Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 16:31     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
I EP'd for 8 months and would never ever do it again. At some point I realized how much time I was spending attached to a machine, washing pump parts, etc, and stopped and it was like an enormous weight was lifted. Formula's amazing, I promised myself I would go right to formula if any of my future kids had issues breastfeeding.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 14:04     Subject: Re:Exclusively pump or formula?
Anonymous wrote:Maybe you have called in an LC to help you get him to nurse. There are a few more tricks you can do to encourage this. Only use preemie bottle nipples, hold at a horizontal angle, various finger feeds, sns. If you are inclined to give it one more round, it may be worth it. If not, I personally would not EP. I’d just move on to formula. EPing was not awesome for me.
-mom who EPd for 11 wks but eventually got baby to latch and EBF


This. You can try a nipple shield to make it easier on the baby too. Talk to a LC before you decide between these two options.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 13:59     Subject: Re:Exclusively pump or formula?
Pumping sucks and is super draining. I do believe that breastmilk has benefits, but millions of babies grow up just fine with formula.

If pumping isn't too taxing for you do it once of twice a day (and formula for the rest of the feedings). If not, just go all formula.

Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 13:45     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s not certain how many of the benefits of breast milk are actually observed in exclusive pumping, so I would switch to formula.

What?


This is common knowledge.


No it’s not. I only have a guess at what you’re referring to because I’m the PP who exclusively pumped with my first and I did a maniacal amount of research.

To try to answer the question, I think there’s some literature that says pumping doesn’t capture all of the benefits of traditional breastfeeding because the baby’s needs are communicated by contact through saliva- so the feedback loop with the baby is lost when pumping.

Not sure if that’s what this person is referring to. Either way, I personally believe the benefits of breastfeeding are extremely oversold to new moms especially after the first 6 weeks or so.



Another exclusive pumping mom here who did a maniacal amount of research here: everyone parrots this "saliva feedback" hypothesis, but I could not find a shred of empirical evidence that it is true. Sure it's discussed in "summaries of research" or discussions of studies, but I was never able to trace it back to the actual study and finding. I did go on to ep "just in case", but wish I had just switched to formula.


This is so true about so many aspects of BFing. The supposed benefits get repeated over and over without critical thought. Emily Oster is a great resource for finding and interpreting source material on this and other parenting topics.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 13:14     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s not certain how many of the benefits of breast milk are actually observed in exclusive pumping, so I would switch to formula.

What?


This is common knowledge.


No it’s not. I only have a guess at what you’re referring to because I’m the PP who exclusively pumped with my first and I did a maniacal amount of research.

To try to answer the question, I think there’s some literature that says pumping doesn’t capture all of the benefits of traditional breastfeeding because the baby’s needs are communicated by contact through saliva- so the feedback loop with the baby is lost when pumping.

Not sure if that’s what this person is referring to. Either way, I personally believe the benefits of breastfeeding are extremely oversold to new moms especially after the first 6 weeks or so.



Another exclusive pumping mom here who did a maniacal amount of research here: everyone parrots this "saliva feedback" hypothesis, but I could not find a shred of empirical evidence that it is true. Sure it's discussed in "summaries of research" or discussions of studies, but I was never able to trace it back to the actual study and finding. I did go on to ep "just in case", but wish I had just switched to formula.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 11:58     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
I would recommend switching to all formula. EP especially when you also have to supplement (I did this with my first child) is a huge time commitment and I'm not sure if it's really worth it. Please don't feel any mom guilt about formula only. My now 7yo is perfectly healthy and has grown really well. I wish I had gone 100% formula with her from the start when she wouldn't latch.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 10:11     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Anonymous wrote:Formula, 1000%


+100
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 10:08     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Another person who pumped more than I should have - if I had it to do over I would have embraced formula much earlier and saved myself a lot of mental torment and time. For me this was especially true of pumping once I went back to work...
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2023 10:00     Subject: Re:Exclusively pump or formula?
Maybe you have called in an LC to help you get him to nurse. There are a few more tricks you can do to encourage this. Only use preemie bottle nipples, hold at a horizontal angle, various finger feeds, sns. If you are inclined to give it one more round, it may be worth it. If not, I personally would not EP. I’d just move on to formula. EPing was not awesome for me.
-mom who EPd for 11 wks but eventually got baby to latch and EBF
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2023 21:26     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Formula. He's at a healthy weight now, and sacrificing your time to pump is not necessary. L that time attached to the pump could be put to much better use snuggling and interacting with your baby - beneficial to you and baby. (I despised pumping and resented the time it took away from my baby).
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2023 21:26     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 month old who had trouble gaining issues the first month while being EBF. I made the tough decision to exclusively pump + supplement instead of nursing to better ensure that baby was getting ample nutrition. Baby has gained very well and the pediatrician is no longer concerned with growth. She has given the go ahead to resume nursing, but he has refused to nurse. We have been trying for the better part of two weeks and he mostly refuses to nurse. He will either flat out refuse to eat after a couple of minutes or just scream. My only choices are to keep pumping or switch to formula. I'm using a high quality, organic formula, but my hope was to give breastmilk for 6 months. I do have a freezer stash but not enough for the next 3 months. If you were in my shoes, would you continue to pump or switch to formula?


What I did: EP.
What I wish I did: formula. He is in kinder now and it seems so pointless that instead of snuggling a baby, I handed him to my husband so I could pump. Just feed the baby because it won’t matter how you did it in five years. I promise.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2023 21:21     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Formula, 1000%
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2023 21:18     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s not certain how many of the benefits of breast milk are actually observed in exclusive pumping, so I would switch to formula.

What?


This is common knowledge.


No it’s not. I only have a guess at what you’re referring to because I’m the PP who exclusively pumped with my first and I did a maniacal amount of research.

To try to answer the question, I think there’s some literature that says pumping doesn’t capture all of the benefits of traditional breastfeeding because the baby’s needs are communicated by contact through saliva- so the feedback loop with the baby is lost when pumping.

Not sure if that’s what this person is referring to. Either way, I personally believe the benefits of breastfeeding are extremely oversold to new moms especially after the first 6 weeks or so.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2023 20:14     Subject: Re:Exclusively pump or formula?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I was in the exact same position with my first five years ago. I EPd for 5 months and pushed myself to save up a months worth freezer stock to get to 6 months. In hindsight I wish I had switched to formula right off the bat. Pumping is so much work and for me mentally taxing. Your baby will be completely fine on formula and if it makes you even 1% happier/more relaxed then that is worth it. I encourage you to read Emily Oster’s posts on breastfeeding vs formula.


+1000

Similar story here, and similar advice.


+3
Exclusively pumping is my biggest regret from the baby years. Miserable, painful, and robbed me of good memories with my son as a baby.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2023 20:10     Subject: Exclusively pump or formula?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s not certain how many of the benefits of breast milk are actually observed in exclusive pumping, so I would switch to formula.

What?


This is common knowledge.