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I dont think pumping causing bleeding nipples, some people just have cracked or sore nipples after birth and if the baby doesnt latch on properly that can use bleeding.

I agree with mrsbells, I'm pretty sure pumping doesn't hurt the nipples the same way that an improper latch can. You can use lanolin (or even just expressed milk) to sooth/ease that type of pain. I hope to be able to nurse and pump so DH can take a few feedings as well.

I think it would be nice to let DH take one of those late night feedings.

Pumping was my LIFESAVER from bleeding nipples. Expect to be really sore from nursing the first few weeks of breastfeeding. After that I was able to introduce a regular pumping schedule and have some extra milk for my husband to do some feedings.

Also, most often I was able to nurse her to sleep but my husband also practiced rocking her to sleep which was REALLY helpful. He now has the special touch to get her to sleep when she's not hungry.

I agree with Mrs. Bee. If you don't pump and your supplementing with formula, your supply will decrease quickly.

Honestly, you might feel differently once baby comes. I had an ex who demanded that I breastfed if we were ever to have future children. I said "no way!" and now I'm almost 10 months BFing DS and considering switching to exclusively pumping as long as possible past his first birthday. My point is, our feelings towards the supject change given our experiences.

I will also say, that for me, the actual act of breastfeeding has been the easiet thing to do. No pain, no cracked nipples, no soreness. If you're still weirded out by pumping, consider speaking with a LC who can fit you for the proper size breast shield which should minimize any discomfort, should you have any.

I nursed from birth and started pumping with a manual pumps to get my letdown going. I started really pumping a few weeks in and did it for 8 months, 5 of which were while working FT.

I was very sore at times, though not usually from pumping. But in that whole time my nipples never bled. Find a good lactation consultant and make sure your pump flanges are the right size and you should be okay. At times I felt a little like a milking cow, esp at work, but it really didn't bother me once ds was here and needed to be fed.

I did split between nursing and formula for about 6 weeks until my supply dried up. I would just nurse or give ds whatever bm I had pumped, then give additional formula if he was still hungry.

I did a combo- mainly because once my daughter started daycare I was unable to pump enough milk for her during the day. For the first 3 months she almost exclusively breast fed. There were a few times I had to go somewhere or just REALLY needed to sleep that she got a bottle of pumped milk or formula, but mostly she nursed. Once it got close to her starting daycare, she got one bottle per day from dad so she would learn to accept it and be ready for day care. When she got that bottle, I would pump.

The pumping is really nothing to worry about. It's a little odd to feel like a dairy cow or something, but you get over it.

As Mrs. Bee said, if you don't pump when your little one would be feeding your body will make less milk over time. Obviously this won't happen from the occasional night out or morning off where you just want to sleep in, but it will happen if you do it routinely.

Honestly, bonding over a bottle isn't any different or more special than bonding just by holding a baby close and interacting with it. So the feeding is not essential for this.

If you really want to breastfeed, I would discourage you from skipping feedings for bottles early on, until you have breastfeeding well-established. While nipple confusion can be a concern with some babies, it's not with all. However, for you and your baby learning to breast feed, it's best to be consistent with the breast.

Dad and relatives can cuddle and bathe and sing to and all the other wonderful things there are to do with babies. Giving a bottle doesn't matter.