Breastfeeding Question

[cashqueen]

I agree with the Medela. I used a Medela PIS with both children and it was great! It is more expensive, but def worth the $$. I second going to kellymom dot com. It is a wealth of information.

[kbsparks]

Well I will be the voice of dissent. I have twins and one was only 3lbs and I had to pump for him. I nursed the other and pumped for the little one. I did this for weeks. I would feed one, then pump and dh would take the milk to the NICU for me. Once both were home with me the nursing and round the clock pumping wasn't working. By the time I had finished the routine it was almost time to start over. The boys getting my milk was the most important thing so after a few weeks I had to let go of nursing the one twin and just did bottles of EBM (expressed breast milk) for both. I pumped on a regular schedule, even in the night. I had a wonderful supply. I had ton frozen (like the pp said, most of it was from the early days). I stopped pumping at night when they would go for longer stretches but that was the first thing I did in the mornings. Nursing is very special but do not feel bad if you have to pump exclusively. Oh and I also returned to work when they were 12 weeks so I just made a schedule. If I remember correctly (and I need to as I am expecting #3). I pumped before work, around 9, during lunch, then again in the afternoon around 3 then again before bed. Good luck!

[mandybeyl]

Originally Posted by kbsparks Well I will be the voice of dissent. I have twins and one was only 3lbs and I had to pump for him. I nursed the other and pumped for the little one. I did this for weeks. I would feed one, then pump and dh would take the milk to the NICU for me. Once both were home with me the nursing and round the clock pumping wasn't working. By the time I had finished the routine it was almost time to start over. The boys getting my milk was the most important thing so after a few weeks I had to let go of nursing the one twin and just did bottles of EBM (expressed breast milk) for both. I pumped on a regular schedule, even in the night. I had a wonderful supply. I had ton frozen (like the pp said, most of it was from the early days). I stopped pumping at night when they would go for longer stretches but that was the first thing I did in the mornings. Nursing is very special but do not feel bad if you have to pump exclusively. Oh and I also returned to work when they were 12 weeks so I just made a schedule. If I remember correctly (and I need to as I am expecting #3). I pumped before work, around 9, during lunch, then again in the afternoon around 3 then again before bed. Good luck!

The problem with this is that for most women (obviously not all), it is VERY difficult to maintain an adequate milk supply with exclusive pumping, and even more so for a first time mom. I never had twins but I know from experience that exclusive pumping/bottle feeding for a singleton is WAY more work than direct breastfeeding.

OP, my husband lost his job when my 2nd son was just 5 weeks old and I unexpectedly had to go back to work full-time, 5 days a week, at that time. Pumping at work was not nearly as difficult as I had expected it to be. I just got on a schedule where I pumped two or three times a day and it worked out great. I did this for over a year (although by the end of that time I was only pumping once a day, and really only because I wanted to have the break, not because I really needed to, lol). A great pump is absolutely essential, I have a Medela Pump in Style. Believe me, I am as frugal as anyone but I have never regretted the money I spent on that thing. The one other tip I have would be to try to pump after feeding your baby in the morning. For most women that is when they have the most milk and your body will usually adjust and produce extra for that pumping. I didn't get much at first but after a week or so I started to get enough for an extra bottle after I had already feed the baby. Of course, everyone is different, but with a little trial and error you will find what works best for you. Having a good support system is key! Congratulations

[brandee]

I pretty much agree with everyone. I didn't see any mention of bottles.....I use VentAire by playtex....the major thing is that you use a wide base nipple. Start off with a SLOW flow nipple...once the baby is drinking larger quantities you can switch flows. The wide based nipple fosters correct lip postitioning. Make sure the baby's lips are flared out on the bottle...just like they would be on your breast.

I do not recommend feeding the baby pumped milk unless you are away from each other. It is best for your supply to breastfeed as much as possible. The baby can get more milk out of your breast than the pump can.

I would also hold off using a paci until breastfeeding is going well. I told the hospital no bottles and no pacis. She uses a paci now but didn't get one until she was a month old.

