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4 Powerful Things To Know Before You Exclusively Pump

4 Powerful Things To Know About Breast Milk Before You Exclusively Pump. The facts are not cut and dry. There are factors you need to consider before deciding to pump instead of formula feed.

4 Powerful Things To Know About Breast Milk Before You Exclusively Pump. The facts are not cut and dry. There are factors you need to consider before deciding to pump instead of formula feed.

There is this huge push nowadays that "breast is best". So much so, that when breastfeeding isn't working out easily, many mothers are taking to full time pumping, freezing, and using this breast milk storage for their baby.

Our bodies are pretty amazing. Did you know that your body receives signals from your baby's saliva, and in turn makes changes to the composition of your breast milk? Your breast milk also changes throughout one feeding, throughout the day, and has different composition from month to month.

With all of this in mind, it made me think: 

What if pumping isn't as ideal as we think? 

 How careful do we need to be with it? 

 Should a 6 month old baby, be given pumped milk from when he or she was 3 months old? 

 For moms that are breastfeeding, and then pumping to gain freezer storage for those moments in need... is that really the best option? 

 When is the ideal time to pump? 

 Is after a feeding ok? 

As far as I can tell, there really hasn't been much research done in this area. I personally think there needs to be, however.

Since, as a society, we are pushing breast milk as the "best" option, many moms are feeling guilted into pumping and storing milk, when they otherwise may have just used formula.

Formula has been highly researched and we know it is a safe, good alternative. In fact, it has some advantages such as being enriched and fortified with iron. Pumping, storing, and feeding is most likely also safe- but what if it isn't as straightforward as we think?

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Pros and Cons of Breastfeeding and Bottlefeeding

The good and bad of breastfeeding and bottle feeding .

No matter which way you choose to feed your baby, you will find there are pros and cons to the method. Many of us only ever really experience one method or the other. Emily, from The Journey of Parenthood, recently adopted a child. She breastfed her first three children, and is currently bottle feeding her fourth. 

The good and bad of breastfeeding and bottle feeding .


With her new perspective of having some experience bottle feeding, she is talking today about the good and bad of both feeding methods. Emily says,

"I'm thankful I've been able to experience the full range of feeding options for babies as it's truly opened my eyes to understand and appreciate moms who choose one path or the other. There is not just one right path, there are many. The most important "pro" is that you find the best choice for YOU and YOUR family! "
Head on over and read The Real Pros and Cons of Breastfeeding VS Bottle Feeding to see Emily's lists of pros and cons for each method. 

See also:

  • Success as a Mom is not measured by feeding method...
    • Babywise


    The ladies of the BFBN will all be talking about breastfeeding this week. 
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    What It Is Like to Exclusively Pump

    The Realities of Exclusively Pumping. What it is like to pump and feed your baby breast milk through a bottle.

    A group of moms I am continually in awe of is the exclusive-pumping group of moms. Pumping is no joke. It takes a lot of time and a lot of work. Then after pumping, these moms feed the baby a bottle. Exclusively pumping takes so much time and work that I really don't know if I would be able to make it through. There are many moms who do it, however, so if you want to, know it can be done! 



    Caitlin from Twin Mom and More is writing today on her experience exclusively pumping for her twins. She shares:
    "Pumping... ugh. Is there anyone who can honestly say that it's an enjoyable experience? I haven't met a single mom who has enjoyed the experience. There are many reasons women choose to exclusively pump breastmilk for their babies and to enjoy the experience is not one of them. I breastfed my first until he self-weaned at ten months old. I planned on at least attempting to do the same thing with my twins. The idea of exclusively pumping was not one that I even thought about because my breastfeeding experience with my first was so easy."
    Caitlin shares the real, honest realities of what it is like to pump. If you are considering pumping for any reason, be sure to check her post The Realities of Exclusively Pumping out and see what you might be in for. Don't worry; she is very encouraging while being very honest all at the same time. 

