/r/breastfeeding

Photograph via snooOG

This is a community to encourage, support, and educate parents nursing babies/children through their breastfeeding journey. Partners seeking advice and support are also welcome here.

This is a community to encourage, support, and educate parents nursing babies/children through their breastfeeding journey. Partners are also welcome here.

Sub Rules:

  1. No Perverts. No posts or comments allowed which sexualize breastfeeding, and no pictures of babies. This is a sub for discussion of breastfeeding children.

  2. No harassment or shaming.

  3. No advertising, self promotion, or marketing.

  4. No academic or marketing surveys, studies, or research projects.

  5. No selling, fundraising, offers or requests for donations, or drug-seeking.

  6. No medical questions. Posts or photos asking medical questions ("does this look infected?" "is this poop normal?") are best directed to your pediatrician/OBGYN.

  7. Be kind. Rudeness won't be tolerate here.

  8. Controversial Posts and Offensive Unpopular Opinions will be removed at mod discretion. We don't have the modpower to babysit thousands of people who want to argue in the comments of these posts.

  9. No disparaging the use of formula, pumping, or combofeeding. Babies need to be fed. Every family decides what is the best method to feed their kids, we will not tolerate disparaging other feeding methods.

If you are being harassed by a user via private message, please send a report to the admins with the link to your message under "targeted harassment."

There are private groups called r/breastfeedingmoms and r/privatebreastfeeding, so check them out too.

Helpful for New Parents

Breastfeeding Resources

Pumping & Bottles

Resources for nursing WOC

Didn't find what you were looking for? For a complete list of our resources, and links to other parenting subs, check out our wiki

/r/breastfeeding

172,937 Subscribers

1

Period back so soon after the second baby?

With my first baby I got my period back at 8.5months PP which was great honestly not having it for so long and at almost 9months that felt like a normal time to expect it to come back.

Now I’m 9 WEEKS postpartum with baby #2 and I’ve just got my period back. Has this happened to anyone else? I’m EBF this baby just as I did my first baby so this took me by surprise

1 Comment
2024/12/13
04:45 UTC

2

Coping being comfort person

Not sure if venting or wanting advice. My kid is 14 month old. We were almost day weaned but then had some medical issues and went back to nursing on demand it seemed. I never planned to stop night nursing. Kid is obsessed with night nursing to the point I will wake up to him on boob already. I don’t care for the most part.

My husband is from a culture that is very pro nursing. Heck he was nursed until 4-5 years old himself. So when I tell him about how crazy kid is comfort nursing or milk. He always ask are you okay with it? And when I say yeah, he goes then keep at it. My concern is I like going out with my friends once or twice a month. My husband encourages it, but since the medical issues kid needs consistent sleep. But husband thinks kid only sleeps with a boob out. Now my husband gets upset when I go out bc I’m not home until 10-11pm and kid will still be awake. (GMA lives with us, so baby with her and husband deals with toddler)

I still need my own life. Like fill my cup before others. And I explained that to him. And I’ve suggested ways to get kid to sleep on his own, but he thinks I should just skip the concerts and shows for awhile. I’m not going to, and he knows that. I don’t think it’s selfish when kid has other ways to cope besides nursing. How do people handle the stress of feeling like the only comfort for baby at times?

0 Comments
2024/12/13
04:34 UTC

5

Finally enjoying this

After a rough breastfeeding journey. Breast refusal, pumping,latching issues, nipple pain, nipple confusion,etc. I am finally enjoying breastfeeding my 6 month old. Today I cried tears of happiness, while I stroked his face and looked into his pure little eyes. I never thought we would be here 🥺💕 My heart is exploding with love.

1 Comment
2024/12/13
04:14 UTC

1

Switching positions to establish supply?

Hello!! I’m one week out with my second, and so far, nursing has been going well I think! I tried very very hard to nurse with my first, but she just ultimately hated nursing and preferred the bottle (it was introduced early due to difficulty latching).

