Breastfeeding or pumping?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any updates, OP. I’m currently going through this right now and leaning towards exclusively pumping.

My kid stopped latching at 6 months except first thing in morning so I had to exclusively pump 6 x a day to make enough (well i'd make one extra bottle most days and now have a nice freezer stash given that i weaned at 12 months and can keep giving 4 oz a day).. my supply was very sensitive, if i pumped less my supply would drop...

but your logic isn't making sense OP- if you're supplementing with formula you are telling your body to make less milk- it's very normal to nurse more than every 2-3 hours in the beginning- it's called cluster feeding. if you don't want to have to supplement then nurse or pump more... but also totally fine to just give formula as much as you prefer and pump as little as you want

OP here. I’m not telling myself to make less milk by supplementing. As noted in a previous reply, I only feed him formula for two feedings in the evening after I nurse. My supply is low and he really likes a fuller feed before going to bed since he goes every 3 hours between eating during the night. I’m not skipping a feeding time give formula. He nurses first and then I give him formula at those two feedings.

The other poster is misinformed. Supplementing on top of regular feedings will not decrease your milk supply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any updates, OP. I’m currently going through this right now and leaning towards exclusively pumping.

OP here. I didn’t know this thread was still active.

I’ve decided against exclusively pumping. As much I though I would prefer it, I didn’t. Between pumping and feeding, it took about the same time for a nursing session. It didn’t seem worth it because he was still eating every two hours during the day and I felt like I was doing double the work.

I did it for a day and then realized it wasn’t going to work. I did, however, stick to pumping at night and bottle feeding him since that feeding takes like 1 hour and I have to pump the other side. I’ve been doing 3-4 pump sessions for 2 night feeds, and the 1-2 more feedings. I feed him a bottle at the same time and it’s much easier.

You’re misinformed. OP makes enough milk but some women don’t and can’t just nurse or pump more instead of supplementing. Sometimes nursing and pumping doesn’t help and you still have low supply. OP feeds her baby every two hours during the day and every three hours at night. This is very normal for newborn. OP said her supply is low in the evening and she needs to supplement after she nurses. This is normal and many women have lower supply in the evening. OP never said she disliked supplementing with formula. She said she wanted to supplement with formula even though she has a large milk supply.

[Anonymous]

OP you’re doing fine. You can nurse or pump or both.

[Anonymous]

NP with a newborn, thanks to everyone who gave advice on this thread. I EPed for 15+ months with my first child, which was easy to do during the height of COVID when we weren't going anywhere and work was still largely remote. I really appreciate everyone's encouragement here to keep trying to nurse as I hadn't even thought about how much harder EPing will be six months from now when we are much more active and I'm back at work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any updates, OP. I’m currently going through this right now and leaning towards exclusively pumping.

OP here. I didn’t know this thread was still active.

I’ve decided against exclusively pumping. As much I though I would prefer it, I didn’t. Between pumping and feeding, it took about the same time for a nursing session. It didn’t seem worth it because he was still eating every two hours during the day and I felt like I was doing double the work.

I did it for a day and then realized it wasn’t going to work. I did, however, stick to pumping at night and bottle feeding him since that feeding takes like 1 hour and I have to pump the other side. I’ve been doing 3-4 pump sessions for 2 night feeds, and the 1-2 more feedings. I feed him a bottle at the same time and it’s much easier.

You’re misinformed. OP makes enough milk but some women don’t and can’t just nurse or pump more instead of supplementing. Sometimes nursing and pumping doesn’t help and you still have low supply. OP feeds her baby every two hours during the day and every three hours at night. This is very normal for newborn. OP said her supply is low in the evening and she needs to supplement after she nurses. This is normal and many women have lower supply in the evening. OP never said she disliked supplementing with formula. She said she wanted to supplement with formula even though she has a large milk supply.

OP said she's pumps 50oz and baby eats 25oz. How's that a low supply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a combo of all three and I’m happy I kept up the breastfeeding. It was nice to have the option for 5am wakes up that persisted until 18 months, on the plane, and out and about. A few times while flying, the milk spoiled from my flight delays so breastfeeding saved us. Regardless of what you do, parenting is so hard!

OP here. I will definitely be down breastfeeding by 1 year but glad extended breastfeeding worked for you.

Spoken with the confidence of a FTM.

