Anyone not pump?

[LDC]

Hi there,

This has just come to me when browsing the forum...does anyone solely feed from the breast and not express their milk?

My LO won't take a bottle which is why I don't pump/express.

The reason I ask is because a lot of people know how much milk their baby drinks but I have no idea!!

I know she's getting enough because she's piling on the pounds and has always been big (born 10lb 1oz and is now 15lb at 12 weeks) but I wondered if it matters that I don't know how much she's getting or does it not matter so long as her weight gain is steady?

Thanks a lot for any replies

Xx

 

[bananaz]

I almost never pump because my LO also won't take a bottle. As long as your baby is healthy and growing well it's safe to assume that they're getting enough milk, though I agree it would be nice to know an exact amount!

 

[Sprat]

I do sometimes express but so far my lo hasn't taken a bottle - his brother didn't either. Really don't worry about amounts - your lo will take what she needs and as long as she is happy and healthy she will be fine.

 

[rainmonkey]

I never pump although am going to start trying her with a bottle. It really doesn't matter whether you know how much she has as long as she's gaining weight well and is satisfied after a feed.

 

[LDC]

Thanks ladies, it's nice to know I'm not the only one.

Good luck with trying the bottle!

Xx

 

[Casey3]

I've never pumped either. I've always been curious what he drinks but I know he's healthy and gaining weight so I know he's getting enough!

 

[New2Bumps]

I don't either. I had to Express with ds1 as he wouldn't breastfeeding so I'm really keen to avoid it and all the hassle that for a with it! I love that ds2 is exclusively breastfed, its a huge sense of achievement. I can't quite bring myself to try him with a bottle, it will be when he is at least 3m old.

 

[armywife11]

My daughter refuses to take a bottle so I stopped messing with it early on. I have pumped a little here and there to let her play with sippy cups and when we were trying bottles but just an ounce or so nothing crazy. It gets dumped 90% of the time so I have no desire to put in the effort for it.

As long as they are gaining it doesn't matter how much they get.

 

[tokyo]

I have never pumped and don't intend to (not going back to work so no need to leave LO). I love being the only one who can feed her and just know that if I expressed everyone would want to give her a bottle! Sorry but that's my special time

No idea how much she drinks, I don't even keep track of how often she feeds or how long for anymore. Got far too hung up on all that at the beginning when midwives and HVs were always asking how often she fed, how many times she fed or how long she fed for. Glad not to know how much she drinks as just know it would be something else to fret over! The power is in her hands (or mouth rather!)

 

[BlueHadeda]

Breastmilk has different amount of calories in it. One woman's breastmilk won't be the same as another. And even one mom's breastmilk for one child won't be the same than that for another child. And even for one child, the calories in the morning milk is different from the evening milk. So quantity is no indicator of how much baby needs or how many calories they're getting in.

So I have absolutely no desire to know how much my baby drinks at any one particular feeding. I don't pump, and hasn't pumped much for any of my 4 children. They drink when they want, and that's it. I don't count how many times my baby drinks, I don't watch the clock, I don't take her for weigh-ins, etc. She drinks, she's happy, she's healthy, she's getting taller and smarter, and that's all that matters to me.

Just remember that babies weight gain do tend to stabilise. They don't pick up at the same rate after 3 or 4 months than they did in the beginning. It's normal, and doesn't mean they're not getting enough anymore.

 

[popat]

This time round, I haven't yet as I have been putting it off. I will need to start thinking of my freezer stock for when I go back to work when she's 6 months old. Also need to give her the odd bottle here and there to make sure my mum doesn't have any feeding issues.

I hate pumping, really wish I didn't have to do it. I expressed at work for 6 months last time and it was evil. Absolutely love BFing though! Be glad you don't have to do it!

 

[summer rain]

After the first week when I have to pump for medical reasons (long story but to do with jaundice etc that runs in the family), otherwise I don't bother. After the first week I don't respond well to a pump at all and it takes 3-4 sessions to get together one bottle xx

 

[toby1331]

I only pump because I went back to work at 12 weeks. Though I'll be honest knowing that someone else can give LO a bottle here and there was a huge moral booster when I was on maternity leave. I think it helped me stick with breastfeeding because I felt that I could have me time. I rarely left her, but just knowing I could helped bunches.

It didn't bother me at all to pump while home, but now that I've been back to work for a few months I hate it! My pump is great and I respond well to it, it's just that I feel that I'm attached to it alot!!! It's also stressful to have to do it at work, when I have a billion other things that need to be done. I also find it stressful to know how much LO needs and making sure I'm getting enough instead of just popping her on the boob and knowing she has had enough because she pops off!

 

[Rachel_C]

I have never fed my LO expressed milk, unless you count the other day while the kids were in the bath I expressed a bit as I had a sore nipple and then they drank it from the glass! My youngest is 18 months old now.

As long as your LO is happy and healthy and weeing/pooing enough, it doesn't matter how much milk she's taking. It could be 6oz a feed, it could be 2oz a feed but if it's enough for her it doesn't matter