Breastfeeding question?

Question

I am planning to breastfeed and was just wondering what others think about expressing milk and feeding from bottles? Do you think you need to or is it possable to just breastfeed.

Im just worried that being the only one feeding will be too much for me, also that my partner wont be involved, but at the same time dont want to bother expressing if i dont have to.

Just wondering what others have done and how you feel about it as id like to make sure i have everything (bottles ect if needed) before the birth.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi there! I am a single mom of a 5 month old baby girl. I have been nursing her since she was born and I think it's convenient most of the time. You will need to nurse your baby throughout the day to keep a continuous milk flow. They express milk from your breasts better then the pump can. My baby started day care at 3 1/2 months and uses a bottle there. The playtex drop ins are so good! Because you can heat the breastmilk, but you an place it in a cup of warm water and it will be a lot faster then any other bottle. I pump at work and it works very well. I try to nurse when I get home and I do in the middle of the night. There are some women that just bottle feed breastmilk, but it's all personal preferance.

Like I said it's convenient when you're just around the house and don't want to heat a bottle. In the night when they wake up you don't have to get out of bed. Just take the baby out of the bassinet...

Good Luck to you and your baby. Breastfeeding is wonderful. Just remember when it gets tough that you'll get through it. It gets better and a little easier the older they get. You can IM if you want for questions, etc... Congrats!!!!

~Proud mom of a 5 month old baby girl~

Answer 2

.the baby is the best pump of all....
your partner will have many opportunities to help, and will be proud that you are doing the best thing for baby....

they can bring baby to you when fussy, and do other things to be a part of the nursing experience.

bottles confuse baby and pumping is HARD and no fun at all... you wont ever have to pump if you dont want to or have to.

the baby needs nothing, except breastmilk, doc will give baby a vitamin too.... needs nothing but your milk for first four months.. then cereal...

then straight from breast to sippy cup... neither of my girls had any bottles.

you can try a pacifier, because the need for sucking is greater than th eneed for nutrition... more power to you if you can get your kid to take one... mine wouldnt.

my last baby (fussy easy to startle, she jumped if someone coughed... etc) went a LONG time before she took a rest from nursing.

i timed her, wanting to be aware of her schedule, and learned really soon that there was no sense in writing anything down.
she nursed ALL the time... she did not go for over an hour (thats 24 - 7) without nursing for FOUR months......

youll have a less fussy one i am sure.....


here is a link to a nursing question i answered...


good luck and congrats on making such a good decision....

makes ther baby smarter, happier, and makes you feel better...

is easier, and cheaper. its a great thing to do

Answer 3

Congratulations of your pregnancy and "Well Done" on your decision to breast feed.

First, I would plan to breast feed exclusively for the first couple of months, without introducing a bottle at all - it is a waste of your precious time to express milk and then bottle it to feed the baby - the baby is much more efficient at getting the milk out than a breast pump.

There is also a difference in your milk at the beginning of a feed, compared with milk at the end of the feed. At the beginning, the milk looks watery and pale. That's because it is "fore-milk" which helps to quench the baby's thirst. As your baby continues to feed, the milk changes into a rich, creamy milk, the "hind milk" which is very satisfying.

Don't worry about wanting to involve your partner, while you are breast-feeding he could do any of the following -
make you a drink (it's important to stay hydrated),
tidy the baby's bed and get it ready for baby to go into,
change the baby's diaper / nappy before or after the feed,
start making dinner,
take phone calls when people ring when you are feeding,
run a bath for you, for when the feed is over,
burp the baby between "sides",
there is so much that a loving partner can be doing while you are breast-feeding your baby.

Good Luck with your baby!

Answer 4

I personally would stay away from bottle for the first 6 weeks just so you and the baby can get used to BF b/c it's in't always easy to do. Sometimes baby may have a latch on problem and giving him a bottle won't help that. Also giving him a bottle they don't have to work for their food b/c even with slow flow nipples the milk just kinda leaks out without any sucking going on so the baby might become lazy and not want to BF later on. Also the bay is the best pump and especially in those frist weeks your going to want your baby to nurse as much as possible b/c your going to be very full and your going to want some sort of relief. You can pump extra it's easiest those first weeks b/c your have so much and I tihnk t would be a good idea especially if your planning on goin back to work sometime. But I have a 5 mo. old and when i'm around I don't allow anyone to give him a bottle, so i can keep my supply up and don't becomes overerly full and when i work and thats only 2 nights a week while he is sleeping my husband give him 1 bottle. So he gets 2 bottles a week and it's at night time when he wakes up to eat. If your worried you won't be able to handle it give it a try. Try your best to get through the 1st 6 weeks cause after that it's a breeze. Its those ear;ly weeks that can be hard. Also try to limit visitors those 2st few weeks and just focus on yourself and your baby. maybe have some friends freeze some dinners ahead of time for you so you can get the rest you'll need and you can enjoy your new baby. Also don't be afarid to contact a lacation nurse they are also very helpful and egar to help you through any issues you might be having! Good Luck

