Pumping Exclusively?

Bottles aren't "bad for her"... I swear... this misinformation gets to me. If she needs more milk that you can provide, or that it is comfortable to provide, then supplement with some bottle feedings. Nutrition is nutrition! Don't believe anything you hear... do what is best for you! Persoanally, I bottle fed exclusively, and it worked for me. And no, my kids were never sick or immune deficient or any other scary things you hear about... and yes, we still bonded and are closer than any other mothers and daughters that I know of. Do whatever you want to do...

You have recieved a lot of advise here. I just wanted to say that I pumped for 8 months and it is do-able, but it takes a lot of love and patience.

My son was a preemie, 1lb 6oz, so he was never able to breastfeed. About 6 months into pumping I stopped making enough milk and we had to supplement some with formula, but at least he still had two more months of the good stuff. I did take a prescription early on (sold in other countries, domperidone) and it helped my milk supply. (reglan is BAD!!!)

At 8 months I was done. We had therapy three time a week and two older kids in school. Doctor appts weekly too. I just couldnt keep up and decided I was done.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Hang in there, 6 days is not long enough to make that kind of decision. I second the vitamin E oil. Just take a vitamin E capsule and snip into it a tiny bit so you can squeeze a little out. It only takes a few days for the nipples to heal. She may not be feeding well because she senses you stiffening from the pain. I found my lamaze breathing and relaxation techniques to really help those few days when it was at it's worst. If you can tough it out she will be better off.

C.,

Congratulations on your new blessing. I am a mom to three and a grandma to two, so I have been blessed multiple times! I breastfed my children, and my daughter breastfed her second one. The first one was in NICU for about 18 hours and grew satisfied with the bottle. (The milk came out with lots less effort!)

I read through some of your responses, and wish to offer a different perspective. You stated that pumping did not give you the bonding with your infant. I would like to kindly offer another view. Your bonding with your sweet baby will occur whether you pump, breastfeed, or offer formula. The most important aspect of your bonding will be the relaxed time you spend with her. If you are so worried and uptight about the pain you are feeling and the concern over whether or not she's getting enough, your milk flow will be affected and she will sense the tension.

If you are really determined to offer breast milk no matter what, I agree with what some of the other moms wrote. My first child was my most painful experience. I didn't know what to expect or how to prepare my nipples, so I was extremely sore. I purchased a nipple shield, and it was a life saver. I think they have these at Babies 'R' Us. After a few weeks, you should not need this any longer. Your nipples should be tough enough. I also took Tylenol regularly, and that helped with the pain.

If you find that pumping and the stress are taking the joy out of enjoying your baby, please know that the formulas that we have today are very close to breast milk. Providing the best for your daughter includes providing a peaceful time to eat. Plus, as another mom indicated, when you feed from a bottle (formula or breast milk), Dad can also develop special times with her. So can Grandma and Grandpa.

So providing the best for your daughter means providing a relaxed and happy mom. This time will pass too quickly. Enjoy every minute with her. You will turn around and she will be a young lady!

Blessings to your family.

Hi C.,

Congratulations! You have received a lot of advice and I haven't been able to read all of it but I would have to agree with most of what I've read. I can add the following advice from my own personal experience:

Against the popular vote, I was determined to nurse my twin sons since I had nursed my first son successfully (even THAT was difficult for me to learn at first). My nurse at the hospital (also a lactation consultant) advised me to rent a hospital grade pump for the first couple of weeks just to ensure my milk supply and help it come in. Hospital grade pumps (you can rent them for $75/3 weeks from the hospital or $200/3 months from Babies R Us) are the only pumps that help with low milk production. I rented the pump from the hospital for 3 weeks. It took a week and a half for my milk to fully come in so don't give up after 6 days. If you are determined to breastfeed, stick with it! After the first couple of weeks, a regular pump will do just fine if you wish to pump. When my milk came in, I nursed exclusively.

The boys began to sleep through the night around 9 weeks and I had not continued to pump throughout the night so I began to lose my milk supply after 4 months. I was told that some women can nurse whenever their babies need it and their bodies are able to produce just enough milk for that demand. But most women are not able to do that and once you begin to decrease your nursing sessions when your baby sleeps through the night, your body will take that as a sign for less demand and your milk supply will diminish. I drank Mother's Milk Tea and took Fenugreek for a little bit to help stimulate my milk glands. All the while, I began pumping every 3 hours round the clock (even while they boys slept through the night). I eventually got my milk supply back, however, the boys would not latch on anymore. But I was not ready to give up breastfeeding so I just continued to pump (and am still going, now almost 1 year). The more you nurse (or pump) the more milk you will produce. Try Mother's Milk Tea or Fenugreek only after everything else has failed.

One benefit I found with pumping was that it allows you to fully empty your breasts (which is very important to stimulate milk production). Soon enough, I began to produce more milk than what was needed by the boys so I started a nice back-up supply (at one point I had a week's worth of milk for both boys on top of what they needed for the day).

Also, you may want to call a lactation consultant. I often referenced www.lalecheleague.org when I had questions or concerns. When my nipples were cracked and sore, I just dealt with it. I'm sorry I don't have much advice on that. It seemed to make it worse when I pumped if I did not put lanolin on every single time. I never had this problem when I nursed. But it did also take a couple of weeks to heal (while pumping).

Good luck to you!

I became a new mom in July 2008 at the age of 35. My daughter was born a full 8 weeks premature due to the death of her twin brother in utero. I, too, wanted to breast feed exclusively but the baby had other plans.

She was in NICU for 4 weeks and twice, the doctors had to take her off of breast milk due to intestinal infections because her gut wasn't mature enough to digest it --- first time, she was on antibiotics for 7 days without any food and the second time, she was given Neocate as her primary source of nutrition (and stayed on the Neocate until she was 3 months old). Since her birth, I had been pumping and freezing the breast milk so I could begin feeding her the breast milk when her gut was mature enough.

Well, since I was exclusively pumping, I dried up after only 2 months of pumping. For days, I was getting nothing so I eventually stopped pumping. While I was upset that I wasn't producing more (and more upset that my baby wouldn't latch on despite working with THREE lactation consultants), I was more thrilled with the fact that my daughter was finally out of the hospital, gaining weight normally, and has not gotten any intestinal infections since being released from the hospital (knock on wood).

I am still bonding with my baby despite the fact that I am bottle feeding, and have found many other ways to bond with her. I knew I needed to do what was best for my baby's health, and apparently giving her breast milk was not one of those ways.

Good luck to you.

Has your milk come in? I encourage you to keep nursing despite the pain. It is rough at first, especially with your first one. My babies were both breastfed, and I remember how painful it can be. Your body will respond much better to the demand of your baby than the demand of the pump. Once your supply is well established you may have an easier time of pumping. Although I pumped exclusively when I returned to work, I always had a hard time keeping up with the demand as well. My body just didn't respond to the pump the same way it responded to the baby. They say that a recording of your baby crying or looking at your baby while pumping can help. It is also Ok to take a pain killer for pain.

I pumped exclusively for 14 months with my first son. I had flat nipples and he was not able to latch on. The nurses tried to help me get him to latch on but in the end it was easier to pump. I kept a notebook of how much I would pump and when I pumped. This way I was able to see how much I did and was able to monitor any decreases and increase the demand. I pumped about 50-60 oz a day after the first 2 weeks. It takes a while for your body to decided what the demand is. If you keep at it and pump or feed your baby every 2 hours you will see an increase in your milk supply. Good luck and email me if you have any questions. Nothing is to personal when it comes to moms sharing what worked for them.
H.

Hi C.,
Congratulations on you new addition. I know that pumping alone will not allow you to produce enough milk. I went back to work with my first child, and was pumping more often than breastfeeding, and my milk dried up. The baby's saliva stimulates our glands to produce milk and the pump just can't do that. I used these plastic covers on my nipples to reduce the soreness and would use them all the time until I recovered. I also used lanolin after every feeding - religiously. Call " A mother's Gift" at plano presby. They are so helpful and caring and will advice you on any issues you are having. I don't have the number on hand, but goggle it...you'll find it. We ALL feel uneducated when it comes to parenting!!! Everything will come to you with time, give yourself a little credit - Enjoy the little one while you can...

I had a hard time getting my daughter to nurse but like you, I wanted her to have that breast milk. I pumped a lot because it was easier. I probably only put her to my breast a couple times a day. In the beginning I didn't have a problem with my milk supply because I pumped often. But as she got older and needed more, I found it harder to keep up. I used formula to supplement. I would make about a third of the bottle with formula and the rest of it with breast milk. I only did this for the first 4 months, used up what I had in the freezer and switched her completely to formula by adding less and less breast milk each day to her bottles which helped me decrease my milk supply and be able to quit without any pain.
She is 15 months now and never had an ear ache, cold, or allergies. And she has a vocabulary of over 200 words, several phrases, and 25 baby signs. I wanted to give up earlier but I was determined to give her the best I could. Hang in there for as long as you can, but don't feel bad or guilty if you can't!
Your milk supply should pick up in the next couple of days. Mine didn't even come in until she was 5 days old; if it doesn't I would try a new pump or call a lactation specialist. The Medela is a great pump and so is the Lansinoh double electric.
Good luck and don't forget to get some sleep!

