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MrsRapz
mahna mahna!
Member since 2/12 1952 total posts
Name:
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Question about breastfeeding
Has anyone exclusively breastfed via boob (no bottles / no pump)?
Is it possible or way too difficult?
I was considering exclusively boob-feeding LO for the first few weeks (i'll be home on maternity leave anyhow) and buy a pump afterwards if i don't hate BFing. I'd rather not shell out $200 on a pump if i won't even use it.
is this a terrible plan or does it make some sense?
oh, and i do realize i could rent a pump for a month but i'm a little creeped out by renting them.
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Posted 5/9/12 12:54 PM  |
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wo0shply
LIF Adult
Member since 11/08 2702 total posts
Name:
Tass
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
This is my first baby so I just had a question, are you going back to work and how long are you planning on keeping baby on breast milk. The only reason I ask is if you're going back to work and you're planning on continuing to breast feed you will need to get a pump and start a supply while you're at work.
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| Posted 5/9/12 1:01 PM |
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MrsRapz
mahna mahna!
Member since 2/12 1952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
I'll have about 3 months of maternity leave after LO is born. I figured i would try out the boob-only thing for a month and, if i like it, i'd buy the pump at that point.
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| Posted 5/9/12 1:05 PM |
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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Me - more or less.
I needed to pump and nurse for DD's first month (I had some supply problems related to my csection). But once those were fixed, I stopped pumping and we were a boob only house. Pumping is not easier than plain old BFing. Pumping is a b!tch.
Under normal circumstances, your idea is what you're supposed to do: just BF from the tap, then introduce bottles once BFing is well established. I will tell you that the first few weeks are the hardest, but once everything clicks, it's 1000x better. Just have patience with it.
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| Posted 5/9/12 1:06 PM |
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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Oh, and as for renting a pump, the kind you rent are different than the kind you buy from BRU or BBB. The rentals are much more powerful and intended for multiple users. Nothing that touches you or your milk has touched another person. You typically buy the tubing and accessories and rent to motor.
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| Posted 5/9/12 1:08 PM |
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PrettyPeonies
GAW my baby boy <3
Member since 8/10 3874 total posts
Name:
Pino
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
I am praying that I am able to EBF the first few weeks (I will be home for about 11 weeks) and then going back to work part time. I already got my pump b/c I anticipate that I will have issues due to a breast reduction 16 yrs ago. I am a little anxious on how it will all work out. It blows my mind on how difficult BF can really be for some woman.
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| Posted 5/9/12 1:23 PM |
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imyself
Member since 10/06 2938 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
With ds I did both. I started pumping with a manual pump (about $30) when he was 2-3 weeks old. He got a1 bottle of breast milk every couple days. Good thing I did because we got a really bad case of thrush and he had to drink milk in bottles for a month so we didn't keep reinfecting each other.
Dd never took to the bottle. We tried but she just would not drink it. She was strictly breast. It is doable but you have to understand until the baby starts drinking from a sippy you will not be able to be away from it for longer then an hour or 2. Dd just came everywhere with me and I have no issues with nursing in public (discretely of course  )
Personally I would not buy a pump until you have established a supply. Some women try it and hate it. Some just don't produce enough milk or any milk. It would be a shame to waste all that money. I nursed ds for 14 months and dd for 25 months. I only ever used the manual pump.
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| Posted 5/9/12 1:29 PM |
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Mama2Max
LIF Infant
Member since 3/12 228 total posts
Name:
Jes
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
I EBF’d with my first and it was super easy. The only irritating aspect was that he nursed every 2-hours, which meant my outings were always 2-hours long. In the beginning everyone wants to hold the baby and push you to go out, there was something special about being forced to reconnect every few hours (at least that was my experience). I started pumping at about 8 or 10 weeks and returned to work initially only part-time, which allowed me to be okay with a smaller freezer stash. I absolutely positively HATED pumping – I continued pumping until my DS was 14-months and I would love to never look at the pump again! (Well at least for the next 10 months or so, until this one arrives).
