Breastmilk from a bottle = less feedings?

I know they tell you that most babies take in less food per feedings when breastfeeding - and therefore you end up feeding them more often when breastfeeding (actually...is this the reason you feed a breastfed baby more often?)  I really like the idea of breastfeeding and would like to give it a go...but the more I think about it...I feel like if I pump then feed the baby from a bottle she'll have the benefits of breastmilk, she'll have to be fed less often (more sleep for the momma at night), and we'll be able to keep track of exactly how much she's eating.  Does it work like that?  Or is it something in the formula that keeps babies from being hungry for longer?  

[AndiJ78]

NO, babies don't take in less, breastmilk is easier to digest and therefor is processed faster. Feeding breatmilk from a bottle won't change the digestability of it. Babies who are breastfed are much mroe effecient than a pump, so you are better off nursing directly, the results will be the same, the baby will still eat frequently and rightly so ; )

[sallystar]

AHHH...thanks for that bit of info.  I've been wondering that for awhile now!  It always seemed like such a no-brainer solution...guess that's because it's NOT a solution! LOL...ok...this mom is going to prepare for some sleepless nights!  Although...i think i am still going to pump as much as possible so that my dh can share in the nighttime feeding fun!!

[ksanden]

my son is 6 wks and sleeps 5 hours at night and off in on in the morning i breast feed i still get sleep though and feed in the bottle with breast milk doesnt seem to be any different.
i do think that there is somehting in formula that help fill them up faster though.
ksanden

[AndiJ78]

Again, the reason formula fed babies don't eat as often as their bodies cannot process it as easily and it lingers in their stomach and digestive tract. Breastmilk is highly digestable and doesn't take long to break down. Think of it in terms of what you eat, highly digestable foods leave us feeling hungry sooner, whereas denser food stays with us longer.

Bottle or breast, you will not be sleeping much for a long time. I have nursed all three of my boys, endured many sleepless nights, and still would not have had it any other way.

[Terri3111]

We were co-sleepers here with all 5 of mine and I could NOT imagine having to actually get up and fix/warm/hold a bottle in the middle of the night! I don't believe there is anything easier or more convenient than nursing and would never have it any other way :-)

[ShamansMommy]

I agree with Terri. Co-sleeping is the only way any of us around here get any sleep!! Side lying, I just pop her on the boob when she wakes up and pretty much go right back to sleep. Those are the most precious moments. When everyone is asleep and u snuggle with your precious bundle and watch them get blissed out on ur glorious boobie kryptonite...priceless.