Breastfeeding and pumping?

Joseegreen · January 2014

Hi there,

FTM here - i was just wondering if anyone with other babies tried to breastfeed and pump or breastfeed and formula feed? How was your it for you?

My husband really wants to help with the feedings and I was thinking of trying to give one bottle per day. That way, he could help and the baby could get used to bottle for future.

Thanks!!

PS - if there is already a thread about this, feel free to point it to me, I could not find it

lclark79 · January 2014

I breastfed and pumped since I was working at the time. It was fine. You just pump at your normal feeding times. We started early with a bottle of expressed milk because I had to back to work shortly after DD was born.

BrunoBabies · January 2014

I breastfed and formula fed since day one. My little guy had jaundice and the formula helps clear the liver out quicker. He never got nipple confusion and I still pumped and bf as long as I wanted, with the added bonus of getting breaks for DH to help.

purtz · January 2014

I breastfed and pumped with DD; I had to at the beginning because my milk supply was low and I was trying to stimulate more. I usually only got a small amount of milk that DH could bottle feed DD. From day 3 she accepted a bottle from him once a day and breastfed for other feedings. It was wonderful because he would get up early in the morning with her for the 6am feeding and let me sleep! She never had any nipple confusion. Around 8 weeks we changed to one bottle of formula a day; that was also helpful because after I went back to work around 12 weeks my milk supply dried up. We are planning to same routine with #2. Good luck!

Cherylwang · January 2014

I breastfed both of my kids. I am a sahm so I would only pump the occasional bottle when baby was sleeping and skipping a feeding. I would give a bottle of formula or pumped milk when company was over or if I decided to have a drink. Or if I was not at home my H would give a bottle. I never had a problem w nipple confusion with either of my kids. The nurse suggested exclusively bf for 2 weeks before introducing the bottle I think that's what I did with my second

pfefferlel · January 2014

For anybody nursing, make sure you call your insurance company once you deliver (or before, like I did, to see what options I had). Under the affordable care act, insurance companies now fully cover the cost of a breast pump for mothers. This will save a few hundred dollars in expenses!

almendarez · January 2014

I'll be a FTM so I don't have any experience, but I read that you should introduce the bottle around one month old because any earlier and the baby might be still figuring out the breast and any later and they could be set in their nursing ways. The book also says to limit it to one bottle a day otherwise baby might reject the breast. Obviously this is different for everyone and once we go back to work we can't limit it to one bottle a day.. just thought I would share what I read!

susie3454 · January 2014

I exclusively pumped for 8 months with my daughter after she wouldn't latch. I tried hard for 2 months to breastfeed but she preferred the bottle. With my son I exclusively breastfed for 12 months after he refused a bottle. I tried everything and every bottle to get him to bottle feed. When he started STTN I tried to pump but my boobs were so used to my son nursing that almost nothing would come out. This time I plan on giving way more bottles in the beginning as well as nursing.

nunzchucks · January 2014

I started pumping about 2-3 weeks after DD was born. Once she was latching well, we decided to introduce the bottle so DH could feed her, too. You just want to make sure that when LO is getting a bottle feeding, you are pumping at that time to keep your supply up.

Unknown · January 2014

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mattanda2011 · January 2014

I would suggest haut breastfeeding for 2 weeks, sometimes for FTM it can take that long for your milk to come in completely (like to the point of it spraying across the room, or spraying when you pump). But even in those 2 weeks there is a lot that DH can do to help with feedings that allows for bonding.
My DH would always get DD up, change her diaper and then would help me keep her awake during the feedings. If she was falling asleep he would change her diaper inbetween sides (I don't know if this is just my daughter, but she would always poop inbetween sides!) or just change a shirt or something to help keep her awake enough to feed on the other side.
Then when we were done feeding he would swaddle her back up and put her back in bed. It really allowed me to get more rest, and it felt like we were doing feedings 50/50 even though I was the only one with the milk.
My DH also became te master of cleaning the pumping supplies and keeping it all organized. I was so thankful to have him doing that because I literally didn't have the brain power for it, and I know it helped him feel involved. Which in turn also really helped me keep BF and pumping longer with his help and support

ncbelle · January 2014

If you want to breastfed, ideally you won't introduce any artificial nipple (including pacifiers) until breastfeeding is well established (4-5 weeks). While many babies won't have issues with "nipple confusion" it is a very real thing - babies suck differently on bottles and pacis than they do at the breast so having artificial nipples can inhibit their ability to learn a correct latch and suck at the breast which in turn will inhibit your milk supply.

Also consider that in the early weeks, breastfeeding takes a lot of time and energy. You don't want to add pumping on top of that. Give yourself a few weeks. Daddy can have plenty of time to bottle feed down the road if you want. And there are lots of ways to bond that don't include feeding (as I can tell you from personal experience as my DH is very involved with our children and our second never took a bottle).

If you choose to supplement, be aware that you are going to hurt your milk supply. The more you supplement, the greater the risk.

Also, you can't just sleep through feedings in the early days - would be nice but if you aren't either nursing or pumping when baby eats, you risk damaging your milk supply.

I don't mean to be a downer but many women struggle with breastfeeding because they don't receive sound advice about how to be successful. Skipping feedings and supplementing right away really is a bad idea if you want breastfeeding to go well - it might not back fire but there's no way to know that until it's too late.

I would strongly urge you to do some reading - kellymom.com is an excellent free resource!

