Sudden Change of Mind...

allielee2011 · March 2015

I am 38 weeks now and this whole pregnancy I have planned to breastfeed LO. Long story short- I've come to the realization that I am just uncomfortable at the thought of nursing. I still want my baby to get all of the benefits of breast milk so am I crazy to pump and only bottle feed him? Has anyone else ever only bottle-fed their baby breast milk since day 1? How does that work at the hospital?

adelems · March 2015

People do it all the time. But from someone who has both Breast fed exclusively and then had to pump exclusively I will tell you it's SOOOOO much easier just to Breast feed. It takes twice the work, twice twice the time to pump. And you won't be saving your body any trouble. The pump seemed to do more damage to my nipples than nursing. Nursing is also extremely beneficial to your baby, emotionally and physically.

That being said, you make the best decision for you guys.

but I really recommend you at least give breast feeding a try. Its a little difficult at first but so much better.

I personally found pumping far more awkward and weird that nursing. Having a machine hooked up to your girls and just sucking away at them... I would rather snuggle up close to baby with a cover over and feel like it was a natural process . But that's just me

good luck

adelems · March 2015

Also, to add to that. When you pump? If you go out to dinner or out with friends or whatever you have to have someone hold your baby and then leave to go pump in the car or something, then come back and feed the baby a bottle. If you nurse you can just do it there with a cover if you're comfortable or you just leave with baby for a bit and come back and everything is all done. No cleaning up, no bottles, no big ol pump to carry around. Again, it's just SOOOO much easier.

But again, you decide what you want. Not judging. I did both. But it you start with a bottle it's SUPER SUPER hard to return to breast. But you can start with breast and go to bottle.

allielee2011 · March 2015

Thanks! I will definitely put that into consideration!

Bostonchelle · March 2015

Is there something in particular that makes you uncomfortable?

allielee2011 · March 2015

Not really anything in particular... My SIL just had her baby and is BFing and it just made me realize that I'm just not comfortable with it. It even makes me uncomfortable talking about it when people ask me if I am planning on breast feeding. Also, I want my husband to be able to feed him and bond with him in that way as well.

myjessesgirl · March 2015

I'll agree with the above: it is apparently much easier to start with breastfeeding and move to the bottle than vice versa. And pumps will never meet the same level as breastfeeding unless you rent one from the hospital. I'm surrounded by breastfeeding moms, but I, too, feel like it might be uncomfortable. If nothing else, you could try it for a few days, then start pumping if you really don't care for it. As long as baby is getting the nutrients, breast or bottle makes very little difference. I plan on pumping when I return to work after eight weeks, and since my husband gets the summers off as a teacher, I look forward to seeing him bond with our little girl when we have to add the bottle to her routine, so that is understandable!

LesliW · March 2015

I have to bottle feed LO breastmilk because she can't breastfeed. It's a pain, and would be so much easier if she'd breastfeed! I do it for breastmilk benefits, and keeping my supply up in hopes she'll take to breast. After I go back to work, if she's still not breastfeeding, I may switch over to formula. It's such a personal decision. Good luck to whatever you choose to do!

klcarr19 · March 2015

I was highly uncomfortable with breastfeeding myself... I had the long talk with friends who breastfeed and just needed some validation. I am happily bottle feeding my LO formula and I am personally am able to enjoy her more because I didn't feel the pressure to pump or breastfeed. If it makes you uncomfortable then you have to decide if it's worth the stress when LO gets here. My hospital was super supportive and my daughter eats like a champ! I go back to work only 6 weeks in and it's next to impossible to find time to pump as a teacher. That and I felt pumping would make me feel like all I am was a machine to feed my baby. However, I have so much respect for women who choose to breastfeed and pump! You are all so brave to take on such a task. It's truly what you are comfortable with and do not feel bad when you make your choice!! Own it and know it's what's best for your family and your baby!!

goosenpumpkin · March 2015

Pumping will make it much harder to produce oxytocin which is the hormone your body needs to produce milk and to let down through your ducts. And it definitely will hurt more in the long run. You obviously have to do what's right for you, but if breast milk is what you're set on giving your LO, I can't help but feel you might be setting yourself up for failure.

elizalegs · March 2015

Do you mind me asking why you feel uncomfortable at the thought of it? If you are intent on providing breastmilk for your baby, I can assure you it will be far less complicated if you skip bottles altogether, at least early on. I really give you kudos for thinking this through now; however, one point that you may not have considered yet is the fact that because your body will provide you with hormonal changes that really make you WANT to breastfeed. In fact I never really felt quite as in love with my kid as when that little baby would latch on and I would get a huge rush of oxytocin (the love hormone) and feel like the best mom in the world! I never experienced that when I tried to pump (which was pretty tricky for us). I would love to hear your thoughts on this and encourage you to keep an open mind...

