Anybody else not want to pump?

[mra]

DH is asking me to pump so he can give Julia a bottle once in awhile. I think it's great that he wants to feed her and cuddle with her, but I REALLY don't want to pump! I know that eventually I'm going to have to because we will be going to a wedding in May and hubby will be with the baby. I also know that I will have to start pumping once in awhile very soon so that Julia gets used to the bottle (figured I'd do it once a week up until the wedding). But I'm not looking forward to it. I love my breastfeeding time and don't want to share! Is that strange? Anyone else feel the same way? Most of my close friends with new babies have been pumping since the beginning and have been giving their babes a bottle quite often. My pump has been stashed away in the closet. I don't know, maybe I'm making too big a deal out of it.

[Knitting Mama]

Cecilia absolutely never would take a bottle, so I got a reprieve on the sharing of feeding time. I feel like you do, about the specialness of our nursing relationship, and I am very lucky that my husband never pushed the issue beyond us trying a couple of types of bottles, not having any success, and just dropping it.

[aphel]

Don't do it if you don't want to!

It's wonderful that DH wants to help in this way, but frankly, there are other ways he can do that right now. It's maybe unfortunate, but when baby is EBF, mama is the one who does the feeding, at least in the beginning. My 7 mo just began taking a bottle of expressed milk a month or two ago, and only when I'm in school. It's a hassle to pump, and not something I would want to do without a good reason.

One thing we did from early on was to have other things that only papa does - like bath time. It's their special time together, they both really enjoy it, and her dad gets to feel like this responsibility is 'his'.

Or what about baby massage? We took a cheap class, all three of us, and then had papa do a daily massage. They both loved it! It's great for baby's development, good for bonding, and doesn't require you to become a dairy cow!

[Adaline'sMama]

Pumping is annoying, IMO. I never did it reguarly, and Id go back and forth on weather or not I wanted to be doing it at all. I completely stopped at 6 months. I just felt like it didnt matter if I got a break because someone else was watching her if I had to sit on a breastpump and not move for a grand total of 2 hours just to let DH feed her twice.

[organicmom3]

I think it's important to introduce a bottle once in awhile for the possibility of a one day need.....you just never know what might come up.... and I also think it's important to allow dads a bit of that bonding time too.  No, I didn't want to 'give up' that feeding time, but was glad later that I did.  We still hardly ever use the bottle...but using it once in awhile (maybe once every few days) have made other times that were necessary much much easier and less stressful for ds and the bottle provider.  And of course, the longer you wait, the harder it will be. That's my two cents....you don't need to agree, but please ponder.

[Knitting Mama]

If an emergency arises, a baby who refuses a bottle can be cup, spoor or syringe fed, so it's not like it's a completely hopeless situation if mom is incapacitated.

I think the dad feeding part is totally up to each individual family to decide. My husband feels he's bonded perfectly well with our daughter without having fed her.

[northwoods]

We don't pump.

I had planned on it because I knew there would be a couple of times that I needed to be away from the baby. I decided that pumping a few times a week, which I didn't enjoy, was more of a pain in the butt than finding a solution to the couple of times when we'd need a bottle. So far, it's worked out fine.

The biggest trouble we have is that the grandmothers complain that they can't babysit!

[kriket]

I pumped for work, but it's not very enjoyable.

I do look forward (in huge air quotes) to pumping with this baby. I was able to donate some milk and it's the most amazing feeling!

But if it wasn't for donating, I would still have a pump for outings. But just so dad can feed? eh... it's easier to turn on the tap.

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by northwoods 

The biggest trouble we have is that the grandmothers complain that they can't babysit!

I have to admit, this was sort of calculated on my part. I'm just not comfortable with the idea of anyone babysitting her while she's still so young! It just doesn't sit right with me (not that I think there's anything wrong with it for anyone else! It's just not for me). Not taking a bottle is a great reason to give when we get pestered about babysitting!

Originally Posted by kriket 

I pumped for work, but it's not very enjoyable.

I do look forward (in huge air quotes) to pumping with this baby. I was able to donate some milk and it's the most amazing feeling!

But if it wasn't for donating, I would still have a pump for outings. But just so dad can feed? eh... it's easier to turn on the tap.

Donating milk is WONDERFUL! That is how my girl is thriving. She's been on donated milk since birth. 

[Hannah32]

Ha! I don't want to pump. I get probably 1/2 the milk in three times the time. It sucks. Literally. However, I don't have a choice. 

