Pumping or Formula? Help!

Get over the public nursing real quick, there are many ways to nurse when you are out and not show off the tatas! Women do it all the time, others show more (which I don't agree with, but you learn how to be very discrete). You always have milk at the right temperature and it is always with you. Your husband can share the feeding experience in other ways, he can bring the baby to you and burp the baby after the feeding. I would get a pump for when you want to go out with out the baby (very important for a new mom & dad)!

Truthfully, I'd tell your husband he will have PLENTY of time to help feed the baby after the one year mark, in the meantime - bathing, rocking, singing, and snuggling with an infant is just as much bonding as feeding them (for Fathers that is).

The more you breastfeed in public, the easier it will get. You must remember that breastfeeding is not sexual, is not obscene and is not enforced under the public nudity laws. If you feel you must still give bottles to confuse your little one, then I recommend you pump A LOT the first 3 months when your supply is at it's peak. By 5-6 months, your production will slow down to match the supply and demand your child will be in control of which can change daily.

I used the Avent Manual Pump. It is relatively inexpensive - under $45 at most retailers. It worked great and I was able to pump quickly. I found it worked better for me without the massage cushion that can be attached. You can pump your milk ahead of time and store it in the freezer - that way you will have some ready when you need it. Lanoish makes great breast milk storage bags for the freezer. Good luck!

Pump as your first option and use formula as a last resort. Breast mild is wonderful for your child and I suggest to nurse and pump as long as you can. I'd also suggest to see if you're comfortable nursing in public. Get a nursing cover and most times people don't even know what you're doing, it's so discreet; but of course do what's comfortable for you. I just had my 2nd child 3 weeks ago and intended on nursing him but he has week oral motor skills and he's not getting enough milk from nursing, so I have to pump and feed him with a bottle also. Not my ideal situation as it's time consuming to nurse, bottle feed and then pump but I do what I have to do. I say this to you just so you are prepared for anything and any situation even though you have a plan. I've had a few days when my supply was low and I had to resort to formula to keep him satisfied so don't feel bad if that's something that you have to do. As long as majority of his meals are breast milk he'll be fine.

As far as a pump, I have the Freestyle from Medela and I LOVE it... It's portable and hands free and you can empty your breats in 10 min. It's expensive ($400) but well worth the money. I bought it when I had my daughter 2 years ago and used it when I went back to work and it was perfect and I use it daily now. It's easy to use and clean. Well worth the investment.

Good luck to you with your pregnancy and your decisions that you have to make!

Pump your milk. Why give your baby formula and you are planning to stay at home so why bother with the expense of formula? Breastfeeding in public is not as scary as you think! Plenty of moms feel they will be "uncomfortable" but you practice at home with the baby and have your husband or good friend watch and have him (or your friend) tell you what is exposed. People in our society associate breasts as sexual objects. The truth of the matter, if breasts did not produce milk for our newborns, why else would we have them? I thought I'd be uncomfortable with breastfeeding in public but I have 3 children and got over my "concerns" after practicing at home. The baby's head covers most of the breast anyway and about all that is exposed is no more skin than a scoop neck shirt shows. Don't go the formula route.