    Babywise


    The ladies of the BFBN will all be talking about breastfeeding this week. Check the blog daily to see the talk of the day and where to read it. 
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    Eat

    The first element to the Babywise routine is "Eat." These posts will help guide you through the elements of "eat" you will encounter as a Babywise mom. Visit this page for help on the "Wake" portion of the Babywise routine. Visit this page for help on the "Sleep" portion of the routine.

    Everything you need to know about feeding a baby on the Babywise schedule | Babywise | Feeding babies | #babywise


    Bottles

    Breastfeeding 


    Discipline and Feeding:

    Dropping Feedings:
    Feeding Cycle:
    Feeding Supplies:
    Finger Foods:


    Making Babyfood:

    Mealtime:

    Newborns and Feeding: (for more on Newborns, see the Newborn Index)
    Nighttime Feedings:

    Picky Eating:


    Schedules: 


    Sippy Cups:

    Solid Foods:
    Snacks:
    Toddlers:
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    Surviving Weaning from Breast and/or Bottle

    Our latest surviving question is how do you survive the weaning process, whether from breast or bottle?

    Breast
    • Relieve Engorgement: If you get engorged, take steps to relieve it. Cabbage, tight fitting bra, compresses, pump just enough to take the edge off...you don't have to sit in misery. Take small measures to relieve the engorgement.
    • Wean Slowly: If you wean slowly, you can help prevent engorgement. I like to drop one feeding each week to slow down the process and prevent pain.
    Bottle
    • Do a slow approach if your child resists. Do one feeding where you feed with a sippy cup rather than milk. Do that for a week or two before moving to another feeding. This isn't a race. It is okay if it takes time. 

    Upset Child
    • If your child is upset by the weaning process, try holding your child while she drinks from her new source. This can help her still feel that connection to you. 
    • Another tip if your child is upset is the slow weaning approach. Whether you are going from breast or bottle, try dropping just one feeding every week or even every two weeks. Some children have a hard time with change and taking things slowly can help them get used to a new normal slowly. 
    • As with anything similar, distraction is a great strategy. Take your child for a walk or to the park. Read books together. Play with blocks or do a puzzle together. Do something with your child to help take your child's mind off of it. 
    Upset Mom
    Things can really get out of wack with your body when you stop breastfeeding. You might react strongly to hormone shifts. No matter how strong, there will be hormone shifts, physical shifts, and emotional shifts. 
    • Recognize that you are having changes. Do not try to ignore them or brush them off. Acknowledge what it is so you can figure out a way to deal with it. 
    • Exercise. Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which makes you happy. Stopping that can leave ou feeling sad. But exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins make you happy! (Happy people don't kill their husbands. They just don't. Name that movie!). Seriously, though, exercise is good for you in many ways. Make it part of your norm.
    • Look at the good. Sometimes you feel depressed or emotional because your baby is growing up. Part of being a mom is allowing your children to move forward in life. You don't want to be that mom sobbing at your child's wedding; you want to be someone who can celebrate with your child--not mourn what was while your child celebrates what is. Sure, you can feel some nostalgia, but learn to essentially look on the bright side. Learn to enjoy what is now and what the new normal is in life. It is constantly changing, and that is even more true in "normal" while raising children.
    General Tips
    • Plan: Ali said: I recommend planning. With my first he weaned himself from breastfeeding because for some weird reason he liked formula better. But the transition from a bottle to a sippy was more difficult we tried many cups and worked slowly off the bottle. With my daughter I was able to nurse until 10 months and then she will have expressed milk till a year (yay for an extra store). Because of working she did great going from nursing to the bottle for every feeding. We got some of the transition sippy cups an started the sippy transition. We are already planning out how to wean from breast milk to cows milk as she approaches 1 year.
    • Just Try: Kate said: Well with my first it was very easy to go from a bottle to a sippy or straw cup. 
      She was so determined to drink from whatever was placed in front of her. 
    • Go Cold Turkey: Heather said: My kids are awesome with transitions. Cold turkey seemed to be the best for them and for me. Otherwise we were stuck in limbo for a while which I hate! The bottle to sippy was probably the hardest and that was just because they didn't drink much milk from a sippy but it never affected sleep or growth, as they were piggies with food. So my motto: Just Do It!! 
    See also:


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