Another BF'ing question

I'm not sure I want to BF, but I understand the benefits of giving your baby breast milk. Can you just pump and bottle feed your BF? Has anyone does this? Also I only have 12 weeks for maternity leave - how do you pump once you go back to work? I have no office or privacy in my office.

TIA!!!

Re: Another BF'ing question

I was a pumping mom for 1 year. So yes, it can be done. BUT I will say that it is not easy and breastfeeding is actually MUCH easier. I pumped because Molly stopped latching after an awful ped in the hospital forced me to give her a formula bottle. But some women have to pump for medical reasons or because their supply is low, baby won't latch etc..
You need a rental pump for the first 12 weeks then you use a Pump In Style.
And I worked so yes, you can pump and work. I can help you figure out how, when and how to ask your company for a private place to do so.
My suggestion is to take a breastfeeding class, and get a copy of Working Mother/Nursing Mother. I am MORE than happy to walk you thru the steps too and provide support.
I will say that if you want to BF, trying to actual nurse will probably help you to figure out if you really just want to pump. Some women don't realize just how much they enjoy nursing a baby until they actual do it.

Re: Another BF'ing question

Michele made a great suggestion, try breastfeeding first. When I was PG I told DH that I would try it but I wasn't going to beat myself up if it didn't work out. It turned out that I really enjoyed it but after developing a breast infection and giving DS more bottles he didn't want the breast anymore. I did it for 5 1/2 weeks and was upset but that is what DS wanted. I now know what I will do differently. Pumping was a PITA. I didnt enjoy it at all and it was hard because DS wsanted to be held. But the only way you will find out is if you try and give yourself the time in the hospital and a week at home. I think it hits you right away whether you like it or not.

Re: Another BF'ing question

I have been soley pumping for almost 3 weeks now and it is going ok. I was not doing it every 4 hours so my milk supply went a little low but it is coming back up.

I did not rent a pump. I bought the Ameda Purely Yours and it has been working great. I have been getting enough milk to satisfy him just not enough to store like I wanted.

DS latched on a few times but for me, it is better to pump.

Re: Another BF'ing question

I have been solely pumping for 5 months now and although it is part of my life now, I would say that it can be very stressful and tiresome.
Personally...and this is my personal opinion...I don't know why anyone would choose to pump if they were able to breastfeed, pumping is 500 times more work than whipping out the boob and feeding the baby...

I keep saying to myself, I will pump for another month and give it up...but I just don't know...I think I sound so cynical because I am so tired at the moment and I have to stick to my pumping schedule when I really want to be asleep...and also because I am tired and stressed, my milk supply is lower and although I still have some of my stash in the freezer, most of it is rancid because of the lipase....


Sorry to sound so negative...

Re: Another BF'ing question

I've been pumping full time for 3 months now. Honestly, I would have NEVER gone down this road if I didn't have to-- my DS was born with "tongue tie" (the little flap of skin under the tongue that connects it to the bottom of the mouth was too far up front, so he couldn't effectively stick out his tongue). This prevented him from latching properly. I had it fixed when he was 10 weeks, but by then I felt it was too late to establish nursing.

There are a few perks to full time pumping-- you do know exactly how much your baby is eating, it's nice to be able to let other people feed the baby without planning it in advance, and even after the cost of a pump it's still cheaper than formula feeding. But it is SO MUCH MORE work than nursing, the perks are not worth it.

When it's time to have a 2nd child I really really hope I can nurse. No way could I do full time pumping with a child already in the house.

Re: Another BF'ing question

when I switched to exclusive pumping I was much happier - so I have a different experience than the above ladies.

DS would take an hour or so to BF, so when I switched to pumping for 10-20 minutes at a time, it was the most freeing moment of my life.


I do think its important to establish BFing first, b/c it was nice to put him to bed that way and having the choice.

ETS: I never rented a hospital pump...only a hand pump at first and than the PISA. But you need to rate your own supply issues when the baby comes.

Message edited 6/14/2006 8:38:11 AM.

Re: Another BF'ing question

I had a terrible experience nursing so I chose to pump so the DD was still getting the nutrition I wanted her to have from my milk. Maybe I'm a big baby myself, but she was really hurting me in the hospital when I tried to nurse her. I don't think she was latching correctly (I think she didn't open her mouth enough). This caused me a tremendous amount of pain and I was bleeding my day 2 and my nipples looked like they were ripping away from my breasts. Since I was crying and dreading every time she needed to eat, I decided to just pump for her. I did try again several times after we came home to get her to latch correctly, but she just wouldn't do it.

I agree that it is more work than nursing -- having to take the time to pump, having to wash bottles all the time (those you use to collect the milk plus those you use to feed with), having to make the bottles with the right amount of milk, having to freeze excess milk, etc. However, I only pump every 6 hours, and she only eats every 4-6 hours. I think if I were nursing her she would be eating every 2-3 hours, especially in the beginning. Since DH and other family members can help with the feedings, it takes alot of that work away from me. I think having to nurse 8-12 times a day (or sometimes even more) would be more exhausing than what I've been doing. I don't know.

I think everybody has to do what works best for them. For me, this has worked out just fine. I give my daughter what she needs, yet it is not killing me. I still think that next time around I will try again to nurse, if for nothing else to have the experience and to know that once again I did everything I could for my baby.

Re: Another BF'ing question

Thanks ladies!