Hi M.,
I will add my two cents .. and I wished someone had told me this before I had my first son (I have three boys ..). My advice to you, if you want to nurse then go ahead, but try to give two feedings of bottle (Formula or your milk) to the baby -- it will make your life much easier and you can breastfeed longer and the baby will be used to of nursing and bottle both. My older one, who I nursed first exclusively for first 7 months, refused to even look at the bottle (even when I had my milk in it, he threw the bottle every time for 2 weeks and preferred to be hungry and crying), and it was very difficult for me to give him bottle or any other milk (of course some babies are easier, but you don't know in advance if yours is an easy one or not ..). With my other two boys, I made sure that I gave them formula once around 9 PM (so someone else can feed the baby and you could get some sleep) and I nursed them during night feedings and my baby-sitter came and gave the formula around 7 AM. The biggest challenge for new mom is to get some sleep and rest. If your hubby is ready to help, great (mine was traveling and really was not even interested ..) The advantage of it is that is you ever need to leave the baby with someone, they are used to of formula and the bottle. Also, you can get some rest, like a stretch of 4 hours and sleep, if someone can take one feeding. It can take babies up to 40 minutes to nurse and then they are ready to nurse again in 2 hours or so .. the mother's milk digests easily so they are more hungry. My other two boys were not confused at all (everyone talks about nipple confusion), they were happy, however they got their milk. I was the first one who had the baby among my friends and most of them who had babies after me and chose to nurse were happy to give one or two feedings of formula a day and thanked me .. because it takes toll on the mom after few weeks. You need the rest so your body can make milk, and your body is better equipped for new responsibilities. I would say to wait before you buy any pump - I had Pump in Style and it pumped both sides and was much easier -- and it was 8 years ago so may be there are better ones on the market now. The pumps are expensive.. and it happened to me one time that my milk dried suddenly after a stressful event (death in family). Good to do research now but don't buy. My first child was very hard to latch, and it took us weeks (and lots of pain and tears on my side). Two of my friends who wanted to nurse could not because their children just did not like to latch and have mom's milk, even in a bottle .. so see how it goes .. The person in charge (the baby) will let you know once he/she is in your arms.

Enjoy the pregnancy .. it is great to feel the baby inside.
Take Care

I think enough has been said in favor of breast milk over formula but I would like to give some advice on nursing in public.

I went back to work when my daughter was 6 weeks but was fortunate to be able to have her with me (I was an infant/toddler teacher). I nursed her everywhere using a ring sling I made. The sling covers EVERYTHING and you can easily move around while the baby is nursing. I used the sling everywhere, even at the mall while shopping. I would find a discrete place to get her situated in the sling, latch her on and then cover with the sling and go about my day.

I nursed her almost exclusively until she was 13 months and now I wish she were still nursing. I'm constantly forgetting to take cups of milk when we're out for a long time and it's hard to keep the milk cold when you're running around.

I built a large supply of frozen milk by pumping every morning once my daughter started sleeping through the night. I would nurse her on one side and use the Avent manual single pump on the other and got 4+ ounces each morning and she still got enough from the one breast since I was engorged in the mornings. I had enough pumped milk to last until she was 15 months old.

I also caught the "drips" when she first came home. Generally at the beginning when you nurse, your other breast will leak. Instead of wasting the leaked milk by absorbing it in breast pads, I put a bottle or cup under my breast and caught the leaked milk and saved it until I had 2 or 3 ounces and froze it. Just by doing that I had a large amount stored up for times when I couldn't be with the baby.

Dont buy a pump now, You can rent one from the hospital and the lactation nurse can help you find one that is right. Also, sometimes pumpin turns out not to be for the mom.

I got so big - 40E that it made me feel awful about myself being that big. ALso, I had a c-section so the baby was given a bottle and then wanted nothing to do me. I tried over and over and all the tricks the lactation nurse told me.

As far as bottles,dont buy the cheap ones. For young babies it gives them gas and hard to suck on. I like playtex vent air, or dr browns and avent.

Also, check out Onestepahead.com for some great baby stuff. Some itens there can even be found at Target.

It's wonderful that you are choosing to give your baby the best beginning for a healthy life. Mixing formulas with breast milk defeats the purpose of breastfeeding. Breast milk is the perfect food for human babies, the fresh, unpasturized milk a nursing calf receives is the perfect food it. Hopefully you and your husband will be attending a Lamaze class. A Lamaze childbirth educator will answer all your questions and help you make informed choices. It will also give you and your husband a chance to talk to other expectant parents. I nursed my 9 pound son completely for his first 6 months. By then, he was ready for table food. Nursing is an amazing, calming experience for the mother and a wonderful bonding experience for you both. Happy parenting.

Hi M., I'll keep my answer short and sweet. Occasionally feeding your baby formula will not hurt him or her, it will however, totally mess up your milk supply. Lactation works on a supply and demand system, reduced use results in reduced production. Trust me, you don't want to start dealing with production issues. As for breastfeeding in public, some people are never comfortable with it, and that's o.k. But definitely check out a La Leche meeting or similar support meeting. You may find that your opinion on the matter changes once you have your baby. Good Luck and Congrats!!