Here’s the thing, OP. Some babies don’t want to wean at a year. I should know, because I had two of them. I only planned to nurse for one year each, but what I was not planning was for my children to have their own opinion on the matter and for them to strongly resist any attempt I made to wean them. For them, nursing was a bond and especially since I was away from
Them at work during the day it become an important way to reconnect with mom.

So, i would just urge you to be less black and white about your plans. Just like a lot of moms early on this thread told you EPing is very hard and You refused to hear them at first (but seem to Have come around), I would not be so confident that you will only nurse for X amount of time.

Also - if you really want your baby to get the benefits of breastmilk, nursing (not feeding pumped and frozen milk) is really the way to go. Plenty of studies about how freezing and even refrigeration of breastmilk can alter the beneficial aspects of it. Just something to be aware of - frozen milk is fine but it’s not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any updates, OP. I’m currently going through this right now and leaning towards exclusively pumping.

OP here. I didn’t know this thread was still active.

I’ve decided against exclusively pumping. As much I though I would prefer it, I didn’t. Between pumping and feeding, it took about the same time for a nursing session. It didn’t seem worth it because he was still eating every two hours during the day and I felt like I was doing double the work.

I did it for a day and then realized it wasn’t going to work. I did, however, stick to pumping at night and bottle feeding him since that feeding takes like 1 hour and I have to pump the other side. I’ve been doing 3-4 pump sessions for 2 night feeds, and the 1-2 more feedings. I feed him a bottle at the same time and it’s much easier.

You’re misinformed. OP makes enough milk but some women don’t and can’t just nurse or pump more instead of supplementing. Sometimes nursing and pumping doesn’t help and you still have low supply. OP feeds her baby every two hours during the day and every three hours at night. This is very normal for newborn. OP said her supply is low in the evening and she needs to supplement after she nurses. This is normal and many women have lower supply in the evening. OP never said she disliked supplementing with formula. She said she wanted to supplement with formula even though she has a large milk supply.

OP said she's pumps 50oz and baby eats 25oz. How's that a low supply?

OP here. PP is correct. I do have an oversupply, but I mainly get most of that milk during the night and in the morning. I get about 3-4oz during the day and about 2oz in the evening. I have to supplement for the two evening feedings because 2oz is not enough for him. I’ve been told decreased supply in the evening is normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a combo of all three and I’m happy I kept up the breastfeeding. It was nice to have the option for 5am wakes up that persisted until 18 months, on the plane, and out and about. A few times while flying, the milk spoiled from my flight delays so breastfeeding saved us. Regardless of what you do, parenting is so hard!

OP here. I will definitely be down breastfeeding by 1 year but glad extended breastfeeding worked for you.

Spoken with the confidence of a FTM.

Here’s the thing, OP. Some babies don’t want to wean at a year. I should know, because I had two of them. I only planned to nurse for one year each, but what I was not planning was for my children to have their own opinion on the matter and for them to strongly resist any attempt I made to wean them. For them, nursing was a bond and especially since I was away from
Them at work during the day it become an important way to reconnect with mom.

So, i would just urge you to be less black and white about your plans. Just like a lot of moms early on this thread told you EPing is very hard and You refused to hear them at first (but seem to Have come around), I would not be so confident that you will only nurse for X amount of time.

Also - if you really want your baby to get the benefits of breastmilk, nursing (not feeding pumped and frozen milk) is really the way to go. Plenty of studies about how freezing and even refrigeration of breastmilk can alter the beneficial aspects of it. Just something to be aware of - frozen milk is fine but it’s not the same.

OP here. I’m glad that worked for you but that’s not my approach. Many people wean at the resistance of the child. I likely will stop breastfeeding when I go back to work or by 1 year because I will be trying for a second around that time.

I’ve researched a lot and they say pumped and frozen milk is just as nutritious as fresh milk. I see no difference from pumping and feeding baby a bottle right after. I personally don’t believe breastmilk is this amazing thing everyone claims. Many studies show breastmilk is really only important in the first first weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a combo of all three and I’m happy I kept up the breastfeeding. It was nice to have the option for 5am wakes up that persisted until 18 months, on the plane, and out and about. A few times while flying, the milk spoiled from my flight delays so breastfeeding saved us. Regardless of what you do, parenting is so hard!