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| Posted 5/9/12 1:30 PM |
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LoveMyHubby605
Our April Baby is here!
Member since 4/11 2418 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Posted by MrsRapz
I'll have about 3 months of maternity leave after LO is born. I figured i would try out the boob-only thing for a month and, if i like it, i'd buy the pump at that point.
DD is one month today and I have EBF up until yesterday. i pumped yesterday and DH fed her her first bottle. I wanted to wait until she was 4 weeks so she was well established on the boob.
to be honest, the first week was hard and painful, the second way better and then from there it has been great. I actually think it's so much more convenient to whip out the boob and feed her than washing and preparing a bottle. the downside is you are really kind of chained to the baby. Especially when they are a newborn and feed so frequently.
however, that is only for the first few weeks and then you can pump. DH and I have our first date night this saturday
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| Posted 5/9/12 3:02 PM |
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MrsRapz
mahna mahna!
Member since 2/12 1952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Thanks so much everyone! I'm glad to know that my plan was not so stupid after all 
LoveMyHubby605 - have fun on your first date night since the baby! 
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| Posted 5/9/12 3:15 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
DD is 2.5 weeks and we EBF. She does not take a bottle at all. I have a cheap manual pump that I tried once, mostly just to try it and bc she sometimes takes one boob more frequently so I wanted to try to even things out. It's definitely not impossible. Humans have been around a lot longer than pumps and bottles!
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| Posted 5/9/12 3:32 PM |
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KimberlyScott
Graceyn=My World <3
Member since 10/08 4173 total posts
Name:
Kimberly
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
I plan on EBF for at least the 1st month on maternity leave. I plan on buying my pump next week just in case I have issues with not enough supply. I thought about renting but its $75 a month. My pump is $150 with coupons. So Im just going to get it.
After the 1st month if everything is going well, I will pump and bottle just so DH can enjoy feeding her.
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| Posted 5/9/12 3:54 PM |
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Jenn79
One more?
Member since 2/12 2410 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Did you try calling Edgepark? I got mine fully covered under my insurance. If you get one fully covered, then you don't have to worry about buying and then not using etc...
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| Posted 5/9/12 4:02 PM |
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Loveme
LIF Adult
Member since 6/11 3170 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
I EBF my DS for about 3 weeks. I only started pumping after that for my own sanity, he normally wants to feed every 1.5 hours!! With a bottle he lasts for about 2.5-3 hours...
Its definitely doable to EBF and I personally  the connection it gives you to your LO
******* If anyone is interested, I have a coupon for BRU for 15% off ANY breast pump! FM me your address and I'll be happy to mail to you.
Coupon expires 5/24/12
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| Posted 5/9/12 4:32 PM |
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springsandra
Baby girl has a baby brother!
Member since 11/09 7155 total posts
Name:
Sandra
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Keep an open mind about BF. No matter how hard you try, sometimes you can't physically do it. If that happens, don't think you're a failure or worthless as a mother. Trust me. It's tough when you planned to BF and wanted to and try to but for some reason, physical or hormonal or not, you can't. The "best laid plans..."
Between 5 and 10% of women for one reason or another just CANNOT breastfeed. I wish someone had told me that going in. That's the only reason I mention it now. Keep an open mind and keep your plans flexible.
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| Posted 5/9/12 4:36 PM |
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MrsRapz
mahna mahna!
Member since 2/12 1952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Posted by Jenn79
Did you try calling Edgepark? I got mine fully covered under my insurance. If you get one fully covered, then you don't have to worry about buying and then not using etc...
Thanks for the tip but unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover it. Too bad.
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| Posted 5/9/12 5:56 PM |
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MrsRapz
mahna mahna!
Member since 2/12 1952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Posted by springsandra
Keep an open mind about BF. No matter how hard you try, sometimes you can't physically do it. If that happens, don't think you're a failure or worthless as a mother. Trust me. It's tough when you planned to BF and wanted to and try to but for some reason, physical or hormonal or not, you can't. The "best laid plans..."