Both mine were in NICU and with the 1st one I pumped for 3 months. With my 2nd I was determined because I felt robbed! Lactation consultants are wonderful! I was too stubborn to call them with my first but with my second they were my best friends! You are only a few days in. You will produce more milk the more you pump and feed. My milk supply started to decrease when pumping exclusively after about 3 months and going back to work. I was heartbroken. With my 2nd nursing was a struggle for about 8 weeks. It's been really easy since then. She's 22 months old and still nursing! Don't give up! This is the best thing for you and your baby!

My son went into the NICU when he was born, and they gave him bottles and formula since I wasn't producing much milk at the time. I had planned to breastfeed exclusively, but when he was released, he didn't like breastfeeding b/c I didn't flow as freely as the bottles he had become used to. I ended up pumping and giving him the milk until he was 6.5 months old. It was a HUGE pain, but so worth it to know he was getting the milk. It did mean I didn't get to 'bond' with him while he was feeding, but I don't think we are any worse for wear. :) To increase your supply, you will need to pump every 2 hours for at least 10 minutes on each side. And I would recommend a hospital grade pump, either rent from the hospital, or the Medela Pump in Style Advanced will work. If you pump every 2 hours around the clock for 24 hours, you will see an increase in your supply. You can do that whenever you need to increase, but you HAVE to do the full 24 hours (no skipping to sleep). And I would recommend never going more than 4 hours between pumpings until your supply is well established, but since the baby will be up during the night, if your husband is willing, you shouldn't have a problem. I always pumped while my husband fed, and that worked for us. Good luck, and don't let people get you down about the 'bonding' aspect of it. There will be plenty of time to bond, but you can't make up for the protection and nutrition of breastmilk, even if it's only for a couple of months!

I am a EP mom myself, doula childbirth educator.You can EP bu tit is long,hard work & bf is so much easier.

First let me point you to a wonderful woman Wendy Blumberg IBCLC ###-###-#### Baby, Birth & you. She is a fantastic and affordable LC of the highest calliber. She will come to you or you can go to her in Plano. I really encourage you to seek professional help from her before deciding to EP.

This is my 5th baby..3rd ep and it is so hard. Its hard to pump, to pump and then feed an infant at night...to drag the stupid thing with you everywhere you go. To pump in your car...while driving...sitting in parking lots with an unhappy baby pumping enough to feed her. Dont get me wrong, it CAN be done and i and many others have done it, but it takes a tremendous amount of dedication to keep & increase your supply & to keep plugging away at it day after day.

Call wendy, get some good help for healing your nipples and get some good support from experienced moms, La Leche League leaders websites.

try these:
www.kellymom.com
www.breastfeeding.com
google dr. jack newman (im pumping & cant remember the webite:o)
visit the medela website www.medela.com ( I think) and join there
Kellymom is my favorite site join and get into the forums for momy support and keep your chin up mama...your doin ga great thing. Breastfeeding is the natural thing to do, but it does not come naturally. It takes some learning by you and baby.

Feel free to pm me for support too!

K.
Mom to 5
Doula
Childbirth educator

You have ALOT of response so I hope you are getting help. I have 3 kids and breastfed all of them and the first 4 weeks are rough, so do whatever necessary to get through it. It sounds like your milk is not really "in" yet at 6 days yet, so it will come. Use olive oil for the sore nipples. You do not have to wash it off and it provides the right balance of moisture. I had a lactation consultant recommend it when I thought I may be pumping awhile since my first born spent a week in NICU. I used olive oil for the other too after trying other things. The olive oil is really good for the baby as well. So do what you can. I have a friend that pumped exclusively because she has inverted nipples and the baby could never latch, but I think pumping is brutal, so do what works for you. Plenty of babies have been bottle fed and grown up perfectly normal. :) Enjoy this new adventure!!

You can absoluetly pump exclusively! I totally know your pain with the whole brestfeeding thing. I went through 3 months of soreness before it got any better. It got to the point that I would burst into tears whenever he wanted to nurse. I wasn't getting to enjoy my baby. I did endure, however, and continued to breastfeed over a year. But I do know someone who exclusively pumped because it was too painful and she was successful for a full year until she was ready to wean. Don't make yourself crazy! Enjoy your baby and do what you need to do. And know that just because you don't put your baby to breast doesn't mean what you are giving her isn't the absolute best thing you could give her. You may need to pump more frequently and for longer periods of time to get your milk supply up to meet her demands, though.

Try www.breastfeeding.com. There is a ton of info on the website, free chats with lactation consultants, and a wonderful community of moms who have been there, done that. I didn't pump, but I've been a member of the online community almost the entire 8 years I've breastfeed (between 4 kids). It's wonderful support! Good job, Moma!

Hi C...My son was in the NICU after he was born and was unable to feed. I started pumping and just continued to do it exclusively for 6 months. I loved it because daddy could help out with all of the feedings and gave me a lot more freedom (of course I had to take the pump!) I did the same thing with my second son and I don't feel any loss for not breastfeeding nor could I have a stronger bond with my kids!! Little piece of advice though...keep a small container of olive oil in your bag and rub it around your nipple..not on....just around to help ease the friction from the suction....this made ALL the difference in the world!!Don't let anyone make you feel less of a mommy for not feeding at the breast..getting the good stuff is what really matters!! Hang in there!!

C.,
If you are having trouble w/ breastfeeding, an LC is the BEST $60 per hour I've ever spent, better than a massage!
Pumping and then giving it in a bottle was so time consuming, for me. Get that LC to help you, you guys are just early on in the breastfeeding learning journey. Please keep trying. It took DS and I 3 weeks. He was in the NICU for his first week. It took me about 2 months for me to feel like I totally have the BF thing down. Keep trying!
M.

C.,
Try using a nipple shield when you nurse. It "protects" your nipple, gives you the bonding and may allow you to nurse more freqently to build up your milk production. I had to use one for 4 months with my first as he was tongue tied and it was a life saver!

Hi C.,

No time this morning to write my full story but I exclusively pumped for 10 weeks and then my daughter magically finally learned to latch on. In those 10 weeks I went through it all and did a lot of research---and learned a lot. If you ever need advice or someone to talk to--please contact me ____@____.com and I'd be happy to be there for you. Most of the time I felt I was the only one in the world who was EP-ing and spent tons of time online reading other people's stories and experiences with this. Most important thing you are doing is giving your baby breast milk. Formula is nasty!
LLL Hands free pumping bra is a lifesaver!

Good luck---it's hard but you can do it!
By the way, you need to make sure you are pumping for 20 minutes, every 2 to 2.5 hours around the clock, for the first month or so anyways---this will ensure your supply. It seems like too much, and too long, but pumping doesn't stimulate your supply like a baby would. Also I got really really sore from doing it so I used tons of lanolin and also sometimes lubed the horns up with olive oil sometimes.

You have a lot of great advice & hopefully, mine won't even be needed, BUT some people are allergice to lanolin--I was so I had cracked nipples for 5 months.

The best breast pumps are the kind rented from your breast feeding centers; they can be purchased, but they run around $1500. Also from the breast feeding center, you can get a type of lact-aid which can be run to the side of the breast (& you can use a nipple shield). Inside the bag which fits to the side of the breast place your pumped milk, milk from a donor mom, or formula or goat's milk. This will supplement until your milk supply is built up. You can't really know how much she gets when nursing from you, but she should be gaining between 1/2 to 1 oz. a day. Watch for any signs of dehydration--skin that seems to stick together & too few wet diapers. Some babies do grow slowly, but be sure you keep in touch with your Dr. so that they can track her progress.

Hi! I had a problem with demand too the first few days while I was learning the most difficult task in my life (breastfeeding) but once you learn it all of your efforts are worth it. This is what the nurses at the hospital recommended and it worked wonders, it just required extra attention and a second person: Fill in a syringe attached to a feeding tube (ask your hospital or doctor to get you one) with formula, then, attach it to your breast so that your baby grabs you and the tube -someone needs to hold the syringe up, or you can attach it somewhere-. Your baby and you will practice breasteeding and your baby won't go hungry. After your breastfeeding session, go and pump, to help stimulate your production. You'll see the difference after maybe 3-4 days and you won't have to do the catheter or the pump anymore. One more note: make sure your pump is top of the line such as Medela. Hope it works! I am surprised if your hopsital did not recommend this popular technique for moms who do want to braestfeed but got a little production/learning curve problem (like I did).

I used a nipple shield, but I would suggest going to the lactation place at the hospital to get fitted for one. They carry all sizes as opposed to Babies R Us which I think has two sizes. I had one for a couple of days that was too big, one too small and that was painful as well. Finally got one at the lactation place at Harris. I found it to really help at least until my nipples healed. T.