OP here. I will definitely be down breastfeeding by 1 year but glad extended breastfeeding worked for you.

Spoken with the confidence of a FTM.

Here’s the thing, OP. Some babies don’t want to wean at a year. I should know, because I had two of them. I only planned to nurse for one year each, but what I was not planning was for my children to have their own opinion on the matter and for them to strongly resist any attempt I made to wean them. For them, nursing was a bond and especially since I was away from
Them at work during the day it become an important way to reconnect with mom.

So, i would just urge you to be less black and white about your plans. Just like a lot of moms early on this thread told you EPing is very hard and You refused to hear them at first (but seem to Have come around), I would not be so confident that you will only nurse for X amount of time.

Also - if you really want your baby to get the benefits of breastmilk, nursing (not feeding pumped and frozen milk) is really the way to go. Plenty of studies about how freezing and even refrigeration of breastmilk can alter the beneficial aspects of it. Just something to be aware of - frozen milk is fine but it’s not the same.

OP here. I’m glad that worked for you but that’s not my approach. Many people wean at the resistance of the child. I likely will stop breastfeeding when I go back to work or by 1 year because I will be trying for a second around that time.

I’ve researched a lot and they say pumped and frozen milk is just as nutritious as fresh milk. I see no difference from pumping and feeding baby a bottle right after. I personally don’t believe breastmilk is this amazing thing everyone claims. Many studies show breastmilk is really only important in the first first weeks.

* six weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a combo of all three and I’m happy I kept up the breastfeeding. It was nice to have the option for 5am wakes up that persisted until 18 months, on the plane, and out and about. A few times while flying, the milk spoiled from my flight delays so breastfeeding saved us. Regardless of what you do, parenting is so hard!

OP here. I will definitely be down breastfeeding by 1 year but glad extended breastfeeding worked for you.

Spoken with the confidence of a FTM.

Here’s the thing, OP. Some babies don’t want to wean at a year. I should know, because I had two of them. I only planned to nurse for one year each, but what I was not planning was for my children to have their own opinion on the matter and for them to strongly resist any attempt I made to wean them. For them, nursing was a bond and especially since I was away from
Them at work during the day it become an important way to reconnect with mom.

So, i would just urge you to be less black and white about your plans. Just like a lot of moms early on this thread told you EPing is very hard and You refused to hear them at first (but seem to Have come around), I would not be so confident that you will only nurse for X amount of time.

Also - if you really want your baby to get the benefits of breastmilk, nursing (not feeding pumped and frozen milk) is really the way to go. Plenty of studies about how freezing and even refrigeration of breastmilk can alter the beneficial aspects of it. Just something to be aware of - frozen milk is fine but it’s not the same.

OP here. I’m glad that worked for you but that’s not my approach. Many people wean at the resistance of the child. I likely will stop breastfeeding when I go back to work or by 1 year because I will be trying for a second around that time.

I’ve researched a lot and they say pumped and frozen milk is just as nutritious as fresh milk. I see no difference from pumping and feeding baby a bottle right after. I personally don’t believe breastmilk is this amazing thing everyone claims. Many studies show breastmilk is really only important in the first first weeks.

Lol. Ok, Op. You sound insufferable and sanctimonious. As an experienced mom of two, all I am saying is that plenty of women make plans for how their children are gonna be before they are born, and they are not prepared for actually parenting a real independent human being who has their own opinions, needs, and wants that can contradict with your own. You don’t know this yet, because your child is a newborn. And newborns are only in eat/sleep/poop mode. And because you are a FTM. And because you are not approaching any of these conversations with an openness to hearing from anyone else who has more experience than you or who might have a different perspective. So you will learn this eventually, but maybe the hard way.

I hope your child loves food when they are 1 and loses interest in nursing. But a lot of kids don’t! And then weaning becomes a major fight. You’ve never experienced a crying 1 year old pleading and crying to nurse. You have no idea what that is like. But sure, be so confident about your plans and so rigid and inflexible that you literally are not even open to any idea of life unrolling differently than your plans.

I hope for your child’s sake that your child is easy, with an easy temperament. I hope they are flexible, adaptable, have no sensory/behavioral/developmental issues, have no food allergies or special needs, have no disabilities or challenges, that they are neurotypical, and eat and sleep well, and that they can conform to your rigidity. Otherwise, parenting is going to be a tough road for you.