PinkKEL9 · January 2014

I am a FTM but will be breastfeeding and also pumping. I want my husband to be able to be involved with feeding so I plan to pump a few times a day so he can help out in the evenings and night when he is home. Plus i want to build up a supply just in case something happened.

Ladybird2014 · January 2014

I EBF both of my daughters. With DD #1 I was a SAHM. She refused a bottle from anyone. She went from breast to sippy cup. She sucked her thumb and refused any artificial nipple.

With DD#2 I worked outside of the home. I EBF her and made sure I had a pacifier at the hospital. When it was time for an artificial nipple she was about 8 weeks old and took it like a champ.

With DS he will be EBF as well. He will use the pacifier and I will have a paci leaving the hospital. All babies are different you have to spend the first few weeks getting to know their preferences.

allrightmeow · January 2014

I started off pumping cause DD had to spend 9 days in NICU. The nurses there helped me get her latched on at about day 3. When she got home, I mostly BF but I did pump in between because hubby wanted to be active and allow me to get rest.

She did have formula in the NICU because I got discharged but after that she didn't have any at all.

I know it may feel like alot but, once you get a routine going it will be a piece of cake. Do what works for you. Don't let outside voices frustrate you. I got told to, "Give her a bottle of formula she is starving" on more than one occasion. I turned out to be a milk machine!

butterflymom2010 · January 2014

My dd refused a bottle (we tried a dozen + different bottles and nipples), so I exclusively breastfed (and pumped intermittently) until I went back to work at 6 months. At that time I pumped at work and the babysitter had to give my daughter her milk with a straw cup and/or a sippy cup. Not gonna lie, it sucked! This time I plan to exclusively pump for as long as the Lyme Dr. lets me stay off my meds. Anything is better than nothing!

Pepper6 · January 2014

For those who went back to work, how difficult was it to pump at work? I'm taking 12 weeks maternity leave during which I'd ideally ebf, but I'm concerned about how pumping will factor in after I go back.

Unknown · January 2014

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SaraT717 · January 2014

With DD she had jaundice so I rented a pump from the hospital from day one. I would feed her from the breast and then after she was done would give her to DH to burp while I pumped right after. To get the last bit out And store that part in the fridge till the next feeding and give her pumped first from a tube then feed from the breast and we did this every hour the first couple days till the jaundice came down. When she didn't have the jaundice anymore I would feed her from the breast but pump occasionally because I had so much milk and it would become painful to not let it out. This helped me build a BIG supply.
I will say when I was pregnant with DD I was grossed out at the thought of breast feeding and was not going to give it a try, maybe because I was young and didn't know much about it. But I ended up giving it a go and it was hard work sometimes I thought it was harder then the labor maybe cause I was sleep deprived and stressed at all the new things happening but it gets easier every week. I ended up EBF for almost a year and I can say I'm so happy I did it gave DD and I a different kinda of bond and at almost 2 she still has never been sick. FX!
Sorry for the long post!

hlp2709 · January 2014

I breastfeed when I was home during the night or the day. I would then pump and either send in the milk to day care for the time she was there then have some extra on hand just in case I had to work late and DH was home with the baby he could feed her. I was only able to breastfeed for about 6 weeks then had to stop. Hoping with this baby that I can go longer.

cristykaye · January 2014

This is actually very helpful. I don't really understand BF but I want to try!

chloephoebecali · January 2014

I waited a few weeks to start pumping. When I did pump, it would be right after she nursed so that I knew my body had enough time to produce for the next feeding. I was afraid I'd not have enough for her if I pumped too long after her session and too close to her next feed. This way I knew she was always getting enough (especially when I just started and she was nursing often). Once she was a few months, it was easier to predict her needs and I could pump as needed/casually.

MrsRahl · January 2014

pfefferlel said:
For anybody nursing, make sure you call your insurance company once you deliver (or before, like I did, to see what options I had). Under the affordable care act, insurance companies now fully cover the cost of a breast pump for mothers. This will save a few hundred dollars in expenses!

How did you get it paid for? Specifically how do you purchase it through Insurance?

MrsRahl · January 2014

Can anyone add any suggestions to breast feeding classes or books to help prepare? I know hardly anyone who breast feeds because they gave up so soon and I want to avoid this at all costs!

cristykaye · January 2014

MrsRahl said:
Can anyone add any suggestions to breast feeding classes or books to help prepare? I know hardly anyone who breast feeds because they gave up so soon and I want to avoid this at all costs!

Yes this. And anytime I try to bring things up with DF he goes all doctor on me and tells me things that really aren't relevant to me!

almendarez · January 2014

MrsRahl said:

pfefferlel said:
For anybody nursing, make sure you call your insurance company once you deliver (or before, like I did, to see what options I had). Under the affordable care act, insurance companies now fully cover the cost of a breast pump for mothers. This will save a few hundred dollars in expenses!
How did you get it paid for? Specifically how do you purchase it through Insurance?

My sister said the nurses gave her a new medela pump after she delivered (about 3 weeks ago) so talk to your doctor or the hospital where you plan to deliver. Or call your insurance company.

skyview222 · January 2014

I'll be a FTM. I plan to breastfeed and pump. We'll see if I can work up a big enough supply to cover feeding baby at daycare. If I have to supplement with formula, so be it.

MrsCase1 · January 2014

Make sure you surround yourself with people who will support you, not offer formula at the first sign of distress!! My FB and I took a class together at the hospital and we learned SO much!

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