Pumping Breast Milk into Bottles. Need Advice!

Hi J.,
I had to feed my son breastmilk from bottles because he was born quite early (29 weeks) and was too small to take straight from the breast (took too much of his energy and didn't come even close to emptying my breasts). The only negatives I can think of are 1) that my son might have swallowed more air while drinking from bottles so be sure to get ones that minimize that and 2) that people who are super hardcore about breastfeeding might give you mean looks because it looks like you are feeding your child formula. This didn't happen often, and I didn't give a %$#* anyway. If pumping and then feeding your son (congrats, by the way!) using a bottle works best for you, then go for it! Oh -- one other thing. I think the pumping increased my milk supply, and it was tough for me to stop pumping when we were ready to move on from breastmilk. Feel free to email me whenever if you need advice on how to stop pumping. There's tons of info out there about breastfeeding but very little about how to stop, especially if you are pumping. Also, I highly suggest renting a hospital grade pump, despite the higher cost, if you will be pumping several times per day for several months. Finally, I would recommend freezing and then refridgerating (a day before potential use) bottles of breastmilk (if you are not already doing so) so that you can quickly respond to any increases in the amount your son wants to have.
Enjoy your new son!
K.

Hi J.,

Just thinking about that initial latch makes my breast hurt! My first had a pour latch so it was painful for about three months till I learned how to correct her latch and my second one was like a vacuum. Both though became wonderful experiences after a few months that lasted a year each. The only thing with pumping only is that the natural "supply and demand" does not occur. You will probably have to supplement and most moms dry up. The only way to up your supply is to up your pump schedule and time for a period. Some women’s hormones do not respond well to the pump though either. Also you have to sort of guess when this needs to happen

So all in all what you are doing is fine, you just will end up using formula sooner than you probably would like to.

That is great that you are going through all the work to give him breastmilk. I don't know if it is true or not (I'm sure someone one here does), but I heard that if you are solely pumping and not breastfeeding directly that your milk will dry up sooner. I was told that the pump is not the same sensation as the baby sucking which helps stimulate milk production better.

I would also suggest calling a lactation consultant if you have any other questions. They are usually very helpful.

Hi J.,

It is okay to do this. My daughter in law had the problem of her nipples getting sore. I believe Walmart has this nipple protector that looks like a baby bottle nipple but it can be place on you instead of the bottle. That seemed to help her. As for the sucking to hard, some women that breastfeed lose their baby weight real fast.

Kind of a long response, but all tips... The most important is that you are a good mom whether you breastfeed or feed formula. You'll figure out what works for you.

I had difficulty in nursing both my kids from the start - bleeding/cracked nipples both times, and the first time that happened before we left the hospital! The good news is that if you see a lactation consultant or your general practitioner, you should be able to get a prescription for a pain killer that is breastfeeding friendly - I was given Vicodin in the hospital for this. I actually didn't take the drugs, but it was nice to know they were available. Anyway, go to Target or the closest natural pharmacy to you and stock up on Lanolin gel, soothies (small, round gel pads for sticking in your bra to soothe the nipple and cut down on chafing- awesome if you refrigerate them first!!), and the large donut looking gel pads for heating/cooling your breasts. These large donut things I put in the microwave for 30 seconds and they help your let down for pumping, but also help soothe your inevitable blocked duct....

Once you've got the essential gear, you need the tips.
So, what worked for me was first making sure the latch was right. The kid needs to open his mouth like he is eating a huge hamburger, and only then let him latch on. You can stroke down from his lower lip to his chin to get him to open that way. Next, and this is critical, if he doesn't latch properly, you have to break the seal by inserting your pinky in his mouth, pressing on his tongue. If you don't, those little suckers will shred your nipples! You'll know he is latched fine, as assuming you don't have any open wounds, his sucking won't hurt. It will probably feel totally alien, but it won't actually hurt. (The let down sometimes hurts - for me it felt like an army of freezing ants running down my chest!)

ALWAYS air dry your nipples right after a feeding. And breastmilk has both antiseptic and chafe-resistant qualities, so you might express a little on your sore nipples before letting them dry a few seconds. (If you immediately put them back in your bra, they'll stick and you'll lose skin, and you'll be totally unhappy...)

