more BF questions, pumping and bottles

Hi!...

As a parent of a newborn, I find myself only posting about BF issues.... Maybe thats because it is all I feel I do with my DD...

Questions for you out there who BF... my DD is two weeks...

1. at what week did you start pumping?
2. What time of day worked best, when pumping and still BF?
3. At what week did you introduce the bottle? Did it cause nipple confusion? (these internet articles are driving me nuts!)
4. What bottles did you find worked best with children who are BF?

Any help would be so greatly appreciated!.... Thanks!

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

First off, congrats & welcome (& as I'm sure you've heard, it does get easier).

B/c I had a CS & DD was initally in the NICU (she had a tough time transitioning) they fed her a bottle of formula immediately & then proceeded w/ this until I was able to come down & pump/try to BF.

DD wouldn't latch on & I was getting stressed & so began to pump from day 2.

When I took DD home from hospital I no longer gave her any formula & would nurse her in the am/last feeding at night & then pump the rest of the time & give her a bottle.

She had no problem w/ nipple confusion (although I refused to give her a paci for a month).

We've been using Dr. Brown's bottles/nipples & had no problems either.


Generally you always get the most milk first thing in the am (if you decide to BF & then pump)

Good luck

If you are going to pump for the long term, do yourself a favor & get a hands free pumping bra.

Message edited 12/3/2007 9:29:19 PM.

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

i'm a new mom too, but i'll add my info

i started bf right away after my csection while in the recovery room...it was hard at first, but it did get easier - my son was a peanut when he was born - 6 lbs, so when he dropped weight twice in the hospital they wanted me to start supplementing w/neosure after each feeding - only a few ml..i was worried about the nipple confusion - but it didn't happen with my son, thankfully.

once we got home he was really fussy at night, so i figured it was the neosure b/c he was getting more than he did initially. i pumped the next day (he was 4 days old) to give him bottles of my milk at night.

it worked better. i too, use dr.browns. I tried advent first, didn't like the big bottle and i felt like there was so much air compared to my colostrum/milk mix.

used pacis since the beginning, though only when i feel he needs to be soothed or when he's using my nipple as a paci.

it gets easier - keep going. ur doing a great job!

i also find that i get more milk first thing in the morning. the ladies on teh board suggested mothers milk tea and fenugreek to increase supply - also consistent pumping and increased water intake.

good luck!

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

I actually waited a long while to start pumping. I didn't have to return to work until DD was 4 months.

I exclusively BF for the first 3 months and then started to pump.

I was pumping right after I fed DD. She often only fed on one breast during a feeding so the other was often full. I'd do pretty well with the ounces when I pumped.

We didn't introduce the bottle until 3 months. DD gave us a real run for our money accepting the bottle. It took a few days of her refusal for her to finally give it a shot. I wouldn't say she loved it but it eventually worked. We really waited too long.

We used Dr Browns bottles. I had heard great things about them so that's what I registered for. The bottles have a couple of inserted parts and they come with the small cleaning brushes. If you do opt for these bottles, I never had to use those cleaning tools. I would just wash the bottles and parts in warm soapy water and boil them for 5 minutes (after every use) We did one pot of bottles at the end of each day. I never had any build-up in the parts at all. We used them for 11 months....until DD transitioned to the sippy cup.

It sounds like you are doing great! Newborns just want to be on the breast. I wouldn't introduce the bottle until DD is at least 4-6 weeks old. JMO

ETA: I meant to say Congrats!

Message edited 12/3/2007 9:38:57 PM.

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

Congrats and welcome!!!!!

My baby went into NICU immediately, so I had no choice to begin breastfeeding until almost 24 hours later. I wasn't planning on using a bottle at all until he hit the 6 week mark. Boy did my plans change.

At 6 days I was put back into the hospital and DS was not allowed to be with me. I began pumping then so my milk could be sent home to him. Again, not my plan. When I was home and he was waking in the middle of the night to feed he would only drink from one breast. So I would pump the other breast.

Now (starting around week 7) I mainly pump at night, after he goes to sleep. That way I keep my supply up and am able to freeze some for the 'just in case' stash of breastmilk.

BTW: He never had nipple confusion. But lately, he's been wanting my breast more than the bottle. He just wants the comfort.

Message edited 12/3/2007 10:19:44 PM.

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

1. at what week did you start pumping?

I started pumping a little before 2 weeks

2. What time of day worked best, when pumping and still BF?

Typically you can get more milk in the morning. I used to be able to pump one breast after a feeding b/c DD would only eat from one side but that has changed so now I typically pump after she eats in the middle of the night (2am) and then again after she eats around 8:30-9 and again after she eats around 3ish and finally I have a pumping session about an hour and a half after she goes down for the night.

3. At what week did you introduce the bottle? Did it cause nipple confusion? (these internet articles are driving me nuts!)

We gave DD her first bottle at 2 weeks. She did not have nipple confusion at all and she also had a pacifier that she started to get around 1 week old.

4. What bottles did you find worked best with children who are BF?

We tried Dr. Browns bottles first and they have worked so we never tried anything else.

HTH

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

1. I started pumping I think the week i got home, b/c I was having latching issues.
2. I didnt have a time, i do when engorged and my DD didnt want to feed off breast.
3. She was introduced right away, and no nipple confusion, we do have days that she absolutely refuses to eat off breast, but it seems to work out.
4. DH and I like Dr. Brown bottles.

We tried: Medela-- alot of air bubbles
Playtex Drop ins- too hard for her to get BM out off, with nipple
Adventair- that chemical so we stopped thos
Gerber plastic- she didnt like

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

DD never had latching issues so I didn't start pumping until 4 weeks - I started giving her bottles around 4 1/2 -5 weeks - I would only give them when we went on errands or out to a restaurant b/c I didn't feel comfortable nursing in public - She took to the bottle right away and didn't have any issues introducing the bottle - she never had any problems latching after taking a bottle either. I use Dr. Browns, Avent, and Born Free (plastic ones). I would pump mornings mostly - feed her on one breast and pump from the other - occasionally if I was engorged I would pump at night.

DD at about 16 weeks however decided she would refuse to take a bottle no matter what so it became really hard - she started taking a bottle again this past week.

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

I pumped from day 1 in the hospital

At home I tried to pump a little after each feeding in the beginning, or just after certain feedings (whenever I wanted, no set schedule).

DS was given a bottle even before I BFd in the hospital (b/c he was in NICU) and he didn't have any nipple confusion after, he latched on very easily

Mine takes born free nipples no problem, also the Advent. I found the medela nipples to be a PITA so I dont use them, I only pump into the medela bottle and then transfer it to another bottle. I also can use my left over (one time use) similac nipples that the hospital gave me on the medela bottles..which is convienient.

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

1. at what week did you start pumping? 2 weeks

2. What time of day worked best, when pumping and still BF? the morning gives most milk

3. At what week did you introduce the bottle? Did it cause nipple confusion? (these internet articles are driving me nuts!) i introduced a bottle of expressed BM at like 2 weeks and no it didnt cause any nipple confusion. although my lac consultant said that my breasts were probably sore b/c i introduced the bottle so early. if i were you i would wait until 4 weeks old to introduce a bottle of bm.

4. What bottles did you find worked best with children who are BF? i used the avent ones and still do.

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

Thanks so much for all your help!... I am going to try the pumping thing this weekend.... If I am pumping at different times during the day, do I pump into the same bottle, or use different bottle for each pumping session? Who knew BF would be so detailed!....... I can't wait to give my poor breasts a break.... !

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles

Re: more BF questions, pumping and bottles