Am I wrong to consider pumping and bottle feeding instead of BFing? - Page 3

[Sandstress]

Originally Posted by mom2tig99Nroo03

when a child nurses directly at the breast, the mother produces germ- specific antibodies to what the child has been exposed to and passes those immunities on in the milk. a pump can't transfer that information.

This is not entirely accurate. The transfer of "germs" from baby to mom happens whether she is pumping or nursing. The main route for acquisition of germs from baby is through the upper aerodigestive tract (nose and mouth) and the antibodies are then formed and transferred to the milk. Those antibodies come out in the milk whether you're nursing or pumping.

There are a million reasons to try to keep nursing rather than EPing, but this isn't one of them.

[turtlewomyn]

Are you wrong to consider EP instead of BF? No, that is an option, if you need to do that. However, like other posters, try giving it some more time. It gets better!
Not a mom of a preemie, but I did have major problems with bfing, it was hell for nine weeks due to tongue tie. Pain, bloody cracked nipples (the cracks became huge fissures, it looked like part of my nipple was missing, according to the OB), dd not gaining weight. I actually pumped and fed pumped for two weeks, and supplemented at the advice of the ped and OB. That was hell (plus we had a hurricane during that time, try doing that with no electricity or lights). I was pumping every two hours, trying to keep up my supply, and then having to feed her on the off hours, if DH wasn't with me. It was much better when I got her back on the breast at four weeks old (after her tongue tie was clipped).

Now, DD is two years old, still nursing, and that difficult time is long behind us. It seems like forever when you are in it, but in hindsight, it is a small amount of time. You just have to keep taking it day by day, nursing by nursing.

Good luck, I know you will make the best choice for your family, whatever that is.

[letniaLynne]

EPing has been HORRIBLE on so many fronts but I do it because I have to, my DD NEEDS BM, it is that important! But if your babe will take your breast MAKE IT WORK! I would cut off my right arm to have not had to do this. FYI I have been pumping for 20mths now and currently also 4ws pregnant, it can be done but not without HUGE sacrifice. :

[CeeCee123]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. I'm literally overwhelmed by the responses. I needed the perspective that you all gave me - it's so hard to keep that when it's late in the evening and you are tired and frustrated.

So.... the little boy is off the bottle until we get this all figured out. The LCs helped me with his positioning/latch and although it's not comfortable, it's less painful. He nurses great during the day - in fact I was delighted to find during my last session at the support group that he took in 4oz from my breast, which totally destroys my theory that he could take more from the bottle than from me!!! He has also had phenomenal weight gain - over a pound in the last week and a half.

Night times and evenings are definitely more challenging - he will happily hang around for an hour and be still rooting after an hour of sucking/snoozing. I like the suggestion about getting music going/trying to make the feeding sessions more relaxing for me so I'm not focusing on having him finish up so I can "move on". It's important for me to remember that THIS IS MY MAIN JOB RIGHT NOW!!!

It's definitely looking up - thank you to everyone who reminded me that I just need to give it time. I guess this has probably been said a hundred times but I was just beginning to feel there was something wrong with me that something as "natural" as breastfeeding was reducing me to tears a few times a day.

Again, I really appreciate everyone who took the time to write. I really had no idea that being an EPer would be so hard in the long run, thankfully I have you guys around to put it all in perspective.

[letniaLynne]

CeeCee123,

So glad things are looking up! Also I love when MDC comes through with a "wake up call" just when you need it. Just think in a few months you will be an old pro at BFing and this will be just a distant memory.:

[CathMac]

Originally Posted by CeeCee123

...
So.... the little boy is off the bottle until we get this all figured out. The LCs helped me with his positioning/latch and although it's not comfortable, it's less painful. He nurses great during the day - in fact I was delighted to find during my last session at the support group that he took in 4oz from my breast, which totally destroys my theory that he could take more from the bottle than from me!!! He has also had phenomenal weight gain - over a pound in the last week and a half.
...

CeeCee,
I'm so glad it's going better. Both of my girls were "nip and nappers" and it seemed like almost as soon as one nursing session was over it was time for another. Once I resigned myself to their nursing style it was easier.

If you want to get more sleep I suggest you consider co-sleeping if you aren't already. Kellymom has an article on "The Family Bed" which gives you some important safety info.

Keep up the good work.
~Cath

[preemiemamarach]

you can do it!

It sounds like things are looking up- congrats!!

You might want to check my recent post in the EPers tribe thread- I've been EPing for 13 weeks and *just* got my DS to start nursing effectively (he was a 33 weeker)! All while he's had physical challenges, I've had physical challenges, I went back to work, and we both almost needed urgent surgery last month.

We probably have another month or two before we can BF exclusively when I'm not working, but as I plan to go for a minimum of 12 months (24 if he can really get on the boob right), it's all good.

So the moral of my story- if I can transition my non-nurser to the breast after 3+ months of EPing, a lot of mamas can do it. I promise!