Breastfeeding via Pump Only

I gave birth to my twins at 28 weeks. Pumped exclusively from day one because it was a mnonth before they even took a bottle. Neither one ever really latched on once they got the hang of sucking and swallowing, and I pumped for a littel over 3 months before it finally all dried up. I thought I did very well considering the circumstances. It was exhausting but knowing they were getting the good stuff all along made it worth it.

Well this was pretty much me with both kids. Although I tried (way harder with my first) with both kids, I was much faster to just go to pumping with my son (2nd kid). Yes, you have to start pumping immediately. You have to start pumping in the hospital and never stop. My nipples were totally raw all the time and it took forever to feed b/c of the pumping and washing every time. I was much more diligent with my first child and part of me wanted to be that diligent with the second but I just didn't have it in me. I pumped for a much shorter time with the second. When you already have a toddler pumping every 3 hours becomes much more of a hassle than when you just had one (and even then it was a hassle).

My advice is this...if you want to try then try. If you will guilty and not forgive yourself then try...BUT if you don't want to nurse/pump then don't. I do understand, trust me, I do, but I was so much happier when I just stopped the pumping and went to formula. Yes, it was more expensive but it was less stressful for me and following around a 2 year old was a lot easier when I wasn't strapped to the pump all the time. We didn't have to follow a schedule so rigidly, etc. If you're nursing you can nurse anywhere...well you probably aren't going to drag your pump along to a play date or the mall or the doctor's office, so you have to be home every 3 hours to make sure you're pumping and getting enough milk to feed your baby. If you decide to pump then you must get a hands-free boustier (sp?) so that you can pump and bottle feed at the same time! Good luck and lose the guilt! :)

Definitely pump if it's too hard to breastfeed! I pumped exclusively for 8 months because my son was born with a cleft palate and couldn't suck. So we fed him my milk with a bottle and a special nipple that had a very easy flow. It is hard to keep your milk supply up but you can keep it going consistently at least if you are committed to it and stay on schedule as best as you can. You may have to supplement with formula sometimes, but its better than formula all the time. And who knows, maybe you could try breast feeding sometimes and just alternate with pumping. Oh and right after you have the baby, if you don't want bay to try latching on first, just use the pumps that the hospital has every 3 hours or so while you're there and you will have a great milk supply! Good luck! It will work fine.

I had a tough time breast feeding and it wasn't helped at all by a horrid nurse at the hospital that somehow made it all my fault. She was the only negative thing about my delivery and it soured me on breastfeeding completely. Seriously, she was awful. I was sore, hormonal and ready to throttle this woman. But I tried. Apparently, according to her, I wasn't trying hard enough.

So we did both. I pumped breastmilk and supplemented her with formula. She was a perfectly healthy baby and has grown into a wonderful, social, smart teen. The lack of breastmilk had not one detrimental effect on her. Or my son.

I've been in your shoes, and I do understand how you feel, but do what works for you and causes the least anxiety. And then don't look back. Enjoy your new baby and as Tori said, give up the guilt!

Good luck and congrats!

I exclusively pumped for my 2nd. He needed open heart surgery at 11 days old and was on a respirator for most of his first 11 days. He did nurse a few times (they briefly took him off the respirator), but it was just too much work for him. I just pumped every 3 hours--even through the night. My milk supply dwindled around 5 months mostly due to stress and exhaustion. He was on a feeding tube for 8 months, so I would pump (20 minutes or so) then feed him through his tube (30 minutes or so) and then get up 2 hours later and repeat. Definitely try! You can probably rent a pump through your hospital (I did). Also, get in touch with a good lactation consultant (also available at the hospital). Try!

I had an awesome experience nursing my son, we had a few issues at the beginning but then it became this amazing bond that lasted 14 months. Then came my daughter everything about nursing just didnt happen. She wouldnt latch right, I was sore, she wouldnt stay latched so i tried to pump and feed and I will tell you its exhausting. You have to pump at regular intervals to keep the supply up and then you have to stop everything to pump and then the baby eats it all and then your attached to the pump again and again and again it seems like if you aren't bottle feeding your baby you are pumping it just seemed very time consuming. However I was fortunate enough when I hit my breaking point, a few weeks in to tell her that she has to latch on or she gets formula and I cant do it anymore and she latched!!!!! just to be followed by bouts of thrush and mastitis and i struggled with that until she was 7 mos and finally had enough. If you do it and have the patience good luck it can be done i just couldnt do it.

can you get a nipple shield to protect your nipple tissue while the baby nurses????

