Question about BF

I am not comfortable with breastfeeding--please don't judge or try to talk me into it. I would like to be able to provide breastmilk for the baby though. I am not able to do this for a long period of time due to work obligations but I figure every little bit helps.

Is it possible to just pump and supplement with formula? I feel like this may be a good option for me if its possible?

Re: Question about BF

Sure its possible. I only nursed the first 6 wks or so & then pumped for an entire year. It's a lot of work though b/c it takes time to pump & then you still have to feed them. Definitely invest in a hands free bra (so then you can go online or talk on the phone etc).

It can definitely be done though; also stock up on your freezer stash. The first few weeks are the toughest, don't give up.

Re: Question about BF

I could have written your post.... i want to use breastmilk for all the positives for baby but am not ok yet with the idea of using my boob as the "delivery method" KWIM?

I want to just pump and feed the baby in bottles and didn't know if it works that way or not.

Re: Question about BF

It's possible but it can be a pain. This is just based on my experience but I wanted to BF but had problems so I had to supplement with formula and pump. It was hard for me to get a lot of milk with the pumping. The OB and lactation consultant said it's because the pump doesn't stimulate milk production like the baby sucking does. Anyway, plenty of people pump so it's not like it doesn't work but it is time consuming and you might find you're not getting a lot of milk. That was my experience but everyone is different. Good luck!!

Re: Question about BF

Thank you for the feedback!

Re: Question about BF

I pumped for 8 months and I am going to be honest, it was the worst decision I ever made. It was very very very very hard work. I even once had to pump in the bathroom on a transatlantic flight. Never again. If this baby doesn't want to BF s/he is going right onto formula I am a big advocate for BF'ing and I hope to the gods above that this one does, but I wouldn't make the commitment to pump again. Its very very hard work, I was a slave to the pump for 8 months.

I had a HUGE milk supply, and I had bags and bags of BM in my freezer, but unfortunately my milk contains a lipase that causes BM to sour once frozen, so all of the milk had to be thrown away.

Message edited 1/11/2009 2:44:43 PM.

Re: Question about BF

Yeah, that's a real possibility. I think that's a great alternative if you are willing to do it.

Re: Question about BF

It is definitely a possibility if that is what you are interested in doing. The only thing is that (and some other moms might be more helpful with this) but I think pumping exclusively might not give you as good a supply as if you BF as well. But you said you were going to supplement so that might not be an issue. I hated to BF in public I was too uncomfortable - so I pumped for when I went out with DD. I give you a lot of credit if you can do it - it was VERY difficult and a bit of a pain to pump regularly. Definitely ask this question over on parenting b.c I know that there are moms over there who pumped exclusively!

Good luck with whatever choice you do make!

Re: Question about BF

i also plan to pump and supplement with formula....

dh is looking forward to feeding the baby a bottle.

the book i was just reading said that pumped milk could stay upto 5 days.. but you could freeze milk upto 2 months in an icecube tray that you warm up the cubes when ready to use

Message edited 1/11/2009 6:28:46 PM.

Re: Question about BF

whether you're able to pull off exclusive pumping depends, i think, on how your body responds to the pump.

in my case, i never got a lot of milk when i pumped, but when the baby nursed he got more than enough. so BFing was wonderful while i was on maternity leave, but it all kinda went downhill once i went back to work. i struggled to pump enough for him, and by 5-6 months i had to switch over to formula altogether. so i would never have lasted as an exclusive pumper.

pumping is hard work whether your get a lot of milk or not. it's a lot more time consuming than meets the eye - and then you have to feed the baby when you're done. at the beginning you're doing this (pumping/feeding) like every two hours, so by the time you're done it's practically time to start all over again.
so it can be very exhausting.

please don't take this as discouragement - just my perspective from my experience doing it. where there's a will there's a way - give it a try!!

Re: Question about BF

of course its possible! If you want to do it, you can! I know a lot of pople who did it.
XOXOX
BOTB

Re: Question about BF

sure! I only pumped for DS, and supplemented w/ forumula until he was 3 and a half months. then I stopped pumping all together. DS did not latch, probably because I gave him like 4 bottles before I tried to bf

But I will say (please don't take this as me trying to convince you) pumping is soooo much work (I was also recovering from a C section). By the time DS was 3 weeks I wished I tried the BF because I had to pump like 7 times a day, wash pump parts, plus the extra bottles. I wish someone had told me how much extra effort it was.

I had the Medela Pump in style, the metro bag and it was great!!

oh ETA I agree with Racheee, If my next LO does not latch, baby will be going straight to formula bc for me it was too much. I never was able to produce enough to save anything , so I had a lot of frustrations w/ straight pumping.

Message edited 1/11/2009 7:51:33 PM.