[anothershopper2]

Here's my 2 cents... Medala PIS is SO worth the money, seems like a few other moms here think so too. I only pump maybe 2 times a day now, sometimes only 1 time. Exclusively pumping - is REALLY tiring - and if you have to do it (latching problems etc)... then more power to you - but it is a lot easier to just nurse (esp if you are sleep deprived). Good lactation consultant is very helpful too! Oh DD now won't take the bottle... we have to retrain her. I know of a few friends who are having trouble getting their LOs to take the bottle. Pumping at work - I think it depends on your workplace and how easy it is to pump there. I would start pumping within a week of giving birth - to get some of that extra supply for later. But like the nurse said in the hospital - why do things twice? (ie pumping & then feeding the bottle).

Again, you are the mother - so stick to your instincts on this, get good advice on BFing (kellysmom - I thought it was great in regards to finding out "what's normal" for BF babies), but ultimately it is your choice what you do, and don't let anyone else make you feel bad about it or make yourself feel bad about your choices. It can be very emotional. Good luck! and enjoy your pregnancy... it really FLIES by.

[Michar]

I totally agree with most other posters. You body begins by "overmaking milk" until about week 11-16 after that your body begins to regulate to the correct amount.
Some women do exclusively pump but it is EXTREMELY difficult esp. once you have passed the regulation stage to keep up your supply. It can be done but most women struggle and you really need to be dedicated.
I also like many others am a HUGE fan of Medela... ameda is also popular but I used their Purely Yours and didn't love it the way I do the pump in style advanced from Medela. Their new freestyle pump is getting rave reviews but most women are not as familiar with it as it has only been out for less then a year... the pump in style however has been out for several years. The freestyle is hands free without a pumping bra which you need with a PISA ( I like the easy expression brand personally )
If you have insurance check with them first ... almost all insurance companies nowdays pay for all or most of a pump cost.
I would try and wait until the last week of your home time to try and start pumping... also you have to teach your body how to let down to a pump as it's different then the way milk lets down hormonally to a baby. So don't judge the output the baby is getting with a pump output at first. BF is very difficult at first... esp. because your hormones are all wacked out from birth... I just sobbed and sobbed at the beginning due to frustration but it can be done.. make sure you have a good support system and spend some time reading some support boards so you get an idea of what is coming. I personally like babyzone but there are others and kellymom is a great resource. Good luck... dd is 12 months and still nursing :)

[greenrays]

Just to be a different voice. Things you plan may not always happen!!!

I wasn't able to pump at all, my ds took all the milk I had. I had to exclusively nurse him. It took me over a month just to get enough milk to leave overnight once.

I truly hope you aren't like that and you can produce for the pump b/c it's not fun never having a break!!!

[carisal]

Originally Posted by greenrays Just to be a different voice. Things you plan may not always happen!!! I wasn't able to pump at all, my ds took all the milk I had. I had to exclusively nurse him. It took me over a month just to get enough milk to leave overnight once. I truly hope you aren't like that and you can produce for the pump b/c it's not fun never having a break!!!

I had a similar problem but it isn't that I don't have the supply to pump, I just can't pump without nursing at the same time. My milk won't let down to just a pump. I tried the medela PIS and the medela Harmony (which I got free from the hospital - manual pump)

I couldnt ever pump until I tried pumping while I was nursing(nurse one side, pump the other). once I discovered that, it was my mission to pump and freeze as much as possible. but it doesnt do me much good to have all that milk stockpiled in the deep freezer now, because I can't leave her for more than a few hours without becoming painfully engorged.(and still can't pump!! )

that said, I was able to pump the SAME amounts of milk using the expensive pump in style as I could with the harmony (like I said, free from the hospital when I had her, but also about 20-30 bucks at drugstore.com)

also, I tried to pump when my milk first came in, and it was really not a good idea. #1 - didnt get a drop #2 - it HURT. ... It was much more comfortable when I started pumping at about 6 weeks.

[marion10]

Even if you can't pump enough to excusively breastfeed you can breastfeed in the morning and at night and use formula during the day.

[AshburnMom]

I ditto what everyone has said about Kellymom and the Medela pump in style. I would also add that you need to do whatever works for you and your baby. I planned on breastfeeding exclusively but my milk didn't come in for a LONG time. They kept telling me just nurse more and it'll work out. But on the third or forth day home, my DS started crying and wouldn't stop. We didn't know what was wrong and went to the ER. They gave him a bottle and he stopped crying. Go figure! I had to supplement for a while.

I'd also suggest that you plan how you're going to pump at work now. Make arrangements for whatever you need now. And then just follow you're instincts! You know best what's working for you and your baby! Good luck! And don't forget to post pictures!!!!