Changed my mind on breastfeeding- 1 week old

[sarah13xx]

My baby is a week old today and I had decided I was going to formula feed only. Mainly due to not wanting to put baby to the breast. I was originally trying to express colostrum before birth but really didn’t get anything worth storing for him. I tried again at hospital and gave him the tiniest amount via a syringe. My thoughts on putting him to the breast haven’t changed after a week of formula feeding but I have the heaviest boobs (which may be swaying my decision), I really don’t want to regret not trying to give expressed breast milk and I’m about to have the covid jag so would like to pass on some antibodies if I can, even for 6 weeks or something. I took my bra off before going to sleep last night and ordered a breast pump after a last minute change of heart and decided I’d try expressing and give one bottle per day of breast milk if I can. I was worried my boobs might have already shut down their milk production but I’ve woken for a night feed and leaked all through my top as my baby cried so that’s a good sign! My breast pump is arriving first thing and if it goes well I might order an electric one to make things easier.

How do I get started? Just try pumping once? How many times should I pump if I don’t want to produce excessive amounts of milk but just enough? Totally clueless, help!

Congratulations OP

I was similar in that I couldn't harvest colostrum almost at all but did go on to breastfeed fine.

If you only want to give one bottle a day, I'd pump only 1-2 times which should give you enough for 1 bottle feed (babies are more efficient at getting the milk than the pump so you tend to need more than 1 session to get enough to satisfy them).

If you don't want to stimulate your supply, you might want to avoid expressing at night as that is when the hormone is released that will encourage milk supply if it's being used.

The longer you store the milk before giving it to baby the more the antibodies will dwindle, so that's something to bear in mind.

I don't want to sound dismissive of your decision not to breastfeed, but I found expressing quite faffy and inefficient (and be aware that some women don't get any milk in a pumping session even though the baby can get it) so you might want to have a go at feeding baby directly to bypass some of those things.

Hi OP

Google Kelly Mom getting started with bf. That website and La Leche League really helped me. I am eight weeks into exclusive pumping and have finally been able to breastfeed too having corrected tongue tie that was dismissed in hospital. It doesn't come easy to many women so you do have to persevere.

Best of luck.

Why don’t you want to put baby on the breast? It will be far easier than pumping it off.

If you're comfortable, I would try breast to get supply going. I never had anything trouble with the supply but found pumping really frustrating and time consuming.

Hi op.
I have 3 children and with my third I actually tried breast feeding. It didn't cross my mind to with the first 2 as I was young an didn't feel comfy I suppose
But doing it with my third I wish I had all along. Was very hard at the beginning but it was easier and the bond is amazing!
But you do what's best for you ! X

There is a book by Lucy Ruddle called relactation which is worth reading. She also runs a Facebook support group on the same topic.

Thanks everyone, having a look at some of these places 😊 will see how I go with the breast pump. Really just can’t bring myself to put him to the breast, can’t really describe why!

I'm the exact same as you. At first I was pumping every three to four hours (this absolutely killed me after night feeds, to finally settle DC and then after having to pump). Eventually I slept through one night and just expressed in the morning. I found I'd get a decent amount in the morning so stopped letting it disrupt my sleep (not sure if this was because it was established by then)

At one point I went to expressing just morning and evening but I've re-added a midday express as I find this works best for me.

Definitely for the electric pump, but maybe check you're happy with the manual one first before the expense.

If I could go back and buy the Elvie, I would. The hands free of it would be so much more beneficial!

I have to say that the first time I put DS1 to the breast it just felt really weird. I’m glad you say the same because I always felt a bit ashamed (?) I felt that way. It almost made me feel a bit queasy. But I got over it really quickly and we ended up feeding for 15 months. So if you did want to give it a try, know that some random internet stranger had the same feelings and it was ok. Of course you have to do what’s right for you, so if you want to pump I would try doing so first thing in the morning and see how much you get. It sounds like you still have a supply which is really encouraging. Good luck on your journey x

Ooh I love breastfeeding, it’s magical 🥰 but I couldn’t pump so opposite problem to you!
I would recommend finding a local breastfeeding support group if I were you who can help you with pumps and pumping etc. Some pumps can be too much and cause you problems, so it’s good to chat them through. They can help advise with bottle feeding too - but if you are not interested in breastfeeding, don’t let anyone push you to do otherwise! Also, there is a fantastic free hotline for the NCT www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding/early-days/about-breastmilk-and-breastfeeding
They discovered my sons tongue tie without even seeing him! Good luck and huge congratulations on your little one xxx

The phone numbers are at the bottom ^

@sarah13xx

Thanks everyone, having a look at some of these places 😊 will see how I go with the breast pump. Really just can’t bring myself to put him to the breast, can’t really describe why!

I don’t mean this as a criticism of you but what a crazy world we live in when one of the most natural things in the works is seen as weird of wrong..

You obviously don’t have to try if it really makes you uncomfortable, but breastfeeding is so much easier than pumping. I find pumping frustrating and slow. It hurts and takes me away from time I could spend cuddling or playing with my baby. And you have all the hassle of bottles / sterilising etc. Whereas breastfeeding is convenient, easy (once established) and lovely cuddling / bonding time.

It’s absolutely up to you and if breastfeeding isn’t for you that’s fine! But pumping can be such a chore, I really hate it.