Good Enough Reason to Pump?

[Laneybug]

Hi everyone--This is my first post and its coming from a place of guilt and sadness....I have been breastfeeding my 6 week old daughter since day one, and since week three have pumped enough for my husband to give her a bottle every evening or so. I had no problems breastfeeding, she had no problems latching on. As I have gotten to know her better, my own milk supply and quality, and after having consulted with several nurses and lactation consultants, I've come to the conclusion that I have oversupply syndrome. I produce a lot of foremilk, and it gushes and spurts and causes her to choke and gag and get terrible gas. Breastfeeding, especially in the past few weeks, has become an unpleasant affair. It's not peaceful and sweet and serene. She is eager to eat but its not long before she's pulling away from the breast and crying, milk running down her face and making her miserable. She fills up quickly on foremilk and for the past couple of weeks, only feeds for 5-7 minutes at a time before she wants no more to do with my breast. She never ever drains a breast completely

I've tried to remedy this problem by pumping for a few minutes before feedings, but that can be difficult when you feed on demand. I am also not sure when I should stop pumping because I don't want to upset the balance of foremilk and hindmilk. I've tried feeding her exclusively on one side for at least three feedings. You name it, I've probably tried it. It finally occured to me a few days ago that I could mainly pump and then breastfeed a few times a day just to maintain our contact. I hate to say it, but she is just so damn peeeaceful with a bottle! She gazes up at me, she seems content, she doesn't writhe in agony after a feeding.

Why then do I feel so guilty about her lack of contact with my breasts? The milk I give her is never more than a day old and I feel more bonded to her when bottle feeding her, as strange as that sounds. I guess I just associate exclusive pumping with controlling moms (of course I know that many women pump because they have to work and there is no way to breastfeed exclusively...and that will be the position I am in in the next six months) because so many lactation consultants have poo-pooed exclusive pumping.

So I guess I'm just insecure and want to hear some advice/opinions from women who have been there. I would looooove to breastfeed exclusively. That's what boobies are for! But could it be true that technology can facilitate a better feeding relationship between me and my daughter?? Yikes!

[jdg]

I don't have any sage advice for you, but keep in mind that now is not forever. You could exclusively pump/bottlefeed for a while, and then add bf'ing back in when it isn't quite so frustrating for you and/or baby. I think a lot of women have a hard time keeping up supply with exclusive pumping, so that may be why the LCs are discouraging it. That could be a benefit for you - if you decrease supply somewhat, then maybe a return to bf'ing will be easier to achieve.

While I do feel in general that "direct from the source" is best, it's also true that BM is so much better than formula that any way it gets into her is better than not getting it!

[Amatullah0]

IMO, you need to do whatever you feel comfortable with, and whatever you feel is best. Motherhood is different than any other job in that YOU are the only one who can mother your child the way she needs to be mothered. Pregnancy, Labor, Birth, and Breastfeeding all involve hormones and emotions that bring mommy and baby together, and motherly instinct kicks in!

If you are comfy with pumping, then do it! personally, I hated pumping, it was scary to attach my breasts to such a fast moving machine! If you don't want to pump, then don't, and find some other way to do what you need to do. You might want to try hand expressing the milk right before she nurses, or let her latch, then take her off for the let down, then latch her once the milk isn't pouring out. Or, you can use a manual pump for a minute or two once you notice she is getting hungry before you latch her on.

Good luck mama! and

[akind1]

I think between weeks 2 and 7 I pumped nearly all of DS's feedings, and only did straight from the source 1 or 2 times a day. For us it was because for some reason, at night, DS just wouldn't latch, and I had a really difficult time with the marathon nursing sessions. When I went back to work at 7 weeks PP, that switched up, he only got bottles while I was at work, and from the source the rest of the time. Incidentally this is also around the time the time at the breast shortened from like 45 minutes to 15-20 per session.

I say try what you think would make you comfortable for a little while, you may find, like I did, that it is only a temporary thing, and you may be fine after a bit.

[JessBB]

The main reason lc's discourage ep'ing is because it is linked with earlier cessation of breastfeeding altogether. Often even moms with oversupply who ep end up with low supply because no pump can rival the baby in stimulating milk supply.

[ein328]

Have you considered pumping for a bit BEFORE you nurse? For some moms with a very powerful letdown and oversupply, this can really help.

[lucy_v]

I was having similar problems at that time (my DD is 13 weeks now). Oversupply/overactive letdown. I tried the same things you mentioned, plus two others that really helped:

1. Side-lying nursing. I don't know if it has to do with gravity or the fact that she can just let the excess milk dribble out in that position, but she NEVER cries from the spraying milk in that position. I nursed her that way as often as possible for a week or so, and along with the block feeding, things got wayyyy better.

2. Learning to read her early hunger signs... I'm still learning too! Here's a link: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/bas...nger-cues.html

Hang in there and don't worry!

[Laneybug]

thank you all for your thoughtful replies! I actually had the privilege today of meeting an awesome lactation consultant while trying on a maya wrap in her store. She told me a breast shield could really help with the overactive letdown, so I tried one in her store while nursing my baby. I'm not sure long-term what the effect will be, but it seemed to do the trick today. and it is certainly easier than pumping for five minutes before each feeding. Of course, the lc also schooled me on all the reason bf'ing is superior to pumping and how my baby will never get the quality of milk from a bottle that she can get from my breast....so we are back to the boob for now. and daddy will continue to give her one bottle every night. and I don't feel bad anymore
those lc's can do a number on your conscience!

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

[octobermom]

I have some over active letdown issues but nothign horrid and its a lot better. My LO also gets reflux but its too been a lot better since shes grown a bit.. SO in theory there is no reason why I really can't 100% BF at the breast only...
I'm also told over and over how bottles are a pain that pumping is harder etc.. but for me its not true. I'd have no doubt trying to pump full time wouldn't be harder but I find is extremely difficult to only dirrectly BF. Franly and mable selfishly I get touched out I get impatient... Me being alloed to occasionally pump gives me a peace I can't get when contantly BF...
I have had to learn that its okay to do what honestly is working best for us. I pump enough to allow my LO to get one bottle a day through a bottle I also often give that pumped bottle when going out. Not to hide BF but because its most comfortable for me. I in the end had to learn to do what keeps our BF relationship the strongest and allows us to countiue success.
I do have some rules for myself. the biggest is I limit my self to once pumped bottle a day baring a medical reason if not I'll find pumping easier and fall into its crunch and get overwhelmed with guilt. So the one a day means I know its there its a huge comfort and I dont swaet what others think.

Deanna

[Laneybug]

Deanna, I am right there with you. We are still doing one pumped bottle a day at the most, and thanks to the nipple shield, I am able to start nursing sessions out much more peacefully. I use it for five minutes or so, take it off, and we do just fine now. I don't feel guilty anymore, plus I know she can handle the bottle---which she will need to do when I go back to work in another 6 months. I mean IF I go back to work!!!