Breastfeeding?

Question

I am due to have my little girl in January and want her to have breast milk so she can have the best possible start in life. I really dont like the thought of her feeding from my breast though and wondered if it is possible for me to just pump all her milk (recently brought a breast pump) or does she have to have the first milk from the breast?

Answer 1

It is possible to feed with expressed milk only. But it can be more difficult to get the milk flow established this way than with straight forward breast feeding. What ever you chose, any breast milk with give your baby the best possible start. Good luck.

Answer 2

She doesn't have to be actually breastfed to get the benefits of breastmilk. If you pump and feed her then she is still receiving the benefits. However, i felt a bit weird at first and wasn't sure how I would go but once I fed her the first time, it was the most magical thing ever! I couldn't get enough of it! I did have some small troubles like a cracked nipple and a blister on the other but these things heal up in a few days and then its smooth sailing. It takes practice!

Do give it a try before you make a decision. You won't know how you really feel about it until you try it with an open mind. Pumping is a good thing but is generally more time consuming (by double) than just straight breastfeeding. You will have double the amount of sterilising (bottles and pump every single time you pump) and you may not get as much milk as if you breastfeed. Also you will be spending 1/2-1 hr pumping 8 times a day and then another 1/2-1 hr feeding her so everything will take twice as long.
Breastfeeding is a portable, hygenic, nutritionally balanced, perfectly warmed, perfectly supplied food that your baby will thrive on.

Have confidence in yourself and give it a go. You might surprise yourself!
best of luck with baby. (my best friend is also due in Jan, 11th, I'm so excited for her!)

Answer 3

I think you should try to think about why you have this feeling. It's quite common, and while I dont know what causes it I think it's because you've never been around anyone breastfeeding before and thus imagine it being uncomfortable or just downright strange. But it is the most beautiful thing, honestly, you can do for your baby and when she's here you wont have a second thought on how 'strange' it is if you open yourself up a bit. It's MUCH harder to pump as there is almost always a supply isse (pumping doesnt get out half of what your baby could for most of us), and she wont get the very, very beneficial colostrom if you dont nurse directly. Try for the first few days (what's a few days?) and see how it goes. You can decide to pump exclusively if after a few days it doesnt feel right to you. But the colostrum (before your milk comes in at Day 4 or 5) is where a lot of the vitamins/immunities are passed on so it's very important she gets this. You just can't pump that stuff out I think... but maybe. Never tried, so perhaps it's possible.

Start looking at some magazines that show nursing babies. Go to a breastfeeding class. Try to shake off whatever has given you the idea it isnt 'right' to breastfeed. If you still can't fathom it, by all means pump away!! It's so much better than formula, but it's a serious time committment. It's a serious time committment to breastfeed period, but if you exclusively pump you have to find time to not only pump but store, re-heat, sterilise and clean bottles, etc etc. Still worth it though, dont let me discourage you from your choice to give breasmilk.

Answer 4

It is possible to pump all her milk but it would take a long time which, when you are a new mum and tired, is no fun. Especially if you have a very hungry baby that might want feeding every hour or two at some times. It also depends on how much milk your body produces and if you are able to breast feed.

Breast pumps are generally for use if you are going out for the evening and want to leave a bottle of breast milk for the babysitter to feed the baby with.

The best thing is to see how you feel after the birth, if you find that you have time to pump all of her milk then go for it.

Answer 5

I had problems with my little boy attatching onto the breast. I decided to stop trying to feed on the breast and express instead. I found expressing my milk really time consuming and my milk flow was not constant. I wish I had tried a little harder at breast feeding. It use to take me 1/2 an hour to an hour to express enough milk for a feed. I used the guide on the formula tins as to how much to give my son. So I would express that amount, it was hard work. I also found that at times he would not drink all the milk, which got a little depressing as it was time consuming to express and I didn't like seeing go to watse. I always tried to have an extra bottle expressed incase of emerginces. It also became tricky as I had to make sure I was home at certain times to express milk. I stopped expressing when my son was 3 months old and switched to formula. I just found it to hard to keep doing, I also found I was missing out on quality time with my son, because I was busy expressing. It did have benifits though like other people being able to feed him.

I recommed if you do decide to go this way get an electric pump. Also express as often as you can, try to stick to a routine with expressing so your supply will stay constant. I didn't stick to a routine, I sometimes skipped expressing because I had an extra bottle. Also when my milk first came in I had heaps, the formula tin said my boy only needed 100ml. I could of expressed more than this but only did enough for a feed. This also caused my supply to reduce. So when expressing make sure you fully drain the breast.

Hope this helps... Goodluck!!

Answer 6

Hi

Well done for wanting to give your baby breast milk.

Its best to breast feed for the 1st couple of days to help bring your milk in and also teach your baby how to feed. This will also give you a choice later on when expressing if you want to feed your daughter from the breast at any point as your baby will know how to latch on..

Cindy v is right pumping breast milk takes longer but its better than formula. I feed from the breast at night lying down and express bottle feed during the day as it means I can get more sleep...these things become more important once baby is born ; )

If you do exclusively pump contact la leche league who will be able to help. You should also look at renting a hospital grade pump as they're alot better.

Good luck!

Answer 7

No, she will need to suckle to get your milk supply going and get the colostrum. If she does not suckle the your milk will not come in and you won't have any milk to feed her!

Why dont you like the idea of feeding from your breast? Its the most natural and beautiful thing in the world. The closeness and cuddle time with your baby is totally priceless. Like the previous poster says I would hate for anyone to miss out on that. I love breastfeeding my son and he loves it too!

You should find out if there are any breastfeeding support groups in your area as I think you would benefit from meeting other mums and seeing how natural and healthy breastfeeding if. Ask your midwife whats available in your area

Heres some information for you: phone numbers you can call for breastfeeding advice and support groups:

http://www.laleche.org.uk/pages/groups/groups.htm

http://www.nct.org.uk/breastfeeding/

Answer 8

I was adamant I was never going to breast feed when I was pregnant and that I was going to express and then move onto formula..... things changed when she was born.
I breast fed for 6 months and absolutely loved it, I only had to stop because I had no choice but to go back to work full time, even then, I expressed for a few weeks.
Whatever your choice is (and I cannot stress this enough) DO NOT let anyone tell you that you should have done it differently. There is so much pressure on new mothers to breast feed (breast is best - apparently) that they feel they have let their child down........... it is your daughter and your choice, you know what the best thing to do by her is!
Good luck with bubs!!

Answer 9

There is nothing wrong with breast feeding your baby as
nature intended. However if you choose to use the breast
pump instead please remember this. - Get all the milk out
each time -. otherwise you will dry up, perhaps before its
time. And yes, to do your very best for your baby she really
needs the first milk. I was a breastfed baby. 75 years ago
it was expected of a Mother. If some stupid idiot on a plain
is offended buy it, then they need to get the h*** out and
walk the rest of the way. I hope that is not the reason you
would deprive yourself and the baby of what natured
intended. OK, Congratulations and best of luck.

Answer 10

I understand its each to their own, but I am sure once you try feeding her from your breast you will change your mind and yes, to be honest she needs to at least start off on your breast - pumps may not get your milk flowing properly.

It is a bit weird - and I fed my first son on the bottle and tried breastfeeding my second, I wish I had done it with my first :-( - good luck xx