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP PUMPING - and keep in mind I pumped for the first few days for each kid, until I was healed, only breastfeeding at night and then I pumped at work after 3mos until each kid was 1 - you need a hospital grade pump. The hand pump won't work. I had an ameda purely yours. Also, you might invest in Mothers Milk tea and fenugreek pills. Both will help you keep your milk supply up. If you intend to simply pump, you need to pump around 20 minutes every 2-3 hours and during growth spurts, you increase your supply by pumping 20 minutes every 1.5-2 hours. If you go this route, I used the steam cleaning bags by medela to sterilize everything and once a day or so ran everything in a dishwasher.

All of this do-able. I promise that if you figure out the latch, and in the meantime give your body sometime to repair, you can breastfeed comfortably. It is actually really nice after you get in the groove. For me it was about 3 mos with my first child before I wasn't totally freaked out by having this parasite attached to me for food, but then I started joking I'd nurse the kids until they went off to college ;) Feel free to send me a personal note if you have more questions or simply need someone to remind you that whatever works out is best for you and your family.

I have heard from most moms and all of my friends with children (including my own mother!) that breastfeeding for the first time IS uncomfortable and can often be painful for a short while until your nipples "get used" to the feeling and suction of your babies mouth.I certainly experienced that myself - I put the baby to my breast very shortly after she was born, and let me tell you, it was a shock at how hard she sucked! But nature intended it to be that way - that powerful suction is what triggers the mothers "let down" reflex that allows your milk to flow. Not only is mouth to breast contact important to your milk production but it is a very important part of the bonding process with your child. Now, I am not saying that women who choose not to breastfeed have any less of a bond with their children than mothers that DO breastfeed, but I do know that there is something so special, unique, and almost magical in sharing that closeness with your child. It is something that is private to you and your baby, and something that no one can really feel with your child but you. I often found myself tearing up while I stared into the eyes of my infant as she nursed as I was so filled with awe and love for her. Even if you only breastfeed for awhile, give it a shot - it is a VERY rewarding experience.
Here are a few tips that can help you through that week or so of "getting used to" your baby nursing.... first, go to the drug store and buy a tube of Lansinoh ointment. It is pure lanolin and completely non-toxic and not only relieves nipple pain, bleeding, or cracking (in worst case scenarios) but keeps the nipple moist and protected otherwise. It is also one of the only nipple creams out there that the baby can ingest - one tube is little pricey (like $12-$15 I think?) but will last forever. Its great for soothing other things too - I use it now on my little one's scrapes. Its great stuff. Second, invest in a set of hot/cold breast compress pads - gerber makes them, and you can also get them at drugstores. You can freeze or microwave them depending on what soothes you: they have a little cutout for the nipple and rest over your breast. Incredibly soothing - they were so great when I was engorged.
Finally, call up your local La Leche League and talk with a lactation consultant - they are incredibly knowledgeable and can change your whole breast feeding experience by teaching you the best ways to do it to suit your personal comfort and that of your child. They are your best resource (just look up la leche league in a google search).
Finally, if you DO choose not to breastfeed, don't let anyone beat up on you for your decision. Everyone thinks THEY know what is right, but whether to breastfeed is a decision that only you can make. Not breastfeeding does NOT make you a bad mother!
Congratulations on your new precious baby, and good luck!

Hi J.,

Congratulations on your baby Steven!!! I suggest you contact your local La Leche League. They give the best breastfeeding, and pumping advice.Breastfeeding is uncomfortable at first, but once you figure out how to have the right latch, it doesn't hurt and it gets better. Keep trying. Good luck you you and I hope that you have a great day!~

Molly

Good for you for making the effort to breastfeed! I'm sure that feeding him pumped milk is fine, but I have also heard that if you only (or mostly) pump that your milk production will decline. You might want to look for a breastfeeding support group. (There's one that meets with a lactation consultant at Good Samaritan hospital in San Jose, but there might be another closer to where you live.)