Congratulations on motherhood! You've gotten lots of good information. My $.02 is:
1) www.kellymom.com and www.lalecheleague.org have great information.
2. You can do it! You're just getting started. Even if you pump for a week or so to heal, that doesn't mean you need to pump forever, you CAN get her back on the breast.
3. If you're pumping, you need to pump often, 10-12 times in a 24 hour period. You're body is still learning how much milk it needs to make, so it needs to be "told" to keep making milk. Empty breasts make milk, so pumping often will help. Also, a pump is never as good as an effectively nursing baby at removing milk.
4. Don't do this alone! Call a La Leche League leader, find a supportive and knowledgable lactation consultant, go to a La Leche League meeting. Keep looking for help and support until you find what you need.

Good luck!

First of all - Congratulations Mom!!! I give you so much credit for asking for help also. Might I suggest a breast guard? I think that's what it's called....it's a thin plastic cover that goes on your nipple. My daughter was given one at the hospital last year when her newborn had some trouble latching on. It was a marvelous thing and provided protection from chafing also. Contact the local LaLeche league or the hospital, they have lactating specialists that can offer so much advise and help. Please take advantage of their help. I would think that your peditrician would have some resources to offer also. It does not matter your age, being a parent is a totally new experience and we are not meant to do everything alone. I actually do think you could pump exclusively if that is your preference and breastmilk is the best nutrition for babies but it also is much more inconvenient to always have to pump I would think. I would also suggest you look at your food and liquid intake, it takes many extra calories to produce milk and breastfeed, you cannot limit yourself now, you need to eat plenty of healthy and nutritious foods and drink plenty of liquids, milk included. Relax, eat and drink and ask for help! Best wishes to you and your family.

C.,

I know exactly how you feel. Breastfeeding was such a challenge for me in the beginning it brought me to tears many times. I like you was a first time Mom...but at 39 to a precious little girl who is now 3. Breastfeeding is so beneficial for them...I was determined I was going to make this work. I would pump in between feedings and feed her as much as she wanted, and this would stimulate my milk to produce more. I also too fenugreek and that helped alot. Your breast will get less tender and painful soon! I promise, part of the problem might be that you little one is not getting a proper latch...which was a huge part of my problem. I contacted a lactation consultant who came to my house and helped me SO MUCH that it changed everything almost immediately. Not to say we did not have some problems along the way with teeth at 4 months ect... but I called her anytime we hit a bump in the road and she was a LIFESAVER! I ended up breastfeeding my girl past one year(and cried when I stopped), and we have the best relationship, and she is much healthier than most children her age. Trust me it will be worth all of the torture....REALLY. My lactation consultant is in Plano, which is not much help to you. I highly suggest you call the Nesting Place www.thenestingplace.net They are in Grapevine, and can probably help you, or locate someone who can. I wish you much success! Congratulations!!!

Try mixing half breast milk and half formula. That will still give her the benefit of breast milk but the volume she needs. Try not to worry. Give your nipples a break, pump for awhile and mix. That gives your husband a chance to bond and you a chance to rest. Formula today is as good as breast milk. I had my last one at 37 and I made it to 41. They keep you young. Good luck.

I recommend going to lalecheleague.org and finding a contact in your area to call. There are leaders all over the metroplex and meetings almost every week. Please call someone, they can help you make it through the pain and still keep you baby on the breast. Please let me know if you need more information.

You have all of my sympathy! I had very similar struggles with breastfeeding and found the whole thing to be an amazingly stressful experience, physically and emotionally. (Not that I wouldn't try again with another baby.) For cracked nipples, the lactation consultant at our pediatrician's office prescribed me some antibacterial ointment, almost like Neosporin (generic is called Mupiricin (sp!)). It helped me heal really fast and works great for any other wounds any of us get. For pumping, I've heard that the hospital-grade pumps work a ton better than the store-bought ones. For store-bought, I found that the Madela Pump In Style worked better than cheaper models. If I had it to do over again, I'd rent the hospital pump from the start - a friend got 8 ounces each time after getting only 4 from her home pump. If you decide in the end that you can't keep up with nursing, pumping, bottle feeding, supplementing, and somewhere in there maybe getting a shower or leaving the house, then I encourage you to allow that formula may be the best answer. I finally made the switch after about 12 weeks of various combinations. I was devastated to have to "give up", and second guessed every decision a million times, but in the end my daughter is healthy and I finally found some balance. If you need more support on this, please feel free to send me a direct message. I've run a marathon, and the first few days/weeks of breastfeeding were way harder! I'd also recommend that you find a new moms group to go to when your daughter is a few weeks older. I went to the one at Presby (all locations have them) and it was an absolute life-saver. Good luck, new mama. My heart goes out to you in your struggle - and feel free to scream at the next person who tells you "it will get better" (even though it's true).

Congrats on your baby. I'm sorry that you're having such a rough time with the breast feeding.

My advice (i've breastfeed both of my boys for 1 year) would be to nurse as much as possible and pump the other feedings. You're making enough milk. Some mothers don't even have their milk in at this point. Be wary of any doctor that would tell you different and drink lots of fluids.

Exclusive pumping can be done. I've had friends do it and it worked for them. Baby can get more milk out of your breast than a pump can.

Best wishes and hang in there. By 2 weeks things will be MUCH better and you'll have established habits that will last months.

C.,

Congratulations! I have a 10 day old infant. It's a beautiful gift, but also comes with challenges.

1. Get a good lactation consultant PRONTO! I recommend Sharon Mattes or Linda Worzer at www.naturalbeginningsonline.com. There are plenty others.

2. The advice you get through La Leche League is spotty - sometimes good, sometimes terrible. Relying on their advice gave me a mastitis with my first baby.

3. Cracked and sore nipples means you are not positioning baby right.

4. Proper positioning tips: (A) lay baby tummy to tummy so baby does not have to turn head at the neck making it hard to swallow (B) make baby open mouth WIDE WIDE WIDE before face planting the baby's face into your breast/nipple, getting as much nipple into her mouth as possible. Take her off if she does it wrong and try again. (C) make sure BOTH her upper AND lower lips are flanged out (flipped out), not tucked under. Use your finger to pop it out.

5. Baby is getting more milk than you are pumping. How do you know baby isn't getting enough? Lactations consultants can weigh baby before and after to tell you EXACTLY how much baby is getting. Breastfed babies don't drink 9-10 oz like a formula baby.

6. It is very very very difficult to make enough with pumping exclusively. Your milk supply will dwindle. Baby is a better milk stimulator than the pump.

7. Get a good lactation consultant PRONTO PRONT PRONTO!
Keep trying. Breastfeeding is worth it. Good luck!

You have lots of advice on lactation. On the sore nipples, I used Vitamin E oil in between feedings and pumping. It's very thick and healing. You do have to wash it off before you feed or pump so the baby doesn't ingest any. If it wasn't for vitamin E, I wouldn't have made it past the first week.

You might look up your local le leche league. I am not sure if this was suggested or not by another mama, but...they would be able to help you with breastfeeding.
Other than that, I can't even begin to suggest anything! Oldest was too premature to be able to suck right, and I was on too many antobiotics/pain pills from complications with second, and same thing with youngest! So, I really, really regret the fact that none of mine were able to breast feed for long.
L.

I did pump exclusively with my son (now six years old). My son was not very efficient in getting milk from me. He was hungry all of the time and yet would fall asleep shortly after latching on. I finally decided that no matter what I wanted to give my baby breast milk for as long as possible and I would have given up far sooner if I hadn't been pumping almost exclusively. Basically, what I did was pump mostly, but if I didn't have much to do and we could be lazy, I'd let him latch on and if he fell asleep, well, he just did. But I knew he was still getting what he needed through the milk that I had pumped. I gave him breastmilk for the first six months. I would have gone longer except I changed jobs and couldn't pump at work. To increase my milk supply (I ended up being Elsie the Cow). We even bought a freezer for all the milk I was producing! What I did was pump often (every 2 hours at least) and ate plenty of calories and plenty of water. When I ate and drank well and pumped often, milk supply was not a problem. The important thing to me is that your child gets breastmilk. How they get it is less important.

C. T- I was a career gal myself until later in life when I met my most amazing husband and we just had our first kiddo. I was very mom challenged at first too but things come naturally (evenutally) and I also learned I can't stress out. I have several friends who gave me lots of great advice. First yes you can totally pump exclusively. I have one great friend who did it and loved it..IT gave her more freedom..Second if breast feeding is not your fortay don't freak out..IT is not meant for everyone. I did it for 8 weeks and then was done. I never got a huge supply. Remember everyone is different. I freaked out when I found out one friend was getting 6-8 ounces every time she pumped and my other friend got 12 ounces every time. I was barely making 2-3 ounces (again with both boobs)..Do what you can. Ask your doctor when you go in what his/her advice is (and yes you can ask your pediatrician...and first and foremost do not feel like you are doing anythign wrong if pumping is the way you go. I did a combo of everything as one week my daughter would do great on the boob, then next week only pumped and I also had to supplement about one feeding every other day with formula... I love my daughter dearly and we are so connected but I did not get the great "connection" a lot of women get from actually breastfeeding.... So again don't stress go with the flow and don't listen to anybody telling you you are not doing something right...Everyone is different...Good luck and get ready for the ride of yoru life...These little ones are a real joy!!

