Question for BF moms

When did you start to pump? I am staying home w. baby for a year so when i pump, its not bc im back at work. I want to pump so that i can have DH and others feed baby too.

Also- did your baby stop wanting the breast when you used bottle of milk? Also- what bottles did you find work best? I have the Medela bottles.

Re: Question for BF moms

My only advice is if you want the baby to take a bottle don't wait to long to introduce it and make sure you give it at once or twice a week. I waited to long and both of my kids refused the bottle. So I always had to nurse to feed them, no breaks for me.

Re: Question for BF moms

Posted by Stacey1403

My only advice is if you want the baby to take a bottle don't wait to long to introduce it and make sure you give it at once or twice a week. I waited to long and both of my kids refused the bottle. So I always had to nurse to feed them, no breaks for me.

Re: Question for BF moms

Since you will be home for a while - I would definitely insist on having your DC on your breast and not pumping in the beginning. At least until over 6 weeks if you can. thats what I did.

I made the mistake with my first and started pumping way to soon and my supply didn't establish well like it did the second time with DD on my breast. Grated after I pumped for 4 or so months successfully and everyone was able to help feed her.

Remember once you start pumping - you will have to pump for 2-3 hours in the beginning so your body will keep up with the supply baby needs.

You want your body to adjust to how much the baby needs in the beginning and you really want her to nurse on your breast as soon as the baby is born and the few 6 weeks or so of her life....

Just from my experience.

ETA - I also used the Dr Browns and had no problem.

Message edited 9/27/2009 11:30:05 AM.

Re: Question for BF moms

Pumping never worked for me, so I'm not much help with that.

My only suggestions would be to not pump in the beginning. You are trying to build up a good supply of milk and get the baby used to BF. The baby eats every 2-3hrs and you and your boobs need a break in between. I supplemented with formula from the beginning. I would give him one bottle each day of formula. Sometimes I would skip days, but most of the time he was bottle fed when out in public. If you are against formula all together, I would wait 2-3 weeks to introduce a bottle. So, I would wait to pump until then.
I never had a problem with switching back and fourth. I would go a few days EBF and then give a bottle with no problem. Just don't wait to long to introduce it. Your baby might give you a funny face when introducing the bottle. My DS did this all the time and still always drank the bottle. They stop that after a while.

I didn't care for the medela bottles, (when I could get some BM out), I would usually pump BM into them and then switch the bottle. I prefer Dr. Brown bottles. That is all I use. I actually liked the Born Free as well, but DS didn't. Your baby will tell you what bottle they like. Most babies only take to certain bottles and pacifiers. They prefer certain nipples.

With one of my neices, my sister was told to wait 6-8 weeks to introduce a bottle. My sister waited and my neice refused a bottle. It was pretty hard on her.

Message edited 9/27/2009 12:07:18 PM.

Re: Question for BF moms

I started pumping when he was 6 days old because I was still in the hospital and he got to go home.

He never had a problem taking the breast. IN fact, he refused the bottle often between 3-5 months. DH was

It really helped out so I could sleep one morning and DH could feed, or when I went to the gym, or if I wanted to run some errands.

ETA: He took well to the medela bottles, but as time went on he wanted different nipples. So we bought packages of different nipples til we found ones he liked. They are typically interchangeable.

Message edited 9/27/2009 12:07:37 PM.

Re: Question for BF moms

I started pumping at @ 4 weeks?? But that was b/c it was New Year's Eve. I kicked it into high gear at @ 6 weeks. I went through 4 different types of bottles before DD finally accepted the Playtex drop-ins with the latex nipple.

Re: Question for BF moms

I started pumping right away, as soon as my milk came in and I had no problems-- maybe a little oversupply, but that's it. I guess everyone is different! She also has had no problem transitioning form breast to bottle and back again. I have no advice, but just to tell you that every baby is different and you can hear lots of different people's stories, but your baby will handle things differently than other babies, so just try to play it by ear.

Re: Question for BF moms

I established a fully supply with a hospital grade pump because my twins were in the NICU. I did it every 3 hours liek clockwork, even through the night. I also took More Milk Plus and was producing 16-18 oz in one session.