Also, refrigeration and freezing impacts the beneficial aspects of breastmilk. I don’t care how you feed your kid - it’s all fine - but your research is not the same as science.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6506430/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a combo of all three and I’m happy I kept up the breastfeeding. It was nice to have the option for 5am wakes up that persisted until 18 months, on the plane, and out and about. A few times while flying, the milk spoiled from my flight delays so breastfeeding saved us. Regardless of what you do, parenting is so hard!

OP here. I will definitely be down breastfeeding by 1 year but glad extended breastfeeding worked for you.

Spoken with the confidence of a FTM.

Here’s the thing, OP. Some babies don’t want to wean at a year. I should know, because I had two of them. I only planned to nurse for one year each, but what I was not planning was for my children to have their own opinion on the matter and for them to strongly resist any attempt I made to wean them. For them, nursing was a bond and especially since I was away from
Them at work during the day it become an important way to reconnect with mom.

So, i would just urge you to be less black and white about your plans. Just like a lot of moms early on this thread told you EPing is very hard and You refused to hear them at first (but seem to Have come around), I would not be so confident that you will only nurse for X amount of time.

Also - if you really want your baby to get the benefits of breastmilk, nursing (not feeding pumped and frozen milk) is really the way to go. Plenty of studies about how freezing and even refrigeration of breastmilk can alter the beneficial aspects of it. Just something to be aware of - frozen milk is fine but it’s not the same.

OP here. I’m glad that worked for you but that’s not my approach. Many people wean at the resistance of the child. I likely will stop breastfeeding when I go back to work or by 1 year because I will be trying for a second around that time.

I’ve researched a lot and they say pumped and frozen milk is just as nutritious as fresh milk. I see no difference from pumping and feeding baby a bottle right after. I personally don’t believe breastmilk is this amazing thing everyone claims. Many studies show breastmilk is really only important in the first first weeks.

Lol. Ok, Op. You sound insufferable and sanctimonious. As an experienced mom of two, all I am saying is that plenty of women make plans for how their children are gonna be before they are born, and they are not prepared for actually parenting a real independent human being who has their own opinions, needs, and wants that can contradict with your own. You don’t know this yet, because your child is a newborn. And newborns are only in eat/sleep/poop mode. And because you are a FTM. And because you are not approaching any of these conversations with an openness to hearing from anyone else who has more experience than you or who might have a different perspective. So you will learn this eventually, but maybe the hard way.

I hope your child loves food when they are 1 and loses interest in nursing. But a lot of kids don’t! And then weaning becomes a major fight. You’ve never experienced a crying 1 year old pleading and crying to nurse. You have no idea what that is like. But sure, be so confident about your plans and so rigid and inflexible that you literally are not even open to any idea of life unrolling differently than your plans.

I hope for your child’s sake that your child is easy, with an easy temperament. I hope they are flexible, adaptable, have no sensory/behavioral/developmental issues, have no food allergies or special needs, have no disabilities or challenges, that they are neurotypical, and eat and sleep well, and that they can conform to your rigidity. Otherwise, parenting is going to be a tough road for you.

Also, refrigeration and freezing impacts the beneficial aspects of breastmilk. I don’t care how you feed your kid - it’s all fine - but your research is not the same as science.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6506430/

You’re the insufferable one, not OP. You’re acting all high and mighty because you’re an “ experienced mom of two”. This might have been your situation, but I know many other parents who successfully weaned without any issues. I’ve successfully weaned all 4 of my kids by 1 year. One of them put up a big fight but I just let him tantrum. Same with giving up bottles or the pacifier. I didn’t give it their tantrums and it got better in less than 1 week.

OP said she pains to weans before 1 year to try to get pregnant or when she goes back to work. That is her choice. Your opinion on the matter is irrelevant. She asked about nursing vs pumping, not when she should stop. It sounds like you’re on an ego trip and mad OP isn’t listening to you.

Breast milk or any kind - from the tap, pumped, or frozen is fine. Formula is fine. Stop being so concerned with how long someone chooses to feed their kid when OP didn’t even ask for advice about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had my first baby this month and I’m mostly breastfeeding but also pumping and we add a bottle of formula in. He eats 10 times a day and I’m pumping 4-5 times a day. He’s an incredibly slow eater ( 30-60 minutes at a time) and the pump I’m done in 20-30 minutes. I make more milk than he can eat and I’m really trying to take advantage and create a freezer stash for when my milk supply regulates and I go back to work. This was encouraged by the two IBLCE I went to see.

