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If the milk comes from the breast then the breast is feeding the baby

I think of it as feeding directly from the breast - the method of feeding rather than where the milk comes from. *I don’t think this is better or worse* just that each feeding method is different and comes with its own pros and cons. E.g. if someone said they’re pumping I’d have some idea of what that might look like - bottles, maybe a freezer stash or set times to pump etc. which is different to feeding directly from the breast. Again, not better or worse just different.

Literally just feeding your baby breast milk. Pumping or directly from the source

I see it as both, when I say I exclusively breastfed I mean my baby only ever drank my breastmilk whether it was directly from the breast or from a bottle because I pumped out my extra milk from engorgement or needed to pump while working. If you’re having a discussion about feeding anyone can clarify further but sometimes semantics are used to make some moms feel less than for no reason.

@Dana 🦅♥️🤍💙 I think saying exclusively breastfed means only feeding from the breast, if I’m not mistaken. But bottle feeding breast milk is still bottle feeding no? I do both and there’s nothing wrong with bottle feeding from pumping but I don’t think it should be called exclusively breastfed and moms shouldn’t feel ashamed to call it bottle feeding. Fed is fed no matter the method.

What would make more sense? Exclusively breastmilk fed?

I'm very literal. I think breastfeeding is feeding directly from the breast. Ebf. Ebm = expressed breast milk. I think if you EP (exclusively pump) you would say that, or say "my baby drinks ebm"

@Dana 🦅♥️🤍💙 no just pumped milk or expressed milk. When people ask me I say I breastfeed and pump. It’s implied when you pump ur bottle feeding and not just dumping the milk out.

Typically people would ask breastfed or formula fed if they were going to ask, I’d just say I breastfeed and wouldn’t feel the need to clarify that I sometimes pump and sometimes nurse my baby. I guess if there were some in depth conversation about it maybe, but those really only exist on the internet and not in real life, I’ve found.

I consider breastfeeding as feeding baby directly on breast. When I say "I breastfed" i don't mean I pumped, poured it into a bottle and fed my baby" which i have also done! To me, that's bottle feeding. If a mom said she bottle fed her baby I'd probably think she pumped her milk and put it into the bottle, unless she said she formula fed.

The baby consuming breast milk

@Reagan i like the way you put this !!

whether u feed from the bottle or the breast exclusively it’s the same since the baby is drinking breast milk and not formula .

@Trin I don’t think feeding from bottle vs feeding from breast is the same at all, they are two completely different processes that are both difficult but definitely not the same.

Pumped milk is still breastfeeding indirectly. I know people get confused but it is..breastfeeding. Even if it’s not at the breast but it is still from the breast. Breastmilk feeding doesn’t count as a name therefore It is still breastfeeding. Bottle feeding can be both breast or formula. But formula fed is just what it is.. formula fed child while breastfeeding is from feeding breast milk either from bottle or breast.

@Lis | mommy of 3 what about women who can’t produce milk and buy breast milk, are they still considered breastfeeding moms?

No but that’s a breastfed baby

@Reagan but that baby has never drank from a breast…would it not be called a breast milk fed baby rather than a breastfed baby? I’ve done both and it’s not the same, the experience is so different and I personally wouldn’t say I breastfed my baby when I was pumping + bottle feeding because it is not the same as breastfeeding.

The baby was fed by breast whether it was direct breastfeeding or assisted breastfeeding it’s still breastfeeding because the milk comes from the breast

I guess myself and most breastfeeding professionals consider breastfeeding in terms of the source of the milk rather than the mode of feeding

@Reagan that’s not true. When you go to a breastfeeding consultant they instruct you on how to breastfeed, latch, how to insert your nipple, how often to feed. You don’t need a lot of instructions with pumping because it’s not the same. you know exactly how much your baby is eating for example, with nursing you don’t.

@Reagan so if I came to you saying I’m breastfeeding and I’m having issues for example, and you go okay show me how ur breastfeeding your baby and I pull out my pump what are you going to tell me lol

I’ll continue to help you. A lot of people come in with trouble pumping. My job is to help people breastfeed and wean. Pumping is under the breastfeeding umbrella

Good question Incognito and yes!! It’s still breastmilk even if it’s from someone else! I’m curious if it’s still called wet nursing.. or nursing.. but yes, it’s still breastfeeding. Still counts if your breastmilk was made into powder. Powdered breastmilk lasts longer too! Yes, "indirect breastfeeding" or "expressing and feeding" is still considered breastfeeding, even if the infant is not directly nursing. The key is the provision of breast milk to the baby, regardless of how it's delivered.  Here's a more detailed explanation: Direct breastfeeding: The baby directly suckles milk from the breast. 
 Indirect breastfeeding (expressed milk feeding): The mother expresses milk, which is then fed to the baby via a bottle, cup, or other means. 
 Regardless of how it's delivered, the act of providing breast milk to the baby is considered breastfeeding .

I also would never just ask you to latch because i don’t assume what breastfeeding looks like to you. That would be assessed while scheduling the visit. If you schedule due to latching concerns then I would ask, if your pumping output was lacking then I would ask you to bring a pump but regardless the goal is to help with breastfeeding