Just a note of encouragement...When I first started breastfeeding, my breast were sooo sore too. It's amazing the strong suction babies have! It especially helped me to use lanolin cream (I think it was called Lansinoh?), it really helped with the soreness and cracking and it's safe for the baby. I used it all the time at first.

It also helps to keep going with the direct breastfeeding--don't give up too soon. If you can manage to keep it up for a few weeks, your breasts will start to adjust to this new thing, you'll ge the hang of it and start to feel better. Soreness and cracking doesn't last forever (only a couple weeks if I remember right), it just feels like an eternity when it's happening. I was able to stick with it, and it turned out to be the easiest thing to feed my baby after all. (I nursed both my children for about a year each.)
Good luck!

Hi J.,

I too decided to only pump breastmilk when my daughter was born. I was planning to go back to work and also wanted to see how much she was actually eating, which I wouldn't have known if I was breastfeeding. Also, my husband was able to be part of the feeding experience by giving her a bottle of my breastmilk. I had a Medela pump and even bought a handsfree device that I could strap around my back and walk around. I wasn't able to produce a lot, but I supplemented with formula. I decided to stop when she was six months old. A lot of people will pressure you to "try" to breastfeed, but you need to do what you feel is best for yourself and your son.

Good luck!

C.

J. - It is good that you are feeding Steven breastmilk and what all these other moms have said is true. Solely pumping, your milk supply will dry up sooner. I returned to work when each of my children was about 3 months old and I pumped so they would have breast milk during the day while I was at work. After a few months, I struggled to get enough milk from the pumping even though I continued to nurse in the mornings and evenings. They never had any difficulty getting milk out my breast when they were nursing, regardless of the time of day (you have less milk at the end of the day and even if I couldn't get a drop using the pump, my babies could always get some). I nursed each of them for a year - my son actually went until about 14 months and I only stopped because I had gotten pregnant with my daughter and was so drained and hungry all the time from trying to breast feed while being pregnant too (I didn't know I was pregnant until I was almost two months along).

Really, you just need a lactation consultant to help you teach Steven how to latch on properly so that he both actually gets milk (sometimes they suck and suck but because they aren't properly latched on they aren't really getting anything) AND so that he doesn't damage your nipple. You shouldn't really experience soreness, drying, or cracking of the nipples if your son is properly latched on while he's nursing.

Good luck and congratulations!

You have to do what is right for you, but I know that once I got past the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding with my kids I was pain free except for a couple cases of mastitis. If you can tough it out, it really is a wonderful bonding experience for both of you. A breast shield can help, especially if your son isn't latching properly, but you don't want to use it too long or sometimes you have to go through that pain period again when you stop using them and your baby is learning to latch onto you again. I didn't enjoy pumping at all, and my kids always got much more nursing directly than I did pumping. ( I was able to pump enough when I went back to work for my son for about 6 months before I had to start supplementing, but the longer I pumped, it seemed the less I produced. In the beginning I easily pumped 12 oz at a time, by the end, I was struggling to get 6-8). I was able to continue nursing part time in the morning, evening and weekends, but I once I started supplementing I still gave him a formula bottle on the weekend. I finally gave up altogether at 10 months, because I dreaded pumping so much and my son was losing interest. My daughter on the other hand I was able to stay home, so I easily nursed her until 15 months with no problems. I give you a lot of credit, because pumping sucks. I dreaded every time I had to go do it. I also loved the convenience of being able to go out without worrying about bottles etc. One concern with pumping is make sure you aren't using the microwave to heat up the bottles, as it destroys some of the protective properties in your breast milk, thus defeating the purpose. You can warm them up by putting them in warm water for a little while. Everyone's body is different though, and some people are able to continue pumping for a long time, while others aren't as successful. I agree though, contact a lactation consultant who can help you and your son work on the proper latch if you want to continue breastfeeding long-term. My friend used one and she had nothing but nice things to say about the lady who came out to her house. They even followed up with her a couple of times to make sure things were still going well etc. I found the pump more uncomfortable than my child once things were well established. The quality of your pump though will probably also determine how long you can continue that pumping only. Invest in a good quality pump and you will probably be more successful. Good luck. The first month is the hardest, then things seem to fall into place a little bit. (Or you just learn to adjust to the sleep deprivation:)