breastfeeding ?

[Jojolee94]

I'm 24 Weeks today and the whole pregnancy I've been contemplating breast feeding or not..and if you can switch like breast feeding at home.then pumping and using a bottle while you're out ?

[Jojolee94]

Thanks alot guys, it sounds like its the perfect choice for me.

[krizmart]

Thanks girls! Very informative. and gordonbaby i dont know yet thats why i need to know these things now because whatever the baby needs im willing to do,so i migjt just have to hold off of school for a month,thats fine as long as i know my baby is getting what he needs. Im gonna check out the scheduling and see what i have to do.thanks again!

[KTowne]

One of my friends went back to work and pumped within 2 weeks of delivering her daughter, she did have the option of breaking halfway through and pumping, if you can pump every 3-4 hours, that's best to maintain milk supply. So if you get a lunch, break, etc. try pumping at them times. If not, your body will adjust to the break in being emptied mid day and you'll eventually produce less at those times. A day or two won't change it, but weeks of doing it will affect your supply. Even if it's just 5 minutes, try doing 5 minutes on each side during your breaks and that will help significantly!

[GordonBaby]

My lactation consultant told me a month just so my body can adjust to breastfeeding. But that's a good question Kriz, I wonder if there are ladies out there that kinda have to jump to a bottle and how does the body adjust...... My question is, are you going to be able to pump at school if need be?

[KTowne]

You can switch, but you should avoid using a bottle the first 4 weeks or so as the baby is getting used to latching on, if you introduce a bottle too early the baby may not go back to latching to the breast because the bottle is easier for them, and also to make sure you have a well established milk supply. For me, since about 2 weeks I've switched back and forth (my daughter took to breastfeeding great, never had nipple confusion), and she's 3 months and still BF. It's a great thing to do if you can, endless benefits for mom and baby, and I lost all of my pregnancy weight within 2 weeks each time breastfeeding.. The first time it was 45lbs.

[krizmart]

Vicky were you directing that to me hun?

[Vickymaybaby]

They say it takes about that long for your body to recognise how much milk you need to be producing for your baby.  I had to ask my midwife because I was thinking the same. :)

[krizmart]

*straight

[krizmart]

@gordonbaby do we  have to do it steaight for a month first, cus im planinning on startin my college classes again and i need to lnow these things for when baby comes

[GordonBaby]

I know multiple women who do just that. Breastfeed for a month and then transition bottles in with pumped breast milk. I plan on doing that as well. In fact I was at a bridal shower last weekend and my cousin was in the back of the room breastfeeding her daughter, and two hours after that, she was giving her a bottle, and the baby is  a little under three months old. I have had one person try to discourage me from bottle feeding but in reality, some of us HAVE to go back to work and can't breastfeed all hours of the day.

[krizmart]

Im pretty sure you can switch,  like i definitely plan to breastfeed, but then when im at school and i have to leave him with his father i will make sure to leave pumped milk for the baby . I know it can be done because thats how my uncles wife did it while she went to work.