So I am 6 months PP, and still EBF. We give my LO one bottle of pumped milk before bed she usually has 5-7oz. When she was very small I would get quite a lot of milk maybe around 24oz a day so I would freeze quite a bit. I then dropped my pumping sessions to once in the morning and once in the evening when she has her bottle. I was still getting about 10oz with this method and managing to get some in the freezer whilst still having enough for the night bottle.

There have been a few instances where I have not fed my LO and we’ve used frozen milk to the point where I don’t have a lot in the freezer anymore. Some nights I don’t even have enough in the fridge for her bottle. What would you recommend to get more stored in fridge and freezer? I have tried power pumping here and there but I’m not sure whether I should pump more I’m scared my baby won’t get fed enough🤷🏼‍♀️

Hello! FTM trying to navigate breastfeeding. 😰 My baby was born at 37 weeks and was in the 4th percentile at 4lb 8oz (thanks gestational hypertension). Our pediatrician instructed us to triple feed from the get-go to ensure she would gain weight and to limit nursing to 20 minutes to avoid letting her burn too many calories. She has gained weight perfectly and at her 1 month check-up yesterday she was 6lb 4.5oz! We were cleared to try exclusively breastfeeding and were told she can now nurse for up to 30 minutes but not any longer than that.

We’ve tried doing so for the last several feedings but she is still SO hungry (crying, rooting around, sucking on her hands) after those 30 minutes that I’ve ended up giving her a bottle anyway. When we were nursing for 20 minutes she would then drink about a 1.5-2oz bottle of pumped milk immediately after. I stupidly assumed transitioning to EBF she would simply eat more often with these smaller feedings but she’s clearly not satiated with just 30 minutes at the breast.

How can I transition to EBF given she’s now used to being topped up with a bottle after nursing? That doesn’t seem possible unless I let her nurse for longer than 30 minutes/until she’s satiated. Is limiting her to 30 minutes really that big of a deal? Is she just not proficient enough at transferring milk because she’s small/young and I’m pushing the issue too soon?

We met with a lactation consultant a couple weeks back to work on latch and positioning. I’m planning on calling to see if they can get us in again this week but wanted to hear from some mamas who have hopefully done this successfully.

Context, my baby has been exclusively on breastmilk, but we will go back-and-forth between bottle and breast every day. My little one is seven months now and we’re still using the size 1 nipple for a Dr. brown bottles, which is preeeeetty slow. her evening feed is 8 ounce and can take an hour to finish sometimes… Did any other mamas transition their babies to faster flow nipples? if so, what size and when did you transition?

most content I read, says to keep breast-fed babies on slow flow nipple size until they’re done BFIngwhich is why I’m asking 🥹

After being born with an infection and receiving antibiotics for a full week my LO had bloody stool at 2 weeks. Cutting out milk products helped reduce the amount significantly however not fully. I also cut out soy and eggs but it never fully disappears. She hates taking the bottle especially with special formula and loves breastfeeding… Did anyone have a similar experience/ problem?

She’s a super happy baby and developing just as she should which makes this the more confusing.

I can’t even type in excitement my daughter just turned one and I can’t believe I am still breastfeeding and also thinking of extending it !!!! I am so emotional!!! I have some frozen breast milk from newborn days any ideas on how to utilise that?

Does anyone relate? I go into the office once every other week, so thankfully I only need to pump then. I mostly nurse at home while my nanny is there (work from home). But when I pump I struggle… I just spent 30mins pumping 3oz when my almost 6mo old takes 6oz/meal. So tempted to introduce formula to take the pressure off but I don’t want to completely stop nursing. Any tips?

I am a little more than 3 months post breast feeding. I breast fed for about 15 months. I did experience all the normal hormone stuff within the first month to 2 months. Mood swings, emotional, tired, depressed, worsened anxiety, blood pressure swings. Nowwww going into the 4th month post, I've had a lot of palpitations. I normally have them anyway, but its once in awhile. Lately it's been very frequent, multiple times a day that I'm feeling them. I am following a cardiologist due to chest pain and my bp swings, and have a stress test this week. Are the hormone shifts still happening this long after? Is this possibly hormone related? Its making me nervous! And I'm tired of being dismissed. Helpppp!

i have milk in the fridge from yesterday and 2 days ago, and i want to freeze them, they are the same temperature, can i mix them?

