Can you EBF but pump only?

I always thought I would be a SAHM but it doesn't look like we will be able to swing it due to financial changes with DH's job.

I want to EBF but I want to pump from day 1. I'm ok with never giving the baby my boob, but since the baby will be taken care of by a family member when I go back to work, is it ok to pump only?

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

yes, def is.
there are a lot of pumpers on parenting board. xpost this there.

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

there are few blogs set to exclusively pumping- just try googling the terms - there was a times article about them a year or two ago

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

It is called EP - exclusively pumping

I have done it since DD was three months (before that I occasionally tried to BF)

It is great! I think it is the best of both worlds. It only gets easier with time ( I am down to three sessions a day)

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

I know someone who did this for a year, so it's definitely possible! She only pumped.

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

I am EPing right now for my newborn. Been 3 weeks so far. It has its +/-. FM me if you want more info or if you want some message boards/blog sites that are devoted specifically to EPing. They have really helped me out alot.

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

I did after a while with both of mine and will with this one as well. Some people don't like pumping, but I didn't mind at all.

I would find out about pumping the colostrum the first few days. I don't know how that works.

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

I did this with my twins for the first 3 months. I wasn't really keen on the idea of nursing but I definitely wanted them to have the benefits of breast milk. Plus withj twins I really wanted to be able to see exactly how many ounces they took with each feeding and by pumping it means that other people are able to feed them too!

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

I EP for the 1st 8-9 wks and then she latched, but I continued to pump as well with my work schedule. You can do it. It's a bit more work, but if the goal is getting bm to the baby it's a fab option! I had a lot of support on the parenting board here and ivillage.com has an ep forum that was AWESOME!!!!

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

I am EP. Although I do give formula t night, its more a choice than anything (DS sleeps better at night after formula!) It has nothing to do with supply.

I have only been doing it a week so far but I am actually liking it better than BF(which I tried with DS #1)....

ETA: I didnt start pumping until DS was 4 days old when I came home from the hospital. But my milk was not in yet, I got a LOT less than I would get just 2 days later (milk came in). In the hospital I tried BF and formula.

Message edited 4/30/2011 1:38:13 PM.

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

Yup. I did it for a year. It was tough but I did it!

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

i've been EP for almost 9 weeks now....breastfeeding just wasn't for me but having a preemie I was told that he needed breastmilk...i plan on trying to continue for a whole year...good luck

Re: Can you EBF but pump only?

thanks everyone! I'm going to do a search for other sites too. I didn't know what it was called exactly.

I really want to BF but with working its going to be hard so I figureits the best of both worlds... assuming it works