I HATE pumping

[xprincessx]

Negative thread i'm afraid but I really really hate pumping. Amelie is 3 weeks on Sunday and is fed exclusively expressed breastmilk. She had latching issues and was not settled at the breast so I started pumping as I wanted her to have my milk..

The fridge is overflowing as I have oversupply (I pump around 40oz in a day). I have to pump at night which means DH has to get up and feed/change her throughout the night so I can do it and he has to get up for work at 6.30am so he is getting exhausted.

I really really want to breastfeed...properly from the breast. I do not want bottles but now I worry she has gotten so used to bottle she won't attempt to feed from the breast again. To tell the truth i'm frightened to try incase she just can't do it...

Not sure what the point in this is really but I needed to get it out, I just loathe having to do this every few hours and sterilising all the time. Just wish I could go back in time and persevere with the breastfeeding and not have switched to EBM

 

[noon_child]

It isn't beyond the point when you could transition back to bf (I've seen it happen after 3months of expressing!) but you will need some support. A quick google found this:
https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/OurServices/Maternityservices/Feedingyourbaby.aspx

You can also ring LA Leche League or NCT to see what counsellors are in your area and can do home visits. They often stay for hours on end to offer practical and emotional support.

 

[sil]

Can you try breastfeeding with a nipple shield? It'd provide a more familiar feel for your baby while allowing her to be at the breast

 

[luz]

I Second the nipple shield - I think it really could help you. Along with perseverance! It can't help to try. Babies are smart and quick to learn, I'm sure if you switched back to breast she would eventually get the hang of it. Good luck!

 

[kajastarlight]

Me too!!! I pump pump pump and my reward???? Still a low supply.....

My baby seems to prefer the bottle these days and it breaks my heart. But he has no problem nursing during his night feeds and early morning feeds. I seems almost like instinct during that time. (like between 2am and 7am.) Maybe your LO would be more willing to give it a shot when she is sleepy too?

 

[mummytobe_93]

Negative thread i'm afraid but I really really hate pumping. Amelie is 3 weeks on Sunday and is fed exclusively expressed breastmilk. She had latching issues and was not settled at the breast so I started pumping as I wanted her to have my milk..

The fridge is overflowing as I have oversupply (I pump around 40oz in a day). I have to pump at night which means DH has to get up and feed/change her throughout the night so I can do it and he has to get up for work at 6.30am so he is getting exhausted.

I really really want to breastfeed...properly from the breast. I do not want bottles but now I worry she has gotten so used to bottle she won't attempt to feed from the breast again. To tell the truth i'm frightened to try incase she just can't do it...

Not sure what the point in this is really but I needed to get it out, I just loathe having to do this every few hours and sterilising all the time. Just wish I could go back in time and persevere with the breastfeeding and not have switched to EBM

This sounds exactly like what happened with me and my daughter! She had latch issues so I pumped for 3.5 weeks I felt like I was missing out on her as my partner would do the feeding whilst I pumped. I decided enough was enough and tried to get her back on again. She used to scream and it toon a very long time and a lot of attempts. I would try to get her to your breast as much as possible. Preferably a little hungry but not starving where she's upset. Lots of skin to skin and maybe try in the bath.
For me it took little times when she would latch and then generally increase to longer amount of times. I would also say you really need to cut back or stop on the bottles as soon as she learns to latch on as otherwise she will refuse the breast.
It worked for me and I breastfed for 7 months after and she actually refused a bottle again until then so don't give up!

 

[DoubleTFun]

Best thing you can do is to keep offering the breast. Skin to skin and let her suckle if she wants too. My Twin B was having some feeding issues in the NICU and the first attempt he barely sucked at all and it really broke my heart. So when I tried again 2 days later I was surprised how quickly he took to it. Now he is feeding like a champ. She'll latch on when she is ready.

 

[coz]

I would keep trying your baby i dont think its too late, and be proud of how well your working still giving your baby breast milk Maybe sit down relax and watch some tv and keep your baby at your breast, dont stress if it doesnt work just keep trying and fingers crossed x

 

[AnonymousCAT]

Maybe try a nursing vacation... Stay in bed all day with baby on your chest doing skin to skin and then encourage laid back nursing to see if she will latch on her own?

 

[Mannie89]

The nipple shield was a life saver for my son and I! He just would. not. latch! I pumped for him and bottle fed for the first 6 weeks, trying to nurse a couple of times a day with the shield. One day, we were laying in bed and I was trying to nurse him on my side with the shield on... he just latched on and started nursing!!! It was awesome! He was on the breast non stop after that. Eventually, at about 3 months old, he could finally latch without the shield. He's 15mos now and is still breastfeeding.

 

[pansorie]

I am combo feeding, and often I will offer the breast even when I know she just wants to use it as a pacifier. I was thinking I wanted to stop nursing after a month, but now we are at 3, and I don't think I am ready to quit yet. I may go to six months.

That being said, I HAAATTEE pumping!!! I spend my lunch and breaks at work in the lactation room strapped to a machine. It's just. So. Tedious.

 

[PurpleIvy44]

I know exactly how you feel hon. My DD did not latch right away due to being tongue tied and then she would cry and fuss when I did try to get her to latch. I had to give up trying after awhile because it was us both too much stress. I had to go back to work and pump twice a day and then pump before bed and wake up to pump and pump before work etc. I had a good supply so I was lucky that her feedings didn't rely on my pumps since I could take stock from the fridge.

To help me get through it I would pump in front of my laptop and watch Hulu or a movie to make the time go quicker. It does take a lot more work but it's so worth it to have your baby have your milk. I expressed pumped for DD until she was 1 and then she took to whole milk great. I wish you luck and positive vibes. Hang in there!!