My LO will be one in January and I know that’s when solids should become primary nutrients. She barely takes in any solids right now so I’m wondering how that changed for you? How many times are you guys nursing in a day? Has it dropped off at all and if so when did that start happening? I want to nurse until two but idk what that looks like

So I am a nanny to a 3 yo with eczema, it’s gotten worse now that it’s winter. The family has some very old frozen breastmilk that was donated. I’m wondering if there is any chance at all that it would have any benefits being made into lotion to help treat the eczema? I’ve heard great things for fresh milk but there isn’t much information on outdated milk. Just trying to help this little one out and get some potential use of the milk they have left. Thank you! ETA: the breastmilk is just shy of 3 yo.

Strained a muscle under my right breast and tried it all. Are there any patches or something similar to icy hot but healthier and safe for breastfeeding?

By now they're about 6 weeks and cluster feed during the day time because at night time I give them what I've pumped out during the day.

I've realized that these small people actually drink about 80-100ml per feed and I panicked. My breasts cannot make that much on each side. I try to do it but it becomes...

1. sleepy babies fail to drink properly and that makes it hard for them to drain me.
2. one drinks so slow while the other one is so picky. I don't know what to do.
3. the latching on problem. They get fussy if it's too deep in but that's how you get the milk out THEN they'd fall asleep instead of trying to drink efficiently.
4. each session lasts about 35-40mins and is often 10-15 mins in-between. I really have no time to do anything.
5. I don't want to use formula. My partner doesn't either. But it feels like I'm failing at this.

Please advise on what to do:-(

I went from pumping 6-8 oz a session (15-25min) to 2-4 oz a double session or power pump (50-60min). LO fusses when I nurse directly as I am guessing there’s not enough milk.

It’s not just the holidays for me…I am moving internationally in the new year and my contract expired in November. We couldn’t move immediately as we had the holidays in between with our families so we are splitting time between my parents and his parents house living out of suitcases with our two cats and working our shitty corporate remote jobs with end of year goals. LO has been a champ through this but his sleep patterns (day and night) are disrupted so we are sleep deprived too and we bicker more because of the stress (literally argued about the font of our Christmas card for 20 minutes this morning lol)

I am power pumping or double pumping 2x a day and making sure I pump or nurse every 2 hrs during the day and every 3 at night. My period came back for one day (heaviest period I’ve ever had). Am I at the end of my breastfeeding journey? I made it to my 6 month goal (baby turns 6 months next week) but I had wanted to do longer if I could and I am clueless about formula. I’m currently behind 3-4 oz a day to what he’s drinking in bottles and making up the difference with my freezer stash.

How are yall handling the holiday stress? Feel free to give tips, what you’re trying to keep stress free or just vent about what’s got your supply low these days. It’s nice to know I am not alone :)

I’m feeling really sad because due to the nature of my job I don’t think working and pumping/breastfeeding is going to be realistic. I get a 6 week maternity leave, and I’ve been breastfeeding and pumping but mostly pumping due to my baby having a shallow latch and I also feel like I’m doing something wrong every time. My boyfriends friends wife is a lactation consultant and she said she would come to my house for free to help with the latch issues, but it feels useless as I’m going back to work soon. I work at a busy, busy coffee shop where for the majority of my day I am with 2 other employees and I am also the supervisor. There are days when I can’t even manage to step off the floor for a drink of water, and I’m having a hard time thinking of how I’ll be able to step off for 15-20 minutes to pump and maintain my supply. It’s not that my job is preventing me from doing this but logistically it seems impossible, cause if I’m delaying my tasks by 20 minutes a few times. day then I will just end up having to leave late. We already have a large workload for the amount of people scheduled. I am going to try but I’ve had this job for almost 5 years and I know how it’s going to go. At least I have a lot of breastmilk frozen so we won’t have to switch to formula right away.

Hi everyone! I'll be out at a party tomorrow for approx. 6 hours, bub will need 2 bottles during that time which my partner will be giving. I will be pumping to maintain supply. Just wondering if I need to pump at the same time as when the bottle is being given? If not, could I pump before I leave home and again after I get home, just to make it more convenient and not have to worry about how to store the EBM while I'm out and about? Is the important aspect the volume of milk removed during a 24 hour period, or also the timing of the milk removal? Thanks!

Edit: bub is 5.5 months.

Ow! My 5 month old is destroying my nips. He is getting distracted eating and pulls off the nipple mid latch, looks around and goes back on. When he pulls off he still is latches so it's very painful and creating ongoing pain and inflammation. What to do???

I'm a ftm to my 4m old daughter. Things have been going great. We've finally hit our stride with breastfeeding after dealing with a period of slow weight gain due to cmpa (I eliminated dairy, soy, and gluten).

