I am a new mom and I feel like I have nobody to talk to about my breastfeeding/pumping/formula questions. My OB is my moms best friend and the office I go to is very pro-exclusively breastfeeding. I want to provide my baby breast milk for sure, but I don’t understand my options for any way to give him breast milk.

I was hoping to breastfeed for the most part, but maybe one or two feedings at night or during the day be a pumped bottle feed so I can be a little more independent/get a little more sleep/have my husband bond with our son.

I also want to be completely honest/realistic and say that sometimes I would like an afternoon by myself at the store or a drink/cigarette every once in a while. To me it would be absurd to say I could go a year or two without doing any of those things. I want to give my baby the most nutrition & I see a lot of women being very harsh about other women just wanting to know how to occasionally get a break from breastfeeding. It would be dumb for me to give him formula because I cannot afford it (my husband is in the military and I’m a student) & I don’t plan on drinking or smoking every day or even weekly. Does anyone have any resources about pumping and breastfeeding? I honestly cannot find reliable information about doing both. No judgment please, I am just trying to educate myself on what is best for my family and what not to do. Thanks!