Dear M.,

I'm responding because my answer is different. Babies are EXPENSIVE!!! Don't buy a pump or bottles until you know if you need them!!! You will not need a pump in the hospital and if you do, they have them there for FREE. See how breastfeeding goes. Some mamas have an easy time, some do not. Some babies have an easy time, some do not. Feeding your baby will probably be your first experience (outside of pregnancy) that you learn that it really isn't up to you since your baby has a very real say in the matter.

I am telling you all of this due to two experiences. I had every intention of breastfeeding but my son had a very traumatic birth and despite four lactation consultants and two pediatricians, we were never able to get him to latch properly. The last lactation consultant consoled me by encouraging me to get a pump and pump exclusively, which I did for almost 9 months. She also told me to be super happy that we live in a time when there are alternative feeding methods because 200 years ago, he probably wouldn't have survived a week past his birth. She was trying to make a real point that I couldn't see at the time. My son is 3 1/2 now and perfectly healthy.

My best friend had every intention of breastfeeding also. Her first two weeks went super well and she went out and bought a pump that cost about $400. Just after that, her father died unexpectedly of a heart attack and her milk dried up...just went away, due to the stress of the entire situation. She has a pump that she never opened, but they are not returnable. So she is out all the money!

Lastly, on bottles...if you use them, your baby will decide which bottle he/she prefers. So I wouldn't recommend buying a bunch of any one type. Instead, when you are ready for them, buy one and see if the baby likes it. If not, buy a different one. My son didn't like Evenflo or Dr. Brown's, he liked Avent. My nieces liked Dr. Brown's.

Slow down and enjoy your pregnancy! Your baby will rock your world in good and bad ways, so just hang onto the ride, take a lot of pictures and get used to the idea that baby will help you make all of these decisions.

Congrats! C.

Congrats on your pregnancy M.!!!
Bravo on deciding to breast feed. That really is the only way to go. Sometimes it may become difficult but in the long run all the benefits greatly outweigh anything artificial breast milk has to offer.
There is NOTHING wrong with this special time being just for you and your child. I can't understand why women get so caught up in worrying about their man being involved in the feeding. I think men probably came up with that idea to make women feel guilty about having this great time with their newborn/child. Look, your husband can help with a million other things: changing diapers (hopefully cloth as they are much lighter on the environment and much cheaper too) bathing, singing, changing clothes, rocking, playing, etc.
Nursing is public may seem intimidating at first but it's the most beautiful scene!!! You get used to it. I think it's much more disgusting to see a woman shake a bottle of formula, transfer it into a bottle and stuff that in a baby's mouth. Become one with your body, learn to love it and the real reason you have these lactating mammary glands. If anyone is turned off to you nursing in public they have mental problems.
Contact LLL, learn and most of all, enjoy!

Yes, by the way, go for a little pump if you're concerned at the beginning. If you're not grossed out, get a used one, borrow one from a friend until you decide what works best for you.

I did both. The formula helped out in a pinch, I would mix it with the breastmilk initially (or as much as possible) to have the baby accept it initially and to keep some of the nutrients in every feeding.
It's wonderful that your husband wants to help out... you'll find that him taking over a late night feeding will really help YOU with your SLEEP! I would feed at 9 pm or so, then go to sleep and my husband would take the midnight or 1 am feeding... this allowed me to sleep from 9 pm (or so) until 4 or 5 am... there's A LOT to be said for getting 6 or 7 hours of sleep in a row! (At times my husband would bring me the baby in bed for the late night feeding too... he was in charge of diapering, etc... and late night rocking so I could sleep.)
You'll find your routine... work pumping in whenever you "feel full" or miss a feeding... stockpile as much in the freezer as possible.
Take a breastfeeding class (I took one at Palms West Hospital) to learn all about technique and storage... the consultants there were helpful. You can also rent a pump and may want to start with that.
You will get more and more comfortable with feeding and may decide that you will do that when you're out... it really is the easiest way. *Buy a nursing cover (Mine was called a "Hooter Hider" LOL -- google it or look online/maternity/baby stores/Target for one... mine was wonderful! I would not recommend the nursing tops... for me... too conspicuous. I wanted to wear regular style clothing afterwards... not "Post maternity" clothing.
If you're buying a pump... Medela's Pump in Style was my pump of choice.
Good luck... you may email me with any other questions...