allielee2011 · March 2015

It may just be that I haven't really been exposed to it very much, so it's just new and scary. None of the women in my family or my friends breast fed their babies. He was diagnosed with a two-vessel cord at 20 weeks and from that day I was determined that I was going to breastfeed. I just never realized how uncomfortable it made me until now. But I also didn't realize it was harder to pump. That's definitely something to think about now!

ju123 · March 2015

Honestly I believe in giving things a try in every spectrum.
In the beginning it was a weird sensation for me and a bit difficult but afterwards I was breastfeeding anywhere I was at: grocery stores, malls, people's houses with their permissin lol and I had in my
Mind (I'm feeding my baby and it's a Nobel thing, if you are bothered by don't look at it lol)

I have nothing against formula, except by the price and the trouble to find something that suits baby's gut with no issues.

Breastfeeding is so convenient too! I used to say I was her walking "mc Donald's"
I breastfed up to almost 2 years but I don't plan doing it this time as it's exhausting!

At the end of the day it's your decision

but it's nice to hear others experiences I find...

KD32412 · March 2015

I had to pump for my first because she was in the NICU for a month. When she finally came home, I started exclusively breastfeeding and life became so much easier. Late night feedings were manageable and I actually got some sleep! Not even gonna try pumping with #2 until a few months, and it'll be just for special occasions when I'm not there to feed her myself. This is what pumping is like: set up pump, pump for 15-20 minutes, put away all milk, clean all the pumping parts, prepare milk, feed baby earlier pumped milk, wash bottles, baby goes to sleep, repeat all steps in 30 minutes. It sucks!!! This is breastfeeding: baby is hungry, take out boob, feed till done, go sleep.

adelems · March 2015

@KD32412 "baby is hungry, take out boob.." Lol. Yup! Pretty much!

nicolerae90 · March 2015

I pump exclusively. It doesnt bother me because it goes quicker than her nursing. When DD was first born, she didnt eat for 14 hours due to swallowing so much amniotic fluid. I had to pump to start a supply. I believe if we had the attachment right away, itd be way easier. Right now if i nurse her, its a two hour process and she doesn't empty my breast the least bit.

elizalegs · March 2015

I think it's so awesome that you are thinking this through and processing it NOW rather than later. I honestly hadn't given any thought to it with my first - I wasn't a "Baby Person" and the only had given it prior to that was faint memories of women in churches making a big show of covering themselves with a huge blanket while nursing...

It is a hugely personal decision so if you were kind of on the fence of "formula vs. breast" I probably wouldn't say as much as I am now, but I will tell you that for me, breastfeeding was really the one thing that stood out in that first year (and beyond) as the main thing that helped me feel like I was stepping into motherhood, helped me gain confidence, and I KNEW I was doing something good for my LO every single time.

The difficulty is this: even though it's "natural", it doesn't necessarily come naturally. It's basically a new body function that you have to learn how to utilize - plus a bit of an art. So if you don't have really good support in the form of friends/family etc, it can go from "totally natural and awesome" to maybe a little discouraging in the early days. My concern is that if you go into it feeling like you won't like it, it's going to add to the awkward feeling (because it definitely can feel awkward, like any new body sensation) which interestingly can make it more difficult to produce milk ESPECIALLY through a pump. I would encourage you to seek out your local La Leche League leader (they are seriously serious about breastfeeding, just a heads-up) and posit some of your questions there...

akj166 · March 2015

I am uncomfortable with breast feeding as well. My mother breastfed my brother till he was 4. I have been exclusively pumping for the last 4 days since our daughter was born and though time consuming, I'm getting an avg. of 200ml per session. I'm keeping up and freezing on day 4 and couldn't be happier. Invest in some nipple cream and do what's best for you and LO:) good luck!!!

adelems · March 2015

@elizalegs very well put!

22roses · March 2015

I'm in the same boat, I want to Pump only. Im thinking the first 2 weeks will be the hardest, after that hopefully we will get a stockpile going

allielee2011 · March 2015

Thank y'all so much for the input! It makes me feel a lot better hearing others stories. C-section is scheduled for Monday and I will give nursing a shot while in recovery. If it's for me-great. If not- I'll have my pump ready to go in a bag.

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