After lots of discussion, my husband and I have decided that now might be a good time to start trying for baby number 2! This was cleared with my OB.

My daughter is EBF, and I would love to continue breastfeeding until her 1st birthday or even later, if it works for us. I'd prefer not to supplement with formula unless necessary.

For moms of several children, we're you able to keep breastfeeding through pregnancy? Did you need to supplement? How old was your baby when you conceived again? Any problems with supply? I'm looking for all stories- good and bad. Thanks!

Babe is 14 weeks. We had a very rough breastfeeding journey, as baby would’ve only latched at 4/5 weeks old. Ff to today, we’re doing well, supply has regulated I guess, I feed from one boob per feed but she either gets frustrated she has to work harder (slacker, left) or is sprayed the second she sucks (right boob). So she is probably never full/happy. She is only 4.32 kgs today and has dropped to the 0.4th centile. She was born small (2.44) and had a small cold a couple of weeks ago (she lost a bit of weight, couldn’t eat much due to congested nose) so maybe I should give her another chance? She’s super smart and hitting developmental milestones (head control needs a bit of work), is weight still an issue though? The nurse said to keep doing what I do and come back in January for another weight check. But I feel like January is so far away and I have such big anxiety thinking if what I’ll do until then will boost her weight. Also I am SO tired from EBF and I contemplate combo feeding. But the guilt is real. Please tell me this gets better. I don’t want to fail my babe.

My supply is drastically dwindling every day. I am not able to make enough for my baby. His weight has dropped significantly over the past few months and barely poops. He has minimal wet diapers. The pediatrician just told me to try pumping while I feed. I probably need to start formula but I'm trying everything in my might to not need to because it makes me feel like a failure. I take all sorts of supplements to increase my supply. Power pump once a day. Pump after feeds. I am barely able to get 3oz if I'm pumping in place of a feed. I eat oatmeal, brewers yeast, flax, drink coconut water. I don't understand how people can create an oversupply. I've been trying and trying to even make the bare minimum and feel like I can't find help anywhere. My lactation consultant sends me supplement suggestions but she really hasn't been supportive since all this started about 3 months ago. I just wanted to make it to a year this time (I barely made it to 10 months, I was pumping less than 10oz a day at 10 months for my first). I am currently at 7 months and burning through the supply I created when the baby was born (I started pumping after feeds, between feeds etc early on to force an over supply because I knew this would happen, it didn't work). I just want to cry because I feel like a failure and my SIL rub it in that they breastfeed the kids until 2 and beyond.

This isn't really a breastfeeding issue however I'm wondering if breastfeeding is the cause....

I have a very sensitive 6 month old baby. They constantly need to be held, played with, looked at etc.

I'm at my breaking point with the neediness. I cant put them down on the play mat without them crying. They can see me, I'm still in the room, but because I'm not engaging with them they royally kick off.

I cant go to the toilet, make myself food/drink or simply see to myself for 5 minutes without them screaming. They've been like this since birth - this isn't new.

I have a toddler and my babies needs are ruining my bond with my toddler as well baby.

I breastfeed every 2.5 hours during the day and every 2.5-3 at night.

Anyone offer advice? I've had health visitor out, been referred to perinatal mental health because how much my babies crying bothers me. I'm also grieving the sudden loss of my mum. I NEED moments to myself during the day without my baby piercing my brain with their screams.

Yes my husband is amazing but I don't want help in that sense. I can get by just fine if my baby would be more independent.

My wife is on the verge of stopping breastfeeding mainly due to nipple pain. Been feeding almost exclusively breast milk for 5 weeks and she has had basically constant nipple pain. All we read about is how important a good latch is, but every health practitioner and nursing advisor we have seen has confirmed that the latch is good.

Between the constant nipple pain and recurrent mastitis she's is at the point if deciding to stop. She's tried so hard and I'm so proud of her.

Is this an issue anyone else recognises? Is it's meant to be like this? Any advice would be welcome.

My newly postpartum sister just found out that her baby is struggling with weight gain. She feels like her body is failing her and isn’t good enough. As a mom of three with an imperfect breastfeeding journey, I know all too well what that feels like. I, too, have felt the sting of betrayal by my body. I, too, have cried when my nipples bled and they told me to supplement. So this is the message I gave to her and I hope this helps someone out there too (and hopefully gives you a good chuckle as well).

