breastfeeding? pumping? FTM, help!

Question

I'm a FTM, and I don't really want to exclusively feed from my breast, I'd rather just exclusively pump and give it to baby in a bottle. Is there anything I need to know specifically, I wish there was classes offered but there isn't around me

Answer

I'd say wait and see how you feel post birth. It took me a while to get comfortable breastfeeding in public but in the end it felt like 50+ nurses had seen and touched my boobs helping me over come my breastfeeding issues that who cares who else saw!? 🙃
To prepare for pumping buy a double pump, I got a spectra S1 under the advise of my lactation consultant and loved it! Found it much better than the top end medela the hospital lent me at the beginning. Buy extra parts so you're not constantly washing. It's also trial and error to what bottle teats the baby will take so don't stock up all on one brand until later. If you're choosing to pump/bottle feed out of the house you'll also need cooler bags. Breast milk also can not be heated in the microwave. It needs to be slowly bought to temp in hot/warm water, also swirl don't shake the bottles while heating! 
As far as pumping schedules look into it now as you need to be more careful than exclusively breastfeeding so you don't lose supply. At the start you'll need to either pump or feed baby every 3 hours. You might need to do power pumping to mimick cluster feeding to increase your supply. Some mums exclusively breastfeed and then start pumping when supply has been established. It can also be hard for some mums to get let downs while pumping, I had to consciously relax taking deep breaths and look at pictures of my son.

I personally found the day I no longer had to pump and supplement feed the best day ever! It is so convenient having babies meals 'on tap' wherever I go 😜
I have so much respect for pumping mums it takes great dedication to do it part or full time.

Answer

I wanted to do that but it was suggested that I do part time pumping and part breastfeeding because the pump doesn't get it all out and if the baby is sick and your pumping your breast milk won't respond to help your baby get better like it would if you were breastfeeding normally so when I'm not home I'll be using bottles with breastmilk

Answer

You may need to breastfeed during the colostrum period. (Or hand express it) but when your milk comes in, exclusively pumping should be no problem! A lot of the time the hospital will have a lactation counselor there to talk to you while your in the hospital after delivery. Also, a lot of insurance policies cover laction counseling under your preventive benefits. You may want to call your insurance to ask.

Answer

Following!!

I am the same way. I am a super modest person so I can't imagine whipping my boob out in public. I am definitely wanting to pump (if comfortable) and bottle feed from there

breastfeeding? pumping? FTM, help!

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