Should i exclusively pump

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click a link and take action, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I love! More info here. Exclusively pumping moms pump breast milk around the clock to feed to their babies via a bottle. They do not nurse their babies for true feedings, though they may comfort nurse. Exclusive pumpers may supplement with formula or feed their babies solid foods.

Moms exclusively pump for many difference reasons. Some of the more common reasons for exclusively pumping include:. I let go of my hopes for nursing and embraced the idea that I was continuing to breastfeed, just in a different way. To commemorate those 12 months, I wanted to put together 12 bits of advice to help you on your exclusive pumping journey:. You will be tired. Your life will revolve around your pumping schedule, and that may mean pumping in the middle of the night or pumping 12 times a day so you're increasing milk production.

Your hormones and emotions will be all over the place. You may struggle with intimacy. I never thought exclusively pumping would take as much strength, discipline, and dedication as it did. Find a support system that will lift you up on your journey. With all the bottle parts and pump parts that need cleaning, your sink will always be full. If you have a partner , put them in charge of this.

From friends to coworkers to neighbors, they will all get used to seeing your breasts and hearing your pump. Try to not be discouraged. Exclusively feeding at the breast, however, does not impose any financial costs. Breastfeeding can save a significant amount of money, depending on the local price of formula. Breastfeeding is also more convenient, as it requires no preparation.

A baby or child can feed on the breast anywhere without the need for an adult to pack bottles, find clean water, or heat formula. A study found that breastfeeding a baby or infant up to 12 months old may help relieve the pain of it receiving vaccinations. Again, feeding at the breast offers a chance to soothe the baby without the need to spend money or pack supplies.

Breastfeeding puts a woman and the baby in close skin-to-skin contact. Numerous studies have shown that newborn babies have a strong physiological need to be in close contact with a caregiver. Physiological contact may even offer lifesaving benefits for newborns. A review of accepted practice shows that skin-to-skin contact following birth can reduce the risk of hypothermia , reduce stress , and may help babies sleep. Breastfeeding a baby encourages this close contact. Babies who feed exclusively on pumped milk do not get the benefit of a feedback loop between their body and the breast milk.

However, they do still gain access to a well-designed food that is rich in healthful fats and antibodies. By pumping milk, caregivers can control the timing of feedings. They can decide on a schedule that works for them and pump when necessary based on that schedule. Controlling the timing of feedings can facilitate a return to work and potentially free up more time. It may be easier for people to split caregiving duties if they choose pumping over breastfeeding.

When only one person breastfeeds, that individual must handle the many feeds a baby demands, often including several nighttime wakings. Sharing the feeding may promote a positive balance of childcare duties.

The ability to share feeding may also offer some convenience and help the person who is breastfeeding feel more rested. This ability to share feedings can be especially beneficial in the immediate postpartum period, when caregivers may be exhausted and recovering from childbirth. If possible, parents and caregivers should not introduce a bottle until breastfeeding is well established. Pumping breast milk is one way to address breast milk supply issues.

Some people choose to pump after each breastfeeding session to increase their supply. Pumping can also help build a freezer stash of milk if a person is concerned about low supply. Missy decided to give it a try. Exclusive pumping—feeding your baby only breast milk, only from a bottle—is traditionally the territory of mothers whose babies are in the neonatal intensive care unit or otherwise medically unable to suckle directly at the breast.

These moms, like Boss, were unable to establish a successful breastfeeding relationship despite their best efforts, but they still wanted to feed their babies breast milk. The practice of pumping frequently or exclusively is continuing to grow.

According to data from the latest iteration of the Infant Feeding Practices Survey , among U. What most moms may not know is that beneath the perceived convenience of pumping, there are potential consequences both for workplace norms and for the health of themselves and their infants. Such protections include reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses, upper respiratory infections, asthma, obesity, both types of diabetes, and certain childhood cancers.

Part of the problem is a lack of research. Most papers discussed expression for sick or premature infants; the rest were commentaries calling for more research. Boss admits that, at first, she was worried about missing out on some of the benefits that breastfeeding ensures: the bonding, the closeness, the skin-to-skin contact.

Despite the need for additional research, current studies point to several problematic aspects of exclusive pumping. One concern is that babies only fed by bottle eat more and thus grow differently.