I just nursed after pumping 5 weeks! now what?

[lmc2132]

Hi!  

My son is 7 weeks old and I have been exclusively pumping since he was two weeks old.  We tried BFing but getting him latched was next to impossible (flailing baby problem) and I was in excruciating pain.  For 5 weeks I have pumped about 4oz/day more than DS eats.

Twice today I have successfully nursed him, with little pain!  He is much calmer now, has more muscle control, and my breasts are softer.  My question is, now what?  Do I nurse AND keep pumping on my regular schedule?  Pump less?  I don't want to increase my supply and don't want to become engorged.  Any tips?

Thanks!!
-Lynne

[PamelaBee]

Yay, I'm glad to hear you were able to nurse him today!  Yes, I would continue nursing and pumping, this alone will keep up your supply.  You said you don't want to increase your supply...why not?    You're fortunate to pump 4oz at each session!  Freeze your supply if it is bountiful!  I'm sure you are tired of exclusively pumping after all those weeks, and yes, you can definitely back off how many times a day you pump.  Since your son is nursing successfully, many women pump in between feedings or maybe only 2-3 times a day.  If you become engorged, than definitely pump...Good luck!

[lmc2132]

Thanks for the advice...I don't want to increase b/c I am already banking 4oz/day and my freezer is getting full!  Also I have had engorgement problems here and there.  

I am thinking I will just pump a little less often as long as he is nursing...just go with what feels right for now I guess!

[tiredbuthappy]

if your supply is good, which it is, then i would only pump any sessions he misses nursing. or, if he only nurses a few minutes and you have to finish with bottle, then finish emptying with a pump. it's good to be careful not to build too much of a supply, as it can cause difficulties for baby. i know i had problems with this.

definitely go with what feels right. i am successfully doing a combo. we started out only nursing but reflux and colic interfered with nursing. for a while i could only bottle feed in the evenings. Now i try nursing, but if she thrashes too much, then i just pump and feed. She also has trouble drawing milk out due to tonguetie, so we start some sessions nursing but she then gets frustrated so i pump out the rest. Moral of the long story is that you can do both- offer the breast first and if he doesn't nurse then simply replace that session with a pump.

congratulations. what an inspiration for those who struggle :)

[PamelaBee]

I'm just curious why too much of a supply could cause difficulties for a baby.  Is it because the letdown would be too forceful when they first latch on to nurse?

[tiredbuthappy]

yup- my little one was choking on the milk

[lmc2132]

I thought the choking problem was due to fast letdown, not oversupply...I seem to have both.  DS does choke a little at first sometimes.  Mainly I just don't want any more engorgement problems, which is why I am cautious.

Thanks tiredbuthappy and PamelaBee for your thoughts.  It turns out we are not such an inspiration after all...a few nursing sessions and I could feel my nipples becoming sore again. :(  He ***** so hard that I develop little clear bubbles of skin on my nipples.   I think I just got him at a calm moment for the first few times.  So, for now we will stick with pumping and try nursing again soon...I won't give up hope.  It's good to know others successfully do a combo.

-Lynne

[tiredbuthappy]

that pain actually fades after 2 weeks. you would just have to stick it out that long if you wanted to. i got those clear blisters too, along with bleeding sores, etc... it honestly started to improve after 2 weeks, and by 3/4 weeks i couldn't feel anything.

you're right about letdown and oversupply. i also had both. but oversupply can cause heavy let-down. she is now very used to my let-down. i actually had to switch to a faster flow bottle because she would get so mad that it wasn't as fast as the boob.

[lmc2132]

DS seems to handle the letdown OK.  He seems a little startled sometimes, but fine.

ugh, i do not want to go through all that pain again for 2 more weeks...i did that already when he was first born and it's half the reason we quit.  i guess i will have to decide what's more important.

[Super_sally888]

Seeing your baby is happy to nurse, and switch to bottle feeding, why don't you gradually build up the nubmer of direct feeds a day.  Maybe breastfeeding every second or third feed per day at first,then every second and then more frequently.  It is so convenient to be able to breast feed directly and the pain does go away.

I personally have found as my baby gets older it is harder and harder to pump.... but she does just fine breastfeeding directly.

[lmc2132]

Super_sally, I really like your suggestion.  I agree it would be much better to have a choice, feed or pump.  Maybe I will start with one nursing session after bathtime at night when he is calm, and go from there.