Pumping for Breast Milk

I am so sorry to hear about your struggle. I had a very similar experiance with my little girl (now 8 months). She wasnt latching on in the hospital and before we left they diagnosed her with jaundice. Since she needed to get fluids I had to bottle feed her. I pumped and fed and tryed to get her latching but with no sucess. We also had to have the light therapy for a week. I was dedicated to pumping because I know breast milk is the best, but she was not latching and in fact would scream when she saw my breast in anticapation of the struggle. I finally called it quits when my toddler son tried pulling the pump off of me. I realized I was spending so much time pumping and feeding and washing equipment that he was feeling neglected and I didnt have time to play with my babes. It was really hard to give it up, but I believe it was for the best. I guess what I am saying is, its not so important that it should be a big stress, or steal precious time from your children. There are lots of happy, smart adults out there who never got mommy milk and are no worse off for it. That first milk is the most important and you have given your daugher that gift. Good Luck. Jen

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My first daughter took over six weeks before she was strictly breast and I could give up the pumping. It is a learned technique (for both mom and baby). The advice I got then was to pump breast first just to soften it and get milk flowing and then give her a bit of milk from bottle to take the edge off her hunger so she wouldn't be frantic and get frustrated so easily, then put her to the breast. I did this and let her lie beside me to nurse at night when she was drowsy and less resistant and/or distracted and she figured it out...
Good luck. I managed to nurse all 4 of my kids for the first twelve months and the health benefits are worth the effort! Keep up the good work!
M.

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When you feel it is right, then it is time to stop. My son was in the NICU for 23 days and never learned to latch on. I pumped for 9 months. If I had went back to work sooner, I am not sure I would have kept with it. It is what works best for you and your baby.

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First of all, way to go! :) Pumping can be a huge pain... I pump 3-4 times a day because I work full-time and my son is 7 1/2 months old now (have worked since he was 10 weeks).

I have a cousin who exclusively pumped for her twins for a year plus worked 3 days a week. Basically, you have to decide how important it is to you and your baby. Your baby will develop just fine if you quit and feed her formula... but you have to really be OK with that.

I have had many times in the last few months when I was overwhelmed by things and thought quitting breastfeeding/pumping would relieve some stress... but when I really think about it (when I'm NOT as stressed out) I'd really miss it and be dissapointed in myself if I stopped for those reasons.

If pumping is really the root of stress and anxiety for you, then that would be something else entirely. I just try to think ahead a few months and decide if I'd be happy with that decision in the long term (and have so far always talked myself out of quitting, for now). You are doing a great job, take care!

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When my daughter was born she would never latch on, two weeks and four lactation consultants later I gave up breast feeding and pumped. I rented a hospital grade double breast pump which helped tremendously. I fed her only breast milk until she was six months old and started eating solid food, then I gave up pumping but had enough frozen that she had some breast milk a day until she was at least 9 months old. It helped that she was eating solid food so we didn't have to use much formula. It worked great for us, and I say that as long as you can still handle pumping keep it up its a sacrifice but worth it to have a healthy baby. I still think that is why my daughter never had to go to the doctor for a cold in the first year and has never had an ear infection. Hope it helps knowing that there are others who have been through it. Have a great day!!

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Is she latching on at all? I had a 26 wk baby 20 mons ago, who only weighed 1.5 lbs and I had to pump for a few months before he was able to completely breastfeed. Sometimes I had to just take away all bottles and let him get hungry enough and kept pushing my nipple in his mouth and eventually he would suck on it just to have something to do and milk would come out! Thats all it took and he breastfeed fine ever since.
Good luck!
H.~

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My daughter wouldn't latch at all when she was a baby. I ended up pumping for a year. When you decide you have had enough of being connected to the pump, that is when you should be done. Also by pumping, I had quite the supply in the freezer so when I did quit, she still had breast milk for a little while. I had it down to pumping 2 times a day, morning and night. Formula is expensive so that is another thing to think about. I waited until my daughter could switch to milk before I quit, to save myself the expense of formula. You just need to figure out what works for you. Happy pumping =)

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Hello!

That is wonderful how committed you are to getting your child the breast milk she needed. I think the first 3 months are the most crucial in protecting your child with all the nutrients your milk provides. Breast milk keeps babies healthy so I would say when you feel it's time for you to stop is when it would be good. I breast fed 3 of my children for 1 year, I was working and pumping 3 1/2 days a week.

Best of luck to you!

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Well congrats first of all! I had my baby on january 12 of this year. My boy hasnt been the best feed baby either. But i have found, pumping for about two mintues so it gets nice and firm, and then squirting milk in thier mouth. it helps! My baby was on the lights as well when we was a week old, for three days. but anyways, if you take the bottles away, he will get hungy enough eventually, he will suck. good luck~

-C.

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You've received some great advice!

Only thing I'd add is have you talked with a lactation specialist? My daughter had to use a shield with a more elongated nipple on it so that her babies could breast feed. They couldn't quite get enough of the breast alone into their mouths.

Hi.. First of all, congrats on the new baby and for keeping up the pumping for 3 months. I have an almost 10 mo daughter and have been pumping for her since she was 3 days old and intend to continue pumping MM for her til she is 2 yrs old. If you have a plentiful enough supply, then I say, keep on going while you are at hm w/your girls. It is a whole lot easier to pump at hm than it is to pump at wk, altho I do not know from 1st hand experience, as I am a child care provider but I think you should keep pumping.. :) I would love to give you more encouragement if you need it. It takes extra wk, but that MM is so important and if you don't have to haul your pump around to a job outside of the hm, keep up the good wk pumping!!

Good luck and take care. Let me know if you'd like any words of encouragement or to chat..

B.

My daughter was born in July and could not latch for medical reasons. I pumped exclusively for 6 months. One thing that I haven't seen in the previous posts is anyone that was having problems with milk supply. I almost gave up numerous times because I was only producing enough to feed and sometimes I had to supplement with formula. It was very discouraging and frustrating to work so hard and not have much to feed my daughter. If that is your case, I completely understand how you feel. Like the others I will say any amount of breast milk that your baby has is better than not. Good luck with your decision.

The best advice I can give you is follow your heart,this is only the first of many decisions you will be making for your child in the long years ahead. Bottom line, only mother know's best call it intuition call it instinct, your a mom and by nature you have your child's best interest on the top of your priorities at all times. you'll do what's right