Exclusively pumping breastmilk and feeding with a bottle.... what is your daily routing?

Question

I just want to hear about your routine if you only pump breast milk and do not nurse for whatever reason. I feel like I can't keep up with my daughter as it is, and can't really seem to get into a good rhythm with everything. How do you handle long days out? What kind of pump do you use? How often do you pump? How much do you store? What do you do once your baby is eating more than a few ounces? Please just give me an idea of how this will work, especially if you work.

Answer 1

Pumping and bottle feeding is going to be a lot harder than just putting baby to breast.  You will have a much harder time keeping up since you have to pump, put in bottle then feed.  Now all you need to do to "keep up" is put her to your breast.  Pumps also are never as good as baby getting milk out and it could take you multiple pumping sessions just to get one bottles worth of milk.  It can make your supply go down too if you never actually nurse the baby.  I really don't recommend it.

Answer 2

I pumped exclusively for 3 1/2 months. My schedule revolved around my pumping routine. For the first two months I pumped every 2 to 2 1/2 hours. No exception. I didn't go out of the house for longer than two hours because i had to pump (this was important to me because i wanted to make sure i had a good supply!). If I had guests over then I excused myself to pump if i needed to.  I even brought my pump (medela symphony -- rented from the hospital) to places wheni had to be gone longer than two hours (my mom's house, etc).  

Once she was two months I pumped when she napped. Before then I pumped when my husband was holding or friends. In emergencies i put her in the bouncy seat so i could pump. I even held her and pumped once (a true feat!). I did not have the bra that allows you to pump "hands free" but i hear it's a great buy!

I pumped directly into the bottles I used (Dr. Browns). I stored them with a s***w top in the refrigerator. (I never got into storing milk in the freezer). I always had about 6-8 bottles of stored breast-milk in the fridge. When it was time to feed my baby I took out the "oldest" bottle (which was rarely older than a couple days) and used that.  

Once my baby was 2 1/2 months I started pumping every 3 hours and once she was 3 months I started pumping every 4 hours. I got the same amount  of milk, it didn't diminish my supply -- probably because  I waited until she was older to space out my pumping.

I don't work and, if i did, I would wait to go back to work until you can pump every 3-4 hours w/out compromising your supply.

pumping is hard but it can totally be done! I know women who have done 6 months, 8 months, a year.... it is exhausting but you do get used to it (sort of).  There were times when i DREADED it sooo much and wanted to quit. i stuck with it as long as could. I just got to the point where i was like i DO NOT want to do this anymore. At 3 1/2 months i felt my baby at least got a good portion of the benefits of breastmilk.  

good luck to you!~

EDT -- In the beginning i was getting 2-3 ounces of milk per breast per session, and toward the end i was getting about 4 ounces per breast per session.  She only ate about 4 ounces each feeding.

Answer 3

I use the Lansinoh duel pump.  It uses either an outlet or batteries so I can pump anywhere.  My husband and I carpool so I pump on the way to my mom's house around 5am, she watches the kids, for 20 minutes.  Then I pump at work at 11:00 and 3:00 for 20 minutes-if they can beak for cigarettes I can break to pump!!!  I pump a final time at home around 8:30 while my husband feeds our son.  I seem to pump almost exactly what he is eating.  Each time is about 8-10 oz and he is eating 5 6oz bottles a day, he is 5 months old.  I always have extra oz in the freezer in case he is a little more hungry at a feeding.  In the beginning I would pump a whole bunch extra and froze it, but it has leveled out now that he is eating more at a time.  I think it works great because I can give my mother what I have pumped throughout the day to give him for the next day and my husband is able to help with the feedings.  In the beginning it was a little harder because I would pump less, but more often like my son's feeding schedule.  It is much easier now.  If we go out I have to remember to bring a cooler and something to cover myself with and always extra batteries!!