How soon can you start pumping and bottle feeding breastmilk?

Question

I want to bottlefeed my breastmilk, so I know how many ounces she is getting and to get her on a better schedule!

For those of you who have done this, is it a pain to pump all of the time and did you have a routine?

Answer 1

Both of my sons were premature. One latched on well and one did not. My first son did not and I strictly pumped for 9 months. I found it to be very rewarding since I could not breastfeed. I pumped every 2 hours (the even hours, 2, 4, 6...) and fed my son, with a bottle, every odd hour. I fed my son on demand, but "HE" wanted to be fed every 2 hours. I found it very beneficial because when you pump milk, it is good for 4-10 hours at room temperature! I was able to pump my milk and then someone else could feed him, and I never had to worry about mixing formula or heating up a bottle. If he skipped a feeding, I was able to freeze that milk! I was also able to mix that milk with cereal and with steamed veggies to make baby food! As far as supply goes... I do not agree
that it decreases your supply! Everyone is different as far as milk supply but there are ways YOU can increase and keep your supply going!
First of all, you have to have a good pump! I bought a medela pump in style, www.medela.com , they are pricey, but SO worth it! They are hospital grade pumps! Secondly, make sure you do not miss a pumping. Make sure you drink plenty of milk and take your prenatals. Eat a balanced diet. Start out by pumping, at low setting, a few minutes on each side. Once your milk "comes in" and your not getting drops of colostrum, start pumping longer. (and yes, I pumped through the night). Build yourself up to 10 minutes each side. You do not have to have it on a high setting! If your relaxed enough, you will get a good "let down" which is when your milk pours out of the ducts instead of drips, if you have a good let down, you will know! You will see milk pouring in the bottles! It is amazing. You can also take fenegreek, all natural herbs, to help with supply! My doctor gave me reglan (which my son was on for reflux) and that increased my supply too. Where there is a will, there IS a way! I hope this helps! GOOD LUCK!
And hang in there...it is tricky, but worth it if you can stick with it! Your baby will appreciate it! And...milk is free, even if you spend $300 on a pump, know that you will never have to buy formula!

Answer 2

You can start from day 1.

I pumped from the 3rd day on for 6 months for both of my kids. At first you will be pumping a lot, but you will get a routine and soon figure out how to do less pumping and get more milk.

You will not have to pump at every feeding, but you should pump that often in the beginning just to help bring in the milk supply. You will also have to get up a night for a while to pump. Maybe your husband can feed the baby while you pump?

But yes you will get into a good routine. Get a lot of the milk freezer bags because you will probably be able to get more milk than the baby needs and saving this for a later date is great (the frozen last for 3 months and then you have to use them) I used the stored bags to continue to give milk past the time I stopped pumping.

I really liked this because I was able to share the joy with my family, and once in a while my mom stayed over and fed the baby at night so I could get some sleep. You are still giving the baby the milk, still holding and bonding with the baby and I think able to share more of this joy with your husband. I personally think it is the best of both worlds and you will get the schedule down soon enough.

Good luck.

Answer 3

She will only eat what she is hungry for, you shouldnt get too caught up in ounces. My little one had a health problem so I HAD to keep track of ounces. Pumping wasnt much of a hassell - took no more time than breast feeding, and actually, was usually faster. You should exclusively breast feed for at least a month to avoid nipple confusion. After that, a wide nipple is best, most like the breast. I like Avent. Just make sure if you are pumping, do it on a schedule, pump every couple of hours, as much as possible - you need to keep your supply up. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

A baby will eat when she's hungry, so it's hard to have a definitive feeding schedule when they're wee little. Offer the breast as much as possible--I only pumped when I had to leave the house with the baby and I knew she would need to eat while we were out, or when I was going to be out without her during her feeding time. Your breasts will supply based on demand---this can be made more difficult with a pump, and at first, you will not be able to fill an entire bottle---not until your milk comes in fully, and like another poster said you will still have to get up and pump at night or at least nurse during the night so that way you don't have a painful experience or leak. I would stick with the breast for as long as you can---pumping is painful and it is very time consuming. Not to mention you do begin to feel like Besse the cow! LOL

Answer 5

A baby should be fed on demand whether bottle or breastfeeding. So it isn't likely to help settle a better "schedule" if that's you ronly reason. In answer to your question You can begin pumping at birth. I can't pump at all as it is far too painful for me.

Answer 6

I did it. My daughter was a preemie and was to weak and little to breastfeed, so I pumped and bottled it. I would pump every 3-4 hours, in the beginning it did hurt, but you get used to it. You will still need to wake up in the middle of the night to pump, becaus eif you don't you will wake up hard as a rock and soak and wet. Good Luck!

Answer 7

Why would you make it harder?

You body naturally regulates how much she gets, according to how much she needs, and your body automatically produces it on a schedule....

Beyond that, for a lot of women using a pump depletes their supply because it doesnt empty the breast like the baby does.

not to mention its much harder to increase your supply enough for a baby for the length of time thats best for breast feeding, you end up switching to formula in the end.

I think you're making it MUCH harder, and in the end you'll regret it. It'd be different if you were workng, but if you're home its just stupid. You dont need to know how much she's eating as far as ounces go because you watch her diapers. And making a schedule with a pump and a bottle leaves no time for real life, where as nursing does.


lol. What a pain in the neck.