Avoiding pushy hospital lactation consultant?

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to avoid a pushy lactation consultant when giving birth in a hospital? I’m a first-time mom but have heard an unsettling story from my SIL about the lactation consultant at the hospital she delivered in (granted, this did happen in another state - South Dakota). My SIL had made it clear that she would not be breastfeeding, but the LC (who was also a nurse at the hospital) still came into the room not long after birth and basically tried forcing it. (SIL did say that the LC was nice and friendly but still heavily tacked on the guilt and pressure.)

I plan to exclusively pump. I’m open to the plan changing (if I find that pumping isn’t working out), but I’m certain that I do not want someone grabbing my breasts right after I’ve given birth and will realistically be exhausted. I’m typically a very passive person and people pleaser, so I know that it will be challenging for me to communicate my wishes in this situation. Respectfully, I really don’t want this thread to be derailed by turning into a debate on breastfeeding vs. formula feeding. I respect everyone’s personal choice.

[Anonymous]

No one is going to "grab your breasts" if you tell them you want to exclusively pump, OP.

(But FYI, I found pumping so uncomfortable, even with a hospital-grade pump. Nursing was not painful at all - quite the opposite.)

[Anonymous]

Yes they are super pushy OP. You have to stand firm and have DH back you up. I couldn't breastfeed my first who was a preemie and it led to such feelings of failure that clouded those early days. I knew I didn't want that again. I wanted to try BF on my own terms and pump and supplement from the start.

Yes I had to be firm in the hospital and at the pediatrician. I ended up BF for 15 months. I just didn't want all the pressure and corrections on Day 1.

[Anonymous]

Whatever you do, do NOT accept medical advice from medical professionals.

Be strong.

[Anonymous]

Know that this is an unusual decision when it’s your first child and you have not tried breastfeeding yet. Early on, babies eat every two hours so you will be spending half an hour pumping, half an hour feeding, and then only have an hour off. You’re volunteering to take on twice the work and a nurse may want to persuade you otherwise or just understand why. It’s the first of many things in parenting that are new to you until you have experienced them, and it’s hard to make a choice ahead of time without knowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Know that this is an unusual decision when it’s your first child and you have not tried breastfeeding yet. Early on, babies eat every two hours so you will be spending half an hour pumping, half an hour feeding, and then only have an hour off. You’re volunteering to take on twice the work and a nurse may want to persuade you otherwise or just understand why. It’s the first of many things in parenting that are new to you until you have experienced them, and it’s hard to make a choice ahead of time without knowing.

^Antifeminist has entered the chat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is going to "grab your breasts" if you tell them you want to exclusively pump, OP.

(But FYI, I found pumping so uncomfortable, even with a hospital-grade pump. Nursing was not painful at all - quite the opposite.)

+1
I have 4 kids and delivered at both Georgetown and sibley. No one was pushy and certainly no one ever touched me!
I would never want to just pump - it’s not comfortable and a pain as the parts just add another full time job as far as cleaning keeping track of milk, rotating through the supply, washing bottles, etc. I had to exclusively pump for one of mine who was a micro preemie, and it sucked. I would jump right into that unless the wire was a medical reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to avoid a pushy lactation consultant when giving birth in a hospital? I’m a first-time mom but have heard an unsettling story from my SIL about the lactation consultant at the hospital she delivered in (granted, this did happen in another state - South Dakota). My SIL had made it clear that she would not be breastfeeding, but the LC (who was also a nurse at the hospital) still came into the room not long after birth and basically tried forcing it. (SIL did say that the LC was nice and friendly but still heavily tacked on the guilt and pressure.)

I plan to exclusively pump. I’m open to the plan changing (if I find that pumping isn’t working out), but I’m certain that I do not want someone grabbing my breasts right after I’ve given birth and will realistically be exhausted. I’m typically a very passive person and people pleaser, so I know that it will be challenging for me to communicate my wishes in this situation. Respectfully, I really don’t want this thread to be derailed by turning into a debate on breastfeeding vs. formula feeding. I respect everyone’s personal choice.

Then plan on using formula. Pumping is thousands of times harder/more exhausting than breastfeeding, assuming your baby has no health issues.

[Anonymous]

Gosh I had the opposite in California, trying to force formula on me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gosh I had the opposite in California, trying to force formula on me.

This must have been a generation ago.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at sibley and had a wonderful and encouraging consultant, but I was trying to BF. When my milk didn’t come in she suggested I try pumping and supplement just a little bit with formula (this was day 4). Not everyone is pushy and no need to be on the defensive before you even meet the person. But I also agree with others that pumping was so much harder than BF.

[Anonymous]

I think you have taken a bold stance, and you should be applauded. No hospital employee should try to stop you from choosing the stupid option. #yourbodyyourchoice Everyone's personal choice is equally valid.

[Anonymous]

The hospitals get perks for being certified “baby friendly” and one of the requirements is that the lactation consultant talks to every mother.
Pumping suuuucks and if you don’t have to do it (I.e. at work) I don’t know why you would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gosh I had the opposite in California, trying to force formula on me.

This must have been a generation ago.

More than 5, less than a decade. Definitely not a generation ago.

[Anonymous]

The hospital LCs are usually very pro formula and don’t actually help much with breastfeeding, so you probably won’t have that problem. All they care about is weight gain at the hospital and seeing baby make weight.

FYI, exclusive pumping is incredibly tough and takes a lot of time away from your baby. Rather than have a firm mindset about what you WILL do, be firm about your boundaries (including not breastfeeding, that is fine to have as a boundary), and be flexible and open about what you will do instead.