Breastfeeding question: pumping?

[Hulahut]

Hi all:
I'm not asking for opinions on whether or not to breastfeed, because it is a decision only I can make and have had just about my fill of opinions given to me on the subject (and judgment - not from this forum, though-thank you!).  It's amazing how many people want to tell me what to do at 25 weeks pg?!  :)  I'm sure loads of us out there have experienced a bombardment of people giving their unsolicited advice.  I usually welcome it, but when people tell me what an awful parent I'll be if I don't do what they suggest, it really turns me off.  Anyway, sorry for the rant.  Is there anyone out there who chose not to breastfeed but pumped to give their child their nurishment and also gave formula feedings?  I'm not sure if this is something that can be done, and I plan to talk to the OB at my next appt, but I thought I'd ask here.  Thank you for your input in advance!

[anxiousmomtobe?]

I have a dear friend who's baby had iug and her jaw was extremely underdeveloped at birth and she could not nurse.  My friend pumped for six months and gave her baby breastmilk exclusively.  At six months the baby was nursing quite well and she nursed her until about 12 months.

So it can be done, it's a lot of work though.  

whether or not ot nurse is something only you can decide.  I nursed my first for 5 months and my second for 17 months.  I didn't decide to nurse my first until she was born.  It was a matter of economics.  

I find nursing a lot easier than messing with  formula and bottles, but everyone is differant.  There are people who are so pro-nursing that they overlook the welfare of the mother.  I am definitely not one of those.  

It's your baby and you are the mummy and whatever you decide is the right decision.  

Oh and obgyns are useless when it comes to nursing advice, I would talk to friends who nursed and get their advice.  LaLeche League is great as well, but they are VERY pro nursing.

[Hulahut]

THANK YOU!!!

[DollChina]

Yes, I think it can be done.  You will just have to figure out a routine on how much breast milk and how much formula.  I myself nurse my baby exclusively but since I returned to work when he was 2 months old.  I would just pump throughouth the day and he takes bottle brease milk just fine.  It will probably be hard at first but once you have a schedule then it gets easier.
I wouldn't count on a doc to much on the topic since they always tell you breast is the best.  
Good luck, whatever you decide.

[toyml99]

I had latching on issues with my dd.  Two hours of trying to feed her, I would be crying and so would she.  So I bought a $60 pump from Target.  It worked some but I didn't have a flow of milk.  Then I bought a $40 pump from Walmart.  Still only pumped alittle.  I then bought a Medela $257 pump because that is what they told me would save my milk.  I used it three times and my milk was gone.  I never filled up.  So I don't know if it was because I didn't produce the milk or because she didn't nurse.  My dd had three weeks of breast feeding and then on to formula.  She is perfectly healthy!  I felt like such a failure and made my dh feed her because the thought of giving her formula was aweful.  Don't EVER let anyone make you feel bad for not breastfeeding and the people who say EVERYONE CAN breast feed are just WRONG!  Good luck to you and the best advice my ped ever gave me was YOUR THE MOM USE YOUR HEAD AND TRUST YOUR GUT!  

[low22]

Hey you!  I still need to reply to your e-mail... I have not forgotten :)

I have also been doing a lot of research on this breastfeeding stuff.  I think that you can do anything you want basically but be warned...I just had a friend give birth on Feb 17 and she was wanting to exclusively breastfeed.  She even got the expensive Medela.  Well, she went back to work 2 weeks after the birth and she has not pumped on a schedule (she usually does it twice a day at work instead of every 2-3 hours like she should).  So, anyway, she's already drying up.  She could only get out 1 oz at one pumping sitting yesterday.  Also, they say that you have more success if you breastfeed exclusively for several weeks because the baby's sucking is better than a pump and it really gets your milk going, stimulates the cells, etc.  And a pump isn't as good for that at first.  SO...what I'm trying to say...is I think if you are diligent with the pumping you should have enough milk and then be able to use formula as well.  If you're doing both the formula may upset his tummy but not sure.

[ziza]

I pumped exclusively for 10 months!!!  My nipples got so chewed up the first 2 weeks of trying to breastfeed that I couldn't do it & I wasn't healing.  I used a Medela Pump in Style and my son got pumped milk only for his first 6 months until I started supplementing w/formula.

[anxiousmomtobe?]

I LOVE the medela pump in style.  I had one with my ds, passed it on as I was sure we were done....

Oops, I guess I will be trying to buy a used one on e-bay!

[JJety]

Yes, it can be done.  I did it.  However, the problem is that you're pulling double duty.  You're taking the time necessary to feed the baby the bottle and then you're taking more time afterwards to pump.  You lose twice as much sleep.  It's really draining and definitely takes it's toll.

My DS was not latching on properly, unbeknownst to me, and it resulted in unbearable sore nipples and one nipple split open.  I pumped instead so that I could still give him breastmilk but then I could heal because I could pump with care and be gentle on myself.  I couldn't pump as much as he would eat from nursing so I did have to supplement with formula.  

That's my only advice - just understand that you're losing twice as much sleep and that's really tough.  I ended up drying myself up right before returning to work because I couldn't keep up the routine of nighttime pumping and feeding.

[Hulahut]

Thank you for all of your great advice.  Now I have no idea what to do. :)  Perhaps I'll just wait until the day arrives and make the decision then.  :)

[cutiemama]

It can definitely done but as mentioned, it is cery time consuming and a major commitement. If you're not 100% sure, your should try renting a hospital grade pump and if you see that you don't mind the effort, you can continue renting or just buy a really good pump. I pumped for about a week when my 2nd baby was a couple weeks old until my nipples healed and I'll tell you the truth, that was the hardest. Nursing is much much easier.

[mum2beagain]

Type 'Exclusivley pumping' into your internet search engine, there is lots of info out there and support groups for women who choose to feed this way. I did consider it, as my son had a very weak suck, so I did pump for some feedings at first but 'finger fed' him with this expressed milk until his suck became stronger, after a few weeks I introduced a bottle and at 8 weeks introduced some formula so he now mainly breastfeeds but ocassionally has a bottle of expressed milk or formula.
If you decide to exclusivley pump remember to pump every 3 hours for at least the first four weeks (4 hours at night) to establish your supply and then after that you need to pump every time your baby feeds.
Now for storing expressed milk; use sterile plastic containers if possibe, it can be kept in the back of the fridge (not the door) for up to seven days, a side by side freezer for 3 months or at the bottom of a deep freeze for up to 12 months, frozen milk defrosted in the fridge should be used within 48 hours(these were guidelines I was given by the special care unit at the hospital). The breast milk storage bags are great for freezing milk in (lie them flat to freeze, they are much easier to store that way and bag them in ziploc bags in date order and don't forget to use the oldest first!  
Also a good pump is a must, I have the Ameda pump and get 10oz at a time if my baby hasn't recently breast fed.
Hope this info helps and best of luck the rest of your pregnancy and your new baby.

[Hulahut]

WOW - thank you for putting so much time and thought into this.  I will definitely be printing this out.  

[first_time_mommy]

I mixed my baby as I am going back to work... I use the pump more versus nursing him because I feel like I can get more milk through pumping.  I use Ameda breast pump and I like it very much.

It really depends on you... people give advice differently.

[myproblem]

I have a friend who pumped and supplemented. I also have known people who soley pumped and gave their baby breastmilk only.