pumping just in case

[dahlialia]

I'm sure there is no right answer to this, but I'd appreciate opinions.

With my first DD, I pumped once a day, starting a few weeks after she was born, primarily because our home visit nurse said "now would be a good time to start pumping in case you want to use the occasional bottle". We did use the milk - DD was a terrible sleeper (for 6 months would only sleep being held, upright), so DH used to give her a bottle in the second half of the night so I could get a little sleep. And I think we went out a couple of times, and left her with grandparents with pumped milk. She soon refused bottles though, and just skipped the last night feeding.

I now have a 4 week old DD. I'm having trouble feeling enthused about pumping. We have no plans to use bottles; this LO is not nearly as high needs as her sister, so I am fine with cosleeping and just getting what sleep I can. I also can't see DH and I going out without her (circumstances have changed w.r.t. babysitting).

I am wondering though whether there is much value in having stored milk, just in case. With my older DD, there was never a time when I *couldn't* nurse her, but I know it can happen.

I don't feel like we need to introduce bottles just in case; she has already refused a pacifier and will only accept a nipple or pinkie. So I suspect a bottle would ultimately be refused too. I think if she couldn't be nursed for some reason, short-term, we would have to use a sippy cup, or a tube on a pinkie if she's not old enough for that.

Thoughts? What would you do?

[alegna]

Two babies. Never had a stash larger than an oz or two. Haven't regretted it yet.

-Angela

[lifeguard]

My stash has been lost multiple times thanks to an unreliable freezer & an international move but it really hasn't mattered. There's never been a time when I wouldn't have been able to quickly pump some fresh if was needed. But personally (& for dh) it is reassuring to have at least enough to keep everyone content for a few hours if something were to come up.

[Comtessa]

I have recently really appreciated having a stash in the freezer, because there have been times that I've had to dash out and leave DD in the care of someone else, and haven't had time to pump fresh milk for her. If something comes up, it's really comforting to know I can just grab a bag of milk out of the freezer and don't have to worry about it. If I didn't have a stash on hand, I probably would have had to resort to formula bottles... So I'm really glad I've been pumping more-or-less regularly (less so lately, and this thread has reminded me to get the pump rolling again, my stash is getting low).

[Mrsboyko]

For me personally, I couldn't be comfortable if I didn't have at least a 2+ day supply. What if you were in an accident and unconcious? Ended up needing major surgery? Yea, somehow you would still have to pump, but some drugs they may give you would necessitate pump n' dump, then what would baby eat? My kids are allergy prone, so I couldn't just give a little formula. That would royaly screw them over.

I have about 50 oz in mom's freezer, 40 oz in MIL's and probably 200 oz in mine. At about 25-30 oz a day, that means I have a good week and a half stash right now. Ds is 6.5 months old

[vbactivist]

never pumped and never needed to give baby a bottle of breastmilk eaither. that's three kids and two major surgeries, 2 minor surgeries, countless wedding, funerals and tons of travel. It is possible to raise a baby without ever giving her a bottle. most of the world throughout history had done it. I would not bother with a pump unless I had to wokr and leave baby.

Good luck

[MamaPhD]

I was working so I had a good amount of frozen stash. Then I quit, but still I had this feeling, what if I need extra milk, just in case... So I have been pumping but have been slacking off lately and now I'm down to 10-15 oz. And guess what, nothing happened (yet!). I always felt like as soon as frozen stash rusn out, I'll need surgeries or something.... I figure in the most unlikely emergency event something happens, she can go on formula for a few days. I'm fine with that. Really, it's is just too much work pumping and sterlizing the parts, etc. when you don't have to.

Also the whole "when is the best time to introduce bottle..." thing didn't work for us. DD had a bottle every day since birth for 3 months and then one day, bottle strike out of nowhere! She did eventually go back on bottle, but then I quit work, and she totally refused bottle every since. So, for us, it's like how are we going to get frozen milk into her? Oh, she also completely refuses sippy with breastmilk.

DH and I always go out with DD. It's just such a pleasure hanging out with her. Even when grandparents visit and DH and I get to go out for lunch or something, we miss her. So no plans for babysitters for us either.

I say just go with the flow. If you feel especially wanting to pump some days, do it. If you feel not ethused, don't. See where you end up. Definitely OK not to have a fronzen stash.

[pumpkinhead]

I liked having at least a week's supply of milk in the freezer if I could swing it. It sounds morbid, but my rationale was that if something horrible happened to me, at least he could have a few more days of my milk before it was no more.