Lori has some great advise!

I'd like to stress that a baby is MUCH better than a pump and your baby is getting more colostrum than the pump is. His suck is stronger, but it doesn't feel stronger than the pump because of the shape of his mouth. Just stick your pinky finger in his mouth and see how strong his suck is. Some people don't respond well to a pump even when they have plenty. Colostrum is stickier than the milk and won't "squirt" so drops on the nipples is completely normal.

Formula is the first step in supply issues, if you are committed to exclusively nursing your baby then you need to trust your body and nurse nurse nurse! The more you nurse the faster your milk will come in. And the more you nurse the more milk you make. Giving a bottle of formula is one feeding that your body isn't supplying to your baby, and since it is a supply and demand system you will start making less milk.

Just hang in a little bit longer and your baby will have all the milk he needs. Colostrum is a powerful fluid, and a little goes a long way. Your milk should come in a couple of days (4-5 days after birth) and will come in sooner the more he nurses. But he is getting what he needs already! Be prepared for him to lose weight, all babies do, but as long as it isn't more than 10% of your birth wieght he's just fine. Colostrum isn't high in calories, and he will gain it all back lickety-split when that milk comes in.

Sucking is very comforting to babies (think about pacifiers and thumb-sucking) and most babies will nurse for comfort as well as for nourishment.

Congratulations on your sweet boy, and I love his name too!

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