Answer 5

I have only offered my son milk from a bottle twice. Once I was trying to give him some medication. Didn't work he knows where milk comes from, so I just mixed it with water. The second time was when I went out for a night when my son was 10 months. It calmed him a little but he would have been fine without it. The only reason I didn't take my son out with us is because we were seeing bagpipers, which are a little loud for a baby.

There are numerous reasons why breastmilk is best right from the breast. Not the least of which is that breastfed babies are used to being able to manage how much fat and water they get, and how much they get in general. Bottles drip even when you don't suck AND breastfed babies are used to being able to suck a certain way just to suck, not to get milk. That won't work with a bottle. In fact some breastfed babies will puke if you give them a large bottle because they will gulp it all even if they don't want it.

Feeding from the breast also is better for your supply. It allows your baby to pass bacteria and viruses to you so you make antibodies right away for the baby.

Breastfeeding is hard the first 6 weeks, but the first six weeks are always hard. After that it is WAY easier to breastfeed than to bottle feed, particularly expressed breastmilk. Do you want to roll over and feed your baby, or listen to your baby cry while daddy heats up the bottle. Trust me, you won't be sleeping while your baby is crying.

There are a lot of other ways for daddy to be involved without the bottle. Daddy can burp, daddy can put the baby to sleep, bathe the baby. The reason breastfeeding is considered bonding is the skin-to-skin contact and the eye contact. There is rarely skin to skin contact while bottle feeding, and oftentimes people face the baby outwards. Trust me having the baby nap on the warm fuzzy (as Dr Sears calls daddies chest) is more bonding than offering a bottle.

(And yes pumping sucks, I had to do it in the begining because of some medical problems, and ugh was I glad to stop)

Answer 6

Its fine to do both, but I would get a bottle system that is similiar to the sucking motion used for mothers breasts. I would use the Playtex Nurser drop in system. Its very convient. In the beginning with my first son, he had 3 different sucks and got really confused. One for me, One for bottle, and one for pacifyer. When I switched to the Playtex system that eliminated some of the feeding confusion between mommy and bottle and we were able to feed for over 6 months, until he got those teeth OUCH! I am currently 30 weeks pregnant with our second son and will be using the same system of feeding with him. It is good to express also if you can, because sometimes, you just need a rest. That would be a good opportunity to let dad get in on a little bonding with the baby. Congrats and Good luck to you

Answer 7

I did both - I pumped milk for the bottle and my DH fed baby while I was at work - never had any problems. After 6 months I started supplementing with formula. BFing is definately the way to go! It is healthier - my baby is 10 months and has never been sick - and it is free!

I bought a medela electric pump, but I wish I wouldnt have spent all that money - I have ended up just using the manual one.

As far as bottles go, find a nipple that is shaped like your breast (or as close as you can get) to reduce nipple confusion. I

It is overwhelming at first, but worth it - dont give up! Good luck and congrats!

Answer 8

Breastfeeding is a LOT of work and is very time consuming! I am doing it now with my 8 week old. I have also been pumping since the beginning since he was jaundiced and needed bottles. It is nice now because I have a supply in the freezer for returning to work and also for going out or if I need a break. I also give him one before bed to help him sleep longer. Its totally up to you so just take it one day at a time and do whatever works for you. I would get a few bottles just in case you want to use them. I am an OB RN and the lactation consultants at my work recommend Avent bottles. Good luck!

Answer 9

For the first 4-6 weeks you should breastfeed only. Then, after that is well established, you can introduce the bottle with expressed breastmilk. This helps alleviate "nipple confusion".

This is what we did, and it really helped. It helped me with getting a few hours of rest, and it also helped facilitate the baby-daddy bond.

Congratulations and good for you to choosing to give your baby the best!

Answer 10

You can do it dual as long as you soley breast feed the first couple weeks and she (and you) learn how to get a good latch... then you can introduce a bottle that is similar to a nipple so your hubby wont be left out... I like the playtex with the drop in liners.

Tip: Get a Medela or Avent breast pump all others are a waste (took 2 kids to discover that)