Hi C.,

Congratulations on your new baby! Those first few weeks are so crazy and so challenging in so many ways, but you'll never look back. And it won't be long until you've almost forgotten about those crazy times altogether.

You've gotten a terrific set of responses here. What a wealth of information and a variety of experiences and perspectives!

I wanted to give you the name of the lactation consultant who helped me: Judy Eastburn, IBCLC. She's wonderful, and her number is ###-###-####.

I thought I'd also mention another bulletin board for pumping moms. It was very helpful to me during my pumping days, should you decide to go that route:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump

I pumped exclusively for 13 months for my older son (now 2) until I found out I was pregnant with #2. (I realized I was eating for three and figured I'd better get the big boy weaned ASAP!) I've been successful with breastfeeding my younger son, who's almost 5 months now. I have to tell you, though, while all that pumping for my older boy was definitely worth it, breastfeeding rocks! The first few weeks were super tough, but it really does get easier.

Good luck!

I have 2 kids that i breast fed for 1 yr each. I used medeal breast shields until my breasts toughened up & could take the pain. I also used mothers milk to richen my milk and to produce more. This is tea from GNC. I would nurse the baby and then pump for about 10min until my supply was increased. Good luck. I hope this helps you.

Pumping exclusively I am sure can be done. But what I did with my youngest (cause he would nurse for a min. maybe and fall asleep)is while I was nursing him on one side pump on the other. Yes you must jugle a little but that way you will even get more milk possibly than if you just pumped. My son eventually started eating enough when I would nurse him. But I was even pumping in the hospital when he wouldn't nurse cause I was so full. Good luck and God bless you and your little angle. (And your hubby too!)

Please try and not to give yourselve too much grief and guilt..you have many years ahead for that (:
i am/was a working mom and i pumped fro all three of my girls. The bond is nice with breast feeding but because i pumped i was able to give others a chance to form a bond too. They have been surrounded by love since birth. Their daddy would do one of the late night feedings and they had their own little routine that would only work for him and her. Plus it gave my husband confidence to be a strong figure for our girls. When i returned to work i continued to pump and it made me feel good knowing that i was with her even while i was stuck at my desk. I liked knowing i was giving hte very best of myself to my very favorite thing. And another plus, because i pumped i was able to continue for a year to 18 months dependign on how i wanted to schedule the quitting process. Honestly, even though i pumped i did supplement formula. Sometimes i woudl do half and half either b/c i was crazy busy that day, or maybe i went ot dinner with friends and had a margarita and wanted to pump and dump or sometimes just to freeze some when i knew i woudl be out of town so i could leave it for her. I also liked to supplement b/c i never wanted to feel trapped or stressed. That way if something went haywire during the day...it was easy to mix a bottle of formula and go on, or i forgot to take my pump (which i have done) or was taking medicine to fight a cold. It was really nice knowing that anyone who loved her could help me at any time take care of her. All three were held and passed around so much that they all truly know they are loved by so many. I grew up with just my mom and it was very hard for her and me. There was not a grandma or an aunt to call who i could talk to or cry on. My mom and i are close but sometimes i needed to vent about her and it scared me to think who else could/would love me if something happened to her. I promised myself that my kids would be surrounded by people that love them... Blood relatives or not that did not matter. What matters is love and the bonds that are made. Family is love! God bless you and yours!

You can pump exclusively, but not without hard work and dedication. If you are not currently producing as much as she demands, then you either need to pump longer or more frequently. You may even have to pump at night. Keep up the hard work and the pumping and know that your body will adjust and it will get better!! Good Luck!!

C.,
You certainly aren't the only mother that has had to pump exclusively. I wasn't allowed to nurse my baby the first 24-hours after birth (due to a CT scan) and after that, he went to sleep every time I put him on the breast and nothing could keep him awake. I pumped exclusively for over 9 months with some formula bottles to supplement, as needed. I know we're told "breast is best", but you have to do what is right for YOUR family!! Your husband is able to bond with your baby via bottle feeding and you will too! I recommend you read Kelly Mom's website for tips on exclusive pumping...double-pump no more than 20 minutes at a time, every 2-3 hours. You will get the most milk first thing in the morning, including the wee hours (but I've read it's better to pump after you wake "naturally", not with an alarm clock).

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/maintainsupply-pump.html

People recommend the use of Fenugreek to increase production, which worked okay for me but REALLY worked when I added Blessed Thistle.

Best of luck to you and your family!

P.S. Sore nipples can be remedied with correct latch-on by baby...consider visiting a lactation consultant before you give up on breastfeeding (if your heart is really set on it).

You can. Remember it takes a few days of making the increased demand, good eating and drinking of fluids to kick in and produce. It will not hurt to feed a little sooner, or let her cluster feed. Laying down is a good way for that, you can relax in a warm bed. Regardless of breastfed or pumping, will not be overnight. Will be a few nights.
And you can do other things to bond, including just holding her and talking to her. Giving her kisses, carrassing her, and daddy feeding with a bottle means you can express with a pump and go nap. (any nap is welcome) *tho I end up doing laundry, washing dishes or making something to eat*.
Enjoy your bundle of cuddle angel.

Congrats! With both my kids I got sore cracked nipples, for me it lasted a good two weeks and then it did not hurt anymore. I used lanolin and Vitamin E to help heal and sooth, both of which do not have to be wiped off to nurse. For the other problem, I was told in the hospital that my son was losing weight and I had to supplement formula. His pediatrician told us this is untrue when we took him in. Your milk should provide enough nourishment for your baby. Just FYI your baby will normally get more milk out of your breast versus you pumping yourself and feeding it to her. If you feel your baby is not getting enough, try having her feed more often. Your milk adjusts to what your baby needs. Don't get me wrong, you can pump as much as you need, I did find it was more relaxing to nurse versus pumping. Last, your babies DR is a wonderful resource for any information that you need. Good luck and hang in there, it does get better!

who says she's not getting enough milk?! if it's the nurses at the hospital, i wouldn't listen to them since they are not lactation specialists. i had a LOT of problems in the beginning, too...i had to pump sometimes but i didn't introduce formula until around 2 months (just one a day) and it really decreased my milk supply to the point where i am now giving my 3.5 month old more formula than breastmilk!! with that said, if you want to continue to breastfeed, STAY AWAY from formula...your body should produce the milk necessary to feed your baby. also, your baby gets more milk out than a pump will. so, just stick with breastfeeding and if it gets too painful, take a break and pump every once in a while but i assure you your baby will get what he/she needs from you as long as you are offering it. any doubts you have can be cleared up with a conversation over the phone with a lactation specialist. just use your resources! and it will get easier...i never thought it would, but it did (as far as the pain went). i wanted to give up so many times...through all the pain and tears and frustration and doubt. once i finally settled on using formula, it did take some stress away, but then i was worried about not emptying out my breasts frequently enough, and it just became a new set of problems to deal with. now that i'm feeding almost all formula (except for middle of the night feedings) i feel a little guilty and constantly wonder if i can/should try to go back to breastfeeding exclusively. so, do what feels best for you and know that it's really difficult to go back to breastfeeding once you stop (if you decide to do so). i think really the main concern is building up your baby's immune system...there are a million other ways to bond with your child. :) good luck!

Lots of advice here and sorry I did not read them due to lack of time. Yes you can exclusively pump if you need to. I did for my son he had a cleft palate and some other medical issues that did not allow him to breastfeed. I did for awhile have him lach on and nipple and had bottle that was hooked up to a tube of expressed breast milk so he did not have to work so hard so that we had the bonding and he also got milk at the same time this was in hope that when the medical issues got sorted out that we would breast feed. But if I were you I would call the hospital that you delived at and ask for the Breast Feeding consultant she should be able to help you out. Breast feeding is not something that we instintivly know how to do but needs to be learned both mother and baby. Onced learned it is a wonderful experiece for both of you and one of the best things that you can do for your child. Good luck

Hi C.! your little one is only six days old...give it awhile! it is extremely painful during the first couple of weeks...it DOES get better, I promise! Your milk production will also increase...it's SO confusing/scary/overwhelming isn't it?! I have totally been there...allow your body some time to heal...drink lots of water...and get as much sleep as you can! I am sure you have tons of guests, tons of opinions, and tons of family members that want to be so helpful and offer all of the nursing advice that they can remember...lol...take every piece of advice w/the grain of salt...and give your body a few days to adjust to nursing! the swelling will go down and the cracking on the nipples will disappear. you are doing great! hang in there.

This is the hardest time... just starting to breastfeed. I remember crying because my boobs felt like they were going to pop and my nipples felt like they were going to fall every time my little one nursed. I think it is around 6 weeks when everything falls into place. The baby is used to nursing; you are used to nursing and your nipples are pretty tough. Unfortunately, the more you breastfeed the tougher your nipples get. By exclusevely pumping it doesn't help prepare your nipples and it will hurt to feed. I would leave a little breast milk on your nipples and let it dry; then wear those breast shields to protect your nipples from hitting your shirt. It should clear up within a day. Just remember the more you feed the more milk you will produce and the tougher your nipples will get. However, if you decide that you cannot breast feed please do not feel guilty or bad. You are doing the best for your baby by being the best mom you can be.

