Why is EBM so bad?

[Queen]

:wave:
Just a curious question, not wanting a fight/debate I just want to know

WHY is EBM so bad?

I have large boobs so I do not like feeding in public, so I have been expressing milk to take out with us, but my CHN/LC/MIDWIFE all have shunned this?

Why?

[delirium]

I wondering if maybe she was worried about nipple confusion with using both breast and bottle? Or maybe that your supply may drop?

[Myztik]

I dont think it would be the EBM they are shunning.. As far as I am aware EBM is the next best thing to breast feeding. They are probably worried about nipple confusion from using the bottle rather than you feeding her EBM.

Do what's right for you babe :hugs:

[shockinamillion]

I wondering if maybe she was worried about nipple confusion with using both breast and bottle? Or maybe that your supply may drop?

I had a middie tell me that nipple confusion was a myth and that even the countries leading expert had confirmed it, and this woman was a very pro BF woman.

OP, I do not know, I was told that it was the next best thing and to keep it up as long as possible :)

[sandy cheeks]

It's the next best thing to bf that's what I have been told I also think it's more the teat v nipple cos some bubs like the bottle as they dont have to work as hard to get the milk out and can then reject the breast.
Do what works for u

[Thermolicious]

Sounds like you need to hang around some other big breasted breast feeding mumma :hugs: *pats comfy couch*

I agree with Myztik its probably the method not the EBM. Although freezing ebm kills the immunological benefits of ebm but if its only happening occasionally then I dont see a problem with it. I would be more worried about nipple confusion, "demand/supply", contamination and maintaining correct tempratures when transporting.

Do you feel comfortable finding a private area to breastfeed in? I tandem feed and I find it uncomfortable depending on the situation, having both breasts out is a lot different to only having one out that you can cover up easily when a babe/toddler pulls off unexpectedly.

[Queen]

DD2 takes breast and bottle fine, but even if she did not why is it so bad to give her EBM in a bottle I mean does it really matter the source of the breast milk?

[bnbng]

I dont think it would be the EBM they are shunning.. As far as I am aware EBM is the next best thing to breast feeding.



I don't understand why it's any different to BF? What happens to the milk that makes it different? Genuine question from someone who EBM feed DD and has never understood what the difference was.

[Queen]

I have no issue breast-feeding in private, its just when I breast feed I feel like half my body is exposed (just a personal thing) and I do not like it.
I have only been expressing and storing EBM for 24hrs or less in fridge.

[Thermolicious]

Sorry I updated my previous post!

Your little one is only young I see :) if it makes you uncomfortable then you need to do whats best for you and bub. Like I said earlier if its not happening that often ("demand/supply" issue) then I wouldn't see a problem with it.

[Tam-I-Am]

There's really no problem with the EBM if it's an occasional (or even a once a day thing) if the majority of the breastmilk is from the breast.

Of course if that's not possible EBM is the next best thing :)

Bottles are usually much easier for babies to drink from than the breast, and they can grow to have a preference for the bottle over the breast - they don't have to suck as hard, or in the same way as they do at the breast. This can pose huge problems for some people, but it may never be an issue too - it's just something to be aware of.

Somebody asked what the difference was - it's the above, and also, as another poster posted, that freezing (or even refrigerating) kills some of the live components of breastmilk, making it a little less beneficial to the immune system - but still far superior to formula!

Sounds like you're doing fantastically :)

[naiwen]

OP if it is any comfort to you my DS had nothing but EBM in a bottle/tube for 6m.

However theoretically nipple feeds are better as your breast is getting direct stimulation that way and your supply is kept up, pumps do stimulate the breast of course but nothing helps your supply more than a baby!

But as you are only doing it when you go out I don't see the issue.

You are doing great, keep it up!

[peanutbutter&jelly]

I'd too would go with the way bub is getting the milk rather than the EBM itself :)
But if thats how you feel comfortable and bub is more than happy to return to the boob, I definately wouldn't worry!!

