Exclusively pumping?

Question

Is anyone exclusively pumping and feeding breast milk via bottle? Looking for any and all advice/tips/schedules etc. Breastfeeding has been ok I guess, but after one week I’m struggling and she’s refusing to sleep at night.

Answer

Remember that there's a lot of clusterfeeding periods(growth spurts) in the beginning:

You would still need to pump during the night, sleeping through the night is developmental and comes over time.

Answer

I did for three weeks and have recently stopped and switched to formula and I feel so happy. Pumping was exhausting and so time consuming and difficult to be attached too with a newborn and very active two year old. I was afraid I was developing PPD from pumping. Even looking at my pump would anger me. I do have some guilt switching over to formula and feeling like I failed my daughter but at the end of the day she needs a happy momma :)

Answer

I am exclusively pumping. Really just started making the switch after my babies 2 week check up last Wednesday. He was expected to be back near birth weight but instead had maintained his 5 day check up weight and even lost an ounce. From day 1 in the hospital I had latch issues due to flat nipples. I used a shield but baby still took 45+ minutes to nurse and still sucked his hands and cried after nursing. We assumed it was just fussiness but after his 2 week check up realized he was probably just still hungry which broke my heart. The doctor has had us supplement after each nursing session with an ounce of formula, but nursing seemed to only get harder so I’ve been slowly making the switch over. I tried nursing yesterday and it went terrible which made me breakdown in tears, but in the end I want my baby to be nourished and fed and if that means practicing the true labor of love- exclusively pumping- then I will do it. I felt alone at first but I’ve since found many great resources and even a VERY informative Facebook group that opened my eyes to just how many moms have had to choose this route. Let me know if you’d like some info on those. Just remember fed is best and whatever you chose to do it is out of love and care for your baby and yourself and don’t let anyone get you down for that. 💙

Answer

I have done both. Exclusively pumping is so mentally and physically exhausting! It will get old fast. I had awful PPD with my first when I exclusively pumped. I’m breastfeeding my second now. Yes the lack of sleep is tough at times but If breastfeeding is going OK I would tough it out personally. Have you tried swaddling and white noise at night? My kids always sleep better with a sleep sack and white noise.

Answer

My baby didn’t sleep at night till 1 month old. It’s super hard but it gets better. But I exclusively breastfeed for the most part but occasional give a bottle.

Answer

On day 3 I had to stop breast feeding & start exclusively pumping. My baby had a perfect latch but I have extremely sensitive nipples & they completely cracked & scabbed, resulting in milk not being able to flow and my baby not getting enough milk. I trusted my instinct and began pumping and using bottles only. My baby (1 week and 3 days) now eats every two hours off the bottle ( unless taking a nap) and eats 3 oz each time. She’s a lot happier and already almost sleeps through the night. She’s only awaken once tonight and it was for a diaper change. I pump every hour and a half throughout the day to ensure a bottle is ready before she cries and also to increase my milk supply (which definitely works!). Hope this helps (: do what you feel would be best for your baby

Exclusively pumping?

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