I ended up exclusively pumping because it was too much for me to BF twins. In the beginning the babie\s are not very efficient and it will seem like you are feeding them all the time. If you can make it through that I would say start to pump after you feed, for 15 minutes or so. This will increase your supply and you can start to build a freezer stash.

Re: Question for BF moms

I started pumping when DS was 4 weeks old. I did it to build a freezer supply for when I went back to work. I am so glad I did. I have been back to work 3 weeks not and DS has used a decent amount. We use the Drop Ins bottles and he loves them!

Re: Question for BF moms

started pumping during the 2nd week when my supply really came in and froze whatever i pumped for the future. then we introduced the bottle to DS when he was 4 wks old-since then he gets a bottle every day. this important b/c with my DD i stopped giving a bottle here and there and by 9 weeks she full on refused it-very frustrating!
don't get discouraged btw with pumping at first. it sucks (i hated it!) but once you get it going after a little while it gets much easier!

Re: Question for BF moms

our ped is also a LC, and she recommended giving DD a bottle every other day as soon as we got home from the hospital, which we've been doing. she has had no problems going from breast to bottle. if you wait to long to give them the bottle, they may not take it at all. my supply has been really good, and i only pump when it's a day for her to have a bottle. DD is only 12 days old, so i'm hoping things continue like this. as it gets closer for me to go to work, we'll give her a bottle at least once daily, probably twice so she won't have any problems drinking 2-3 bottles a day while i'm at work.

the only bottle i've used for her so far is the breast flow bottle and she's had no problem at all with it.

Re: Question for BF moms

I started pumping when she was 3 weeks. I want to build a supply in the freezer for when I go back to work.

I know you don't need to do that, but start pumping around that time anyway so you can get the baby used to the bottle and see what bottle and nipple he/she takes.

We tried several bottles/nipples and she only likes the Playtex drop ins with the slow flow nipple.

Right now, DD gets a bottle of pumped milk probably twice or 3x a week (mostly on the weekends when we are out at someone else's house and I don't want to be stuck in a room feeding her) so she gets used to it and she takes it just fine. Plus, DH and MIL love getting to feed her!

Since you'll be home with your DC, just pump when you know you have somewhere to go in the next few days. The pumped milk can stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days.

I get the most out of pumping in the morning since now she sleeps about 4-5 hours at a time during the night. I BF her in the morning, then I wait about 1/2 hour and pump and I can get 4 ounces or more to save for when I want to give her a bottle.

Re: Question for BF moms

I was pumping from the very beginning. DD was preferred BFing, but took the bottle well.

I stopped for about a month (pumping) and it was hard to get her back on the bottle.

Re: Question for BF moms

For me pumping was really an inconvienence and I don't do it. Since I was home with dd for 1 year I just EBF. I would try to keep an open mind and decide what will work best for you as you go.

Re: Question for BF moms

I pumped in the hospital & fortunately DS never got any type of nipple confusion. He had no trouble latching even if we gave him a bottle. Now at 3 weeks, he will still latch on but mostly takes bottles

Re: Question for BF moms

We did not introduce DD to a bottle until she was 5 weeks old. Did not want nipple confusion to be an issue. I started pumping from the beginning b/c I wanted to build my freezer stash. I would pump every morning after feeding DD. Your supply is best in the AM so that's why I did this. Within 3 months I had over 200 oz in the freezer!

Re: Question for BF moms

Most resources I read said best to introduce the bottle at 4 to 6 weeks to make sure that your latch is well established, and it's not too late for the baby to take the bottle. Worked for us. We gave DS a few bottles to make sure he'd take it if needed (I'm off of work for about 9 months). However, last week we tried to give him formula - again just to make sure he'd take it - but he didn't like it at all. Just gave him a bottle of BM tonight actually to make sure the issue was with the formula and not with the bottle since it's been a few weeks since we last gave him one, and he drank it down no problem.

I find the problem with pumping is finding the time to do it. One breast is better than the other, so the stars really have to be aligned for it to be a good time (ie DS napping) and for the good breast to be on deck so to speak. I'd just play it by ear and see how you feel. I find that I'm really lazy - I can't be bothered to sterilize bottles, defrost some milk, warm it up, etc, it's so much easier to just stick him on the boob! LOL