If I pump and give my baby a bottle instead of nursing, will that affect my milk supply?

It sounds like you're breastfeeding your baby, you're pumping breast milk and feeding it to them in a bottle, but not nursing them, or latching them on the breast. But they're still getting the benefits of breast milk, and your body is getting the benefits of nursing, so that's great. But you're wondering if this is going to affect your milk supply. No pump is ever going to be as efficient as a baby, meaning a baby will always empty the breast better, and each time the breast is emptied, that's when your body is stimulated to make more milk. So a lot of mothers who do nurse their babies on and feed them that way find that when they pump, they don't pump as much milk, and their wondering, "well, is my baby getting enough to eat?" And chances are those babies are. They're just emptying the breast more efficiently.

Pumping mothers tend to get caught up in the numbers. It's a numbers game - "How much am I pumping? Am I meeting my baby's needs?" - because you're actually seeing what's coming out and what's going in. Nursing mothers just nurse, and as long as their baby is showing signs that they're getting enough, then they're not concerned. So more importantly than numbers, look at the signs that will tell you that your baby is getting enough to eat. If your baby is having at least 6 wet diapers a day, and regular bowel movements, and overall seems to be happy and healthy, and is gaining the appropriate amount of weight that is outlined by the pediatrician, then what you're making is enough to meet your baby's needs.

One guideline you can go by is, depending on your baby's age, if they're 4 to 6 weeks old, then they should probably be drinking about 2 to 3 ounces every 2 to 3 hours. And then at that point, their tummies start to get a little bit bigger, they can hold more volume, and so they start to eat more volume a little less frequently throughout the day. So instead of 2 to 3 ounces every 2 to 3 hours, they start to drink 3 to 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours. And from then, it's just a gradual increase until about 6 months when most babies at that point are drinking about 4 to 6 ounces 4 to 5 times a day, and then having a larger feeding before bedtime, like even as big as 6 to 8 ounces.

[cyanedavis]

I'm glad to hear this because I plan on doing it but feel self conscious because alot of mothers breast feed. And I don't want to be ashamed to use a bottle

[shilpaverma]

Thanks for this video.I am so relieved after watching this bcos my baby was in icu when born and doesn’t latch properly so i m breast pumping exclusively.Baby is doing good but still some where i was over thinking about nursing.

[tamaralikecamera]

My baby has jaundice and it's almost gone but she wasn't nursing efficiently from the start which didn't help the jaundice. So I had to supplement where I pump breast milk and feed formula to make up for what she didnt get in breast milk. I have to say I'm feeling discouraged and like I won't be able to keep up the pumping thing. It's annoying to only pump so much and it hurt like crazy. But I know breast milk is the best for my baby. My other 2 children were not breast fed and they are great. So this is new to me but I also think formula is just fine too.

[mistersam]

Not if you have over supply... baby doesn’t empty And only gets formilk,

[mailboxxy]

This isn't true with me, size 40DDD and then a 10 pounder baby. I have been pumping Everytime my breasts feel full. I am making 6oz a pump only a week in. She is sleeping a lot. I have a milk supply storage started lol. My fridge is becoming a milk storage site.

[farhanabithinipuvlogs]

My baby is 1 month 22 days. I used to do pump and feed. Now my baby is not eating from my breast. I want to go back from bottle feeding to breast feeding . How do i can go back to breast feeding? @intermountainMoms

[HappyWorldofTalia]

I need help... my baby is 14 month old now and she like only nursing and not eating enough solid food. formula or cow milk in bottle she doesn't want to take. so, what I should do my breast milk is not enough to her?

[falaknaz]

I had c section. My baby is month old and he is now used to bottle and he won't nurse. What should I do?
If i don't nurse can i use pumping only. Will i produce enough milk if i only do pumping.

[Littlefrogintheocean]

My baby is a month old
Now, i have been feeding with formula . is it too late to stimulates my breast milk?

[suganya_prasanth]

Is pumping affect breast milk supply, plz reply

[ilovejesus]

My baby is 3 weeks old and drinking 4 oz every 3 hrs It's a boy. Is that too much?

[renukaushik]

Hi everyone I am a new mother my daughter is 2.5 months old. I am exclusively pumping as my daughter refuses to nurse.

Is it true, When we pump the milk the body doesn’t get feedback from baby and doesn’t customise the milk accordingly? Are we loosing nutrients in the pumped milk and not getting 100% benefits of breast milk?