Just wanted to put in my two cents :-)

My oldest son would latch on but he wouldn't suck. After seeing 4 lactation consultants, they all told me I would have to pump because he was starving. They wanted me to try to nurse him first, then give him a bottle of pumped milk, then pump more milk. It was really tough. I was never able to pump enough milk even with pumping every 2 hours, day and night. I was on all the recommended supplements and I even took domperidone. When he was 4 weeks old, I was determined to get away from pumping, so I spent two hellish days forcing him to breastfeed only. It worked and I got him off of the bottle. Unfortunatly, later I had to go back to pumping because he developed severe reflux, and by 6 months I couldn't pump anymore. I found out that not everyone responds to the pump as well as they do to their baby and I could not maintain my supply with just the pump.

This time around (I have an 8 week old), I have breastfed exclusively and not had to pump at all. I do not have supply problems because my baby is an effective nurser.

So, here are the things that I have learned:

1) Not all women can pump and maintain their supply
2) The breastshield that comes with the pump is not one size fits all. Once you get fitted with the right size, you will be able to pump a lot more milk.
3) At a week old, your baby is probably only eating 2 oz at a time, so don't expect to pump more than that.
4) If you do have to supplement this early in the game, don't give a bottle. Use a syringe or cup feed so that the breastfeeding problems don't get worse.
5) Find a lactation consultant that you feel comfortable with and that is helpful (they aren't all created equal!)
6) Breastfeeding is difficult for a new mom, but it is wonderful once it works. No bottles to wash and you get so much more sleep at night!
7) Last but not least, it doesn't hurt once you get all the kinks worked out. If you are that cracked and sore, then you need to correct your latch. Make sure that the baby is not biting down on the nipple (the nipple should be pulled into the back of the baby's mouth) and also make sure that the baby's lips are not sucked in but pushed out. If they were sucked in, you can use your finger to gently pull them back out.

I hope something here helps you. I wish I had the support from mamasource when I was going through this the first time!

Email me if I can do anything for you,
A.

Pumping did not work for me - pumping exclusively would not have lasted long. I want to give you some hope, though - the first week, my nipples cracked, blistered and bled. 0 to 10, my c-section incision was a 3, my boobs were an 11. The 10th day postpartum was the worst. My husband could not brush against me in the hallway - my SHIRT could not brush against me without several layers of nipple pads in my bra.... day 11 it was getting better.. two weeks it was almost gone, 3 weeks and I was almost not sore.. by 1 month, there was no pain.

If your baby has a blister on her lower lip, see a lactation consultant about fixing her latch (which causes un necessary soreness). Otherwise, stick it out to two weeks - it gets SO MUCH BETTER and the night feedings are a breeze and it makes it so worth it - I swear.

About me - Smom to 2 (11 and 13), mom to 2 (5 and almost 3) - nursed the oldest to 3, the youngest to 2 and a half.

*hugs*
S.

You can pump exclusively if you have to. But like the previous poster said, the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding are the worst, but the soreness will go away. My twins were born 16 weeks premature and spent 4 1/2 months in the NICU. I pumped exclusively for almost 9 months - so it is possible to do! You definitely have to pump every 3-4 hours to keep your milk supply up. There is also a herb that you can take called Fenugreek which can help increase your milk supply. You can find Fenugreek at Whole Foods. This was suggested by my ob/gyn and seemed to help.

Hang in there! I just want to add a couple of quick things to the mountain of great information you've already gotten.
1. Drink a lot of water. That means a gallon a day. Remember you have to drink enough water to meet your body's needs plus your baby's needs plus some extra to fuel the conversion to breastmilk.
2. Those nipples hurt more than just about anything I've ever experienced. Mine cracked and bled for weeks. It was hideous for about 3 weeks. I never nursed for more than 10 minutes per breast for the first 2 months, so we nursed every 90 minutes during the day. The only thing that helped heal was leaving my breasts out in the air. I walked around in a big flannel shirt wide open all day. The flaps on my nursing bras were always open. The lanolin helped some, but airing out was what let me heal. My baby spit up pink milk every once in a while for the first 2 months because of the blood from my nipples. Lactation consultants checked her latch - it was always perfect. The problem was my fair and sensitive skin. She ended up nursing a whole year, and I was so glad I stuck with it. The milk didn't come in until day 4, and the pediatrician tried to bully me into supplementing. I was so engorged that my copious milk supply was obvious by then, but it took another week for the baby and me to both calm down. By 6 weeks you should be pretty much pain free and nipples should be healed. Baby #2 nursed for 10 months, and I never so much as grimaced. There was no more pain. Baby #3 was 4 years after #2, so I went through all the stages again: cracked and bleeding, miserably engorged, 2 rounds of mastitis, etc. The good thing was we got through each of those icky things much faster. He nursed 15 months.
3. Have confidence in your body and try to relax. I tried to breathe deeply (hard when it hurts so bad) and said over and over to myself, "Flow milk, flow." Sounds goofy, but it helped my milk let down.
4. Call a lactation consultant ASAP. You need a bf'ing mom to sit with you in person to encourage you right now. No bf'ing mom would think this is a dumb request. If you're not comfortable showing your nipples to a stranger, call a friend who bf'ed her baby, tell her you need moral support, and ask her to come sit with you.

Bottom line: do what you feel is best for you and your baby. If that ends up being pumping, then fine. If you really want to nurse, hang in there a little longer and get some help.

S.
SAHM of 3

Let me tell you about my "breast friend", they are called NIPPLE SHIELDS. You can get them for sure at Babies R Us. it allows you to continue to feed naturally but will keep your nipples protected. I have flat nipple, and had to use them for that and soon found all the advantages. You can also by them so that you can still feel your babies head on your TATAS. I dont know why Doctors do not tell more people about these.

Hello first time Mom and congrats!
Having been a career person and Mom , I can say that I love being a Mom much better, no comparison! Now that mine are older, I would like to start a business. I am praying for this.
WHo says that your girl is not getting enough milk? If she looks and acts healthy and is growing, don't worry!
One time I took my child in at 2 for a checkup. I was told that she was too tall for her age! Says who? She is 5 foot, 8 now, 23 years and is fine!
Taking a hot shower helps the breasts. I would lay down and nurse my babies. They nursed constantly , but became very contented after 6 weeks. The first 6 weeks, they all cried continually. Then we all settled down.
Unless she is listless and losing a great deal of weight, I would not worry. I would get a second opinion!
It is always a little confusing at first with any new experiences. You will do fine! Give it time!
Blessings to you! Being a Mom is so rewarding!
Sincerely,
C. N.

Hi C.
It is very hard being a first time mom. Take it from me a mom of three. I had a lot of trouble breast feed all three of my kids.In the beginning i thought i was a bad mom because i could not provide what they needed, but i was luck to find a lactation consultant that was very good. She told me it is very common to have problem in the beginning. One of the reasons your nipples are sore and cracked is that your daughter is not latching on right. I had the same problem but the consultant showed me how to have my child latch on the right way. I ended up having to supplement with formula in the end because i could never produce enough milk for any of my kids. What i did was i would start out breast feeding first and then use formula after if they were still hungry. You will still have that bonding time with your daughter and if you need help your husband can finishing feeding with a formula.
good luck D. w.

Hey -
I recommend going to a lactation consultant as well. They are SO nice and SO helpful. When my son was born, I had so much trouble breastfeeding and they helped me with different positions. Plus, they weighed him before and after breastfeeding to know exactly how much he was intaking. Then, when my daughter was born, they helped by giving me some "tea" that helped my breastmilk production.

With your baby bing only 6 days old, you are probably still not producing very much. But, if you want to breastfeed, I would not give up, you will soon start producing MUCH more milk.

Work with your doctor and the consultant though. I had a friend whose baby could not latch well and they ended up clipping that flap of skin underneath his tongue. It seriously helped him get a better latch. There may be some reason your daughter cannot latch well or breastfeed well. Keep trying if you want to though! The first baby is so difficult though because you really have no idea what you are doing. It is not as "natural" as you would like to think it should be.

I used Wendy (recommended by the last poster)and she was great. I rented a pump from her and it was a life saver for me. I pumped exclusively with both of my children. If I had not done that it would have been straight to formula because I didn't have enough milk, the baby wasn't latching properly, my nipples were sore and cracked, etc. Even with the lactation consultants help it took forever for the baby to latch on only to not have enough milk. Not to mention I had to go back to work. I tried Fenugreek which is an herbal supplement that helped boost milk production. A lactation consultant can give you some other ideas to boost production. I also seemed to actually have more milk pumping than trying to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is not the only way to bond with your baby. If the only way the baby gets breastmilk is from the bottle then the baby is still getting the breastmilk which is what is important. If you would like to talk some more please send me a note - congratulations on your new baby.

C., sometimes breastfeeding can be hard. I know--I have four children that I breastfed exclusively. It really does get much better as you go along! Let me just encourage you to keep at it. Your milk production increases the more you nurse, your nipples adjust with more frequent nursing, and that precious bonding increases as you go along. I would leave off pumping all together and not start again for a few months.

