Pumping breast milk using bottles instead of breasts...is this ok?

[fashionlover]

I have had my daughter home for 3 days now. I have been feeding her, but have been suffering horribly with cracked and scabbed nipples. I have started pumping and feeding her my breast milk through a bottle as the pain of her latching, even the correct way is excruciating. I want my daughter to be fed breast milk exclusively I am just afraid she is not getting enough milk. Often times after she feeds she continues to root for my nipple. I know I am only a few days in but please tell me this gets easier?

 

[firsttime83]

It gets easier! I promise!

Don't know all the research, but I'm pretty sure most people NEED baby to BF from the nipple to help produce your supply. I do know a few people who did bottle feed BF exclusively though, but I think that is rare.

My lo is 7 weeks now and it took 3 weeks before it wasn't so painful. I don't care what they say, a proper latch IS painful sometimes. I would count to 20 and curl my toes when she would first latch. Use nipple cream, frozen pads after feedings, let your nipples air out as well. I seriously dreaded each feeding wondering why I was doing this. NOW 7 weeks later I am beyond thrilled I stuck with it! It's SO easy to not prepare a bottle. Nipples don't hurt at all! I remember telling myself over and over if I can get through labour I can get through this as well.

It is really hard! You really aren't alone at all!

 

[snowflakes120]

I am exclusively pumping. I had a super hard time with latch among other things. I saw the LC 4-5x & it was a lost cause. I really put forth a true effort. My nipples were so raw, bleeding and sore I would be crying on the baby while feeding. They gave me a RX to help and told me to pump for a few days to let them heal. Then once I was healed, he would eventually start to get mad because I had to keep correcting him bc he wasn't latching right - he'd kick, scream and literally hit me! Then I got frustrated and upset and it would ruin my whole day. He took about an hour to feed too - then I'd have like an hour break and back to trying again. So anyways, around 6 weeks I started exclusively pumping my BM and feeding this way. It's really not bad at all. I feel great about it as I know how much he is getting and he is still getting the benefits of BM and I am able to freeze no less than 12 oz a day! Plus, it takes me less time to pump and feed than if I was still BF. Good luck!

 

[BellaRosa8302]

First - take a deep breath & count to 10 - breastfeeding IS hard at first - but you CAN do this & it DOES get easier! I was where you are now. I would breastfeed while biting my lip with tears streaming down my cheeks. I too resorted to pumping & bottle feeding due to nipple pain. I stressed over breastfeeding all the time & beat myself up over it. But I finally decided - baby steps. I decided that if I could nurse my child once a day that I was ok with that. Well, pretty quickly one time per day became 2x and so on until I was bfing all day and pumping & bottle feeding at night. Then that changed to a single pumping and bottle feed in the morning. And now - I just nurse. Haven't pumped in over a month! My LO is 2.5 months old now. You CAN do this - just take baby steps. Commit to what you feel you can succeed at. Feel free to pm me if you need anything

 

[AvianasMommy]

I had the same problem with the pain and almost gave up. I called my pediatrician to ask about switching to formula because between the raw, bleeding nipples and cluster feeding I was losing my mind and could barely function. She suggested trying nipple shields and its been great ever since. The nipple shields have my nipples time to heal up (used lanolin and frozen breast pads in between). Now I'm 2 weeks in and doing great, almost no pain at all anymore and was able to stop using the nipple shields. Maybe you can try the shields and see if that works for you. My pump isn't being delivered until tomorrow so unsure about pumping. Good luck hun .

 

[Fortune Cooki]

The beginning was rough indeed! It's really disconcerting when the nipples bleed but you have to keep feeding your baby. I hope it gets better quickly for you!
I'm 2 months in and my left nipple still hurts and has a red spot in the middle. I've been treated for thrush on the strongest possible stuff. I'm starting to think it's bacterial.

I just keep going in hopes that my immune system will eventually figure it out. Of course, the lack of decent sleep is surely not helping.

 

[rory83coyotes]

How many ounces are you feeding her at a time. If she continues to search for food she may still be hungry. I would try to breast feed at times just to help build your supply but if it is too painful then I would pump when you give her a bottle. You can pump exclusively but it is double work. Pump for 30 minutes and then feed your baby for 20-30 minutes if you have a slow eater and its double the wash. If you really just can't get on with nursing then pump but I would see the lactation consultant.

I hate to say it sounds like she may not be latched well. I never really had bleeding nipples. But I did have the lc come to my room in the hospital for the first 3 days to help me latch her as my baby was lazy. good luck momma.

 

[Calif]

I had the same issue but my breasts didn't respond well to the pump. I had to pump twice to feed the baby once and the pain of latching made me cry. Then he started to fuss (keep latching and unlatching) and I was ready to give up. I bought a medela nipple shield and felt 10x better overnight. Even though it is annoying and I still haven't weaned him off at 5 weeks, I don't regret it because I think it's what allowed my nipples to heal and allowed me to not quit.