The first time you breastfeed your baby, it will not be instinctual and natural like you’re led to believe. It’s a learned skill, and you both are starting from square one. Picture this: you and your baby have both been told that you’re going to be pilot and co-pilot on a plane. However, you’ve only read an instruction manual and maybe watched a video or two of someone flying a plane. And your baby? They’re just flying high on good vibes. Oh, and you only speak Dutch and your baby only speaks Mandarin. Have a safe flight!

Here’s the thing: when people think about breastfeeding, they think “but people have been doing this for ages!” And that’s true, but you know what the difference is? We don’t have a village. We weren’t raised watching other mothers feed their baby. We aren’t surrounded by generations of women with knowledge to impart about what works and what doesn’t. Those women still started at the same place as you, but they got to do ride alongs in the cockpit for years. And when it was their turn to fly, they had several experienced pilots in the cockpit waiting to provide guidance.

All this is to say, you are enough. Your body is enough. Give yourself and your baby grace and remember that your breastfeeding journey is not a reflection on you as a mom. You are doing your best, and your baby knows that.

What words of encouragement or advice would you give to the women who are just starting their journey? Let’s be their village.

I am a victim if being influenced by those massive social media freezer stash people. I’m 1 month postpartum and I pump about 10-15 oz a day on top of exclusively nursing. All because I’ve been very worried I don’t have enough milk for the baby.

I saw my pumping output in the first 2 weeks was like .5-1oz from both breast combined after each session and thought that was concerning. I worked on it and turned it to pumping 2-4 oz in-between nursing for 2 weeks.

Took myself to lactation consultant today to get rid of this anxiety and I am finally coming to terms that even though I’m not pumping 8oz in one sitting, I am oversupplying. I found myself too embarrassed to admit I have been routinely pumping.

Freeing myself of the pump and cutting back on sessions now. I definitely still want a stash, but I’ll build it more slowly instead of rushing. Maybe 1 or 2 pumping sessions a day?

I can’t believe I was nursing every time on demand and simultaneously pumping every 3 hours these last couple weeks.

My son is 6 weeks old and he definetly has silent reflux (sometimes not so silent and vomitting) but we're trying to manage with all the usual advice i.e keep him upright after feeds , burp him until my arms drop off etc etc. Hes had some issues with reflux since week 2 but all of sudden since he hit 6 weeks his reflux seems massively worse and he becomes inconsolable for ages and just wails and it breaks my heart!!!

He's my first and my main concern is am I over feeding him? I don't really see any of the feeding cues the internet tells you about so whenever he wakes up from a nap or fusses I offer him my boobs and sometimes he latches and drinks for ages ans sometimes it's just a comfort suck. I know over feeding can make reflux worse so that's why I ask, does anyone have any experience/advise?

This is one of those things I’ve been reading SO much about but still can’t figure out what to do.

Baby will be 1 in 3(!) weeks. We’re traveling for Christmas during which time I’ll stop pumping because we’ll be together all the time and I can nurse on demand. My plan was that by the time we get back home in the new year I will be able to stop pumping during work hours. But what should I be sending to daycare then?

Currently he gets about a 3.5oz bottle after each of his two naps at daycare, followed by a snack. Do we just drop the bottles and go straight to snack after naps? I’m feeling a little weird about cows milk, but not for any real reason, I guess I just really want a number like “he needs x oz / day of milk either human or cow milk” but even though I’ve seen numbers like that people are then saying “oh that’s just for the vitamin D or hydration aspect - if they’re getting enough water and vitamin D from elsewhere then they don’t need cows milk.”

So yeesh, I don’t know, if you were me what would you do on his first week back at daycare in the new year? Just send water? Start asking them to serve cow milk with his snack after naps? Should I be mixing cow milk and my milk in the week leading up to that? What if he doesn’t like it and I’m ruining my milk 😢

And finally - what cup do you use for cow milk? I want a distinct one that won’t be confused with water but that’s easy to clean daily!

I’m totally new to this and have a few questions. I’ve only been pumping for about a week so far. My baby is currently in the nicu so I’m strictly pumping for the time being. The lactation specialist told me to start at 70 for 2 minutes then go to 38 for the rest of the session but I’ve been seeing some people start at 70 go to 38 then go back to 70 again for a few minutes when milk slows down then back to 38 to finish. Is that the way I should be doing it?? I use the spectra s2 pump.

Also when baby is home do I need have him switch breast in the middle of feedings? Or Do I alternate between the 2 breast when he feeds? I’ve also seen some people let baby eat off one side then pump the other?

I’m very new to this and would appreciate some insight!!

Any other tips would also be very helpful!!