[SomewhereOverTheRainbow]

Rowie, I feel your pain! Even at home when we have lots of relatives (depending on who they are) I am having trouble feeding around them as my breasts are so big and out there! I haven't given too much thought to what I'll do in public, probably find a good parents room or something :fingerscrossed:. i often think it must be quite a bit easier for those with smaller breasts :confused:
As for the nipple confusion, I bought (but haven't used yet) some Tomee Tippee bottles with the wide neck that are supposed to be the most like a nipple or something?

[Oya]

I think it would stun me because personally a huge part of breastfeeding is the skin on skin... I don't want my baby drinking from a plastic teat when they can have a nice warm fleshy breast to feed from. No teat (even if the label says so) can compare to that or even come close. Skin VS plastic.

I would also be concerned as your baby is so young the first 6-8 weeks in my opinion is the most crucial time to not have any dummies or bottles and to just focus on bub being at the breast as much as possible aswel as the possible nipple confusion issues.

Oh and of course freezing/refrigerating/reheating EBM affects the nutrients not drastically, but it still does affect it.

BUT in saying that, you do what you feel comfortable with.

Is there not private breastfeeding rooms?

[Mrs Nietzsche]

There are a few reasons okay - my no1 biggest concern would be that expressing can *potentially* lead to supply problems and it is so much harder work for you - so it can lead to a shortened breastfeeding duration.

That said, there are lots of women who feed nothing but EBM for whatevr reasons and it is still vastly preferable to formula.

Additional concerns are things like loss of bonding, loss of the development of lungs and palate provided by breastfeeding (from the breast), EBM probably isn't quite as 'active' as fresh breastmilk re antibodies and mix of fats etc.

This is all just FYI - I would encourage anyone to breastfeed if they can, you are really doing it by the hard yards this way but no matter what you're doing a great job :) I know it's hard work - I had to express for 11 days or so after my DD was born and once she got onto the breast properly my life was a lot easier, and supply becomes perfectly matched to the baby too.

If you are certain you don't want to breastfeed but express instead, then please don't be disheartened by all this! You *are* doing a great thing.

eta - I just saw your post that you are expressing just to go out. It is a shame women can't feel comfortable breastfeeding.

I have to say I do associate expressing and feeding EBM with supply problems and nipple confusion but this doesn't mean it *will* happen for you. If it is just occasionally once the baby is older than 8 weeks or so I'm sure it would be fine.

[Boobycino]

It sounds like your doing a great job.

:yelclap: for being organised with expressing milk. Its hard work I think on top of everything else with a new bub.

[Mummaholic]

EBM is breastmilk.

There is nothing wrong with you feeding your baby this way. Your baby, your choice.

[clucky77]

It is your choice- and you are doing the best for your baby by giving breast milk.

My bubs refuses the breast so i give EBM....... we have a tough time so we should be congratulated!

[BabelFish]

Bottles are usually much easier for babies to drink from than the breast, and they can grow to have a preference for the bottle over the breast - they don't have to suck as hard, or in the same way as they do at the breast. This can pose huge problems for some people, but it may never be an issue too - it's just something to be aware of.
:yes:

This is what happened to me. I had no choice but to express because after my delivery and blood loss my milk took seven days to come in and my daughter was becoming jaundiced and got quite sick. I also had dreadful nipple trauma after only 24 hours.

So we fed her EBM from the start so she was at least getting breast milk. But I was one of the unlucky ones for whom that pretty much ruined our breastfeeding relationship. Not the EBM itself, but the fact that she was a big hungry baby and it was just quicker and easier for her to feed from a bottle.

We struggled on that way for 7.5 months until my supply just died (after I'd done everything including drugs to boost it) and she decided from one feed to the next whether or not she would have boob or bottle. We had nursing strikes, tears, trauma, I got PND because of it (amongst other things) I joined the ABA, had three different lactation consultants to try to sort it out. In the end it didn't work because she just preferred the bottle.

