Pumping for occasional feeds ?!

I give baby a bottle at night when I just can't do it. Then I pump while he eats. Sometimes you just need a break.

How many weeks pp are you? I started pumping at 4 weeks and all was fine. But I actually hate pumping. I work 5 days a week so my baby gets 2 bottles those days. It is a break from breastfeeding but I still have to pump

I pump for occasional feeds. I pump some mornings in between feeds while my son is with my husband. It's nice to have it as an option if I need to be away and leave baby with his dad. The only issue is if you start replacing nursing with a bottle more than a couple times a week you will need to pump in those times so your supply doesn't decrease. I will add that the first 6 weeks or so of nursing are the hardest and it does get easier. It feels exhausting and is very time consuming. But as someone who gave up nursing my first for those very reasons, I am sticking it out this time and I know that this is such a short season in life and I'm willing to make that sacrifice for the exceptional nutrition and free milk!

@hannah it'll be 3 weeks post partum tomorrow. It's just causing me so much frustration that I literally can't do anything but feed him. He doesn't like the swing or bouncer and won't take a soother. He wants to be on the boob all the time but he also fights me when I'm trying to get him to latch. It's been a horrible experience for me

Babies go through a major growth spurt at 3 weeks as well so that may be part of why he is nursing constantly. He is trying to establish your supply as well. It's all normal (even though it is very frustrating and exhausting)

I was doing that, giving her a bottle maybe twice a day and SO giving her one at night. Earlier this week, I noticed I wasn't getting as much when I pumped, so I didn't want the bottle feedings affecting my supply. So now she's only getting 1 bottle during the day with an oz or 2 to go with her liquid vitamin.

I hear you on how frustrating it is. I use a nipple shield and thought I would try and wean her from it yesterday. She did good, but now my nipples are so sore again, I've had to use it today bc I can't take the pain. She's been nursing non stop this week, especially in the evenings, acting like she's constantly starving! Hoping her little growth spurt will be over soon. Definitely don't love breastfeeding, just doing it for her.

I started off occasionally pumping but how I pretty much exclusively pump and will breastfeed when we are in public as I don't have to worry about how to warm a bottle. I started off pumping about an hour after one feed and then slowly started replacing feedings with pumping. I have a good routine established now and an awesome freezer stash going.

I also pump right after a feeding which isn't a lot but I can get 4-5 oz by the end of the day. A good way to get a stock then it can be used for a night feeding.

I've had to start pumping when both my kids were 4 days old. My milk comes in fast and heavy and my babies can't learn to latch when I'm so engorged, the lactation consultant told me I needed to pump to allow them to eat or we'd be jeopardizing breastfeeding. Both have gone on to be great nursers (my son nurses until 18 months and my daughter is now packing on weight at 3 weeks!). We haven't introduced a bottle to DD yet, but she's taken a pacifier since day one and it hasn't interfered with breastfeeding so I think you could absolutely introduce a bottle without affecting breastfeeding as long as you make sure to pump to replace the missed feedings and spend plenty of time skin to skin and breastfeeding other times of day to maintain supply

Just went through my babies 3 week growth spurt and I feel your pain!! She was always on the breast and it does hurt but luckily I built up some resistance. What helped me was putting some milk on my nipples when they started cracking then putting cream on after that and tucking a disposable nursing pad into my bra so it wouldn't stick. After a buttload of research I found the best thing you can do is feed feed feed at night even if it is almost constantly, and I pump after she is done with the breast in hopes it'll help me make more and so I can feed her enough for a conk out with a bottle if she wants more than I have which helps a lot. It'll get better soon! Don't give up!