This World Breastfeeding Week, we’ve partnered with Pippeta – a brand that truly supports breastfeeding mums with practical tools and expert guidance – to create a breastfeeding guide to help you understand your options, feel confident in your choices, and know that you’re not alone in navigating them. 

Whether you’re exclusively breastfeeding, introducing a pump, or exploring expressing this guide should provide you with all the information you need – while still supporting your ability to stay active and present in your daily life.

 

Every journey is unique

Preparing for parenthood comes with a lot of decisions and the way you plan on feeding your baby can be one of the most overwhelming choices you will make, particularly if this is your first baby. 

You might already have a clear feeding preference or still be exploring your options. Both are completely normal. Breastfeeding is often described as the 'natural choice,' but that doesn’t mean it always comes naturally. It’s important to understand that, while it can come with challenges, with the right support, perseverance, and helpful tools, breastfeeding is both achievable and deeply rewarding, with health benefits short and long term to both baby and mother.

Breastfeeding is a new skill for both you and your baby and can take time to establish. Your feeding journey may shift and evolve based on your baby’s needs, your lifestyle or how you feel both physically and emotionally. 

Exclusively breastfeeding: what it means

Exclusive breastfeeding means that your baby only receives your breast milk and no other liquids or solids are given, not even water. The World Health Organisation recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life and continuing with the accompaniment of healthy solid foods up to 2 years and beyond. This is due to the long list of benefits that breast feeding has for both baby and mum.

The magic of breastmilk

Provides complete nutrition

Did you know your breast milk is truly unique, made specifically by you for your baby? It changes from feed to feed, morning to night, day to day, and week to week, even adapting during hot weather. Not only that, unlike formula, breast milk is a living substance rich in antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and immune-protective cells that research has shown to have health benefits for the baby such as reduced risks of:

• Infections (e.g. ear and chest infections)

• Diarrhoea & vomiting

• Asthma

• Tooth decay, misalignment of teeth or an incorrect bite

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

• More chance of performing better in intelligence tests

And going into later life:

• Cardiovascular disease

• Type 2 Diabetes

• Obesity

There are also benefits for mum such as lowering your risk of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.

Strengthens your bond with baby

Exclusive breastfeeding means you will spend lots of close, uninterrupted time with your baby. The skin-to-skin contact and shared moments during feeds help promote a deep emotional connection strengthening your bond with your baby. 

Prepares your baby for different tastes

Your breast milk's flavour varies depending on what you've eaten. This early taste variety may help your baby be more open to trying new foods during weaning.

Convenience and affordability

Breastfeeding isn’t totally “free” (you’re doing the work, after all!) but it does come without the price tag of formula, bottles, and all the extras. No late-night bottle runs, no sterilising, no packing;  just you, your baby, and milk on tap, whenever and wherever it’s needed. Simple, and always the right temperature.

Why you might introduce a breast pump

As a family you will probably decide when is the right time, if there is one, to introduce a breast pump. Combination feeding with a breast pump can offer some a middle ground, so you can blend direct breastfeeding with expressed breast milk based on what works for your day. This might look like breastfeeding in the morning and evening and night time, and using pumped milk for daytime feeds, or having your partner handle one or two regular bottle feeds a day and you breastfeed the rest of the time.

Combination feeding requires the right tools to make it work smoothly. Pippeta’s hands-free wearable breast pumps allow you to pump while still being present with your baby or getting on with daily tasks. Combined with their milk storage bags and bottles, you can easily build up a supply of expressed milk for when you need it. 

Why you might choose to combi feed: 

Flexibility to share feeding responsibilities

For some, having their partner can take on feeding duties once or twice a day at a set time is important to them.

Freedom without supply loss

Breast pumps can offer you the ability to maintain milk supply while having breaks, ensuring your production stays steady even when you're not available for every feed.

Having a feed or two ready

Pumping once a day can give you the option to build up a feed or two of stored milk without the full exclusive pumping demands, letting you create a reserve at your own pace through occasional additional pumping sessions - perfect for holidays, date nights, or other times when you'll be separated from your baby.

Work-life balance

Breast pumps make it possible to maintain breastfeeding while returning to work, especially if your baby is less than 9 months old, as you can pump during breaks and your caregiver can bottle-feed your expressed milk.