Also I think I had a super fast let-down which was very disconcerting for her, and the only time she would ever feed from me was when I was lying down. Bit inconvenient but beautiful too!

So while I've also been told by a paediatrician that nipple confusion is a myth, I believe that preferring bottle over breast isn't a myth at all, and in fact it's more accurate to say that than to say nipple confusion. Babies aren't confused at all - they know exactly which `nipple' they want! :)


EBM is breastmilk.

There is nothing wrong with you feeding your baby this way. Your baby, your choice.
Absolutely. If you can't breastfeed for whatever reason, giving your baby EBM is a wonderful gift and a big effort because expressing constantly with a newborn or older baby is pure drudgery.

[Jaspat24]

...So while I've also been told by a paediatrician that nipple confusion is a myth, I believe that preferring bottle over breast isn't a myth at all, and in fact it's more accurate to say that than to say nipple confusion. Babies aren't confused at all - they know exactly which `nipple' they want! :)

Absolutely. If you can't breastfeed for whatever reason, giving your baby EBM is a wonderful gift and a big effort because expressing constantly with a newborn or older baby is pure drudgery.

:iagree:My DS is underweight so i'd upped the breastfeeds and also started offering 3 50ml EBM topups a day in a bottle. He put on good weight but started bcoming fussier at the breast etc but would drink easily from a bottle. I spoke to my LC and another LC and decided to get rid of the topups and encourage him to take bigger feeds by doing breast compression and to feed him just as he starts to wake and to BF topup before bed. This has worked really well.
When we go out my DS gets distracted and has something like 3-4 short feeds instead of 1-2 big feeds, so my boobs are just out there; its annoying but thats what BF involves. I wear a singlet under a normal top and pull th outer top up and the singlet and bra down then let the outer top down a bit once he's attached to cover up most of my boob flesh. i'm so happy that my DS is still BF'ing after all our troubles that i'd never deny him a feed.

[garfield13]

Your doing great :)
I bf dd for 10mths and never bf her in front on anyone (except dh) She had jaundice, therefore very sleepy in hospital so she was being bf then receiving top ups of ebm, so she was receiving a bottle on & off pretty much since birth and we never had any problems.

Whenever we where out she would have ebm in a bottle, sometimes she would go weeks without having a bottle and then other times would have one a couple of days in a row.

[clucky77]

:yes:


So while I've also been told by a paediatrician that nipple confusion is a myth, I believe that preferring bottle over breast isn't a myth at all, and in fact it's more accurate to say that than to say nipple confusion. Babies aren't confused at all - they know exactly which `nipple' they want! :)

.


I agree- this is what happened to me! I was also told this and have seen 5 LCs- have told them it should be renamed bottle preference, not nipple confusion!

[foom]

I'm not large but my little one is easily distracted and there is no way we could use a draped cover. Recipe for an instant fight. So we used EBM when we went out and I knew we wouldn't have access to a private feeding area (which is most of the time).

He is about to hit 11 months and has just dropped from 5 to 4 feeds a day. Bub won't have anything to do with the bottle at home and needs to be really hungry when out to take EBM these days. We tried to introduce some complement feeding from a bottle at 6 months but he wouldn't have a bar of it. He knows what he likes. :)

And he has a dummy to sleep.

So I'd say if it is the occasional bottle, go for it and don't worry too much about CHN.

[*Chels*]

EBM is breastmilk.

There is nothing wrong with you feeding your baby this way. Your baby, your choice.
:iagree:

I express for work,going out without bubs,when I want some wines;)
Have been doing it since he was a week old,and have not had any probs with bottle prefrence.
Personally I think expressing is a pain in the ***,so kudos to anyone who does it on a regular basis:yelclap:

[neostudded]

Would a breastfeeding top/singlet help?

Just a suggestion, I do that when out and about. :)