding time windows. So if you wake at 6am, then 8am, 10am etc. I'd get 4-6 bottles. The inserts come in packs. So if you pump to fill them just keep going until you get enough. You don't know how many ounces your baby will consume in the beginning etc. So, you will have to wing it on how many inserts you end up getting.
  
  It really is a wait n' see game with BF, at least in my experience. You have to see what your supply does, how much and how often baby eats. Do your best to plan, but don't go crazy.

  Also, baby may refuse the bottle while you are out. It happens. Try not to feel bad if baby won't take one and wants the breast.  

  
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• KERJF member

  June 2013

  In the 15 months I BF, I think DD1 had a bottle of BM maybe 10 times? We could have EASILY gotten away with 4 bottles (2 medela that came with my pump, and 2 born free that we bought). I just bought the freezer storage bags as needed.
  

  
  

  

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• jeska511 member

  June 2013

  PrimRoseMama:

  It depends on if you want to build a decent stash of breast milk for when you are out. Usually pumping after a nursing session is encouraged to 1. help with your supply and 2. build a good stash to stick in the freezer.nbsp;If you build a good stash you could be gone a whole afternoon in the beginning, but you would still want to pump whereever you are to keep your supply up. Like, excuse yourself to pump somewhere because the less you nurse even an afternoon can be hard to recoup your body will respond to that and produce less for baby. So its a catch 22. Hence the commitment of BF. So I'd look at 2 hour feeding time windows. So if you wake at 6am, then 8am, 10am etc. I'd get 46 bottles. The inserts come in packs. So if you pump to fill them just keep going until you get enough. You don't know how many ounces your baby will consume in the beginning etc. So, you will have to wing it on how many inserts you end up getting. It really is a wait n' see game with BF, at least in my experience. You have to see what your supply does, how much and how often baby eats. Do your best to plan, but don't go crazy. Also, baby may refuse the bottle while you are out. It happens. Try not to feel bad if baby won't take one and wants the breast. nbsp;

  
  
  
  This. Depends on if you want a stash or just want to pump when plans come up. And shes right about baby refusing possibly. I strictly bf my son till 20 mths and he would never take a bottle. But i hope to pump with this baby. Goodluck!!

  
  
  
  
  
  

  

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• cwhitloc member

  June 2013

  Rule of thumb is not to give a bottle until 4 weeks to make sure BF is well established.  Also, you have to give a bottle by 6 weeks to avoid the problems with refusing bottles.  Very tricky window.  Some babies don't have any problems going from bottle to breast.  Mine was taking a bottle from the beginning.   You might run into problems with bottle feeding if you don't do it regularly.  So, if you don't bottle feed for a month or so, the baby might not take to it as well.  I plan to bottle feed every other day once my husband goes back to work after paternity leave.  I bought only two bottles for this purpose.  I think that's more than enough.  Plus, babies are picky about the bottles they like, so it's best not to get too much of one brand.  Take it as you go.  The pumps usually come with storage bottles, so if you plan on building a stash, buy some storage bags.  Other than that, just use what you get with your pump until you figure things out. 
  

  
  
  
  

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• aehamilton13 member

  June 2013

  Thanks everyone!

  

  

  

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