Has anyone used breast milk to bottle feed?

[babyonsay]

I am thinking about bottle feeding, but using breast milk. Can this be done? Is it too much hassle? Has anyone done it before? Thanks

I breastfed for over a year. Tried expressing but could barely get anything so it wouldn't have worked for me.

I lasted a year btw. He had a formula feed once in a blue moon when something went awry with my breast milk stock, but otherwise it was exclusively breast milk till solids and then breast milk plus solids.

I used a Medela wireless pump and used a bra thing to hold it on so I could wander about while pumping.

I am due my first in April next year and have done so much research into exclusive pumping as although it is hard work it’s what i want to do (should i be able 🙂)

@Herejustforthisone wtf? That was rude and bizarre

I did this. Worked for me. Pumping was quick and I could do it when convenient/ uncomfortable. Meant other people could feed the baby.

I pumped and DS was fed milk from the bottles as I went back to work when he was 6 months. I did this until he was 1. This was fine, it was a faff but it generally worked well. My supply did reduce over time but baby got older so it also mattered less.

I think especially for the first 2 months exclusively pumping would be really difficult. Milk supply is built up by baby feeding on demand, this is how your body learns how much milk to make, you go through phases where baby feeds ALL THE TIME but also phases where your boobs are so overly full. It evens out after a few months but the direct feedback from baby to breast is really important.

People do exclusively pump but for most women it would certainly be much easier to just breastfeed directly, especially in the early months.

Not sure why you’re being rude…

I had a long planned holiday booked with my Gran when I got pregnant. I didn't want to let Gran down so agreed to go anyway and leave 5 mo dd1 with dh. I was ebf so started expressing every morning once dd was 6 weeks. I used a hand pump but I was very lucky and could get 8oz off one breast in about 20 mins, then fed dd off the second breast. It just became routine, and when I left for my holiday I'd expressed enough for the 10 days I was gone. This was back in the olden days so dd was on solids from 16 weeks. Dh used formula for cereal etc but my milk for everything else. I pumped and dumped while I was away and it took about a week to get my supply right up again after being away, and I stopped pumping.

I'm so glad I did, that holiday with my Gran was really special and I really treasure the memories now she's gone.

I breastfeed and then express for a bottle a day for dad to feed baby. To be honest, I find pumping tedious even having to do it once a day. I couldn't imagine pumping, sorting bottles, feeding bottles etc every 2 hours of the day. If you decide to exclusively pump then you will need to pump every 2-3 hours when baby is born and keep that up 24 hours a day. It can be done and is done but it's a big commitment. I prefer breastfeeding and then feeding one bottle a day x

I exclusively pump to feed my baby. If I could directly nurse I absolutely would and I am still gutted it didn't work out for me because of completely flat nipples. I pumped for 30 minutes 7-8 times a day in first 3 months before gradually dropping pumps. Have a look at exclusive pumping Facebook groups, there are a couple of extremely supportive informative groups where I learnt basically everything I know. Health professionals don't know much if anything about it in my experience. It's a time consuming way to feed a baby really, in the middle of the night when baby's screaming you can't just pull them into bed and feed, but have to go and warm a bottle. Then when you go out, you've got the baby's bottles to organise plus pump stuff for yourself. However I'm still planning on doing the same with the next baby!

I was lucky in one respect- from weeks old DS took milk straight from the fridge. No bottle warming was a godsend.

I did it with both of mine. Neither would latch. But I didn't want formula if I could help it. Never done any different and would do it again. I stopped after recurring mastitis caused an abscess with my first so managed 16 weeks I think, and as soon as I got mastitis with my second quite early on (I think she got 6 or 7 weeks.
The pain of the failure to breast feed still hurts like hell over 10 years later. But knowing I tried my best helps.
I'd do it again

I pumped a bit also breastfed and formula fed. Dc took a bottle happily from dh and other family.

Feeding expressed breast milk is the worst if both worlds my friend nearly drove herself mental expressing

Check out exclusive pumping dot com. Loads of advice. It definitely can be done successfully!

Yes I did with my first DD because she wouldn't breastfeed despite seeing numerous lactation consultants and getting her tongue tie fixed. I bought a double electric pump which helped a lot. I kept going until she was 4 months tapering odd slowly. It was hard work and I was kind of glad to finish but I'm pleased I did it as I know she got all the colostrum and antibodies etc.

That's a bit unkind on a thread where several people have said they do it. It's not all doom and gloom - direct nursing has it's downsides too since many EBF babies refuse bottles leaving their mothers very little freedom. I know my baby has all the benefits of breast milk but I can go out and about without him very easily. No nipple biting, no worries about adequate volumes, no problems with mum being the only one who can settle baby with boob.

DD had problems latching at first so I had to express and use a special training bottle to improve her matching technique. You need a really good electric pump for it to be efficient though. I didn’t find it too bad and it was helpful that DH could help with feeds. I was lucky with my supply though.

I pumped for the first 6 weeks with DC2 until his severe tongue tie had finally been sorted. I had a lot of help from DH and produce well, but it was incredibly exhausting. If you decide to do it get an excellent double pump. The Spectra S2 was great for me.

Yes, definitely need a double pump.

Depends. Dc1 it took me ages to express. Dc2 I had over supply. Could easily have bottle feed dc2, but of course with over supply meant bf felt easier. I never produced enough milk with dc1 to the point on day 10 he was losing to much weight, had to be topped up with formula + I was told to pump and give him extra bm bottle feeds! Looking back, I never ever ever ever felt a let down with dc1.

Yes bottle feed, but it kind of depends on your supply ...

It's not all doom and gloom - direct nursing has it's downsides too since many EBF babies refuse bottles leaving their mothers very little freedom. I know my baby has all the benefits of breast milk but I can go out and about without him very easily. No nipple biting, no worries about adequate volumes, no problems with mum being the only one who can settle baby with boob.

Absolutely. No judgement on those that couldn't/didn't want to express but it was the best of both worlds for me. Quicker and made me keep going longer than I would have done otherwise. And a definite plus that I could have a full night's sleep when I was on my knees courtesy of my husband or parents.

Hi, which special bottle did you get? Did it help you? I'm struggling to get mine to latch!

Thank you!
M

Hi, DD is nearly 19 so I’m struggling to remember, although I can visualize the bottle! I think it was a Haberman: https://habermanbaby.com/suckle-feeder

The lactation specialist recommended it and I think it helped DD latch better and develop a stronger suck- I can’t be certain, of course, she may have simply got the hang of bf naturally- but using the electric pump and bottle combo definitely helped me keep my supply going when she wasn’t sucking well. Good luck!