What are the pros and cons of breastfeeding the baby vs pumping the milk and giving it to the baby in a bottle
ByWhat are the pros and cons of breastfeeding the baby vs pumping the milk and giving it to the baby in a bottle? Some say its easier when you have it in a bottle…. How each way affects your breasts?
Related posts:
- What is the difference between breastfeeding and bottle feeding with breast milk?
- What are the obvious disadvantages giving a baby “regular” milk?
- What do you think the pros and cons of getting an epidural are?
- What is the difference between pumping and breastfeeding?
- How to start pumping milk AND still breastfeed?
7 Comments
April 19th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I think they are both good ideas! I plan to do both. I want to pump and use the bottle for when I go back to work!
April 19th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Pumping and using the bottle are better. You get to control how much milk you put out, and as the child grows and wants more and more you can top off the bottle with formula. To prevent sagging (deflated) breasts.
Also it allows others to be able to feed the baby, makes weaning easier for both of you and the baby still gets all the benefits of breast milk.
April 19th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Some serious bonding occurs when you breastfeed your baby that you will not get from bottle feeding.
You have to be the feeder 24/7 when you breastfeed.
You could use a combination of the two: Breastfeed when you can but bottle feed when you’re not around slash when the baby begins to bite or if the baby develops the habit of clamping down.
April 19th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
well both are pretty much the same because breast milk is very healthy for your child, the only difference is that its easier for your child to spend time away from you (like if you have to work) with the pump because the milk can be put in a bottle and you don’t have to be there everytime your baby is hungry. The con to this would be that you miss out on that bonding experience you’ll have other times to do it throughout your childs life but doctors consider it a great bonding experience for you and your baby at the early stage of it’s life! And your breast will get bigger either way you do it!
April 19th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
I’m breastfeeding my 2nd child, my 7-week-old son. I pump about 2-3 times a week, just enough to make a bottle or two when desperately needed. Pumping and giving the bottle too early can lead to nipple confusion. Whenever I pump, I notice I produce more milk afterwards and it takes about 24 hours for my breasts to not feel so engorged all the time. I love the bonding experience and the ease of just giving my son my breast versus preparing a bottle. I haven’t personally given him a bottle yet because my husband and my mom did it when I was away from him. Your breasts have already changed from pregnancy and breastfeeding doesn’t make them any different. I breastfed my daughter for 15 months and only pumped about 3 times total. I want to breastfeed my son as long as possible without giving him a bottle too much.
April 19th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I breastfed my daughter for 22 months and in that whole time i think i expressed milk for her about 5 times.
My 7 month old has only had expressed milk 1 time.
I prefer to breastfeed straight from the breast because:
1. It’s always available
2. It’s always the right temperature
3. I can do it anywhere, anytime
4. It’s a quick fix for ‘boo boos’ or when they just need a little comfort
5. No need to steralise, wash bottles, pumps etc.
6. No getting out of bed in the middle of the night…i just roll over and feed him
7. It’s the BEST bonding experience
There are so many more benefits..but they are the main ones for me.
April 19th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
I breastfed my first child and currently with my second child I’m pumping milk then giving it to the baby in a bottle (my daughter was 6 weeks early so I’m having to add a calorie supplement to the breastmilk which is why I’m doing this, it would not be by choice).
The pros of pumping is that my supply is way more than the baby is currently eating so I have a ton of frozen milk (so much that my in-laws are having to store milk for me now). Also my husband can now participate in feedings when he wasn’t able to before.
The cons of pumping is the time. It takes me 30 minutes to pump then I still have to feed my baby so that is another 20-30 minutes or longer. Plus washing all the bottles and pumping equipment. So I have to feed every 3 hours, so at least 8 hours of my day are devoted to pumping and feeding then another hour or so for cleaning and sterilizing supplies. Another con is my nipples are way more sore using the pump 24/7 than they ever were breastfeeding.