T.
Mom to Katelyn (almost 4) breastfed for 8 months
and Matthew (almost 2) breastfed w/formula for 5 months (I had to go back to work earlier)

It's always a great idea to have a good quality double electric breast pump if you are going to breastfeed. I had a Medela Pump In Style and it was worth every single penny. I lost it during Katrina and replaced it with a less expensive model and regretted not spending the money for the Pump In Style.

You will want to wait at least 6-8 weeks before you begin pumping as your baby will be regulating your supply during this time so that you make what baby needs. This timeframe is also great to introduce a bottle periodically so that baby is familiar with a bottle so you can have times away from baby down the road. I'm not a huge formula fan so my vote is to pump before you leave the house and time your outings. But breastfed babies feed on demand so you may just have to learn to become comfortable feeding on the go ;)! They have such cute covers like the hooter hider that it truly is no big deal to feed your baby out and about. It's not like you are tossing your boobies out for the world to see. You will be discreetly feeding your baby. Nothing more, nothing less.

I highly recommend the breastfeeding book by Martha Sears. It's very straightforward, no non-sense breastfeeding basics. It's is a great resource to be able to refer to.

Breastfeeding is an amazing thing but it can be a challenge especially in the early days. But it is also the most rewarding thing. I'm nursing my 2nd and it's amazing how she either doesn't catch big brother's cold or nurses her way thru it and doesn't get as sick.

Congratulations!

Pump! If you use formula you will decrease your milk supply. Medela makes electric pumps that are high quality. I had hand pump that worked. I think the brand or style was Isis. And perhaps you will get less shy about breast feeding on the go, or you'll sit in your car to do it or sit on abanch with a blanket over your breast and baby. Or there are lots of discreet nursing clothes.

I think you should pump on the days that you are home with the baby. There is plenty of milk to pump, refidgerate or freeze and then feed him or her like an hour later. Just time it so by the time he/she is hungry you will have some more milk to feed him. If you do this like 2 or 3 times a week you should have enough bottles of breast mild on reserve for short outings. You may find the baby dosent like to drink out of the bottle at all since he or she may be used to the breast. I have two that I breastfed and one would drink out of anything, but my other only wanted the breast. Also there are ways of breastfeeding when you are out. I never was comfortable just doing it whereever, but sometimes I would sit in my car right before we got out and feed the baby so I knew she would be good for two hours or so or there is always the bathrooms. Might be kind of gross depending on where you are, but there are ways. You will be so happy with your decision to breastfeed! I wouldnt even give formula too much at all especially in the first 4-6 months. Trust me, you will see the benefits. My two girls, NEVER sick!!! They are so intelligent and well adjusted. I think is so beneficial in ways you don't even realize. I have to say it can be for some a bit hard in the early days(breastfeeding), but once you get the hang of it, it is so worth it. Good Luck and Pump!!!

Pump the milk would be my choice.

M.,

I hope this advice will be helpful for you. I don't know if I am the best person to take it from- I can tell you some of the downsides of breastfeeding not working out.

My daughter was delivered 6 weeks early. Then the flange they gave me in the hosp was too small. My little was was in the NICU for 5 days. She didn't take well to breastfeeding for 2 weeks (also they NPOed her for 14 hours!!!)

I rented the hosp pump. For me that was the best choice. overall I had low milk production & I was dead set on breastfeeding for at least 6 months. Besides the factors mentioned earlier I was in a car accident 3 weeks after delivery (baby not with me, lucky to be in a large vehicle otherwise I would have been dead). Also part of the low milk production was probably genetic plus stress.

I tried Malta, pumping every 3 hours, fenugreek & some other herb, eating fennel, & took metaclopramide, which was the only thing that increase the production but caused anxiety & by 8-10 post delivery I had post-partum depression. Something I never thought would happen to me. I had no idea my mom had it until AFTER I developed. The only thing I didn't try was acupuncture. So here are the main points.

1. start off with a hosp pump, if you buy one & it doesn't work out you can't return it.

