I'm STILL nursing DD and she'll be 2 tomorrow. Mostly just at night, but also before nap time on the weekends and school breaks (I'm a teacher) she and I both love it. It's our special time together.
I know some people get frustrated with nursing and switch to FF, but I honestly don't understand how that would make it easier. An infant is still an infant and needs to be fed and rocked and held constantly...
I had a really rough start to BF with DD. Due to the hospital making us supplement at the very beginning with had to deal with nipple preference (I won't say confusion, because she definitely knew which one made the milk come right away). I told myself to try for 6 weeks minimum. If it wasn't working, then we'd re-evaluate, or we'd keep going. The first 6 weeks are always the hardest - you have to figure out the latch, the feeding schedule, the sore nipples, the random let downs, and so on. But everything kind of regulates itself by that point, so it's a good benchmark.
I started pumping after feeding DD as after a day or two of the hospital saying she wasn't getting enough milk and giving her formula, I insisted on supplementing with milk. Holy feeling like a cow. Unless you have you, I would stay far away from that thing. It is just not fun. Major major props to those mamas who can do EP for a long time. It really takes a lot of gumption to stay with it that long.
BFP 5.21.12 ~~ Born 1.28.13 BFP 8.14.15 ~~ Due 4.22.16
I did a mix of breastfeeding and pumping until my son was eight months, and then I pumped until he was about a year. Pumping blows and I felt like a cow hooked up to the machine - but it is a good option if you work and can't breastfeed all the time.
I also think that women shouldn't be pressured or feel like they are a bad mom if they're having a hard time or can't breastfeed. It's a personal choice, not a sign of how good of a parent you are or how dedicated you are to your child.
I've done a mix of everything. DS1 was purely FF'd, DS2 was a late term preemie and had feeding issues in general along with latching trouble so I exclusively pumped for 4 months and then switched to formula when returning to work, DS3 was BF'd (no pumping) until close to me going back to work. I hope to be able to breastfeed this one as well (hopefully for much longer), as I thoroughly enjoyed it with DS3, but if for whatever reason it doesn't work out, I am happy with formula as well. I'm totally in the as long as you child is fed, all is good camp :-)
I will say I hated pumping with a passion so anyone who can do that long term is a warrior in my eyes. I made it 4 months and really wanted to have a "smash the pump session" when it was all over. This is also the entire reason that I switched to formula when returning to work with DS3, I just couldn't handle the pumping again. It literally caused some depression type feelings for me (weird hormonal thing I guess).
Me & DH - 2009
Gone but not forgotten: Identical twin boys born at 23 weeks - 2004
I guess I'm in the minority that I actually liked pumping when I went back to work. I had a private office, so I would just shut the door, get my handsfree setup going, and then have all that time to kind of relax and not worry about coworkers bothering me. I'd still check email and get things done, but it felt like a nice break in my day. I had oversupply too, and ended up donating a couple hundred ounces, which I'm proud of.
I would never want to exclusively pump though, unless there was a really good reason. It's one thing to do it at work. But the cleaning, storing, labeling, transporting, etc. was annoying. And while I liked pumping, I loved nursing. Being able to snuggle up with my baby, instantly soothe him when he was upset, enjoy his milk drunk faces and happy grunts, it was magical to me.
I am leaning towards formula from the start. My son had problems latching so I pumped exclusively for about a month before I couldn't do it anymore. He was a big baby and I couldn't keep up. Every time he would cry my boobs would start to hurt and I would be running to the pump. I wasn't enjoying him as a newborn and my husband finally asked me if I wanted to switch to formula because it was stressing me out so badly. Pumping is really hard work. I have a lot of friends who exclusively formula fed from the start and their kids are all healthy and happy. Do what works for you.
We all have our own experience with this, and it varies from child to child. Know that what you plan may not always happen, and that is okay.
My first daughter had horrible reflux and poor weight gain. She was good at latching, but didn't eat enough and threw up most of her food. After trying meeting with a super supportive lactation consultant several time, trying herbal supplements (to which I was allergic) and pumping (stressful, time-consuming and did not boost my supply as promised) we wound up having to supplement with formula. It was the work and mess of both worlds, but we survived. My husband expressed concern about the breast feeding to formula ratio, to which my pediatrician said "if he's so worried about breast milk tell him to start lactating." He also reassured me by saying "at no point in her life will there be a test to see how much breast milk she got." He really calmed me down and put things in perspective.