Look here:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bf-links-excpumping.html

It's a whole list of resources.

I've also nursed and pumped at the same time. Holding him may encourage your let-down. No reason, IMO, to not hold him if it helps. Maybe pump when he needs to eat so you're always on his schedule. The biggest problem with pumping only that I've heard is schedule and pumping often enough to maintain supply.

I did not read the other responses, so hope this is not repetitive. I pumped exclusively. My son was a preemie and caught us all off guard. I started pumping a few hours after he was born and would store it at the hospital to be given through a tube. I pumped every 3 hours and let me tell you, you will get a lot of milk by pumping exclusively! I kept it up for a whole year (had a whole freezer full).

I will tell you that it is very exhausting though. It took me about 20 min to pump each time. This was a lot when you are sleep deprived! But it is worth it, and if your milk supply is good and you have the space, freeze as much as you can for the future.

Hope that helps and please feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

I started pumping and nursing as soon as my first was born to try to get my milk to come in faster every couple of hours. My milk came in within a day. I never had to exclusively pump but I have a friend who couldn't breastfeed her baby from time of birth due to other physical reasons and solely uses a pump. She's been pumping since last November and continues to do so - her baby is in the 90th percentile for weight so it can be done =)

I think it helps to be near your baby when you are pumping, perhaps even holding him/her as you pump to help stimulate milk production of course every couple of hours.

I would pump and nurse while on maternity leave so that I could have enough for when she started daycare so your body can produce more than enough if need be. I think you just have to relax, have warm/loving thoughts of your LO while you pump and you should be fine. Good luck. Kudos for you to want to try but don't feel bad if you go with formula. There are plenty of formula fed babies who are grown and healthy. Do what makes you feel good either way.

Hey. I didn't read the responses, but thought you'd like to read another that did just pump. My first I breastfeed almost exclusively for 6 mos. When #2 came I knew that wouldn't work since my then 3 yo wouldn't be patient and i just didn't think i could breastfeed and watch her. anyway, my 2nd didn't take. tried and tried with consultants and nada. very bothersome as i wanted to provide some au natural. anyway, i pumped. i never got the let down i did when i had done it au natural, but i did get some. what i've come to realize is no matter how much breastmilk you can provide, that's more than nothing. every sip helps them build a stronger immunity, etc. i say that since so many of us get caught up in how many ounces we pumped. don't. you're providing what you can and that's all your little one and yourself can ask of you. take care.

I pumped exclusively for my 2nd. Rebecca, you can do it! Good for you for even planning this and for caring so much that your new baby will get what they need. To get the supply she needed with only the pump, a few things helped: water - water - water! Drink lots. Medela makes a great bra with an extra flap on each bra cup that holds the breastpump cones in place so you can pump hand-free and love, snuggle, hold and smell your baby while you pump. Awesome. Also, there are "exclusively pumping" support websites you can go on and get lots of tips and great support. You aren't alone. Whichever way you end up going, formula or breastmilk, you're going to do a great job. Relax and enjoy that sweet baby!

I just felt I needed to try to encourage you a bit! I'm so proud of you for wanting to try ot BF (breastfeed)! Especially knowing what you went though before! It's brave and wonderful! I am an advocate of BFing, but only if it's a good experience, you shouldn't be crying at every feeding and worried your baby isn't getting enough. I don't have a lot of experience in this area (I BF all 3 and didn't have issues), but I wonder if there is something you can do for the nipple pain? Maybe a nipple shield? Have you consulted a lactation consultant to see if they ahve any ideas? If not, then maybe just try the "natural" way as you put it and if it's too hard, then just pump. I have no advice on successful exclusive pumping, but I'm sure someone will! I just want you to not worry, know that you will do what is best for your baby and that ALL of the ways you feed a baby are OK and GREAT! I was a formula fed baby and I am smart, not prone to being overweight, or any of the other scary things they tell us as mothers! So, don't beat yourself up over something you can't really control!