Between 5 and 10% of women for one reason or another just CANNOT breastfeed. I wish someone had told me that going in. That's the only reason I mention it now. Keep an open mind and keep your plans flexible.
Thanks 
I'm actually going in thinking i'll hate it way too much to continue 
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| Posted 5/9/12 5:59 PM |
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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
Posted by MrsRapz
Posted by springsandra
Keep an open mind about BF. No matter how hard you try, sometimes you can't physically do it. If that happens, don't think you're a failure or worthless as a mother. Trust me. It's tough when you planned to BF and wanted to and try to but for some reason, physical or hormonal or not, you can't. The "best laid plans..."
Between 5 and 10% of women for one reason or another just CANNOT breastfeed. I wish someone had told me that going in. That's the only reason I mention it now. Keep an open mind and keep your plans flexible.
Thanks
I'm actually going in thinking i'll hate it way too much to continue
You might surprise yourself. I always knew I'd try to BF. I knew all the reasons to try it; I read all the books and spoke to my family. But it it never occurred to me that I'd actually like it. You can't pass the baby off to other people to feed them, but the required time-out from the never-ending stream of guests can be fantastic. You'll never have your MIL grab the baby from you and say, "I've got this one" because she can't... so you can assign her (or any other relatives that come over to "help") to feed you or do some laundry. Over time, it's amazing, watching your baby gain weight and to know it all came from you. It wasn't easy, esp in the beginning, but of all the things I've accomplished in my life, I'm proudest of this. I can't wait to do it again!
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| Posted 5/9/12 7:08 PM |
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CunningOne
***
Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
I am exclusively BFing my DS. He's nearly 11 weeks and has been all boob, all the time. Well, he has had a bottle of pumped milk since I did pump before going out one night last week.
IMO, it's very do-able. But a good pump (I have a Medela PIA double electric) is a lifesaver when you will be out for an extended amount of time or just want DH to do a feeding over night while you catch up on sleep (well, we can wish, right).
I exclusively BF my first child too, for one year. Never any formula. But a good old bottle of pumped breastmilk here and there is a sanity saver.
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| Posted 5/9/12 7:17 PM |
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MrsKR88
LIF Adult
Member since 2/10 979 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
DS is 6 months and does not get any bottles. Honestly, I never intended it to work out this way but he straight out refuses the bottle (we tried everything short of starving him). We tried to get him to take it but it just became too frustrating so we gave up. We give him a sippy cup here and there to play with, in hopes that in the future it will be an option for if I wanted to go out for an extended period of time. I found pumping to be very annoying. Boob feeding is much easier even if it does seem at times like the baby is attached to you 24/7. The first couple of weeks are rough, but you get the hang of it
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| Posted 5/9/12 9:14 PM |
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shiv
Twinsanity!!
Member since 5/07 4747 total posts
Name:
Shiv
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
My plan was very similar to yours- just nurse for the first few weeks and if it was going well buy a pump.
Well DS would not latch and if I did not pump right away I would not have been able to BF. I ended up renting the hospital pump in a panic and it helped establish my milk supply. Then DS finally latched! I went back to work at 12 weeks and pumped/nursed until he was 14 months.
So I agree, you don't need to buy a pump before the baby gets here- but be prepared to rent one right away or be sending DH out to buy one for you in case you have issues with nursing. And even if you don't, you'll def want one by 6 weeks to start building a freezer stash.
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| Posted 5/10/12 10:50 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about breastfeeding
I only got a pump for when I went back to work and because it was free through insurance. While I admit BF was REALLY rough the first 2-3 weeks, by a month it was SUPER easy. That said, I really really wanted to BF and pushed through the rough patch, even at 2am with no sleep, a screaming baby and DH saying "just give her a bottle".
I don't understand why people pump when they can just BF, but that's just me. I'd be too lazy for the extra steps.
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| Posted 5/10/12 11:12 AM |
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