My second daughter was easier. There were some latching difficulties the first few days because she was slightly jaundiced, but we overcame them and I successfully nursed her for a whole year. I'm a stay at home mom and don't pump, so when I had to miss a feeding as she was older, I would give the babysitter a bottle of formula for her. It worked wonderfully. We'll see what baby three has in store for me.
Once thing I learned from the lactation consultant and just have to pass on to the world is that in the beginning, do no more than 10 minutes of feeding per breast. Anything beyond that is just comfort sucking for the baby and will result in over-use injury for you. I wish I had know that those first few days!
Once thing I learned from the lactation consultant and just have to pass on to the world is that in the beginning, do no more than 10 minutes of feeding per breast. Anything beyond that is just comfort sucking for the baby and will result in over-use injury for you. I wish I had know that those first few days!
I strongly disagree with this... In the beginning, every bit of "comfort sucking" is building your supply, and limiting how long the baby can nurse is the fastest way to develop supply issues and end up needing to supplement. Every baby is different in terms of their nursing efficiency, and newborns can take a long time to get what they need! They do eventually get faster and ~10 min per side was normal after a few months, but definitely not at first.
Me: 35 DH: 35
Married: 5-16-2009
Charlotte Elaine 5-27-2014 Anna Josephine 3-29-2016 Baby #3 EDD 3-3-2018
That will be a yes for me, if I am able to. I am wholeheartedly devoted to doing it not only for savings but for the many benefits it has for baby. However, I see no harm in formula feeding if you are unable or uncomfortable with breastfeeding.
Once thing I learned from the lactation consultant and just have to pass on to the world is that in the beginning, do no more than 10 minutes of feeding per breast. Anything beyond that is just comfort sucking for the baby and will result in over-use injury for you. I wish I had know that those first few days!
I strongly disagree with this... In the beginning, every bit of "comfort sucking" is building your supply, and limiting how long the baby can nurse is the fastest way to develop supply issues and end up needing to supplement. Every baby is different in terms of their nursing efficiency, and newborns can take a long time to get what they need! They do eventually get faster and ~10 min per side was normal after a few months, but definitely not at first.
------- I also disagree. Watch the baby, not the clock.
I am leaning towards formula from the start. My son had problems latching so I pumped exclusively for about a month before I couldn't do it anymore. He was a big baby and I couldn't keep up. Every time he would cry my boobs would start to hurt and I would be running to the pump. I wasn't enjoying him as a newborn and my husband finally asked me if I wanted to switch to formula because it was stressing me out so badly. Pumping is really hard work. I have a lot of friends who exclusively formula fed from the start and their kids are all healthy and happy. Do what works for you.
@sbw193 your body, your baby, no judgment here... but I would recommend giving breastfeeding a chance at least! I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience with your first, but I know a lot of girls who had trouble with their first and had a wonderful nursing experience with their second. It is seriously the best experience ever when it works. It's something I'm so glad I got to do!
Amanda
******************************
Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
I went through breastfeeding HELL for the first four and a half months of my daughter's life. (Open wounds, pumping and bottle feeding, nipple shield, poor milk transfer, baby losing weight, nipple confusion, using a supplemental nursing system, weaning from the shield, tongue and lip tie, laser frenotomy, etc.) Stubborn me wouldn't quit even when I probably should have (I was literally having thoughts like "I'd rather die than give up on breastfeeding," which I knew was bad, but you try reasoning with the hormonal beast). Now we're still nursing at 2.5 (33 months if you're counting that way). I have learned so much. I'm sure nursing this baby will come with it's own set of challenges, but I feel so much more prepared to find help and figure it all out.
If you're thinking about breastfeeding, check out your local Le Leche League and search for local breastfeeding groups on Facebook. Both have been fantastic for me.
I breastfed and pumped for 13 months. I will try for that again with this one. I will ditto the others in saying that pumping sucks and that it's a lot of work. Moms that EP and stick to it because that's their only option for breast milk are beyond amazing.
I work for a company with over 50 fulltime employees, but they never designated a lactation room. Well, they gave me the option of using a partially unoccupied office with glass windows. So I ended up sitting on the bathroom floor against the door (because it didn't lock) to pump. I did this 4 times a day for months and then eventually cut to 2 times a day when DS was older. IT SUCKED. I did it because it was worth it to give DS all the breast milk I could.
