Is pumping really worth it in the end?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would try keep it up for at least three months and after that don't worry about it.

A friend of mine had to go back to work after three months of maternity leave and was trying to decide whether to pump or formula feed once she had to go back to work. A member of her husband's family who was the head of the American pediatrics association or whatever it's called told her it was totally fine to stop pumping and formula feed. She thought it was more important that my friend choose whatever was right for her, the mom, than worry about pumping after three months of breastfeeding.

If it bothers you a lot, I think it's fine to stop now.

It’s not a bother for me. It’s not great but it’s doable. I just feel like I’m working towards a goal that is unattainable. The only thing keeping me going is I have a really great supply and have already built up a good freezer stash and donated some milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd give it till 8 weeks and also drop to 6 pumps per day ASAP (skipping middle of the night if you can) because your supply is good/established.

My situation is kind of different (34 weeker), but my baby couldn't nurse productively at all at 5 weeks and transitioned fully to breast by 8 weeks.

The pediatrician did tell me he can take more time. Her baby didn’t match until almost 3 months old.

I can try 6 pumps but I get too uncomfortable. I do need the middle of the night pump but I’m up either way with the baby. I usually pump every 3 hours during the day and do a 4-6 hour stretch overnight depending on when he wakes up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could pump a bit less to reduce the burden and mix formula and BM. I exclusively pumped for about 6months with my #2 who did not nurse. I actually came around to liking it. DH put her to bed every night. I got more reliable sleep than with #1 who nursed.

In the end baby will be fine either way. Happy mom Happy baby, If you are miserable..stop.

Wouldn’t that dry up my supply?

I am getting good sleep thankfully. He sleeps really well at night. Down at 8, dreamed at 10, and back down until around 3/4am. He will sleep until 6/7am. He naps fairly well but most are shorter ( 30-45m) naps with only 1-2 longer
( 1+ hour) naps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, formula is fine.

I know it’s fine. We are using Similac Organic Ready Feed. He takes it but he prefers pumped milk. I can’t do the powered stuff so ready feed is what we will be using if we go with formula.

You can powdered. It’s fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, formula is fine.

I know it’s fine. We are using Similac Organic Ready Feed. He takes it but he prefers pumped milk. I can’t do the powered stuff so ready feed is what we will be using if we go with formula.

You can powdered. It’s fine.

I hate powder. Messy and just annoying. We can afford ready to feed so that is our top choice. No powder mess or premixing.

[Anonymous]

As an mid-50s Mom of teens, I'll say that the benefits of breastmilk are so much more than simply nutrition. There are antibodies and immune builders that I barely understand but I suspect are deeply beneficial for tiny babies. It's a limited time opportunity to do something that pays long term dividends and I'd encourage you to stick with it even if it feels futile right now.

Both of my boys were c-section babies but I BF them for ~8 months and 1 year. No allergies or other health issues and they're both over 6 feet tall. Can't hurt to do this as an insurance policy toward their future health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an mid-50s Mom of teens, I'll say that the benefits of breastmilk are so much more than simply nutrition. There are antibodies and immune builders that I barely understand but I suspect are deeply beneficial for tiny babies. It's a limited time opportunity to do something that pays long term dividends and I'd encourage you to stick with it even if it feels futile right now.

Both of my boys were c-section babies but I BF them for ~8 months and 1 year. No allergies or other health issues and they're both over 6 feet tall. Can't hurt to do this as an insurance policy toward their future health.

I will keep pumping then. I don’t know for how long but I will keep pumping. My only other hope is that I pump enough extra to feed him for a while if I quit.

[Anonymous]

When they do proper controls on breastfeeding the benefits don't really materialize. I say this as someone who breastfed for a year and a half. The most concretely proven benefit is actually to you, not to the baby.

Pumping 8 times a day is a lot of work and hard to do while caring for a baby. Your mental health matters too.

You can formula supplement and reduce Pumping without totally losing your supply, my friend did it.

[Anonymous]

I believe there is a study out that just a few oz of breast milk daily is enough to have immunity/health benefits. So you could really just do a breast milk bottle daily and the rest formula and be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe there is a study out that just a few oz of breast milk daily is enough to have immunity/health benefits. So you could really just do a breast milk bottle daily and the rest formula and be ok.

I don’t want to just pump once a day. It’s really all or nothing for me. I don’t see the point in reducing pumping and supplementing.

[Anonymous]

Well if you wouldn’t give your toddler powdered milk why would you give your infant powdered formula? Additionally, I have zero faith in today’s FDA. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

I pumped for 14 months with my first who had similar issues. I don’t think I could have done it with subsequent children but was able to manage it when I only had one.

If you’re miserable, stop at 3 months.

[Anonymous]

To me, not worth it. 5 weeks is plenty, switch to formula.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an mid-50s Mom of teens, I'll say that the benefits of breastmilk are so much more than simply nutrition. There are antibodies and immune builders that I barely understand but I suspect are deeply beneficial for tiny babies. It's a limited time opportunity to do something that pays long term dividends and I'd encourage you to stick with it even if it feels futile right now.

Both of my boys were c-section babies but I BF them for ~8 months and 1 year. No allergies or other health issues and they're both over 6 feet tall. Can't hurt to do this as an insurance policy toward their future health.

This is anecdotal. They might be just as healthy and just as tall if they'd been formula fed. It's also impossible to attribute this exclusively to breastfeeding. Correlation is not causation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an mid-50s Mom of teens, I'll say that the benefits of breastmilk are so much more than simply nutrition. There are antibodies and immune builders that I barely understand but I suspect are deeply beneficial for tiny babies. It's a limited time opportunity to do something that pays long term dividends and I'd encourage you to stick with it even if it feels futile right now.

Both of my boys were c-section babies but I BF them for ~8 months and 1 year. No allergies or other health issues and they're both over 6 feet tall. Can't hurt to do this as an insurance policy toward their future health.

If breastfeeding were so clearly linked to health, then there would be focus on it later on in life.