My question is now about establishing a good supply for the next month, with the goal of nursing most of the time, but occasionally giving a bottle. It’s something I’m a bit concerned about, because I slowly watched my supply dwindle over 7 months pumping last pregnancy. Right now, baby and I are comfortable in the cradle position, and that’s basically the only position I use. Is this ok? Or should I alternate between football hold, laid back etc so baby can get milk from other parts of the breast? Or does it all ultimately let down no matter the position? I appreciate the help, and any other advise to help me establish supply 🙂 (baby is constantly on the boobs)

1 Comment
2024/12/13
04:01 UTC

1

Pump more often when away from baby?

My 4.5 month old is EBF and I’m about to spend a couple of days away from her for the first time. She rarely gets a bottle, therefore I rarely pump. I’ve never been away from her for more than a couple of hours so the most I’ve had to pump is a bottle or two. This time I’ll be away for a full 2 days and I’m wondering if I should pump on her feeding schedule (every 4 hours) or if I should pump more often to make sure my supply doesn’t drop? My body is very in tune with her needs so I’m worried pumping rather than nursing will throw things off.

3 Comments
2024/12/13
03:06 UTC

9

Do your nipples ever adapt?

Will I be wearing silver shields and using nipple cream for my entire BF journey? 6 weeks in right now and would really love if my nips weren’t so pink and tender all the time.

23 Comments
2024/12/13
02:57 UTC

1

What is the three month nursing strike?

I’ve heard about it, but haven’t ready anything about what it looks like. We are 14 weeks and baby screams a lot when feeding in the second half of the day. Sometimes have to give a bottle because he gets so stressed out, but other times he’s totally fine. Is that it??

4 Comments
2024/12/13
02:28 UTC

2

transition from only breast to mostly pumping

my three week old still has trouble latching and takes a bottle with breast milk much better so i would like to start switching to mostly bottles with breast milk and a small amount of breastfeeding, how should I start?

1 Comment
2024/12/13
02:27 UTC

1

Breast/Bottle Schedule Help Needed

I plan to exclusively breastfeed at least at first but would love to eventually introduce bottles to feed pumped milk so my husband can take on some of the feedings to give me a break (especially at night!)

However I cannot for the life of me wrap my head around a schedule for how that would work.

When do I feed from the breast? When/how do I pump? How often should baby feed from bottle? How do I make sure I don't mess up my supply?

Also how do I know how many oz to put in bottle when I don't know what they'll be getting from the breast?

And any tips on how we introduce bottles?

0 Comments
2024/12/13
02:26 UTC

1

Same duct keeps clogging

Hi I’m 5 months postpartum and baby is finally sleeping through the night! I haven’t been getting up to pump and I experienced my first clogged duct 6 days ago. I tried everything to get rid of it but the only thing that worked was lecithin and baby after 36ish hours of pain. Now again 6 days later I have a clog in the SAME exact area but now with a big white spot (bleb?) on my nipple where milk will not come out. It’s soft so I know it isn’t scabbed or anything but man I wish it would just explode with milk 😩😩😩 so painful! Why does this keep happening to me? Any suggestions?

1 Comment
2024/12/13
02:07 UTC

1

How much breastmilk should 15 month old get?

Hi! I exclusively pumped for a year and now I’m confused if I’m giving my baby too much milk. She gets 22 ounces a day and is almost 15 months. She isn’t the best eater so I’m wondering if I cut down on the milk if she would eat more and stop waking at 5 am.

On google I just see how much whole milk and formula to give. There isn’t really info for us exclusively pumping moms that give breastmilk in a bottle. So would appreciate if anyone has knowledge! Thank you!

6 Comments
2024/12/13
01:53 UTC

1

Nipple just slides right out of babies mouth

9 months into our BF journey and it’s been tough. Now I’ve noticed when my baby is nursing my nipple will kind of slide right out of his mouth, like his latch is not the best.. idk what’s going and when he’s nursing to sleep he’ll desperately search for it to go back to bed but he will be on it for just a bit and then it’ll slide back out again it’s like my nipple is slipper or something has this happened to anyone before?