I really want to breastfeed, but I have severe psoriasis and don't know how long I'll be able to take it. Presently, both nipples are big red spots that itch and burn if my clothes rub against them.
Our next best choice will be to try pumping and some formula. Hoping a pump will be a little easier on my skin so I can at least do some breast milk for the first few months...
I wish I hadn't been team pump with my first. I had read up on it and wanted my husband to be able to feed the baby sometimes as a bonding experience and to give me a little flexibility too (running errands, etc). I read up and decided to try when he was about eight weeks old.
It's not just sitting down while baby naps to pump... There is the cleaning, sterilizing, storing of milk too. In the end I gave up pumping after he refused the bottle for three weeks anyway. I was sick of seeing my hard work go down the drain.
DD stopped BFing at exactly 18 months old. I loved it and will BF this one too, I hated pumping and only did it about 10 times with DD but I also didn't work until she was 12 months old and even then I only went back part time, she was down to about 3-4 feedings then anyways and could do fine in the morning going without it.
We will try breast feeding again, but my milk never came in so it did not end up working out for me and we had to formula feed. Not sure if that will happen with this baby or not. We breast feed at the hospital after my c section (44 hrs of labor with no progression) and unfortunately because my supply did not come in and the baby was losing weight, they started supplementing formula. I continued to breast feed and rented a hospital pump for the next couple of weeks, but to no avail. We sought help from several lactation experts and tried mother's milk and a bunch of other things to try and bring my milk supply in, but at the end of the day it just did not work out. It was very upsetting for me, because I really wanted to breast feed, but I would rather have a happy and healthy baby and enjoy bonding in whatever way I could, which was still special. It was also great for my husband who was able to bond with our daughter as well. I think you have to do whatever works for you and your family to raise a healthy and happy baby, which ever way that works out for you (Breastfeeding, Exclusively Pumping or Formula). Good luck!
This is my first pregnancy and I am 100% committed to breastfeeding, both for the benefits and also the cost savings. My biggest concern is going back to work. I can't afford to be on maternity for very long, so I'm going back as soon as my 6-week paid leave is up. I'm stressed and nervous about how difficult pumping will be. I've been trying to do research but I'm so confused on how exactly to stock up on breast milk for the baby when I'm back at work while still breastfeeding at home and pumping at work. It all just honestly makes my head spin and makes me wonder if it's worth the extra stress if I continue after going back to work. At the very least, I want to breastfeed for those first 6 weeks while I'm home, but I'm just so intimidated by the rest of itm
This is my first pregnancy and I am 100% committed to breastfeeding, both for the benefits and also the cost savings. My biggest concern is going back to work. I can't afford to be on maternity for very long, so I'm going back as soon as my 6-week paid leave is up. I'm stressed and nervous about how difficult pumping will be. I've been trying to do research but I'm so confused on how exactly to stock up on breast milk for the baby when I'm back at work while still breastfeeding at home and pumping at work. It all just honestly makes my head spin and makes me wonder if it's worth the extra stress if I continue after going back to work. At the very least, I want to breastfeed for those first 6 weeks while I'm home, but I'm just so intimidated by the rest of itm
Here are a couple tips I got from other moms that really helped me with transitioning to going back to work and pumping. - Start pumping once a day around 2 or 3 weeks when your supply is well established. The best time to pump is usually the first feed of the morning when your supply is biggest. Pump on one side and nurse on the other. (The rest of the day, either nurse both sides each feeding or block feed or whatever was working before.) You should have a decent stash built up by the time you hit 6 weeks. - Introduce a small bottle a day around 3 or 4 weeks. Maybe half of what you get from your pumping session. Have someone else (SO, relative) give the bottle if possible, cause baby may be like "I know your boobs are RIGHT THERE" if you try to do it. At this point, your baby has nursed a few hundred times and shouldn't forget how to latch from the occasional bottle. If you wait too long to introduce a bottle, it can be more complicated, and you want your baby to do well with bottles when you go back to work. You can experiment with different brands/styles to see what your baby prefers. - Pumping can be challenging, but it can also be a nice break in your workday. You probably need to start with 3 sessions a day, and can drop them over time. You're going to be pumping a lot, so invest in a nice electric double pump (Medela PISA is pretty universally liked), and a nice handsfree pumping bra. I loved the Simple Wishes one. And then relax. Sometimes looking at baby photos helps with letdown. Or silly as it sounds, record your baby's hungry cry and listen to that. Make sure you're eating enough and drinking all the water. Don't get discouraged by the occasional session with low output.