2. try to stock pile milk when possible- incase you get sick and go on meds, post partum depression, so you can take a day away whatever.

3. Use the service of the lactactation nurses while you are in the hospital (if that is where you deliver).

4. Join or go to a couple of La Leche meetings. They have good books you can purchase as well.

5. Try not to beat yourself up if you can't nurse like you want- even if you do 50/50 breast milk & formula- every bit of breast milk is beneficial for babies.

6. IF you have to go to formula- go with powder straight away- pre mixed looks different but tastes the same. Pre mixed is highly perishable & you will literally be throughing money away. USE coupons.

I did both with mine. If you're able to pump and have enough milk on hand to use, that's great. My problem was that I didn't produce enough milk to pump more than more bottle or so in a day, so I had to supplement with formula. Part of the problem was that I returned to work after three months, so I wasn't breastfeeding as much, which slows milk production. With you being home for the first year you might be fine with just pumping. I'd usually just switch to formula once I ran out of pumped milk. My son did fine with switching back and forth between milk and formula. It also helps to have a good quality pump, too.

Breastfeed all the way. I breastfed until my daughter was 13 months old. I pumped when I went back to work. The more you pump, the more milk you will make. So if you supplement with formula, pump also to keep your milk flow up. That is great that you will be home for the first year. Just feed baby from the breast.

Have you seen the cost of formula? It is so expensive, another good reason to breastfeed.

Believe me, it will be hard at first, but stick with it. If you need any advice, there's La Leche and wonderful mommies here.

Also, about breastfeeding in public. I was like you in not feeling comfortable breastfeeding in public, but somehow something changes within you and you just don't care and do it anyways. There are also great cover-ups you can buy so no one can see.

The Medela freestyle electric double pump is what I used and I liked it. A bit pricey, but it pays for itself when you consider the cost of formula.

Congratulations on your soon coming arrival!! I recommend getting a pump. It comes in handy for you when you want to run an errand or take off for a couple of hours and you can pump before hand so you don't have to worry about leaking or becoming engorged while you're out and about. That way, your husband can still partake in the feedings. I never bought formula, I used what the hospital gave me when I needed to go somewhere and didn't have time to pump before leaving. Formula can be kind of tricking - having to find the right one that agrees with your child. it's just more of a hassle than I ever cared to deal with. Best wishes!!

As long as you have plenty of milk, you shouldn't have to supplement formula. You'll know a few days after the baby's born when your milk comes in. When I was 5 months pregnant, with my first child. I actually started leaking colostrum and I had enough milk to feed triplets with my first baby, so I never had to supplement. I went back to work when she was 7 weeks old and always had plenty of frozen breastmilk to give to the daycare, and out of my 4 children, I have never had to supplement formula. But not every woman is the same. I have a friend who just had a baby last month and she has a lot of milk too, but her baby is a little piggy and wants to eat all the time and she actually does give him 4 ounces of formula a day just to satisfy him because he acts like he wants to eat all day and all night long.
So it's really something you have to decide when the baby is born and you see how breastfeeding and pumping will go for you. You can just plan on breastfeeding exclusively and pumping so she can have the bottle in public or with your husband and if you find out that you don't have enough milk, supplement a little. But I'll tell you the key to having more milk is to eat nutritious foods and nurse, nurse, nurse that baby. The more she nurses, the more milk your body will produce.
May God guide you through this wonderful journey of motherhood and congratulations!!
V.

I'm putting in another vote for pumping instead of formula, particularly since you'll be home with the baby. It's not as bad as you think to nurse in public. Plus, you can nurse before you leave the house or right in the car before you go in to places if you really want. I would never nurse in a bathroom. I'm really modest too, but I nurse on occasion in public without a cover. I'm nursing my second child and I've never ever received a negative comment. You might also have a baby who does not like getting a bottle from mom because he/she knows the boobies are right there.

