Thankfully, it's 2020 and we finally have some insight thanks to Dr. Jardine's (2020) research in exclusively pumping. Four main areas have been explored as to why people choose to exclusively pump. According to Jardine (2020), latch problems, situational reasons, nutritional reasons and personal choice have been among the categories that people choose to exclusively pump breastmilk. 

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There are several ways to feed your infant.

1.  Nursing

   • direct at breast, occasional pumping when away from child)

2. Triple feeding

   • Nursing, bottle feeding (or similar) and pumping.

3. Exclusive pumping

   • Expressing milk manually or by breast pump and feeding baby by bottle or similar.

4. Supplementing

   • Formula is provided in addition to breast milk - either via nursing, SNS or pumping.

5. Formula feeding

   • Regulated milk substitute to ensure sufficient nutrients that meet baby's needs. 

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Making a choice on how to feed your baby is yours to own. WHO (2017) indicates that breastmilk is the optimal nutrition to feed infants. There are a lot of studies out there that indicate that breastmilk is superior to formula. I've heard any breastmilk is better than none. Another study has indicated just 2oz of breastmilk is enough to get the benefits of breastmilk's immunity. I have also read a study that indicates that there is no difference in the outcome of children based on breastmilk or formula. 

 

So which one is right?

Any or all of them could be right.

Recall that research does not say what causes something rather there is a relationship or association between them. 

 

The pressure to make the right feeding choice is a lot to handle. I like to think of things in a historical sense. For 2000 years only those fed breastmilk survived. There was nothing to compare it to. In the last century, advancements have made formula feeding much safer. Just as prior to 2003, you could only pump in a hospital. Chances are we could not be exclusive pumpers in lets say 1995. I firmly believe in making informed choices for yourself. I like to think of breastmilk as a more natural way of feeding your baby, but I also know that babies need to be fed. Another example I like to give is rinsing out a bottle of breastmilk, it rinses out much easier than formula. Like natural Hellmann's Mayo vs Light mayo. Natural ingredients vs. Man made ingredients. Can we eat light mayo and be just fine? Of course! I truly support any of the 5 feeding choices you make, and I have actually done all five. Fed baby = a happy baby. Remember that baby loves you no matter what your feeding choice.