Good luck mama. For most women, making through the first couple of weeks is the hardest part, much harder than the pumping transition.
@AnnikaD20 20 wow that was so much more helpful and straightforward than anything I've read online!! I feel like it's much more doable now that you've taken the guess work out of when to start pumping, introducing a bottle, feeding schedules, etc.
If I only need to pump for 3 sessions a day when I'm back at work, does that essentially mean that I could pump once before work, once after work, and only actually have to pump at work once a day?? That was another concern that I forgot to mention; I know employers are required to give you that time, but I was afraid of the talk that would go on behind my back by my coworkers if I was breaking constantly for pumping. I love my coworkers but everyone is very touchy about breaks and who's going where.
I am also lucky to have been given a Medela electric pump from a relative who never used it (I'm not 100% sure on the model type).
@kaitlyn592 You'll have to see how your schedule works out, but plan on needing 3 sessions during work hours for a while. Mid-morning, lunch, mid-afternoon. 6 week olds are still usually nursing every couple hours, and your boobs will be used to that schedule. Plus you'll probably be nursing right before and after work as well. Dropping sessions for me didn't happen until complementary foods were introduced.
It really an equation of how much you produce, and how uncomfortable your boobs get if you push pumping sessions out. If having too many pumping sessions is messing with your workday too much, supplementing with formula is always an option. Just try to push things out gradually so you don't get over-engorged or wind up with plugged ducts.
Pumping was my absolute least liked part of breastfeeding and I am including the cracked nipples and engorgement. I still did it to feed my son while I was at work and keep up my supply. I breastfed for just over two years with my son but gave up pumping well before that and felt so free! Breastfeeding, when it goes smoothly, is so convenient and cheap and a wonderful way to bond with the little one.
I found that I could get an extra pump-session in before LO woke up in the mornings, and when she woke, I still had plenty of milk for her. Supply is usually higher in the morning and if you can build in a consistent time to pump, your body will get used to making extra milk for that time of day.
Honestly this is a personal decision as every baby, every mommy and every situation is different. I got lucky with my first. He latched on right away and I breastfed for 11 months. We had to supplement with a bottle before bed because he refused the breast at that time.
My best friend tried to breastfeed for about 4 months. Her baby never latched properly and her milk went sour after pumping.
Exclusively pumping is incredibly draining and a burden. If you can breastfeed, I would suggest keeping an open mind and trying it.
@AnnikaD20 20 wow that was so much more helpful and straightforward than anything I've read online!! I feel like it's much more doable now that you've taken the guess work out of when to start pumping, introducing a bottle, feeding schedules, etc.
If I only need to pump for 3 sessions a day when I'm back at work, does that essentially mean that I could pump once before work, once after work, and only actually have to pump at work once a day?? That was another concern that I forgot to mention; I know employers are required to give you that time, but I was afraid of the talk that would go on behind my back by my coworkers if I was breaking constantly for pumping. I love my coworkers but everyone is very touchy about breaks and who's going where.
I am also lucky to have been given a Medela electric pump from a relative who never used it (I'm not 100% sure on the model type).
I have breastfed two babies past one year and I am a full time attorney. I also start pumping once a day after the first feeding around 2-3 weeks. I go ahead and attach both cones. The one I just fed from just produces less. Then, around 10-12 weeks, when they drop a feeding around 10pm. I pump again at 10pm. Then, I go back to work around 16 weeks. I know you have less time, but I'm just giving my example. When back at work, here's my schedule. 6:00 nurse baby 630 shower 7:00 pump at home 11:00 pump at work 4:00 pump at work Nurse at home one or two times. 10:00 pump at home.
A lot of people like to use fresh milk every day and just freeze the leftovers, but I like to use only frozen milk. Every night, I come home from work and pour the bottles into a jug in my refrigerator. But if it's not cold enough yet though, you don't want to mix warm and cold. Then on Friday nights, my husband helps me freeze all my milk from the jugs into 6 ounce bags (4 oz bags when they were younger). You should lie them flat to freeze so they take up less room in the freezer.
