pump and formula feed?

Re: pump and formula feed?

• ldmw member

  June 2015

  I do! What can I help you with?

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• wintersong member

  June 2015

  The only people I know who do this do so because they are having supply issues or are on medication temporarily but want to maintain their supply. My concern with doing this from day one is that it could compromise your milk supply.
  
  You won't be successful breastfeeding if you feel it is shoved down your throat. Why do you feel this way? Do you feel like you are being forced into something you don't want? Our are you aggravated that you are being nagged?
  
  Are you expecting, or is your lo already here?
  
  Another compromise might be to pick a time frame, say three weeks, and work on nursing until then. Give it a real good faith effort and try to give yourself time to work out the kinks. Commit to not using bottles for those weeks. (even if doc tells you to supplement, use a medicine cup) A key part of this is that hubby has to support you... You should not have to do anything but care for baby, someone else should baby you, feeding you and taking care of the house. At the end, evaluate what you want and what makes sense for your family.
  
  Imho choosing not to breastfeed because it is unfamiliar is not a good enough reason. It sounds a little like fear of the unknown... Doing the thing you know just easier. Some people choose because it works for their families. Some people choose it because breastfeeding is not possible. But I wouldn't choose it out of fear.
  
  Is there a more specific reason why you think formula would be better for your and your family?

  

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• antoats member

  June 2015

  @lbmw how do you know when to stop pumping? And when do you supplement? How much do you supplement?

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• antoats member

  June 2015

  @longliveregina it is being shoved down my throat everyone it comes up my husband automatically says I'm breastfeeding

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• ldmw member

  June 2015

  I pump and supplement due to low supply. I pump every time my baby eats (8-10 times a day). I pump for 20-30 minutes. I know the timing based on my milk supply. I pump until empty and the an additional 5 minutes after I'm empty. It is completely possible to pump and bottle feed without terribly affecting your milk supply. I'm part of an exclusive pumping group on Facebook and receive a lot of support there. I know how much my baby eats (2-2.5 oz). So I give her all the milk I pump (ranges from 1-2oz) in the first bottle. In the second bottle is however much formula needed to get us to a full feeding of 2-2.5oZ total.

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• 3JTMom member

  June 2015

  I am sorry you feel pressured. That is quite often a difficult position to be in. I really like what @longliveregina said. It is important to evaluate why you are reluctant and if you think you want to give it a try, do so wholeheartedly within a time frame. You never know really the benefits of breastfeeding until you try. My two oldest were BF and the third was not, he was tongue-tied. So from experience I can tell you, I prefer breastfeeding, just because it is so much easier. Here is an article that might help. It is your choice mama! Hugs!

  -notautomatic-

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• SBmomma member

  June 2015

  A baby who is fed pumped breastmilk is technically breastfed, just not nursed. I exclusively pumped for a year with my firstborn. Now I have 3 month old twins and I just made the switch to exclusively pumping & no more nursing. It was too difficult & my stress level was through the roof with all their latching issues....plus with twins everything is 10 times harder. Do what YOU want. Don't let anyone pressure you. I'm not a man hater, but your husband shouldn't really have a say with this decision. I would have told my husband to shut it if he tried to tell me what to do with my body.

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• nursej519 member

  June 2015

  I agree, do what you want to do. I wanted to breastfeed, it just didn't work out due to supply and latching issues. Breastfeeding is very stressful (I've heard this even from moms with no issues) and if your heart isn't in it, you won't have success. Maybe sit down and talk with tour husband about your concerns. I agree that setting a timeline will help. I told myself (once I realized all the issues we had) that I wanted my daughter to receive breast milk for three weeks, at least. This way I felt I had an "out". It is most important for the child to get the colostrum so you could even just breastfeed for a few days, which is still great!

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