3 Comments
2024/12/13
01:52 UTC

2

Weaning?

Any tips on weaning at a year old? Right now my son is 9 months, and I am going to continue breastfeeding until a year and ideally at that point I’d like to cut back to only a few feeds a day. How do I go about this? Right now he probably eats around 6-7 times a day..

0 Comments
2024/12/13
01:50 UTC

1

I’m about to give up but don’t want to ☹️

My baby, now 12 weeks, had a very difficult time latching correctly and transferring milk. We met with multiple different LCs and realized baby has a semi high palate and unable to transfer everything she needs from the breast.

So I started my pumping journey early on. It was a struggle, and I basically gave up on breastfeeding. Baby has been drinking my breast milk but the pumping is draining me. I’m so over it and tired. I have dropped to 5 pumps a day and that usually yields about 34 oz milk.

When I put her on my boob now, she transfers about 2 oz combined. This was in middle of the day where my supply isn’t the highest.

So now I just want to see if I could have her breastfeed and transfer 2oz and give her 2 oz formula after. She usually takes 4 oz per feeding—sometimes more!

Not sure if this is possible and what will happen to my supply if I stop pumping, but I just can’t do it anymore. Not sure why I’m feeling guilty 😫 has anyone combo fed after exclusively pumping?

1 Comment
2024/12/13
01:47 UTC

3

Pumping after morning feed?

If I pump after the first morning feed when I am very full will it take away from my babies next feeds? Like I’m only making how much milk he eats right? So if I add in a pump won’t he get less?

2 Comments
2024/12/13
01:41 UTC

1

16 month old going to daycare

I recently got laid off from my work from home job and I’ve been applying to different jobs and might have to go to in person work. I’ve been able to stay home with my daughter and she still breastfeeds to sleep. I’m worried about how she will take naps in daycare. Does anyone have any advice for this?

3 Comments
2024/12/13
01:40 UTC

1

Cutting breastfeeding

Any mamas choose to stop nursing and exclusively pump? My son is 5 months and I think I’m ready to move to only bottles. I’m constantly stressed with anxiety because he is latched to me to sleep and nap and I can’t get anything done or get any sleep. My question is was anyone on the same boat and quit? How hard was it on your LO. He is going to be so upset but I’ve got to try something now. Any advice on how or best way to wean.

2 Comments
2024/12/13
01:38 UTC

1

Cannot pump out milk ??

I all of a sudden cannot pump out any milk. I exclusively breastfeed but I always had a little oversupply. My baby would feed on one side and I could pump up to 4-5 oz on the other. Now I cannot pump a SINGLE drop. I am panicking. Nothing comes out. I tried massaging, and even hand expressing but it seems like I have no milk. So I waited 2 hours and tried again, still nothing comes out. I am so worried that my supply just went down drastically overnight. Does that happen? Or is my letdown reflex just not getting triggered anymore? I don’t know 🤷🏽‍♀️ I really need advice on how I can fix this. Can you rebuild supply after 6 weeks? Or am I doomed?

Also if I have milk and cannot empty the breast it will eventually affect my supply. Any advice? Is it actually possible to get your supply back?

3 Comments
2024/12/13
01:17 UTC

1

Is it possible to WFH and EBF?

FTM and I’m coming to the realization that when I go back to work (I work from home) that I won’t be able to breastfeed as much unless we get a nanny and bring me the baby for each feed. This makes me so sad and in America it’s so messed up they tell you to breastfeed for 6-2.5 years but we have NO federal leave program that long!

6 Comments
2024/12/13
01:02 UTC

1

Regulated supply at night?