Ditto that pumping sucks! I breastfed both of mine until 12weeks. I had problems with milk supply and after getting mastitis various times I struggled even more. One boob barely produced. In the end I turned to formula feeding for my own sanity. I tried pumping but I just couldn't get much out and it finished me off in the end, my milk completely dwindled. My mission for baby number 3 is to breastfeed for longer - when it goes right it's so much easier .. And free! My parents are dairy farmers and there was somewhat a joke that I would have made a rubbish cow... No milk and forever getting mastitis! Haha Breastfeeding is definitely worth a try but I don't judge any mother; you have to do what works for you. Happy mummy = happy baby! Just see what happens
I breastfed DD until 13 months and only weaned then because we were TTC #2. I went back to work at 8 weeks, and this is what worked for me:
Started pumping after the first AM feed at about 3 weeks (I pumped both sides like @TheBorg7of9). Baby took a bottle every night for her 6pm feeding and I pumped while she got the bottle. So I was pumping 2x a day and she was only taking one bottle (~3 oz), so anything I got in addition to that went towards my freezer stash.
When I went back to work, DD was pretty set in her feeding schedule (that she created, not us) of every 3 hours, 6a-9a-12p-3p-6p-9p. I nursed for the 6a, 6p, and 9p feedings and I pumped 3x a day to make up for the three that I missed. Every once in a while I came home for lunch and was able to nurse for the 12p feeding as well. I was lucky and had a really good supply and always made more than she needed, so I actually donated about 1200oz and still had enough in the freezer to stop pumping completely when she was 11 months old.
I will definitely be nursing this LO too and I'm actually excited to have that relationship again! I am happy to answer any questions as well.
Me: 35 DH: 35
Married: 5-16-2009
Charlotte Elaine 5-27-2014 Anna Josephine 3-29-2016 Baby #3 EDD 3-3-2018
This thread has been so informative. I've seen my mother breastfeed four of my siblings (and pump with all of them, though it never seemed to be more than four ounces) and she always talked about babies biting when teething, or nipples getting chapped, but that was really it. I never knew there were so many different alternatives and outcomes.
I myself plan on breastfeeding and hopefully pumping, but that's more because I get sick a lot, so I'll need the hubby's help feeding sometimes, as well as the fact pretty much everyone in my family ever has always had a really negative effect from formula. One of my siblings even got an awful rash all over and puked and pooped a LOT... So I'm *hoping* to avoid that altogether.
This is my first pregnancy and I am 100% committed to breastfeeding, both for the benefits and also the cost savings. My biggest concern is going back to work. I can't afford to be on maternity for very long, so I'm going back as soon as my 6-week paid leave is up. I'm stressed and nervous about how difficult pumping will be. I've been trying to do research but I'm so confused on how exactly to stock up on breast milk for the baby when I'm back at work while still breastfeeding at home and pumping at work. It all just honestly makes my head spin and makes me wonder if it's worth the extra stress if I continue after going back to work. At the very least, I want to breastfeed for those first 6 weeks while I'm home, but I'm just so intimidated by the rest of itm
Don't stress yourself worrying about it now. The truth is you won't really know anything til baby comes and your boobs do their thing. I was out for longer than 6 weeks, but I did pump at work after until DD was 13 months old. Do you work close enough to your baby's daycare (or where ever he/she will be staying) to visit on your lunch break? That's how I got ahead at first. I would bring home the morning's work pumping sessions to my father-in-law who kept her for her afternoon feedings. I rarely had more than a day or two ahead and only got to the point of freezing some as she got older and ate more solid foods. OR If she was still sleeping when I got up to get ready for work. I could pump faster than she ate, so I'd pump and let her sleep.
I didn't pump for the first two weeks, then after that I used pumping when it was convenient for me. Easing into it made it much more bearable and less of a pain. For example, my DD was born just before all the fall festivals started. It was still warm and we wanted to get her out and about. I'd use my car plug for the pump and pump while we drove since she couldn't eat while in the car seat and I'd have a full bottle for her to have while we were there.
Breasts are amazing, yet weird things. They're there your whole life, but don't kick on until there's a little person there to use them! Some people can breastfeed from day one with no problems, others try their hardest and don't have any luck. Research is great, but like I said, don't stress yourself out it. Learn as much as you can and don't shut down the advice of the lactation consultant at the hospital once baby arrives. They'll stay as long as you need and help as much as you'll let them.
I had a breast reduction and probably won't be able to. But most importantly, I have medications that I need to resume postpartum that are not compatible to breastfeeding.