I didn't take the time to read all your responses, so might be repeating. Just wanted to let you know that I was unable to breast feed either of my kids, but did exclusively pump for them. Yes, your milk will come in just by pumping every couple hours as soon as he is born. Make sure you give him every drop of it at first as that is the colostrom. I would talk to a La Leche rep, they are the professionals and might be able to recommend something else to make nursing him work. If not, pumping can be relatively easy. I would recommend getting a double pump, just to save you that much time. I didn't need a hospital grade one, just got one from Wal-Mart but I have heard a lot of women say they are faster. You get to do it on your time, not the baby's time. You can do it more or less often to increase/decrease your supply. You can do marathon sessions if you see your supply decreasing, whereas with baby you can't make them eat every hour if they are not hungry. And, one of the best perks, Dad can take the middle of the night feedings!! lol

However, if you choose to go with formula, please don't beat yourself up! Mothers have an unlimited supply of guilt. We feel guilty over so many things concerning our children that feeling guilty over not breastfeeding him should not enter into your thoughts. Formula will certainly give him all the nutrients he needs and if it makes it easier on you and him, then by all means go for it!

Best of luck and congrats on the new addition to your family!

I would definitely try nursing for the first 3 weeks before starting to pump to ensure the colostrum is completely consumed, since it is very think and barely can come out with pumping. If nursing goes well this time - which is may, you never know for sure - then continue nursing :) If not...

You would need to pump every hour for the first 2-3 months, in order to somewhat stimulate production close to a suckling newborn. Once past that mark, about month 4, you can go to 2-3 hour pumpings. If you notice supply dwindling at this point, it's normal because around this time the body regulates to baby's needs rather than bulking up in expectation.

When this happens, start taking fenugreek and blessed thistle supplements together. This works much better than just fenugreek alone. Keep hydrated, eat well, have a beer or glass of wine on occassion and things 'should' go well. If they do not, contact your local Le Leche League or IBCLC.

You need a hospital grade pump. In the Chicago city, we can rent a medela symphony for about $70 a month (still cheaper than formula). You might be able to get insurance to pay for it depending on where you live and what insurance you have. A consumer pump is NOT going to cut it for pumping exclusively and bringing your milk in to a great level. You should also try the galactalogues like oatmeal, mother's milk or fenugreek capsules...and of course drink a ton of water to stay hydrated. Good luck with making a go of it! I had issues nursing my daughter and ended up pumping exclusively with a medela pump in style consumer pump and dried up by 4 mos. Fortunately, I didn't have other problems that you are combatting and was able to nursing my son for 12 mos. I wish you the best!

First, don't stress! :-) I have breastfed and pumped for 6 kids. With the first one, I couldn't pump much and he seemed to nurse all the time and then drink a bottle of formula too. With the second one the milk came out a lot. He was drinking 32oz of my milk while I was at work (after he was 6 weeks old) plus nursing at home too. I totally concentrated on relaxing and enjoying the time with my baby. I pumped with a battery operated pump (you can hold with just one hand) and I pumped on the way to/from work and at lunch time. I would let him feed first on the side I had already pumped. With the last 2, I was a stay at home mom so I would feed them only on one side at night and pump the full side in the morning. I could get 8-10oz. and it came out fast and easy. I built a freezer full of milk for when I couldn't feed them and they needed to drink from a bottle (babysitting, trips away from home, outfit challenges, special ocassions, etc.) I didn't start pumping until after 2 weeks or so when my supply of milk was well established. I drank lots of water!! Over 2 gallons a day! Hope this helps! Best wishes and God bless!

I don't know whether you've consulted the La Leche League about your concerns, but since you have some very valid issues and questions, I'd seek out their expertise. I know you are looking here for info from mom's with experience to share, and not necessarily referrals elsewhere, but if it were me, I think I'd look to the experts on breastfeeding (and the expert moms here!) to get the best overall information.

I can't help but wonder if there isn't something you can do to make natural breastfeeding work for you... I didn't exclusively pump, but it seems daunting to me. I pumped when I returned to work, and even just that was tough, and my milk supply diminished. I know people do it, but I think I'd try to see if there is any possibility of having a successful breastfeeding experience before I'd write it off to exclusively pump. You can always choose to exclusively pump with nothing to lose if you try breastfeeding first and it just doesn't happen.

Best wishes to you.

I pump and fed with both mine. My second nursed better than my first but still not great. I had enough supply to last almost 4 1/2 months with both.