 

Why you might not choose to combi feed:

Managing multiple feeding methods can be complex

Juggling breastfeeding, pumping, and bottle feeds requires careful planning and coordination. Having to think about when you last fed directly, when to pump, and how much expressed milk you have available, can feel overwhelming especially in the early weeks.

Flow preference for baby

Switching between breast and bottle can sometimes mean some babies struggle to adapt between breastfeeding and bottle feeding.  The flow rate and sucking actions are different, which can occasionally lead to feeding difficulties, such as breast refusal or fussiness.

Extra equipment and cleaning 

This way of feeding obviously requires investment in pumps, bottles, and storage solutions, plus all the ongoing maintenance that comes with them. Expect more time dedicated to washing, sterilising, and organising feeding equipment.

Time spent both breastfeeding AND pumping

Rather than saving time, combination feeding can actually increase the time spent on feeding-related activities. You're not just breastfeeding or just pumping, you're doing both, which can make your daily routine feel more demanding.

Possible impact on milk supply from mixed feeding

Your body produces milk based on demand, so if some feeds are replaced with bottles of formula, your supply might adjust accordingly. This can sometimes lead to a gradual decrease in milk production if not carefully managed.

Risk of flow preference developing

Babies may develop a preference for the bottle, which can make combination feeding more challenging. Some babies find bottles easier (faster flow) and reject the breast. 

However, combination feeding can strike a balance between the benefits of breastfeeding and the flexibility of sharing the load, but it does require more planning and equipment than choosing just one method. Whether the added complexity is worth the flexibility depends entirely on your lifestyle, support system, and what feels most sustainable for your family.

Why you might exclusively pump

Exclusive pumping is when you choose to express all your breast milk using a pump and feed it to your baby through bottles instead of breastfeeding directly. And here's something important to remember: this is still breastfeeding. If you're pumping breast milk for your baby, you are breastfeeding, just in a different way. The nutrition, antibodies, and love you're providing remain exactly the same. Here are some specific reasons you may need to exclusively pump your breastmilk for a time:

• When a baby is born prematurely and/or has to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

• When a baby has difficulty with latch and you are either working to improve this or have made the choice to switch to exclusively pumping.

• A baby is born with a cleft palate.

• If for any reason you and baby need to be separated for long periods of time during the day due to returning to work or illness.

• Some mothers choose exclusive pumping when direct breastfeeding is too painful, and they are unable to access support like an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to resolve the situation, but they still want to give breast milk over formula.

Why you might not exclusively pump:

Reduced milk output

While modern pumps have come leaps and bounds over the years, they still can’t fully mimic a baby's natural suction, they're not identical to the real thing, which can lead to reduced milk output for some mothers compared to direct breastfeeding. Working with an IBCLC can help to avoid this.

Additional expense to exclusively breastfeeding

The equipment costs for pumps, bottles, and sterilising can add up quickly, especially with replacement parts and ongoing maintenance. What often happens is mothers start with one main pump to establish their supply, but end up buying more convenient or portable options as they discover what works best for their lifestyle.

The pumping ‘juggle’

Trying to comfort a crying, hungry baby while you're mid-pump session knowing their milk is being prepared but isn't ready yet could feel incredibly stressful. This challenge is often made worse by the fact that exclusive pumping requires multiple sessions throughout the day to keep up with demand.

Ultimately, whether you decide to exclusively breastfeed, exclusively pump or a mixture of both, feeding depends on what works best for you and your family. Every approach has its benefits and challenges, and finding the right fit often comes down to what feels most sustainable with your daily routine and personal needs.

Final thought: there’s no ‘best’– just what’s best for you and your baby

You’re now better equipped to make confident, informed decisions about feeding your baby. Every feeding journey is unique, and with the right tools, support, and knowledge, you can create the experience that works best for you and your baby.

Remember, you’re not alone on this path. If you ever need guidance, encouragement, or just a listening ear, there are many wonderful resources available. Consider connecting with your local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), visit online forums where experts share evidence-based advice and answer questions. Peer support groups both in-person and online are also invaluable spaces to share experiences, celebrate wins, and find solidarity with other parents navigating the same challenges.

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You can take a look at Pippeta’s products – including handsfree breast pumps, milk storage solutions, and nipple care essentials – over on their website now. Every pump purchase comes with free access to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), plus all products have 40% off for a limited time during World Breastfeeding Week.