However, I am not looking forward to explaining this to the la leche nazis post delivery. I've heard they can be annoyingly persistent and judgy.
Honestly, breastfeeding is ideal and a lot cheaper, but there is not a huge difference in the effects on the development of your baby if you choose formula instead of the breast.
I had a breast reduction and probably won't be able to. But most importantly, I have medications that I need to resume postpartum that are not compatible to breastfeeding.
However, I am not looking forward to explaining this to the la leche nazis post delivery. I've heard they can be annoyingly persistent and judgy.
Honestly, breastfeeding is ideal and a lot cheaper, but there is not a huge difference in the effects on the development of your baby if you choose formula instead of the breast.
FYI, there is a lot a misinformation out there about which medicines are ok for breastfeeding. You'll want to ask a lactation consultant and not just the pediatrician or OB.
@Achieverjo I think if you need to be on certain medications for your health, both you and baby benefit from you being on those medications. Screw anybody who tries to shame the way you feed your child. Provided he or she grows and develops, who honestly gives a damn? I'm not paying for your formula
Idk if it's been mentioned but definitely call your health insurance bc most ppl can get a free breast pump. Even if you already have one, might be worth it to get a second one to leave at work.
Re: Breastfeed: yes or no
2010: Infertility
October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)
I started pumping after feeding DD as after a day or two of the hospital saying she wasn't getting enough milk and giving her formula, I insisted on supplementing with milk. Holy feeling like a cow. Unless you have you, I would stay far away from that thing. It is just not fun. Major major props to those mamas who can do EP for a long time. It really takes a lot of gumption to stay with it that long.
BFP 8.14.15 ~~ Due 4.22.16
I would never want to exclusively pump though, unless there was a really good reason. It's one thing to do it at work. But the cleaning, storing, labeling, transporting, etc. was annoying. And while I liked pumping, I loved nursing. Being able to snuggle up with my baby, instantly soothe him when he was upset, enjoy his milk drunk faces and happy grunts, it was magical to me.
Miscarriage 3/15 at 10 weeks
BFP 7/23/15 EDD 4/3/16
Anna Josephine 3-29-2016
Baby #3 EDD 3-3-2018
My Chart
-------
I also disagree. Watch the baby, not the clock.
2010: Infertility
October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)
******************************
Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
If you're thinking about breastfeeding, check out your local Le Leche League and search for local breastfeeding groups on Facebook. Both have been fantastic for me.
I breastfed and pumped for 13 months. I will try for that again with this one. I will ditto the others in saying that pumping sucks and that it's a lot of work. Moms that EP and stick to it because that's their only option for breast milk are beyond amazing.
I work for a company with over 50 fulltime employees, but they never designated a lactation room. Well, they gave me the option of using a partially unoccupied office with glass windows. So I ended up sitting on the bathroom floor against the door (because it didn't lock) to pump. I did this 4 times a day for months and then eventually cut to 2 times a day when DS was older. IT SUCKED. I did it because it was worth it to give DS all the breast milk I could.
It's not just sitting down while baby naps to pump... There is the cleaning, sterilizing, storing of milk too. In the end I gave up pumping after he refused the bottle for three weeks anyway. I was sick of seeing my hard work go down the drain.
- Start pumping once a day around 2 or 3 weeks when your supply is well established. The best time to pump is usually the first feed of the morning when your supply is biggest. Pump on one side and nurse on the other. (The rest of the day, either nurse both sides each feeding or block feed or whatever was working before.) You should have a decent stash built up by the time you hit 6 weeks.
- Introduce a small bottle a day around 3 or 4 weeks. Maybe half of what you get from your pumping session. Have someone else (SO, relative) give the bottle if possible, cause baby may be like "I know your boobs are RIGHT THERE" if you try to do it. At this point, your baby has nursed a few hundred times and shouldn't forget how to latch from the occasional bottle. If you wait too long to introduce a bottle, it can be more complicated, and you want your baby to do well with bottles when you go back to work. You can experiment with different brands/styles to see what your baby prefers.
- Pumping can be challenging, but it can also be a nice break in your workday. You probably need to start with 3 sessions a day, and can drop them over time. You're going to be pumping a lot, so invest in a nice electric double pump (Medela PISA is pretty universally liked), and a nice handsfree pumping bra. I loved the Simple Wishes one. And then relax. Sometimes looking at baby photos helps with letdown. Or silly as it sounds, record your baby's hungry cry and listen to that. Make sure you're eating enough and drinking all the water. Don't get discouraged by the occasional session with low output.
