Pumping Only

Is anyone planning on only pumping? I am still not sure if I want to breastfeed. How do you think solely pumping will be?

Re: Pumping Only

I am planning to pump. My friend did it and she said it worked well for her. I will be going back to work shortly after DC is born so I figured I would just start off doing it. Plus, DH can help with those late night feedings!

Re: Pumping Only

I am planning on pumping. Its just a personal chioce not to actually breastfeed but at least the baby will still be getting the benefits of breastmilk. I agree, also this way DH can take part in the feedings.

Re: Pumping Only

Solely pumping is very, very time consuming. Its like living through every feeding twice -- once to feed the pump and then again to feed the baby. Plus the pump isn't nearly as cute. And even if you have DH give the bottle, you still will have to wake up to pump in the beginning. So now both of you are awake instead of just one of you. And then theres the need to wash all that equipment...

I think that if you are going back to work its still worth learning to have the baby latch directly so that you can alternate between whichever is most convenient at the moment for you.

Re: Pumping Only

Re: Pumping Only

Pumping alone didnt work for me, I even had a LC nurse and she said too its the baby that stimulates your breast for more milk, pumping solely diminishes it. For some it works great but for most 95% pumping alone isnt enough to keep up your supply. It is also painful and such a pain- you have to pump every 2 -3 hours, I wish I knew all of this prior too and with the next one I will only pump when I go back to work or inbetween a feeding so that I can start to store and that DH could feed a bottle too.
I hope you are in that percentage that does great with it solely.

Re: Pumping Only

I solely pumped for 8 months and I was solely miserable for 8 months. Not only was I constantly worried about having enough food for my baby, I had to pump 3 times a day...which took up lots of time, not to mention washing and steralising the pump equipment. I was adamant about doing it and I was a slave to that pump. I would not recommend only pumping to anyone...it was the hardest job in the world.

At the time I thought I had no option, but looking back at it, I would formula feed. I was desperate to breast feed my baby, but he had tongue tie problems and he wouldn't latch on. With my next baby, I would not pump again. It took a lot of the joy out it for me. I had enough milk to feed him for those 8 months and a HUGE frozen stash, but unfortunately my milk has a lipase in it that makes milk rancid unless its heat treated, so that was a waste. I pumped around 20oz-ish a day, so supply was never an issue. But I did a happy dance when the kid would FINALLY take formula!!!

Re: Pumping Only

I agree with the pp's that it is VERY hard work pumping 100%. For me, when the baby was unable to latch I was too overwhelmed, my grandfather passed away the day after my son came home from the hospital. I didn't have the time or energy to think about calling a LC, but wanted my baby to have breastmilk. I think if you really want that for your baby and you are committed to that then go for it. This time around ( I am due with #2 in august) if the baby doesn't latch, I will seek out a LC first and if that doesn't work, I will pump again...

Re: Pumping Only

As with everything else, it's finding what works best for the mom and baby. You may think the pump is a godsend, or you may want to smash it with a baseball bat. I'm going to try to solely pump because I have to go back to work pretty quickly after birth and I honestly didn't want to go through breastfeeding for such a short period, but I would like to give him the benefits of some breastmilk in the beginning. When I go back to work, I think I will have to switch to formula becuase there is no where to pump at work and I have a very long day.