I thought bottle feeding was easier because I can hand someone else the bottle and and while they feed the baby I can do other stuff but then I just find myself confined to my room always pumping. So maybe once my supply comes in a little more I'm gonna try giving him the boob. And since it'll come faster he'll actually latch and enjoy lol
Actually, it is recommended by most experts to stay away from pumping and bottle feeding for the first 4 to 6 weeks to avoid nipple confusion and to properly establish supply. Pumping NEVER gets as much milk as the baby is able to, therefore if you pump for building supply you may not have a big enough supply to match the baby's needs, whereas if the baby just nurses they can tell your body exactly how much to make based on how much they eat. So I would suggest to get him latched and used to nursing right away instead of pumping and bottle feeding him at least until the 4 week mark when he should be doing better at it! You will have to deal with some impatience from him, but patience and determination are key and he may be frustrated for a while at the slow flow but once he gets that first let down of milk, he will quickly get used to it. I say no more than 3 days and he will gladly take the breast and not cry for a bottle! As long as he is peeing around 5 to 6 or more times a day (if he is at least 5 days or older and your milk has come in) then he is getting enough, so no need to worry about counting ounces. Make sure he stays latched as long as he wants, don't watch the clock, watch your baby. He may want you for comfort too, so if he wants to stay latched for a long time or for what seems like all day, don't panic and think he is starving he just wants the comfort and it will build your supply the more he suckles!
@suez, your baby has to get used to your nipples and sucking for milk, just like u have to get used to baby doing so. Once you two find a good rhythm, it'll be wonderful! But like I said, pumping is mostly not recommend in the first two weeks. My milk didn't come in until day 5 after giving birth.
Baby should actually be on the boobie for the first 2 weeks, so the supply can come in really good. Unless there's a reason you can't breastfeed of course....