For those of you who ONLY breastfeed, do you exclusively feed from the breast or do you exclusively pump?

Question

I am planning on breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months. I feel like it would be mentally difficult for me to have her latch everytime because of past issues that I have. I know a lot of you do both, but I am wondering if there is anyone out there who exclusively pumps and bottle feeds their breast milk instead of having her latch on? (of course I plan on having skin to skin and feeding her by breast for the first several days of her life, I just think i can forsee some issues for me later on)

Answer

My son never latched, so I exclusively pumped and bottle fed my little chunkier until about 11.5 months (found out I was pregnant and had to stop pumping).  He did VERY well and is well adjusted.  Daddy enjoyed being able to feed him and help me out too.
 
Honestly though, it’s a lot of work!!  I spent 30-45 minutes pumping every 2 hours the first three months.  You pump, then clean the parts and bottles, store the milk, make a bottle for baby (and then clean THAT bottle), and rinse and repeat.  Hahahaha.  And don’t mention going out.  I had a manual pump for those occasions so I could pump in the car to prevent me from becoming painfully engorged or losing my supply (and make sure my son had milk lol).

Answer

I breastfeed when I’m home but I pump on the side and freeze for when I’m going out. I don’t know why but I have a lot of anxiety to breastfeed in public so I bottle feed my breast milk when we go out

Answer

I breastfeed but pump to build a stash in the freezer. It’s hard doing both though, it takes me 2 days to fill one bag

Answer

I gave my son a bottle for the first time at 3 weeks old it was so dad could feed him I mostly nursed from breasts the 6 months I nursed

Answer

I pump every 3 hours because my baby couldn’t breastfeed when born and now try breastfeed than pump, as she can do it sometimes now. I would not pump this much if I didn’t have to, it’s more uncomfortable, takes more time, I’m trapped with the pump (ie electrical outlet) and storing and cleaning everything is a massive pain - not to mention you have to do all that + go feed the baby. It makes finding time to sleep much harder. I am not a fan.

For those of you who ONLY breastfeed, do you exclusively feed from the breast or do you exclusively pump?

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