[Laurski]

I hate pumping! I don't respond super well to the pump, so it takes FOREVER to get a decent supply. Unfortunately, I have to do so for work, but yeah, if I didn't have to I'd probably only pump enough to have an emergency freezer stash.

That being said, DH was the one who fed DD her "practice" bottles to get her ready for daycare. He never pushed me to let him feed her and I love my nursing relationship with my daughter, but at the same time, my heart just melted when I saw how happy and special DH felt to get to participate in the feeding of our daughter.

Anyway, you definitely need to do what you're most comfortable with, mama...but a small stash of frozen milk for an emergency might be a nice bit of insurance.

[motherhendoula]

I second that about the grandmothers babysitting!  lol - i dont think people have any clue what it takes to 'just pump and leave  bottle'   -One occasion out can take days or even weeks of planning.   i dont even own  pump and my DH has asked to feed the baby.  It took  lot of work and planning to know that i wouldnt have to go back to work right away - first we said 4 months , then 6 months - now it looks like i will get my ultimate goal of 12 months ...which is wonderful, and something i dont take for granted!  - but i made sure my entire family knew that FOR ME,  EBF meant Mom feeds the baby...baby is always with Mom , and Mom thinks directly b-feeding is FAR EASIER than pumping and leaving a bottle.

[sosurreal09]

I HATE pumping. Completely and utterly despise it. DD will take a bottle although she's only had 3 her whole life (with BM) and shes 17 m/o lol. I used to give her water in a bottle though too. DH never cared about feeding her though. I used to pump daily to have a "stash" and it all went bad b/c I never used it. I also found out I have serious lipase issues..my BM was very pungent and tasted really cheesy and to me gross. When It is fresh it's fine though. Anyways I haven't pumped since she was maybe 6 m/o and I don't plan to again lol

[northwoods]

Wow! I'm surprised and relieved by the number of y'all that don't pump. I've had folks look at me like I have two heads when I tell them I don't pump.

And I don't know what it is about grandmothers and babysitting. What is it about mom not being around that is so appealing?

Anyhoo, I've been really happy with our decision. It's not for every mom, but it feels really good for our situation. I work from home, so it works well--we're lucky.

[MsFortune]

Pumping is a drag.  But if you are ever going to leave the baby with anyone else, might as well get on that horse sooner rather than later.  Best way to pump is when you are not stressed and rushed - so doing it way in advance of needing it is best.  Then you can also get baby used to a bottle, etc.

The best part of pumping though - you can give the baby to your SO and get a 6 hour straight sleep - it's heavenly, and worth the pain in the ass that is pumping.

I also recommend a good (expensive) pump.  If the pump is not efficient, or is a pain in the ass to use, it will just make the chore even more of a chore.

[Erin77]

If you leak milk at all while nursing, you can use one of those Milkies milk savers and not have to pump to collect some. I leak only on my right side so when I nurse on the left I can catch some effortlessly. 

[isabchi]

I pumped for my first for a couple early months for my first, because I was back to collegue.I had to relactated her and dealing with low supply for long time. After that I didn't pumped again, I feel that is too much work when I never really need too. My youngest is 2 1/2 yo and I never pumped for him, I don't have at home any bottle feeding stash or pump. If I have to leave one of my little one for a especial ocassion, I will probably hand expressing and that the caregiver give in a cup , spoon, or serynge. Also, I not feel any desire to be apart for my little ones where they were young, at less where a real emergency.

[~Adorkable~]

I have pumped from day one and even though it's a lame pain in the ass, I'm glad I do it.I'm glad I have a stash, I'm glad my dh can help out. Of course Ihave twins so things may be a lot different over here. I can also pump anywhere from 8-18 oz in a 15 minute session so it's not that big of an issue.

I'm about to return the rental and start using a new purchased pump, I worry my fast high volume is because of the high grade pump, well see if I can keep it up!

[lifeguard]

I can't say I ever enjoyed pumping - it was uncomfortable & awkward feeling. But ds bf'd so constantly as a young baby that I was reallllly thankful for the times that dh could take him in the morning for a bit & let me sleep for more than a 2 hour stretch - it truly saved my sanity.

It's an individual decision.

[snoopy5386]

I'm pumping for my friend's adopted baby, but not my own, she won't take a bottle. I still leave her with DH lots and now that she is older and eats solids it is not a big deal at all. But even when she was younger she'd be ok with him for 2-4 hours without nursing.