If you are struggling or have questions or problems, the best resource is to call La Leche League moms at their home. They have the best ideas, tips, tricks, and precious encouragment! They are there to help you 24/7 and want to help you succeed in the artform that is breastfeeding! :)

If you have any other questions, or need encouragement, feel free to email me. I've been there!

Good luck, you can do it!
~A.

Well, I know you asked for advice on pumping exclusively, and actually I am not for sure about strictly pumping. BUT, I breastfed my son and initially I had SEVERELY cracked and sore nipples. So bad that I had to go back to the hospital because it was so painful when I breastfed. The nurse showed me the correct latch and I never had anymore problems. My nipples healed even while continuing to breasteed correctly. I can tell you that it is not neccessarily standard to experience cracked and sore nipples. There is a huge chance that the baby isn't latching on correctly. I would advise you to seek help to ensure the baby is latching on correctly and hopefully, afterwards you will be able to enjoy nursing.

My advice is to keep at it. I had the same issue - it hurt so bad! I remember my dh saying "Stop, just stop!" as I sat there bfeeding and crying at the same time! Two things helped tremendously -time and the WONDERFUL boob tube by Gerber. You did not have to wash it off before feeding and it felt SO GOOD! The gel nipple pads felt good too, but just seemed like more trouble to me. Hope it heals up fast for you!

I used the nipple shields, too (they look like little sombreros.) I had it for one side for a flat nipple, but used it for both because it gave just enough barrier that it didn't hurt. After a few months (when my baby had the hang of everything) I decided I needed to learn to do without. It was painful (I had a tortured face for a few seconds when she'd latch) but after a few seconds, it was OK.

Just from personal experience...pump and breastfeed as often as possible. I was in the EXACT same situation and I got so use to pumping that I quit nursing and only pumped and I only made it 2 months because I just started producing less and less. So if it is important for you to give your child breastmilk do whatever it takes! Also, have you talked to a lactation consultant? They are very helpful if you actually use their advice...lol
Good Luck!

I don't have a comment about the pumping accept you can nurse her every 2 hours and be sure and wake her every 3 hours at night until she weighs over 10 pounds. But, try Milk of Magnesia on your nipples and rinse off before nursing. It can be very soothing and healing.
Also, who says she is not getting enough-no one else knows that answer. If she is gaining when you feed her every 2 hours and 3 at night, then that is enough! What do other Mother's do that only nurse, no matter what others say? Go for it and be blessed with this little one.
V. B.

I know you've got a lot of advice but I have to throw in my 2 cents. And, I've only gotten to read a few of your responses so sorry if I repeat anyone else.
I nursed my son until 4 months and he started not getting enough to eat so I switched to being an exclusive pumper.
This took a little while to get up my milk production and no, it never came in by the gallons. If I had a good pump it was usually first thing in the morning and it would be about 6-8 oz total. I pumped for 30 minutes every 3 hours. I would always have enough milk for him and just a little extra for the freezer. I tried the fenugreek but didn't think it worked really. Key is water. If you think you drink a ton, drink a ton more. About a bottle of water an hour or two. I was a slave to the pump and told everyone "it's a boob world". But, I would do it again if I had to!
At first I was pumping a few times a week b/c my husband wanted to feed my son a bottle and I used a "lesser" pump. But, later, I bought the Medela pump in style in the back pack. Life saver. If you are going to be a pumper, this is what you need.
I have pumped all over North America. Airports, beaches, people's homes, airplanes, cars, NYC, Mexico, etc. My clock just needs 3 hour increments. It is all consuming but it was totally worth it to me. My mom wondered why I just didn't nurse him, yes it would have been easier but once I got him to eat more at a time, he started taking 2 good long naps a day and sleeping longer at night. This was worth it to me. My son was a big guy and I still never got him to eat more than 6 oz at a time, about 5 - 6 times a day.
I quit breastfeeding at 9 months. I had just had enough but I felt pretty victorious. Got my freedom back. My dr said he could go straight to milk and solid foods and he was perfect. He was never picky on formula vs breastmilk vs milk so I was lucky. But, I did mix in some formula every now and then.
So I quit breastfeeding and during the slowing down, got pregnant again! So, I'm gearing up for round 2 of this and goodbye to that freedom, ha ha. I will do the exclusive pumping if I have to, but I'd rather not if I have the choice to just nurse I will.
Hang in there girl and GOOD LUCK! I do suggest talking to a lactation consultant but be aware that they can be pretty forceful and boob nazi. I talked to several when I was just starting out and they just really came across that way to me.
I used to freak out every time I'd get around another mom. I would take her advice and try to be just like her. Just do what works for YOU and YOUR baby!

C.,

Your baby girl is very young and it's still really early. Try not to stress yourself out about whether she is getting enough. If I were you I wouldn't worry about it unless she showed signs of dehydration or if she wasn't having enough wet or poopy (like mustard) diapers. You are her momma and you will know. Whether pumping exclusively or breast feeding exclusively do what works for you and what gives you the most peace. I have five girls and I nursed threes of them. I wanted to nurse them all but sometimes there are reasons and circumstances that happen and it doesn't work out. I read many of your responses and there is so much great advice. The response was awesome!!
As for the sore, cracked nipples use your milk to help heal them. There are immunities in your milk work wonders. After you're done nursing or pumping squeeze a small amount on your nipples and let them air dry. Once they are dry apply some Lansinoh (lanolin) this stuff is awesome and doesn't need to be wiped off before you nurse. In the beginning I walked around with my shirt and bra flaps open until my nipples healed. Every woman varies, I have sensitive and thin skin so it took me about 2 weeks or so. Hang in there you can do it. You may want to check her latch and this is where the lactation consultant comes in...they are a HUGE blessing!!! Be sure to drink lots of water. Nurse at night on demand this is key to building you a good and stable milk supply, just throw the schedule out. What worked best for me was to co-sleep with my daughter which made nursing her on demand wonderful. My precious hubby would change her diaper and then pass her off. The next best thing to help me maintain my milk supply was of course pumping frequently, but my good friend in breastfeeding group told me about Brestea and let me tell you it is the best stuff ever!!! Here is the website...www.breastea.com
I tried it all! You have to order it online and that's a little inconvenient when you need something right now but it is worth the wait. I noticed the difference on the first day!!
I didn't mean for this to turn into a novel, but if you have anymore questions or just want to talk please call me or email me I would love to encourage you. Enjoy this time because it passes so quickly! My little one will be 11 months on the 10th. You're a great mom..
Many blessings!!

A.
____@____.com
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Breastfeeding is one of the most wonderful things you can do for your baby! Good job on that. My nipples were tremendously tender, cracked & bled. It goes away though. The more you use them, the better it gets. Pumping isn't going to be as good as direct breastfeeding. My lactation consultant (Kay Willis in Grapevine) told me that your child can pull lots more away from you than a pump can. Your body will adjust to the demand. I was feeding twins every 2 hours, 8-10 times a day. I also took Fenugreek, which is an herb that bumps up milk supply. Kay is at the Nesting Place in Grapevine, and she does house calls if you're interested. Good luck and don't give up. Bite a stick if you have to. The pain really does go away.

You've gotten a ton of responses and one of them may say this exact same thing, but breastfeeding is the absolute best thing you can do for your milk supply. I had the same problem and after a short time the soreness and cracks did go away. You might want to try a nipple shield. That seemed to help me the most. Also, as soon as you get done pumping or breastfeeding rub a little of the milk around the nipple and let it air dry. The antibiotic properties of breastmilk are amazing. I used to even use breastmilk on my daughter's diaper rashes and even the worst ones would clear up over night. Good luck and keep on trying, this is the hard part after you get past this it gets better and better and is one of the most enjoyable experiences.

C.,

First time blogger! Your blog touched me becuase I instantly say similarities between you and I. I am 39 and a new "uneducated" mom of a healthy beautiful 3 month old baby girl (she is 3 months today!). I too did not produce enough milk initially while attempting to breastfed which caused me to feel inadequate, frustrated and overwhelmed. My daughter was pushing for my milk to come in and in greater amounts, therefore at 3 days she was trying to feed every hour to hour and half. I was scared that she was becoming dehydrated. When I reached out for help I received very different answers from everyone I spoke with from the Le Leche representative, nurses and my pediatrician. However, what my pediatrician said made the most sense to me. It takes approximately 2 hours for your milk to regenerate. Sugar water will produce first within a half hour then a type of skim milk after about an hour and the whole milk at about 2 hours. Allowing her to feed every hour, she was only getting the sugar water/skim milk not the whole milk that would sustain her. For me at this point I choose to supplement with formula. My pediatrician also did not recommend pumping but allow my body to rest in between feedings to regenerate enough for her and once everything started "flowing" so to speak I only pumped to gauge the amount I was producing. She transitioned easily between the two and I continued to breastfeed until I was ready to return to work 6 weeks later. I never produced an abundance of milk and was up to 4-5 ounces per feeding which was plenty for her at that time. The formula allowed her to be fulfilled and once I produced enough we cut back on the formula and only used it when my husband fed. This also allowed him to share in some of the experience in providing nourishment for our daughter. We chose to use Similac Sensitive. And I can assure you she is very alert and responsive for her age. The formula also helped her to "schedule" better, helping her to sleep better and longer especially once I was ready to return to work. Please know my ambitious plan was to breastfeed for 4 months, 2 of those months after I had returned to work and with her in daycare. My heart hurt a little feeling as though I could not do that but without pumping it would have been impossible. But now I realize it was the best discussion for us and I have no regrets. My heart goes out to you, I do understand. I wish you the best of luck in what ever discussion you make.