I'm four months into my bf journey and it's been a struggle. I stopped almost completely between weeks 2 and 7 because I had to take antibiotics for my infected c-section wound. The medication was compatible with bf, but I had to take them on a schedule, it affected when I could eat and I had to take two kinds of pain meds on different schedules too, so bf 10-12 times a day - which made me ravenous - just didn't fit into that.

However, when I was at 1-2 feedings a day, I realised I didn't want to stop and with a lot of determination and perseverance I was able to build up my supply to completely bf again. I'm so proud of that but also grateful, because I know I'm lucky I was able to.

I pump at work and when baby sleeps longer than expected, which is not on the regular, so my boobs start to hurt when he sleeps for a long stretch.

Now on to my question: I know that supply regulates after a couple months, but I was wondering if that also means pumping less at night? I used to have the highest amount of the day when pumping between 12 and 2 am, but tonight it was actually less than what I pump in the early morning (8am) at work. Normally baby wake up around 11pm, so it als was a couple hours after a regular feeding time, which made me expect a lot of milk.

Any useful insights on this? My pump made a weird noise on one side, so I'm wondering if there's an issue with the vacuum or that an equal amount each pumping session is normal at four months.

0 Comments
2024/12/13
01:02 UTC

1

Is it possible for baby to sleep while latched and sucking?

His breathing sounds like sleep but his lips sound like drinking, but maybe more pacifier than drinking. His eyes are closed and his body is relaxed. Anyone else?

8 Comments
2024/12/13
01:00 UTC

1

FTM help me pick a breast pump please

I don’t know if I will be able to breastfeed as I have very sensitive nipples and fear open wounds/pain, but would like to try. My insurance covers below breast pumps. I am doing my own research but would love to hear your experiences/reviews.

Motif Duo Motif Luna Motif Twist Zomee Z2 Lansinoh SignaturePro Medela Pump In Style with MaxFlow Evenflo Advanced Ameda Mya Joy

Thank you!

2 Comments
2024/12/13
00:53 UTC

51

Baby latches: unlatches

My baby will be 4 months soon and has been latching and unlatching while breastfeeding. She then usually smiles and won’t start to eat again until I smile back at her! Which isn’t a long pause because it’s hard not to smile at my adorable girl! I always end up smiling and she laughs.

Recently she’s started to unlatch and babbles for a long time and then smiles. Then re-latches.

Like, the chatting is a minute long lol

She’s already a talkative girl! She found her voice at a month old and has just gotten more vocal. This talking between latches is new however.

Anyone else experience this??

34 Comments
2024/12/13
00:48 UTC

1

Willow Go in steam sterilizer?

FTM here, EBF with 8 week old. I pump once a night with the Spectra (sometimes with the Willow Go) so my husband can give him a bottle overnight. What I usually do is pump while he is feeding around 2-3 am and that becomes the next night’s bottle. I do plan on increasing the amount of pumped bottles before he starts daycare (16 weeks ish) so that he’s totally used to it when the time comes.

My question is this - has anyone put the Willow Go in a steam sterilizer? I got that one for pumping at work (I’m a teacher), but it says not to use a steam sterilizer because it hasn’t been tested and could potentially damage the pieces. I have the Dr. Browns one, which works great for the Spectra! I know it’s not a totally necessary step… but I’m a cautious mama and it makes me feel like everything is extra clean. If any of you are doing it anyway without issue, I’ll definitely start doing it when I go back to work!

2 Comments
2024/12/13
00:41 UTC

1

Has anyone done ketamine assisted therapy while breastfeeding?

The dosage would be 150mg and then 100mg in 30 min. So total 250mg of Ketamine followed by a therapy. Anyone took ketamine while breastfeeding? My therapist said I'd have to dump for 24hs which I'm OK as I'm oversupplier. Did ketamine affect your overall supply?