No matter what decision you make, you will be doing what is best for you and your baby. I'm lucky enough to have been able to nurse without many complications. But I do know a mom that exclusively pumped for over a year. It's not always easy but it can be done. You have to be totally committed to it to make it work. Find a local La Leche League group and start going to meetings now!!! You will find a wondeful group of mom's that will help support you through your journey! I'm in Rockwall and we would love to have you at our meetings!! We meet on the second Monday of each month at 7:00pm.

I also highly recommend you speak to a lactation consultant. You have good advice here, but they are the experts at this! They can give you all kinds of advice and suggestions to ease your anxiety. I think you should definately give nursing another shot becuz it can be totally different the second time around. I don't know if your spiritual or not, but pray about this and let God help you through. I think its great that you see the true God-given benefits of breastmilk and are will to sacrifice so much to give your child those wonderful benefits. So many moms out there now do not try hard enough to nurse it seems like. I pray it goes well for you with baby #2!

I'm not trying to pressure you into trying to BF again, but did you ever try nipple shields? Not the hard plastic things that go in your bra, but a thin plastic thing that looks like a sombrero and is used to "shield" the nipple when nursing. I used one with my first child because of a flat nipple and used it on both sides because it made it made the pain almost gone.

I pumped because my son had to stay at the hospital and I had to come home and be with my 3year old who needed me. I pumped throughout the day, but not at night. I was just too exhausted with all I was going through at the time. I had to mix half breastmilk and half formula. I only did this for about a month because it took so much time. This was my experience. Glad I pumped and my son had breast milk for the first month and, also, don't regret stopping when I did. Do what you need to do whether it is breast milk or formula. Your child will be fine. Don't allow stress over something like this take away from such a joyful moment in your life.

Please consider speaking at length with an IBCLC. International Board Certified Lactation Consultants are the absolute best when it comes to complex nursing issues. The title "lactation consultant" isn't regulated and so you'll find all levels of knowledge and experience amongst those with this title. Pediatricians, though very knowledgeable about a lot of things, are also not experts in breastfeeding and receive a lot of their continuing education in infant nutrition from formula companies. IBLCs spend a great deal of time obtaining and maintaining their certifications and they truly are the the most qualified to help solve complex breastfeeding challenges.

Here are some fantastic local ones:

http://www.babybirthandyou.com/

http://www.naturalbeginningsonline.com/

I say make an appt with a lactation consultant. They can answer your questions and give you lots of suggestions to try. I know it's frustrating. Granted I did not have an autoimmune disorder that affected my tissue, but all three of my breastfeeding experiences have been different. First child, went great. Second child it was horrible-bleeding, cracking, and pain for over 6 weeks. Third, some soreness for about 2 months that would not go away, but it was tolerable soreness and somewhere between the 2 and 3 month mark the soreness was finally gone. Worst case scenario, you try it and if the problems come back then you never have to worry about "what if".
ADDED: And by the way, I breastfed both my first 2 for a full year and my third is now 5 months and we're still going strong!

I am not sure what your autoimmune disorder is, but I have vasonipple spasm. It REALLY can hurt. I didnt get diagnosed until I had my second child. I had so much guilt with my first baby because I thought it was my fault. I ended up pumping for most of her nursing carrier. It wasn't so fun pumping, it takes a lot of time but I do feel it was worth it. With my second baby I gave nursing another chance and I still had the pain, but I was finally diagnosed. that helped me feel better because the pain wasn't in my head. I have been able to make it 10 months still nursing, but I am just down to middle of the night nursing because it still hurts.
I would give nursing a try again if you can. If it is unbearable then plan to pump as long as you can. When you are pumping for your new born lay her snuggled up against your leg ( i assume you will be sitting on a bed) that way she will be touching you and you can look at her and think about how much you love her. that will let you be close to her and help your letdown.
Then you give her the bottle so you get the same wonderful closeness of breastfeeding. Nursing your baby doesn't have to mean that you breastfeed, you can nurse your baby with a bottle too. Dr. Sears has a wonderful section in his breastfeeding book about having to give your baby a bottle and still "nursing" your baby. It really helped me. I am sure that section is on his website too. take a look.
try not to stress, It is only the way you feed your baby. as you know there as a million other ways to feel close and snuggly to your new little baby. Give nursing a second try and if it doesn't work than you gave it another shot :)