I am a new mom at 39 to a big beautiful baby girl and married to a younger man whom I waited for my whole life and rarely deserve.

Wow, you got a lot of responses.

My first son would NOT latch. Yes you can exclusively pump. I did for 9 1/2 months for my first son and when my second son stopped nursing at 9 months, I pumped for 3 more months to make it to a year.

I HIGHLY suggest getting the hands free expression bra (the wrap around style, not the one that goes over your head) so when you pump, you can still read or play on the pc. http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/ - you can buy them on ebay too and they are sooooooo worth the money. It kept me sane.

As for producing enough milk. I never had issues and I exclusively pumped. I would pump until I was empty and then I would let it go a bit longer to tell myself that I need MORE next time.

I would also try to move the pumps a little closer together to see if I could get another pump in during the day and as sad as it sounds, you will need to pump during the night.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM. I had a girlfriend who tried to exclusively pump and tried and tried and did everything and she just did not produce milk. I don't want to discourage you but don't KILL yourself over it.

Drink lots of water. I noticed that apple juice (lots of it) helped me.

Good luck. You can do it!

You can pump exclusively and give her the milk in bottles. It will not hurt her to supplement your milk with formula. If you are not producing enough, you will have to or she will be hungry. Try pumping more often to stimulate milk production. Nursing her as often as possible will help stimulate as well.

C.,
Hello! Love the name...lol...I did this for about 3.5 months (from June to Sept. of this year). IT WAS REALLY HARD, but do-able! I had to wake-up in the middle of the night to pump, and I SHOULD have pumped every 2 hours at work, but my schedule would not allow!! I took Fenugreek, and used a Medela breastpump! I could have done it for a little while longer, but I was not determined enough! I work full-time, and have an almost 2 yr old. I wasn't producing enough, so I stopped! They say you should pump, and breastfeed to maximize the stimulation! Some people can do it, and some cannot! If you can GREAT, if you cannot DO NOT feel like you are a failure, and please don't let anyone convince you otherwise! I hope this helped! Good luck! Congrats on the new baby!

Hi- i am a first time mom as well to an almost 6 mo old baby. I tried breastfeeding as well, but like you went through sore nipples and could only use a nipple shield which was a pain. So, i decided to pump exclusively. I like it better b/c i know how much she is getting and it also allows my husband to feed her which was wonderful bonding to them both. I don't feel like our bonding was sacrificed either. So, if pumping works for you then do it! She is 6 mo old and i'm still only pumping. Make sure you are religiously pumping every 3 hours. I had a little chair i put her into where i feed her while pumping at the same time. Invest in a hands free bra which will allow you to have both arms available. Hope this info helps!

you are doing just fine, The more you pump, or the more she feeds, the more you will produce. When my first was born I thought she I was going to have to walk around with her latched on 24 hours a day beause it never seemed she was satasified, but be patient, like I said above, the more she feeds the more you will produce. Congrats to you and your husband on your brand new beautiful baby girl. My husband and I started having a family later than most also, and I am so glad we did! I have so much more patience with my little ones now than I think I could have if we were "growing up together".

I had a really hard time with my first child, so I know how hard this is. Not to mention all the hormones going through your body! Pumping is fine and you can do it as long as you need. If you want to breastfeed, my advice is keep trying. It will get less painful. With my first child my nipples actually cracked and bled. What worked for me for the pain was to get a nipple shield. It is a flexible light weight plastic piece that goes over the nipples and the baby can still nurse and it lessens the pain. I used it for close to 4 weeks. If you supplement with pumping your milk supply should increase. Just keep trying. It may not have fully come in yet. The more you pump the more you supply. My other suggestion is do what is right for you and you will not go wrong.

C., I am a first time mom of a 3month old and experienced exactly what you are going through. I had bleeding, dry and cracked nipples for weeks. It was miserable. But I can say is that it DOES GET BETTER. Just hang in there for a few weeks and it will improve drastically! (It took me about 6 weeks) Keep using the lanolin and hydrogel pads until it does. As for your baby not getting enough food - perhaps you could try supplementing with formula until she is a few weeks older and is better able to feed. I was afraid to do this for fear that my baby would prefer formula but it was quite the opposite. My pedi suggested nursing first then following with some formula (nestle good start). This worked out very well for us and my boy is now exclusively breast fed. Hope this helps - good luck!

I breast fed both of my kids until they were 10 months old but had froze enough to last until they were 1 year old. With that said here is what I did to insure I had enough milk.

Watch what you drink. Drink LOTS of water. Your body needs this water to hydrate and it helps with your milk supply. Stay away from cokes/caffine and don't drink any alcohol these types of drinks will dry you up fast. Also make sure you eat healthy foods but stay away from Broccoli and Tomatoes for a while as it may give the baby indigestion.

While I breastfed on one side I would pump on the other. And then switch. I actually did this everytime I fed my kids for the first 6 weeks as I was going back to work and wanted to make sure I had plenty of milk. It worked because I could still pump 6 oz per breast at work for about 1 1/2 months after I returned to work. I would feed them every 4 hours.

Good luck and don't be to h*** o* yourself if this doesn't work. Not everyone can be a milk cow.

Pumping exclusively can be done, you just have to be determined and patient. My daughter was born early, she was seven weeks premature. So of course I couldn't traditionally breastfeed her at that time. I rented a hospital grade pump for a while, I kept a strict schedule, pumping every 2 to 3 hours, until I built a big supply. I then switched to an exspensive duo pump. I didn't have to began supplementing until she was about eight months. It took a while, but eventually she began nursing from the breast for some of her feedings as well. Because I worked during the day she would nurse mostly at night, and yes the bonding from breastfeeding is well worth. Trust me it is not at all easy, but I made the decision long before I gave birth that breast milk....was the best and I wanted my baby to have the best at any cost.

Hang in there! The soreness will go away. The first 2 weeks are the hardest. You can't just pump or you will lose your milk. The sucking from the baby helps you produce more milk. I would pump in between feedings to get your milk supply up. You can then use the milk you pump to supplement until you start producing enough for her. It will happen...just hang in there. It's crazy how our bodies know what the baby needs. I also recommend you get the Baby 411 book, it has really helped me. It's a great resource to have around.

Firstly, breastfeeding gets much easier after a couple of weeks. I have know Moms who exclusively pump but they didn't start until the baby was several weeks old and their supply was established. I will tell you it is a pain to pump. Breastfeeding should not hurt so you may have a latch issue. I would recommend you see a lactation consultant ASAP. The ones at Harris Methodist in Bedford are great and they file with your insurance for you. When I went with my second son, I didn't have to pay anything. Sore and cracked nipples are almost always a latch issue. I was having a terrible time, but it took 5 minutes with the LC and the problem was resolved.

Hang in there...if you can get to 6 weeks you are home free. I found when I had my 1st son that thinking in small increments of time was helpful. If I can do this for 2 weeks....If I can do this for a month etc... You baby will be so much different in a few weeks

First of all, do what you feel comfortable with. Don't feel pressured to exclusively breastfeed because so many people say it is best. It is but, many babies do just fine on formula. I pumped almost exclusively with my second son. He spent some time in the NICU and he weighed almost 10 lbs., so it would have been extremely difficult to breastfeed him because I wasn't with him all the time and he required so much milk. I pumped 3 times a day-when I woke up, lunch time, and at night. I usually got about 14-16 oz. a day and divided that up into each bottle of formula I gave him. That way, he got breast milk in every bottle, but still received enough to satisfy his hunger. I got a lot more milk in the mornings and very little in the evenings. My milk didn't even come in until the 5th day. Make sure you are drinking lots of water, getting as much rest as possible and don't stress out too much because these are all things that decrease milk production. After about 6 weeks of this routine, I gave up pumping and gave him formula. My oldest son was 3 and I just couldn't find the time to pump anymore. Sometimes you have to balance what is best for your children with your own needs. I remember feeling very lost when my first son was born. I like to be on top of everything and have complete organization. Needless to say, my life has changed a lot with 2 little boys!! Good luck to you and your husband and congratulations on your new daughter!!!

You've gotten a lot of responses. Sorry if this is a repeat. Have you tried a nipple shield? It saved my nipples from the pain. I wouldn't recommend to continue it for too long, but it will help get the process going. Also, my lactation consultant recommended putting tea bags on my nipples after each feeding and then allow them to air dry. So, have your husband make you some tea while you feed, then set the tea bags to the side to cool. Once cool, put them on your nipples. It's a miracle!

