Question for a friend

[kelly-n-zoey]

My good friend has been breastfeeding for 5 months now, she works full time and pumps through out the day, her plan was to bf for 6 months but now she is thinking she'd like to continue longer. She said pumping is a pain in the butt and it's getting hard to accumulate enough for her growing daughter, if she were to quit pumping through out the day and substitute w/formula but still wants to nurse her before work and a bed time, is that possible??

[SingingMom]

It's possible. I agree, pumping is a pain in the butt. I did it with my first baby and I'd do it again- but I'm really glad I don't have to.

However, this isn't a decision that she has to make all at once, and I wouldn't try. If her baby is starting a few solids, she might be able to get through a day with just a couple of bottles. Instead of quitting pumping all at once, it might be better to reduce the number of pumping sessions per day.

That's what I'd recommend, anyway. Easier on the body. Less risk of mastitis.

And sometimes when pumping means only pumping once or twice during the day, it becomes easier to keep it up.

Also, some babies like their breastmilk so much that when it's not available during the day, they just refuse anything else and nurse all night. Pumping might be easier than having a baby who stores up food all night to make it through the day.

Whatever your friend decides, she should probably start gradually.

[whitnessforhim]

In the beginning I often struggled pumping at work because I was trying to meet my babies demands but didn't realize that she was being over fed on the bottle. This is very easy to do with bottles. So I would rule that out first and see if that might ease the pressure a bit. It did for me.

How much is she pumping and baby consuming while she's away?

[kelly-n-zoey]

My friend said she normally comes home w/12-15oz. and her daughter is taking about 6-7oz. in her bottle.

[dodoe80]

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

Here is a link that can help your friend with how much to feed baby. My child usually takes three 4oz bottels in a 10 hour period. If he is giong through a growth spurt then he may take another one.

I agree pumping is not fun.

[whitnessforhim]

12-15oz is a very normal/great amount. That is exactly what I pumped while DD was that age. 6-7oz is a lot at one time if you ask me. Dodoe provided a great link and here is another link about how to bottle feed a breastfed baby. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bottle-feeding.html

Is she getting all 15oz (6-7oz at a time) and thats not enough? I'm guessing this is in a 7-9hr period. My DD was taking in 8-10oz of BM in a 8hr period at that time. I think her production is fantastic and its the bottle feeding thats being over done.

[madelsmama]

I agree with previous posters. A 6 month old getting 6-7oz. in a bottle is an above average, and he is likely being overfed with the bottle. I don't think mine ever got more than 4 oz. in a single bottle/cup. So, as Whitney mentioned, I'd rule that out first. It's probably that's she's making plenty of milk for her baby. The link she provided is a good one. Here's another:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

Otherwise, yes, it's possible to formula feed during the times when they're apart, nursing while together.

[KerrySmithIBCLC]

She may notice a decrease in supply if she cuts out pumping all at once. I would try to eliminate one pumping session every several weeks to allow time for the body to adjust.