I enjoy breastfeeding my little guy but I have been finding I prefer the pump even more because it’s so much quicker. I’m starting to wonder if I should switch to pumping since I’m pumping for half of his feeds anyway. Then I stop myself and think my supply will regulate and he will become more efficient. Would you switch to pumping or continue to breastfeed and just wait it out?

It depends on you and your child. No one has a crystal ball and plenty of people do one or the other and swear by it. I have three children and have pumped/breastfed and supplemented as needed for all three. I work full time and am on the go a lot so maintaining a flexible attitude towards how I feed my children is really important to me and keeps me from getting bogged down in
thought streams that don’t serve me or my children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a combo of all three and I’m happy I kept up the breastfeeding. It was nice to have the option for 5am wakes up that persisted until 18 months, on the plane, and out and about. A few times while flying, the milk spoiled from my flight delays so breastfeeding saved us. Regardless of what you do, parenting is so hard!

OP here. I will definitely be down breastfeeding by 1 year but glad extended breastfeeding worked for you.

Spoken with the confidence of a FTM.

Here’s the thing, OP. Some babies don’t want to wean at a year. I should know, because I had two of them. I only planned to nurse for one year each, but what I was not planning was for my children to have their own opinion on the matter and for them to strongly resist any attempt I made to wean them. For them, nursing was a bond and especially since I was away from
Them at work during the day it become an important way to reconnect with mom.

So, i would just urge you to be less black and white about your plans. Just like a lot of moms early on this thread told you EPing is very hard and You refused to hear them at first (but seem to Have come around), I would not be so confident that you will only nurse for X amount of time.

Also - if you really want your baby to get the benefits of breastmilk, nursing (not feeding pumped and frozen milk) is really the way to go. Plenty of studies about how freezing and even refrigeration of breastmilk can alter the beneficial aspects of it. Just something to be aware of - frozen milk is fine but it’s not the same.

OP here. I’m glad that worked for you but that’s not my approach. Many people wean at the resistance of the child. I likely will stop breastfeeding when I go back to work or by 1 year because I will be trying for a second around that time.

I’ve researched a lot and they say pumped and frozen milk is just as nutritious as fresh milk. I see no difference from pumping and feeding baby a bottle right after. I personally don’t believe breastmilk is this amazing thing everyone claims. Many studies show breastmilk is really only important in the first first weeks.

Lol. Ok, Op. You sound insufferable and sanctimonious. As an experienced mom of two, all I am saying is that plenty of women make plans for how their children are gonna be before they are born, and they are not prepared for actually parenting a real independent human being who has their own opinions, needs, and wants that can contradict with your own. You don’t know this yet, because your child is a newborn. And newborns are only in eat/sleep/poop mode. And because you are a FTM. And because you are not approaching any of these conversations with an openness to hearing from anyone else who has more experience than you or who might have a different perspective. So you will learn this eventually, but maybe the hard way.

I hope your child loves food when they are 1 and loses interest in nursing. But a lot of kids don’t! And then weaning becomes a major fight. You’ve never experienced a crying 1 year old pleading and crying to nurse. You have no idea what that is like. But sure, be so confident about your plans and so rigid and inflexible that you literally are not even open to any idea of life unrolling differently than your plans.

I hope for your child’s sake that your child is easy, with an easy temperament. I hope they are flexible, adaptable, have no sensory/behavioral/developmental issues, have no food allergies or special needs, have no disabilities or challenges, that they are neurotypical, and eat and sleep well, and that they can conform to your rigidity. Otherwise, parenting is going to be a tough road for you.

Also, refrigeration and freezing impacts the beneficial aspects of breastmilk. I don’t care how you feed your kid - it’s all fine - but your research is not the same as science.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6506430/

PP, what is your deal? I highlighted just some of the most "insufferable and sanctimonious" parts of your post, but the whole thing is one big yuck. It sounds like you've had a really hard time with parenthood, for which I feel sorry for you, but that is no reason to lash out like this. Just take a step back.