Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 12/16/2007

Question
I am 36 weeks pregnant and wondering about breastfeeding and pumping.

I have decided I would like to breastfeed, but would like to only pump/bottle feed, not actually breast feed.

My question is, how early can I actually begin to pump? I am concerned that I will be too tired after the actual birth to immediately pump, but do not want the hospital to feed formula. Basically, I like to pre plan, and want to have atleast one or two bottles ready for her when she is born. But I am concerned as to how that will effect my actual labor. I can find very little on the subject, wether it will cause me to go into labor, or slow down the process? Basically, how will pumping before I actually have the baby effect the labor process?

I live in a small town kind of area and there is not much in the way of lactation consultants. My doctor is not an expert in this area by any means, and I am the first person in my family to consider breast feeding, as well as the only person out of my circle of friends who will be breastfeeding. SO any help or advice will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks so much, and Happy Holidays!  :)

Answer
Dear Brianne,

First, congratulations for wanting to give your baby the best start in life by giving him/her your breast milk.

Any breast milk is better than no breast milk. However, I have to tell you that it is harder to feed your baby if you only pump your milk than if you nurse at the breast. The best pump is not as efficient as a vigorously suckling baby. I would encourage you to give breastfeeding a try -- think of it as a 30-day guarantee. If you don't like it after 30 days you can always stop, but if you don't start and then change your mind later, it's not so easy. Read the first chapter of my book (see below), which gives the benefits of breastfeeding; and chapter 2 answers common questions. You should be able to get this or another book about breastfeeding from your library.

You should not pump your milk before your baby is born -- it can affect your labor since breastfeeding itself causes the uterus to contract, and vigorous pumping may do the same. You could wait for a day or two after childbirth if you're afraid you'll be too tired to do it right away. You should rent or buy a hospital-grade pump if you plan to do this for any length of time.

You say you don't know anyone in your small town who can help you. I would suggest that you do some reading. Also, there are a number of chat groups on the Internet where you can discuss your questions with other mothers. And you can go to the La Leche League website: www.llli.org.

Good luck!

Sally
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Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters. Now in revision for a fourth edition, with Laura M. Marks, M.D.