Pumping and breast feeding together. - Breastfeeding Message Board

debating · 03-26-2006, 10:16 AM

I'm currently breast feeding exclusively (no formula or expressed milk) however, I want to introduce a bottle or two at night time so DH can help with night time feedings.

My problem is that I have such a strong let down response (only have to hear DD cry for my milk to literally gush) that I'm afraid not emptying my breast when she cries will slow my milk production down. Is this likely to happen? I ONLY want to have a bottle available for night time and don't want my milk to be effected for day time feedings.

Do you think offering a bottle instead emptying my breasts is going to sabotage my milk supply?

weepyone · 03-26-2006, 12:58 PM

hi north
my story is i am mixing breast and formula including pumping and slowly my milk supply seems to be getting less ds has now one long bf in the morning but i don't think he can be getting much from this as when i pump the amount i am getting is so tiny. the problem for me was it took 8 days for my milk to come in after delivery that i had to use formula and so found i was not as keen to switch back to just bf as much as i thought i would when i was pg. i hope it works out for you i know it has for my sil. i hope to keep putting him to the breast until i dry up so he gets some goodness from me. especially as he has come down with a cold

S&J · 03-26-2006, 01:09 PM

I don't think it will sabatoge your supply..if you're only offering the bottle at night then your breasts will adjust and make the right amount for your baby during the day. Be prepared for your breasts to be full during the night when you're giving him a bottle instead of you..it can be uncomfortable!

But..after a few days your body will adjust!

I started giving ds a bottle once in awhile -I gave him formula first so I could pump for that feed so I could get my "freezer" full of expressed breast milk. Then i was able to just give him ebm when i offered the bottle. I'm still breastfeeding but if dh and I go out somewhere and ds stays with my parents he has a bottle...and I would pump when I got home so my supply would stay up...but sometimes I wouldn't pump and found if that I did that too many times my milk supply would lessen but once in awhile I would miss a pump and my supply was still ok.

I hope I could help with how my situation was!
Good Luck!
S