Is it realistic to never pump?

[Addie]

My DS is 5 months old, and has been breastfed since birth. We had a tough time at first due to tongue tie, but we got the help we needed and things are fine now. I hope to breastfeed until at least one year.

I didn't buy or register for a pump, because I knew I wouldn't be working while he was BFing, and it seemed like a big expense. I've never used one. I can see the benefit of having a back up stash of frozen BM - if I get sick, or need to be away from him, etc. But frankly, I'd just rather not pump. I like the simplicity of our BFing relationship - he's hungry, so I feed him. It stresses me out to think of how I'd work pumping into the schedule. And I wouldn't mind if I never had to get him on the bottle.

So, I guess I'm just asking for feedback. Is it realistic to never pump? I hear so much about pumping, it seems like it has become the norm, even for SAHMs.

[mamaw/two]

I'm a SAHM with four kids that have nursed until they were done (2 1/2 to 3 1/2 yrs each). I have never needed to pump, so I think it's very do able. I have to add, that I am very rarely away from my children, they don't have a babysitter and very rarely stay with other family members. If kids aren't welcome, I'm not either

[mamadelbosque]

If your concerned they sell very inexpensive manual pumps. Thats all I have - a cheapy hand pump and 3 glass bottles, total cost ~$15-20. I only pump very rarely (maybe 2x a month, if that) as I generally just don't leave DS anywhere for any sort of extended time period. Good luck!!

[listipton]

I think it's realistic. I WOH and only pumped once a day b/c I wanted to have a supply ready at that time on the weekends. Ds would rarely take what I pumped, so it was always wasted and many times my mom would just bring ds to me to nurse b/c it was easier than trying to fight him with an alternative feeding method (he likes his 'num num' directly from the source ). Now at 17 months I only pump if I'm away from him all day for some reason (very rarely).

[tanyam926]

It's definately realistic. I have BF 3 kids and never needed to pump or give a single bottle. I was in college when ds1 was a baby too.

I think it's wise to get a pump if you will need to be seperated from your baby and you know this ahead of time, but completely unnecessary to pump "just in case".

I agree that it seems like every BF mom I talk to feels like she needs to pump, for dad to feed bottles, to go to the store w/out the baby, whatever the reason may be. I think we should be able to do what we need to do but I don't like how people (in general) have the attitude that a BF mom can just pump and leave the baby like it's no big deal, or pump to avoid NIP.

[laohaire]

I have pumped a few times with a cheapie pump, and I don't even remember why I did it. Oh, maybe a couple of times I left DD with DH when I did something outside the home work-wise (I'm a WAHM not a SAHM). Even that was just for security, though, I never left for very long. Anyway, we certainly could have made it without a pump. That's just us, though.

[texmati]

Absolutely. If I wasn't working I'd never pump. never ever ever ever. It's such a PITA!

[MittensKittens]

I have been nursing for about the last four years now, and have never used, owned, or even seen a pump. I don't think your expectations are unrealistic. However, like everyone else who replied, I also don't leave my kids for any extended time, and work from home.

[honey-lilac]

I never pumped..

[Asiago]

My baby is the same age as yours.
I hope to breast feed him until at least two years of age, so I am sure in time I will utilize the pump more. For now, though, I don't need it really.

[Sharlla]

If you don't plan on being away from the baby then there really is no need. When DS2 was a baby I did pump but that didn't last long because there was really no need to. it's nice to have a stash set aside just in case something happens though.

[4evermom]

I never owned or used a pump, either. Ds didn't take to solids and nursed a looong time, too.

[nj's_mom]

I never pumped, at all. DD never got a bottle. She didn't really "eat" solids until she was close to 11 months old, either.

[laughingfox]

I nursed DD for 29 months and never felt the desire to pump, ever. She extended exclusively breastfed as well, and never ever had a bottle.

A lot of people seem to think you can "never leave the house" if you don't pump, but I really don't get that mindset.
It was so much was easier for me to just pop DD in the sling and take her with me everywhere than it would have been for me to assemble, use, disassemble, and clean out a pump + bottle for trips out of the house. Plus, I didn't want to introduce the chance for nipple confusion/preference issues if I didn't have to.

[4Blessings]

I've pumped for the few times when I've gone out with my friends for a couple of hours in the evening. It always goes to waste. My babies just won't take bottles (or pacifiers).

I did pump in the hospital when the nurses were pushing formula because of jaundice.

I think you could get away w/ not having a pump. If it fits your lifestyle.

[lookatreestar]

didnt pump here either. tandem nursing my 3 year old and 11 month old. pumping and bottles are not for us.

[ps4624]

I used a pump only to pull out my flat nipples in the beginning, but we don't own a bottle and have made it to 14 months with no problems. I think it's totally realistic!

[chel]

i never pumped for dd1 and she nursed for years.
i don't plan to pump for dd2, she's now 3m and so far no need.

[cappuccinosmom]

With my second, I pumped for a few months just for Sunday mornings (he alway wanted to eat during church, and after I accidentally flashed someone in church, I wasn't comfortable nursing at that point ). But with my first and third, never did. My third nursed for just about 2 years and I never pumped or needed to.

[JessicaS]

I never pumped until my second child was in the NICU.

One just doesn't always need it