question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

How long do you plan on exclusively breastfeeding, without pumping and using breast milk in bottles? My mom was a little sad when I first said I was breast feeding cause she thought giving the baby a bottle is a nice way of bonding. After I go back to work, that will obviously have to be done, but before going back (for about 3 months or so) I didn't want to use bottles. Do you think that's unrealistic?

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

well, I will say that you should ask a lactaction consultant when you should introduce a bottle... you don't want to exclusively breastfeed and then go back to work the same day baby is first introduced to a bottle... there is supposed to be a transition period where the baby can become accustomed to both ways of feeding. I believe it's after 8 weeks or something

I intend to start of breastfeeding, and then transition to bottle/pumping before returning to work.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

Sorry to bust in but as a mom who BF, I would suggest introducing the bottle sooner then right when you go back to work. I returned to work when Ryan was 15wks and we only gave him a bottle every once in a while. Around 10-12wks he decided to refuse the bottle and it was a bit scary to think he wouldn't take it. So, while most would say not to introduce a bottle before 3 wks or so, I would start giving DC one on a regular basis - at least a few times a wk so you can figure out which one he/she likes and let him/her get used to it.

Message edited 8/19/2008 2:41:38 PM.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

I plan on pumping very early - with two especially, I want DH to be able to participate with feedings.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

I plan on pumping only after has become accustomed to breastfeeding but def. with time to get him accustomed to the bottle before I go back to work.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

As long as breastfeeding is going well it is a good idea to introduce a bottle between 2 and 4 weeks, if you plan on giving your baby bottles later on. Sometimes if you wait too long the baby will refuse the bottle.

I gave DS a bottle of pumped milk at around 3 weeks since I was going back to work, but I was really lazy about it and only gave it to him a few times. He never had a drop of formula and only took bottles of pumped milk while I was at work.

I know some people suggest waiting longer, but I struggled to get DS to take a bottle after I went back to work, so I plan on introducing pumped millk earlier and more consistently with this one.

ETA: Of course, you should wait until breastfeeding is well established, but if you have a good supply and a good eater, a bottle of pumped milk every couple of days or so shouldn't mess breastfeeding up. If you feel that your baby is starting to prefer the bottle (it's easier for them), then definately lay off the bottle.

Message edited 8/19/2008 2:54:16 PM.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

I will feed from the breast exclusively up to 3 weeks. Then I will pump so DH and others can feed her.

But as long as I am with the baby and I am physically able to do it, she will feed from the breast. I will not feed her breast milk from a bottle myself. There will be a whole lot of pumping going on once she goes to day care.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

at my breastfeeding class they told us to establish a good routine exclusively breastfeeding for 3 weeks before trying to pump (unless you are painfully engorged or have too much milk, which can prevent the baby from latching properly, in which case it's okay to pump just a little, about an ounce or two).

so that's what i plan on doing. i am going to pump to store and also so taht DH and others can feed him - and i can get some sleep!

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

with my dd i started giving expressed bm in bottle pretty quickly b/c dh wanted to feed her soo badly. Now with this baby I will do again right away.. this way my dd can feed him/her.. hoping that would help in the adjustment of another little one around her.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

Thanks everyone! This is all great advice

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

At the breastfeeding class i went to (and hated) they said no bottles until atleast 4 weeks. I don't agree and will be giving bottles from the very beginning. DH needs to get in on the action too!

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

There seems to be a fairly small window for introducing bottles. You don't want to introduce it too early or the baby may refuse to BF b/c he/she has to work harder to get the milk. At the same time, if you wait too long, you risk the baby refusing the bottle.

I have no specific plans as of now, but I definitely want to see what the LC and BFing class have to say.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

4 weeks and then 1 or 2 bottles a day.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

Having already been through this once, I have learned from my first DD. I will introduce the bottle early on. I EBF my DD for the first 3 months and it was a lot on me. My DH would be sound asleep while I was up feeding every 2.5 hours and then trying to get DD back to sleep. Also, the transition to the bottle was very difficult for her b/c she was just used to me. Probably within the first month, we will get the bottle going. I did pump after those 3 months and DD only received breast milk until 11 months when we transitioned to milk.

ETA: Also in many ways DH felt left out not being able to feed DD in those first 3 months. He wanted to be able to bond with her during feedings as well.

Message edited 8/19/2008 9:41:17 PM.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

At the hospital the LC's and nurses all tended to agree on 3 weeks being the earliest good time to introduce a bottle.

I would definitely introduce the bottle sooner rather than later (having gone thru this myself)

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

what i intended to do and what i did were 2 different things.

i planned to EBF for a few weeks and then pump for a few months. i planned to start formula at 6 months the latest.

what really happened was i EBF for 4 days and pumped for almost 3 weeks. during the pumping time i was only getting one bottle of breast milk so the other bottles were formula.

by 3 weeks old he was getting only formula because i just wasn't getting any milk.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

I think you would be bonding more with your child by breast feeding them. You can do it as little or as long as you want I don't think its unrealistic to do it for only as long as you're home before going back to work. I plan on BFing from January until August. (the duration of my maternity leave) Then I would switch to formula.
XOXOXO
BOTB

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

I did EBF with DD. She is almost 1 year old and I am still nursing her (and pregnant). I planned to go to 18 months but I will wean her at the end of my first trimester if she doesn't self wean sooner.

I had planned on EBF and then to pump so others could give bottles after a month. We had a very difficult time getting BF going. DD jaundiced so we had to give her some formula until my milk came in so she got bottles right away. She had trouble latching on so until we had a lactation consultant come in I had to pump and give her bottles. Then I used a nipple shield for a few weeks until she was able to latch on. It was quite an ordeal but we figured it out and like I said, we are now at almost a year and it's easy. I think because of how early we introduced bottles and the nipple shield she has willingly taken almost anything that gives milk, she always refused a pacifier. She will now take a sippy cup with any type of spout without a fuss.

I think a lot of us hear that BF'ing is easy, and it really is, but not usually in the first few weeks. I know this was a long response but I told our story because I want people to know that it probably won't go according to your plan. There will be someone else who will want their say in it too. Know and plan what you want to do but keep in mind that things may change or be harder or different than you expect. Do your best to stick with it, after the first few weeks it's so easy, always ready and always the right temperature.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

I planned on BF'ing for 6 months or so. But when he was born, things didn't go as planned.

Message edited 8/19/2008 8:54:16 PM.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

I will exclusively breastfeed for 3 weeks, then introduce the bottle so Dh can feed her.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

If you are committed to do it, then I think BFing without pumping is totally realistic. It's a huge time and commitment issue with me, so I am going to pump as soon as my lactation consultant says that it would be ok. My SIL started pumping during her second week. I'm going back to work after 12 weeks and want to stockpile my breast milk supply and I also want DH to be able to feed my . We'll see if my plans actually come to fruition.

Message edited 8/20/2008 6:44:59 AM.

Re: question for moms who plan on breastfeeding

I have all kinds of plans, but no idea what is going to actually happen.

I am trying to arrange a work from home situation and would like to breastfeed exclusively, for the past 2 generations all of the children in my family have been allergic to milk products and have had constipation issues with soy products. I would like to try to pump so DH can help with feedings, but that is another thing the women in my family have not been able to do - 4 of my 5 sisters tried as did my mom and none were able. These are very determined women who don’t give up easily, so I am concerned about my chances with pumping.

I will probably introduce a bottle w/in the first month, for water, pedialite or if I end not being able to BF exclusively.