I don't think it's a big deal for a dad to need to bond with the baby through feeding. They can bond through bathtime, nap/bed time, or even changing diapers. Once baby hits 6 months and starts solids, they can do that. I think some people place an unnecessary amount of emphasis on bonding with bottles. On the other hand I think it's a really good idea for a baby to get a bottle of breastmilk at least every few days so they remain comfortable with taking one in case you want/need to be away for several hours for some reason. It can make life much less stressful knowing your baby can be fed by someone else. (This is said by someone who's first child refused bottles from 4 months on!) Also, if you had to be away for several hours, you'd want a pump anyway to make yourself comfortable so you don't get engorged. I used an Ameda Purely Yours and it was a great double electric pump. I think it's a bit cheaper than the Medela you always hear about.

Congrats on you baby and your decision to breastfeed! Here's a great website if you ever have questions about breastfeeding and what to expect. The forums are a wonderful resource that have helped me a lot through the years:

www.kellymom.com

I breastfeed for 18 months. It was the most wonderful experience. I look back at that time with awe, it was so special. Nursing in public is not really that big of a deal. Especially now with all the cute covers they sell. Plus it is so much easier to just leave the house without having to worry about how much formula you need to bring. No mixing no prep, just feed when ready. It is the most natural thing. If you need a pump for occasional use I found Medela swing pump to work great. When it comes to daddy feeding the baby I think it is over rated. There are so many other ways for daddy and baby to bond. My husband did not miss it at all and he actually gave her a couple bottles in the beginning. Also if you are in Manatee county Manatee memorial offers great classes. Very informative and the breastfeeding class is great.

If you have any questions feel free to send any questions to me.

Pump. Breast milk is superior to formula. Even formula companies admit to it. I nursed my son for 19 months and I never did it in public. I think every mom has the right to nurse their child wherever they want, but I personally felt more comfortable taking along a bottle of breastmilk when we went out. In addition, Daddy and visiting Grandmas could then experience the joy of feeding my son with his bottle of breastmilk on occassion. You are very fortunate to be able to stay at home with your son the first year. Pumping an occassional bottle during this time will not be a big deal at all and he will reap from the benefits of only breastmilk.

You can express your breastmilk with a pump (or, believe it or not, your hands work just fine) and put it in a bottle for public feedings or feedings by your husband. You can also pump/express breastmilk and then refrigerate or freeze it for future use. (This will especially be helpful to do when your breast first start to fill with the milk following the colostrum. Often times it is too much for the baby to drink or you may have sore/cracked s from nursing.) If your breastmilk is ample and satisfying your baby's nutritional needs, NEVER give your baby formula (because breastmilk is always healthier and causes less digestive problems). To be sure that your milk is ample, drink plenty of fluids. To be sure that it is satisfying, eat balanced meals, take an absorbable multiple vitamin & mineral supplement, avoid "empty" calories and lots of sugar, saturated fats, etc. If you MUST give formula, then give the baby a formula that is iron-enriched and then try to add solid foods to the baby's diet as soon as the baby can tolerate solid foods.

Research is key!
Congratulations!
take some time and really look over
www.kellymom.com

as for nursing in public:
just do it!
the more you try to hide it, the more you scream "LOOK AT ME! I'M HIDING BREASTFEEDING!!"

FORGET those nursing covers!
what I always recommend is finding nursing shirts w/ an opening, a horizontal opening, just under the breast- like an Empire-waist. This way, your mommy-belly is covered (WAY more important than showing a tiny sliver of breast, LOL!) and the 'only' thing that needs to come out is the part that the baby's head (mouth/face) will cover!!! An EXAMPLE (I am NOT telling you to buy this brand! It's WAY EXPENSIVE!) is the 'boob' brand shirts- check out the link and examine closely on the site HOW the shirts open.
http://www.milkface.com/detail.aspx?ID=47962
scroll around & click around to view HOW the opening works!
If you know someone who sews, then click here
http://www.sewing.2ya.com/
and look for the link on the right 'overlap nursing top or dress' this is the same thing!

ENJOY that baby!!!
go join www.thebabywearer.com/forum
there are 'forums' for general parenting, etc!!!

I would only recommend formula if it was the only way to nourish the baby, if breastmilk is available do that. And don't count out nursing in public, you will be amazed at how your comfort level changes after you have a baby. La Leche League is always a big help with any breastfeeding needs, you can go to a meeting while you are pregnent.
Good Luck!