Is it okay if I want to pump my breastmilk into a bottle and feed baby like that?

Question

What I mean, is that I'm not to big on the whole "popping my breast out" and I want it to be easy for my hubby and everyone else if they are babysitting the baby. So, I've decided to pump the breast milk into bottles and feed like that. Is that okay? I won't be using pacifiers or formula.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ANSWERS! THEY WERE GREAT !

Answer 1

Of course it's okay, but if you are at home I would still have baby latch on. Breastfeeding isn't all about the good stuff you get in the milk, it is also about that special bonding that only you alone can have with your baby. I wasn't able to strictly breastfeed like I wanted and totally miss having him latched on. There is something about it that is SO sweet. Maybe because it is so natural, I don't know.

Answer 2

Sure it's okay. Breastmilk is, as you know, the best food of all for your baby, and any way you can get it into him or her is better than not doing so.

However, as a mom who pumped exclusively for 14 months (my daughter was a micropreemie and never got the hang of nursing), I will warn you that pumping full time with a newborn is exhausting. Hopefully, you won't have any supply issues to stress you out more. But basically you're setting yourself up for twice the work: you have to "feed" the machine just like you would nurse the baby, and then you have to feed the actual baby! Pumping has to be done at the same rate a baby feeds: about 20 minutes every 3 or 4 hours after your supply comes in. Yes, for most people, that includes the middle of the night for at least the first 6 months.

You also have to rent a machine - if you're pumping everything, one of the $300 machines at Target won't cut it. Those are for working moms who pump during the 9-5 and nurse when they're home. For exclusive pumping, you'll probably want to rent a machine from your hospital. Ours cost $75 a month and was not covered by insurance.

"Popping the breast out" is far easier, but if you need some stranger's permission to give your baby your milk through a bottle, consider it granted!

Good luck, and congratulations!

Answer 3

Thats o.k. once you get breastfeeding established, so you can occasionally do that so your husband or someone else can give the baby a bottle while your gone. But to avoid nipple confusion, only breastfeed. I hope you are not saying you always want to pump it into bottles. You dont have to pop it out, there are ways to be discreet about it. You need to get over these issues, they are stealing the best part of breastfeeding from you and your baby. (the bonding) that comes from baby being near mammas skin. Sounds like you need to mature a little, I remember having those same fears, with my first, now I'm on my fifth. I used to just go to another room until I was finished, or put a blanket over my shoulder. People forget what your doing after a while, and if they are focused on it too much, well, they have the problem! Do whats best for the baby, the temperature of the milk is perfect and sterile from the moment it comes from you to the babys mouth, your baby deserves that. It makes no sense to go through the trouble of pumping which can be painful, and messing with bottles and cleaning them. whats the point? over your pride? God made this beautiful, the only people who find it offensive, are usually the ones living the filthiest lives! It comes down to whos more important? do use a pacifier in between breastfeeding, it will save your sanity! I cant wait to nurse again, please dont let silly worries make you and your baby miss out on this sacred time.

Answer 4

its better to start after 6 weeks, when breastfeeding and milk supply have become well established. Most EPing (exclusively pumping) moms would give thier eyeteeth to feed from the breast. Cleaning the pump, pumping, cleaning bottles and doing something with the baby every 2 to 3 hours while you have to pump is a real PITA. you may be setting yourself up for failure if you don't feed from the breast at first.

if you plan on going back yo work soon, get a really good pump. If you just need a little time for yourself just pump occasioally, that way your baby gets all the benefits that nursing from the breast provides. especially passive immunity.

Answer 5

i did the same thing, i had a problem with my son latching on but i still wanted him to get the breast milk, so i pumped and feed in a bottle instead, it worked great, especially for dad and other family members who watch the little one, also here is a tip that i did as well, try to pump as much as you can and save some so even when you stop pumping your child can still have the breast milk a little longer, i pumped for just 7 weeks but my son had breast milk until he was almost 7 months old!!!

Answer 6

Sure its ok but would you consider breastfeeding for the first few weeks? The reason i ask is because the more you nurse your baby the better your supply will be. Not only that but you are giving up a chance to have that special bonding your babythat you get from breastfeeding.

I didnt feel comfortable either..but look at me know i have beenn BFing for over a year...its great and I love the special bond i have with my Daughter.

My advice is to nurse the baby for at least 3 weeks and if you dont want to nurse then pump.

But you can still nurse at home if your not comfortable nursing in public and still pump for when others want to feed the baby.

Dont intoduce the bottle for a month tho or you will have to deal with nipple confusion and that just adds more problems.

Answer 7

Yes, that is perfectly okay. If you aren't comfortable feeding your baby from your breast, then that is the next best thing.

I do want to say, that the person who said that pumping would cause your milk supply to decrease is WRONG. I pumped the first few weeks of my daughters life because she had problems latching on. It in NO way decreased my milk supply. If you pump enough for your child to eat, then you will consistently make enough milk.

Answer 8

It really depends on the person. Some respond well to pumps... some dont.

If i had been forced (i do mean forced, theres no way i would choose to do that much extra work... and no way i would ever give a baby of mine commercial formula) I would probably have dried up because i just dont respond well to pumps. I have known women who pumped for up to like 18 months though.

Most of them started off really dedicated to nursing and for whatever reason were unable to get thier baby to latch. So they pumped.

I don't think its anyones first choice to pump exclusivly, its HARD work. Basically, youre doing double the work from day one. You'd be much better off nursing exclusivly for at least the first 6 weeks and then seeing how you respond to a pump and whats going to work for your family.

I have know women who wanted to pump exclusively from the start who gave up by 6 weeks. It takes ALOT of dedication and formula can seem like a small step when youre exsausted from pumping every 2 hours. But its not... its drasitcally different than breastmilk.

Alot of babies nurse non-stop for the first few weeks... its hard to get through that time only feeding once... with pumping you are, effectivly, feeding twice.

I do know a woman who pumped for quadruplets. She pumped so much the milk was pink with blood. VERY dedicated woman.

I suggest you talk to a few moms who pump exclusively (i know theres a few here!) and see what they have to say. Its HARD work, and it takes ALOT of dedication.

Nursing is just such a natural porcess, there is very little to worry about when it comes to supply and how much the baby is getting... its also very convenient for nighttime feeds and co-sleeping.

Just try it, commit yourself to 6 weeks and if you feel the same way, then switch to pumping. You will be more objective then, and you will have built yourself a very good supply.

If you are determined enough to make it 6 weeks nursing, you will be sucessful at exclusivly pumping (as long as youre not like me! Ive only ever gotten 2 oz out of both breasts at one time!)

Answer 9

Thats perfectly find, I have to do that to add rice to my babys milk due to his reflux(doctors orders). I would recommend getting a good pump though. I have an Ameda Purely Yours and I love it. I tried several kinds including the Advent manual and electric pump. Trust me, its worth the money. And by the way people that say you will not make enough of start not making enough are wrong. I have been pumping for 4 and a half months and I have to freeze about 12 ounces a day and he eats the rest. You just have to stick with it.

Answer 10

the problem with exclusively pumping and only feeding it out of a bottle is your milk supply will decrease steadily in about 2 weeks an breast pump cannot stimulate enough milk supply. Breast milk is a supply and demand thing. So the slight amount you pump, will not equall to the large amount an infant could . Anyhow women have breasts for the production of milk, as a perfect food supply for infants. Breasts are not intended to be sex objects. After all if you distrubuted that same fat content to your hips it would not be as appealing.