Good luck mama. For most women, making through the first couple of weeks is the hardest part, much harder than the pumping transition.
Miscarriage 3/15 at 10 weeks
BFP 7/23/15 EDD 4/3/16
If I only need to pump for 3 sessions a day when I'm back at work, does that essentially mean that I could pump once before work, once after work, and only actually have to pump at work once a day?? That was another concern that I forgot to mention; I know employers are required to give you that time, but I was afraid of the talk that would go on behind my back by my coworkers if I was breaking constantly for pumping. I love my coworkers but everyone is very touchy about breaks and who's going where.
I am also lucky to have been given a Medela electric pump from a relative who never used it (I'm not 100% sure on the model type).
It really an equation of how much you produce, and how uncomfortable your boobs get if you push pumping sessions out. If having too many pumping sessions is messing with your workday too much, supplementing with formula is always an option. Just try to push things out gradually so you don't get over-engorged or wind up with plugged ducts.
Miscarriage 3/15 at 10 weeks
BFP 7/23/15 EDD 4/3/16
BFP 8.14.15 ~~ Due 4.22.16
I found that I could get an extra pump-session in before LO woke up in the mornings, and when she woke, I still had plenty of milk for her. Supply is usually higher in the morning and if you can build in a consistent time to pump, your body will get used to making extra milk for that time of day.
My best friend tried to breastfeed for about 4 months. Her baby never latched properly and her milk went sour after pumping.
Exclusively pumping is incredibly draining and a burden. If you can breastfeed, I would suggest keeping an open mind and trying it.
Good luck!
I have breastfed two babies past one year and I am a full time attorney. I also start pumping once a day after the first feeding around 2-3 weeks. I go ahead and attach both cones. The one I just fed from just produces less.
Then, around 10-12 weeks, when they drop a feeding around 10pm. I pump again at 10pm.
Then, I go back to work around 16 weeks. I know you have less time, but I'm just giving my example.
When back at work, here's my schedule.
6:00 nurse baby
630 shower
7:00 pump at home
11:00 pump at work
4:00 pump at work
Nurse at home one or two times.
10:00 pump at home.
A lot of people like to use fresh milk every day and just freeze the leftovers, but I like to use only frozen milk. Every night, I come home from work and pour the bottles into a jug in my refrigerator. But if it's not cold enough yet though, you don't want to mix warm and cold. Then on Friday nights, my husband helps me freeze all my milk from the jugs into 6 ounce bags (4 oz bags when they were younger). You should lie them flat to freeze so they take up less room in the freezer.
2010: Infertility
October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)
Started pumping after the first AM feed at about 3 weeks (I pumped both sides like @TheBorg7of9). Baby took a bottle every night for her 6pm feeding and I pumped while she got the bottle. So I was pumping 2x a day and she was only taking one bottle (~3 oz), so anything I got in addition to that went towards my freezer stash.
When I went back to work, DD was pretty set in her feeding schedule (that she created, not us) of every 3 hours, 6a-9a-12p-3p-6p-9p. I nursed for the 6a, 6p, and 9p feedings and I pumped 3x a day to make up for the three that I missed. Every once in a while I came home for lunch and was able to nurse for the 12p feeding as well. I was lucky and had a really good supply and always made more than she needed, so I actually donated about 1200oz and still had enough in the freezer to stop pumping completely when she was 11 months old.
I will definitely be nursing this LO too and I'm actually excited to have that relationship again! I am happy to answer any questions as well.
Anna Josephine 3-29-2016
Baby #3 EDD 3-3-2018
My Chart
I myself plan on breastfeeding and hopefully pumping, but that's more because I get sick a lot, so I'll need the hubby's help feeding sometimes, as well as the fact pretty much everyone in my family ever has always had a really negative effect from formula. One of my siblings even got an awful rash all over and puked and pooped a LOT... So I'm *hoping* to avoid that altogether.
I had a breast reduction and probably won't be able to. But most importantly, I have medications that I need to resume postpartum that are not compatible to breastfeeding.
However, I am not looking forward to explaining this to the la leche nazis post delivery. I've heard they can be annoyingly persistent and judgy.
Honestly, breastfeeding is ideal and a lot cheaper, but there is not a huge difference in the effects on the development of your baby if you choose formula instead of the breast.
2010: Infertility
October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)