Help! Im a new mom and to be honest I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m kind of just winging it at this point but I’m genuinely concerned for my son. I remember my doctor telling me that at 2 weeks he would have a growth spurt and eat a lot more but I wasn’t expecting what I’ve been going through. Starting on Saturday he would cluster feed. Where talking every 30 minutes to 1 hour he would feed for anywhere from 40 to 10 minutes. This went on until 3 am when he finally decided he was done and went to sleep. Fast forward to Sunday and he hardly ate. 12 to 27 minute feeds on demand. I would try to feed him more but he wouldn’t latch or would push away. He was awake too. Then yesterday he was still not eating much in the beginning of the day. Sometimes only 5 minute feeds. Then eating for 50 to 38 minutes every hour towards the end of the night. Then this morning same thing only ate for 11 minutes. On top of all this he’s started spitting up a lot more. Just this last feed he spit up 6 times. It’s normally just a teaspoon worth at most sometimes less. But I’m running out of clothes to change him into. Sometimes I change him and right afterwards he spits up on it. His last doctor’s appointment he was weighing good. My mother in law says to give him gripe water but I had read that baby’s can’t drink water until 6 months old because there body’s aren’t developed enough. Can someone please tell me if he is okay or if I should call the doctor or what to do. My father says he should be okay as long as he’s not choking on the spit up but I’m worried.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar and has helpful advice.

My baby is 14 months old and still likes to breastfeed a few times a day and a few times overnight. We're working on night weaning but I haven't been rushing it.

One month ago today a small rash of little red bumps showed up next to my nipple, right where she typically rests her cheek when she nurses. Over the past month it's gotten progressively worse and now it's about the size of my palm, red bumps and dry skin. My doctor isn't sure what it is, we're trying an anti fungal to see if it helps. Based on the location of the rash it seems to be a reaction to my baby's saliva or my own milk and the wetness sitting on the skin. It isn't showing up anywhere her face doesn't touch when she breastfeeds.

I've tried hydrocortisone, Vaseline, coconut oil, shea butter, and now starting clomitrozole. Is there anything anyone has tried for a similar situation that has worked?

Also, if I tried to nurse as little as possible on that side for a few days to let the skin heal, would it have a major impact on supply? The breast the rash is on is definitely her preferred one, unfortunately, so it's doing most of the work currently. I don't want to fully wean her until she's 2 or 3 ideally, but I need to clear it up. Pumping for a few days is not an option.

I don’t want to switch to formula. But five weeks into this I’m starting to really hate breastfeeding.

1. I have a combination of oversupply plus a lazy eater and live in fear of clogged ducts or mastitis

2. he whimpers and cries dramatically at the breast when the milk comes too fast, sometimes chokes which is even more stressful, but…

3. …he gets aggressive when it doesn’t come fast enough, clamping down or tugging my nipple. I have a high pain tolerance but I can only take so much.

4. as of today he’s taken up this new habit of shitting halfway through a feeding so I’ve had to sit in a cloud of stench every single time we’ve sat down to feed.

Now I just expect to be disgusted and in pain and irritated every time I sit down to breastfeed. I don’t bond with my child, I just spend the entire hour trying to keep him awake and suckling, or trying not to choke him, and I can’t relax for a second. I hate the milk spilling out of his mouth because he won’t swallow it, I hate the spitting up all over me and everything because he can’t keep it all down, I hate leaking all over everything, it’s all just deeply nasty and exhausting. And of course on top of all of that I feel guilty about hating it so much.

What’s the point. I’ve been toughing it out because everyone says the payoff is coming, it’s supposed to get easier later, blah blah blah. But I’m starting to think I’d rather exclusively pump just so I have control over some aspect of this. I often feel the need to pump anyway just to relieve the pressure, since I make more milk than he can drink, but having to keep up with and clean all that seems to defeat the purpose of this to begin with.

I can’t imagine breastfeeding ever getting convenient or enjoyable. The idea that I have to keep struggling with this for potentially 6 months, only to have to deal with teeth by then, makes me want to claw my eyeballs out. It’s making me hate being a mother. I can’t be the only one.

I’m 6 weeks pp and up until about two weeks ago my twins refused to latch. They’re finally latching from time to time (hooray!) but still don’t transfer milk that well so I’ve been doing a lot of bottle feeding. I’ve noticed that since they’ve been breastfeeding more they’ve gotten a bit more used to my fast letdown, so they latch for a bit longer. However, they still get overwhelmed by it sometimes. I think it’s because we use Dr. Brown size 1 nipples and it’s a much slower flow. Should I move up to size 2 so they can fully get used to a faster flow, therefore making it easier to move fully to breast?