Do you express as well as breastfeeding?

Question

I'm trying to figure out if I need to express so am looking for statistics on what other mothers do, thanks.

Answer

It totally depends on you: do you plan on going back to work? Do you plan on ever being away from baby for a feed (gym, work, shopping, “you” time, etc)? Do you want anyone else to help out with the feedings (maybe Dad does a nighttime waking, or maybe grandma wants to feed the baby)? Do you want to donate your breastmilk? Do you want to build a stash “just in case”? Do you want to give baby milk baths or make breastmilk popsicles or smoothies?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then yes - you might want to pump.

Answer

It depends on what your needs are. If you don't plan to be away from baby much or at all, there is no need to express. I am going back to work soon so I pump and directly breastfeed.

Answer

I breastfed my baby for 14 months and I never figured out how to express milk!!!

Answer

I use a hakaa only when they feel too full because if I don't, my baby gets too fast of a letdown and she gulps and spits up a lot.  Other than that, I breastfeed only.

Answer

I rarely pump anymore. For the first few weeks I pumped to relieve twice a day when my supply was too much. Now I rarely pump at all unless I absolutely need to.

Answer

I pretty much only breastfeed unless I absolutely have to pump but it’s 100% a personal preference thing. Pumping always gives me infections so I really try to avoid it. There’s really no right or wrong answer here it’s all personal preference. It’s definitely a lot easier to have a stash just in case you want to go on a date or let someone else feed the baby but it’s definitely one of those things we’re if you want to that’s cool and if you don’t then that’s just as cool.

Answer

I pumped also but that's just because i wanted a back up stash in case my baby quit breastfeeding. i had a worry that they would since my first two hated the boob and i was right. he quit at about 4 months but luckily between what i built up and what i got over the next two months before i dried up, i had enough to get him to a year on breastmilk

Answer

I breastfeed whenever possible and pump when I am uncomfortable and my baby has a less hungry day or we need to practice bottles. I will go back to work this week and will pump when I am there for feeds at daycare. If I was a SAHM I wouldn’t pump often, I seriously hate all the dishes

Answer

If you’re around your baby all the time there wouldn’t be a need to express. I only pump once, a few hours after my son goes to because he’s sleeping longer during the night and I’ll wake up in pain, if not. I only started that around 10ish weeks because that’s when he started with the long stretch. We only do a bottle here and there so he’s used to it for when he does to daycare eventually so I have a ton of milk frozen (more than we need so I’ll end up having to donate some, most likely).

Do you express as well as breastfeeding?

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