0 Comments
2024/12/13
00:40 UTC

4

Trying to establish breastfeeding after birth complications/trauma

I gave birth to my son two days ago. His birth went absolutely fantastic, but 6 hours postpartum I started passing massive clots, was rushed into the OR by a rapid response team and put under to clear out the rest of the clots. Baby’s blood sugar was low since birth and he was due for a feed as they rushed me out so of course I gave them consent to feed him formula. Afterwards it was quite a few hours before I could safely hold him to try to feed him again as the anesthesia was wearing off. Then afterwards, I started trying to get him to latch again but his latch has been so painful and my body was so tired and in so much pain from everything that happened that I really slacked on trying to get him to latch in the hospital. I pumped and hand expressed but not as much as I should’ve. We’re home now, I can get maybe 6 ml out of my right boob and absolutely nothing out of my left so we’re giving him whatever I can get plus formula. I just feel like I screwed it all up now and don’t know how to restart. I’m feeling very upset and overwhelmed

6 Comments
2024/12/13
00:22 UTC

1

Elimination Diet and Migraines

Hey mamas. Has anyone ever done an elimination diet trying to figure out your baby's GI issues and the elimination diet triggered migraines? I've given up eggs and dairy and started soy this week and today I've had three migraine auras with a mild headache. I'm not overly bothered because I've had crippling migraines most of my life and as long as I'm not hurting I'm ok, but I have NEVER had the visuals last so long or had more than one...especially in the same day. It's keeping me from doing anything because I can't see...has anyone else had this happen? Dying to hear someone else say yes, and it stopped when I __.

0 Comments
2024/12/13
00:13 UTC

2

Sleepy baby

Anyone deal w an extremely sleepy eater during daytime? I've tried all the tricks - undressing, cold washcloths, tickling hands and feet - nada...my newborn is 8.5 weeks. If she doesn't eat much during the daytime does this NECESSARILY mean she'll be fussier/wake up more at night?

0 Comments
2024/12/12
23:51 UTC

10

Just found out I'm pregnant while still BFing my toddler

My toddler is almost 21mo and I just found out I'm 4.5 weeks pregnant (yay!). I honestly was not anticipating the pregnancy happening so fast, last time it took a few months of trying so I'm a bit panicked. I have been actively trying to wean my toddler for a while. I tried don't offer, don't refuse but that got us nowhere. She asks for milk ALL the time and was nursing upwards of 12 times a day. In the last month or so, we've set more boundaries. Now she only gets to nurse before sleep (nap and night). We've been doing this for almost 2 weeks and she still constantly asks to nurse throughout the day and I offer her a cup of milk which she usually does drink, only to ask to nurse again.

I'm so scared that she is just not going to wean. She is very stubborn and persistent which I love about her, but I do not have it in me to tandem nurse. I remember those early days very clearly and I know I do not have the mental fortitude to handle that while also nursing a toddler. I know they say around 5 months of pregnancy it often happens naturally because of the body preparing for the newborn milk again but I just can't see it happening with her. And even if she does, she will probably get super jealous once the baby is here. Can someone please tell me that my already existing baby will be ok through this? 😭 Because I feel like I'm taking such a special thing away from both of us and it's just a lot.

We've been very fortunate through breastfeeding with minimal hiccups and I am sooo thankful for having gotten this far, I just don't think either one of us is ready for this.

12 Comments
2024/12/12
23:11 UTC

69

MIL & husband believe my milk isn’t nutritional enough for baby?

I BF except for 1 bottle of formula at night. My MIL came with me to bubs 4mo pediatric appt. He was at 30th % for weight. He was higher before but I don’t remember what it was. We have been struggling with sleep, and I was venting to her. She responded with “I have been thinking your breast milk may not have enough nutrients to carry him for long”. I don’t have the best diet, I pretty much eat whatever I can get my hands on (lots of bread, cliff bars, cheese). I’m not the greatest cook either. I told my husband this and he agreed that I need to eat more protein and he’ll start meal prepping for me. Maybe I should know this but does my diet greatly affect my milk? I still take my prenatals.

49 Comments
2024/12/12
22:40 UTC

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