I had a c-section w/ my son so I wasn't able to breastfeed. I couldn't get him in a position where he wasn't on my stomach, so I just pumped & he did just fine!!! I don't remember him having to drink a certain amount each day, I just pumped as often as I needed to & fed him when he was hungry. And after about 3 months I just dried up & started him on formula. And I didn't have any trouble w/ sore, dry or cracked nipples. No biting either!!! :) So don't fret about it. There are plenty of other ways to bond w/ your baby & if she's only able to have breastmilk for a few months, she'll be just fine. Good luck!!!!

C.- I ended up pumping exclusively as my daughter would not feed on my left side. Sometimes it is a hassle, but it became very easy and sometimes was a blessing. (For example, I could pump in the backseat during car trips and feed her without removing her from the seat - my husband was happy we didn't lose any time!) Continue to pump on schedule and your body will respond. One thing I did in the middle of the night was to hold my daughter propped up on my legs while I was pumping, it was some quality bonding time even if she wasn't feeding at the moment. Also my husband was able to have some bonding time feeding her bottles too. Then when I went back to work there was no transition for taking the bottle and I could continue my pumping routine.

Don't be too concerned if at times you need to supplement your breast milk with formula. I wish someone had given me this advice...it is more important that your daughter is satisfied whether it is all breast milk or not. Continue giving as much breast milk as you can, but realize any breast milk she is getting is giving her the nutrients she needs.

First, Drink tons of water. Double your usual 8-10 glasses to 16 or more and your milk supply should increase. Pumping does not stimulate milk production as well as your baby nursing directly. Keep up with the lanolin, it is the only thing that works. Try to bear through the pain, because your baby's latch will encourage a stronger let down. Your breasts need to "learn" what to do, as does your baby. Give it some time, but I strongly urge you not to go to strictly pumping as your baby needs to develop a correct latch, and latching on a bottle is not the same as a breast. Keep all artificial nipples away from her until she is latching correctly. If your breasts are that sore, I believe that your baby isn't latching correctly. Her mouth should be wide open and her lower lip curled out. Pick up Dr. Sears' Breastfeeding book. Contact a lactation consultant ASAP. Here are two excellent ones: Tracy Darragh ###-###-####, ###-###-#### or Wendy Blumberg ###-###-####. Good luck to you. The pain is not as great as the love and nurturing that you are giving your child. The only other thing that I can think of is that some infants have a flap of skin under the tongue that inhibits them opening their mouth wide enough to latch properly. The lactation consultant or your child's pediatrician can help with determining that. Also, contact La Leche League. They offer support meetings around the metroplex, there you can make friends and talk to other moms who have been there, and they are usually run by lactation consultants. I know it is hard. Stick with it, and I promise it will get better!! I nursed my baby boy for 2 1/2 years through sore nipples, cracked skin, bitten nipples, etc. He eventually self weaned and is very well adjusted. I am so glad that we had that irreplaceable time together, and I look back with only fond memories.

I was an older mother too and had my first baby 2 days after my 38th birthday! Anyway, I would say first continue to try to breastfeed as it has great health benefits especially at our age.

I too came from a long career and couldn't seem to relax since I was so used to multitasking at the office and was trying to do the same with motherhood. Therefore I had to create a safe haven in my bedroom where only my baby and husband were allowed during my feeding times. It is already stressful enough to breastfeed and when you have an audience your body just doesn't respond as you would like.

I breastfed for a little longer than 6 months and it worked out really well after a pretty rough beginning. I finally bought the Medela Dual pump when I decided to return to work (and then resigned to stay home) after 12 weeks of maternity leave. I tried not to pump more than 2-3 times a day if possible. I did supplement with formula (Enfamil Lipil) from the beginning since my milk supply wasn't sufficient at first either.

Also a good way to help with your cracked nipples is to wipe a little residual breastmilk on your nipples after you breastfeed. This has the best natural lanolin and worked well for me as I had this same problem at first too.

If you still don't feel comfortable with the breastfeeding, you could always contact a lactation consultant at the hospital again or via the La Leche League as they are very helpful.

Also remember to cut yourself some slack. Breastfeeding doesn't come as naturally for all as it was a struggle for me but it was such a great experience after it was said and done.

Congratulations on your new baby. It goes by so quickly. My little girl will be 1 this week.

You have a ton of responses so I'll keep mine short. I pumped exclusively for my twins for a year. It can be done. I got up in the night to pump also. I found that it was easiest to give the bottle while I was pumping. Be sure to buy one of those special bra type holders so you can pump hands free. I nursed my 3rd and liked it much better than pumping so if you can make it through the rough spots I would encourage you to nurse. Good luck and congratulations!
Cara

OF COURSE you can exclusively pump!!! I did it (at one point was getting 25oz at a pump!) - I was pumping for triplets though!!! But my experience is puming is a learned art. I sat there for about 45 mins in the morning and had like 3 letdowns and then 30 mins during the day. I pumped and bf'd about 15 times/day at first and then at 8 weeks dropped the nursing and exclusively pumped (so establishing a good supply is key) - might want to rent the hospital grade pump for a month (i did) and then go to your own. I EBF'd for 12.5 MONTHS.

Good luck and good for you for doing this!!!

First off, WAY TO GO! You will learn as you go, it's what we all have had to do and it comes naturally (just doesn't seem like it at first). Second, the first two weeks of nursing/pummping are miserable. I'm sorry to tell you that, but for me, that two week point was like magic. I'm not saying I never had any discomfort after that but it was rare after about 14 days. Just hang in there, your body adjusts. I've done both - exclusively pumped for my 1st for 4 months, then pretty much exclusively breastfed my 2nd until she was 14 months old (but I did pump once a day to donate and to have some extra milk on hand). The hardest thing with pumping is worrying about how much. Keep a chart if it makes you feel any better, but at 6 days old you won't be making much. Your amount will grow a little each day. Email me directly if you have any questions, or check out babyfit dot com - type in exclusively pumping and there is a whole group of women who do it (although after doing it both ways I recommend you keep trying to nurse - much easier on you in the long run). Whatever you choose to do, you are doing a wonderful thing for your daughter. Don't stress out about trying to do the "perfect" thing because that is NOT good for anyone. And don't let anybody make you feel bad about your choices. Good luck and God bless!

I am going on 9 months of pumping exclusively, so it can be done! It takes LOTS of dedication and and understanding spouse. I have found that it works quite well for me, my partner, and the little one.

I would heartily recommend joining an Yahoo group that I am on... PumpMoms. ____@____.com The women there are so wise and have GREAT advice.

Also, you are MORE than welcome to e-mail me privately, and I can get you started with some basics. The first and foremost thing though it to keep breastfeeding at least sometimes if at all possible as it will build your supply. Next, make sure you have a good quality pump and pump every single time you little one gets a bottle.

D.

I did this cause my child had trouble latching on and I had hand problems holding my child for long periods of time. I do know that if you pump exclusive, your milk supply does go down as opposed to breastfeeding. You need to contine to pump in the night also. I never got tons of milk just by pumping. The more you pump, the more you will get. Make sure you are fitted for the pump and the cups fit you correctly. You can get this done at Harris Methodist Hospital/Breastfeeding/Nursing Store or any Lactation Consultant could also help you.

Make sure you are useing a hospital grade pump I prefer the Medela Lactina (its an older model but has a strong suck and really stimulates the flow)... also pump until you are empty... pump for 20 miutes per side and not a minute less but longer if you are not empty yet... I pumped exclusevely for 3 babies and bonded perfectly with all of them... (my 1st never would latch and my middle son was born with a cleft so he was unable to suck and I love pumping so much that I chose to do it with my 3rd...)

Massage the milk out before and during pumping and a hot shower can help release the milk before hand...Fenugreek (sp) can help with production and avoid cold medications that can dry you up...

The key for me was to always pump for 5 minutes after my breast emptied so It would tell my brain that I needed more next time... and I never pumped less than 20 minutes per side. A lot of women dont even "let down" to the pump until about 15-20 minutes so make sure you are pumping long enough... if you need to add formula to your breast milk so your little one gets enough until you are making more...

Good luck
A. J

If the baby is only 6 days old, you may be a little nervous and not making as much milk yet. Some babies only eat 6 times a day, and only 2 or three ounces at a time. If you are holding her while giving her the bottle you can still have some bonding time, even if it isn't quite the same as nursing. A relative of mine didn't have enough milk and had to bottle feed, so it isn't that uncommon. I put vitiman E on my breast and then had to wash it off before the baby ate, as she didn't like the taste. Just relax and enjoy, if you end up having to put her on a formula, she will be o.k.

I EP'd for 14 months and my good friend EP'd for 19 mo. It CAN be done without a drop in supply.

Here are 2 Yahoo support groups that will help you through the good times and bad, if you decide to EP:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPers
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PumpMoms

I hope you can feed directly from the breast, because it is much easier and more convenient in the long run. But it can take upwards of 6 weeks or more to establish a good breastfeeding relationship. (Proper latch will heal the nipples sooner than that.)

No matter how you feed your baby your milk, make sure you are drinking 64 to 96 oz of water a day. This is in addition to any other drinks you consume. If you drink caffeinated beverages, you must drink at least 8 oz of water for every 8 oz of caffeinated beverage.

I too am a first time mom who is 37. Welcome to the club!