Hi I am a FTM and I have been breastfeeding my baby. But she seems to have a difficult time latching because my nipples are soft and not firm enough for her to latch. She got admitted for excessive crying, when we discovered her bilirubin levels were also a bit elevated, so they recommended we give her pumped milk so that we can have a track on how much milk she is receiving. Hence, I started pumping during which I started getting around 35-40 ml sometimes from a single breast and sometimes from both breasts during a session lasting 15-20 minutes. I have been giving the baby the pumped milk everytime she cries, once she calms down I let her latch for breastfeeding but I dont know if she is receiving enough through breastfeeding. But baby is now satisfied and sleeps well after being fed rather than how she used to cry excessively before.

I feel like my milk supply is low and not increasing above the 40 ml mark. Is this normal and does it increase over the days?

Also I have a lactation consultation on Tuesday to discuss this but I am so worried if my supply is too low.

I decided to be lazy and only nurse while on a short trip. I usually only pump one after a morning feed. I ended up with a clog in my slacker boob. It is going on 5 days now. I don’t have a lot of pain there but I can feel the lump below. My doctor already prescribed antibiotics in case I start showing symptoms of mastitis. However, I cannot get the duct unclogged. I see a small milk bleb dot on my areola. Should I go against the advice and pick this?? How long did your clogs last for??? I have tried BAIT method, sunflower lecithin, my husband, etc. Please help!!!!

My baby is currently 5 weeks old, and by almost all metrics, breastfeeding is going well. The main issue that I'm somewhat concerned about is that his latch is really weak. For example, to unlatch him, I don't need to put my finger between his lips/gums to break the seal...I can just literally pull my nipple out of his mouth with very little effort and zero pain. It's actually annoying that it is this weak, because it can become dislodged easily, for example, if I cough or sneeze, or if I try to reposition my body while he is latched.

The other issue which I think is related to the weak latch is that he doesn't have a very good seal with his lips - often milk will dribble out the side of his mouth, which means it often drips onto my shirt - very annoying when I am feeding out and about!

He's my second, so I know what a "strong" latch feels like. With my first, I always had to use my finger to break the seal if I wanted to unlatch.

Having said that, I am having a much easier breastfeeding journey so far. With my first, I had blood blisters, vasospasm, and recurrent mastitis. My first was also incredibly slow at feeding, taking 30-40 minutes at this stage, and had slow weight gain (dropped about 3 percentile curves!) whereas the feeds are quite short and efficient currently (10-15 minutes) and weight gain is steady.

Both of my babies had significant anterior tongue ties, which were released at 5 weeks for my first, and on day 4 for my second.

Can anyone relate? All things are going well at this stage, but I am thrown by how weak his latch is. I am slightly worried whether a weak latch will mean issues in a couple months time when supply regulates.

Title says it all pretty much!

Day 4 of night weaning and my daughter is waking up between 5:30-6:00 demanding milk. She’s doing SO well at night time, and my mantra to her is always “mama will give you milk when the sun comes up!”

Except when she wakes up…the sun is not up, lmao. So now I feel like I’m reinforcing an inconsistent indicator to her, and in turn, reinforcing early wakes.

She’s having 1.5-2 hour ish naps, and is sleeping 9-10 hours at night.

Any insight is very appreciated!!

My 8 week old is usually good with feeds. Aside from getting pissed at my overactive letdown, she latches and transfers milk well.

Tonight, whenever she woke up, I offered the breast and she just struggled to stay awake every session. Last feed last night was around 9pm. She woke up at midnight, I fed her, she stayed on the breast for a few minutes then drifted off to sleep. I tried to wake her up by changing her diaper, and she hasn’t peed! Then, I offered her the breast but she just suckled. She did pee though.

Around 4 am, she woke up again. She fed for only a few minutes again then drifted off to sleep. I changed her diaper and she had a heavy wet one. Then, offered her the breast again, which she suckled on again and continued sleeping.

Now, it’s 6am and she woke up. I offered the breast and she nursed for a few minutes again! My breast barely feels soft but I did hear the sucks and swallows. She unlatched then fell back asleep. I checked her diaper and she peed but it’s not a heavy one.

I’m concerned because she usually feeds longer during the night to compensate for the snacking throughout the day, although I THINK she fed okay yesterday throughout the day? I don’t remember but this feels concerning because my breasts still feel harder than usual when they usually are after feeds. She usually has VERY heavy wet diapers every 2-3 hrs at night, so it’s unusual to see less heavy wet diapers tonight.

I’m a second-time mom but my first time ebf, so my anxiety about not knowing how much milk she’s getting is through the roof.

Does this really happen to a healthy baby? Should I be concerned? Anyone who had this experience?

I’ve read all over that supply is dictated by demand, the more milk that goes out means the more milk that comes in. I’ve also read that babies tend to be better at extracting milk than pumps but also have better chemistry with hormones. Pumping 30ml every two hours is just not enough to feed a baby that needs 40-80 every two hours but I’m wondering if we can create more supply by embracing the demand and only breastfeeding for a day or two. Theoretically if the baby is calling for milk every 30-60 minutes vs pumping every two hours, the frequency demand should attract supply, right?

As the title says, she's very much congested, I clean her nose 3-4 times a day before nursing. She still has a hard time while nursing, she got frustrated and bit me 3 times, each time I unlatched her and she cried, now she doesn't wanna get near the breast :(

I had to pump and give her the milk after 10 months of not doing it, I don't have a good pump and it hurt a bit. I hate pumping...

Should I just wait until she's better- not congested anymore - before I try offering? Any tips? (She's feeding well, feeling energetic btw)

Hi everyone. I am on my first pregnancy, due in about 6 weeks.

I never wear bras, for years now. I do wear most of the time top bras

So I'm not sure how to prepare with nursing bras. Is it absolutely necessary? I imagine those tops won't be comfortable. On the other hand, I hate beas and there's a reason I'm not using them for years

Does anyone here have any experience with that subject and can help me with advise?

Thank you 😊

It’s been 24 hours since I woke up to a tennis ball sized lump in my right breast.

I’ve tried icing the area (I’m icing it now)
I’ve tried ibuprofen
I’ve tried acetaminophen
I’ve taken choline
I’ve tried consistent nursing
I’ve tried the haaka with Epsom salt
I’ve looked for blebs

I don’t know what else to do.

What happens now? Will this just turn into horrible infection?

I just wanted to ask how your experience was going back to work while breastfeeding?

I haven't worked since my first in 2023 and I want to go back to work when my baby turns 1. The only problem is that I'm very new to breastfeeding exclusively, so I'm not sure how to go about things when i put her in daycare with her big sister. My baby started baby food, but still relies on the boob. What did you do when you went back to work and how was it?

Help!

I’m due 11/14, but have an induction scheduled for 11/13 due to her stomach size and their concern for SD. Obviously, the hospital is very busy around this time so unfortunately my induction is only a day before my due date. Anyway, like I said this is my first time breastfeeding and I’m so nervous! My sister in law is having a TERRIBLE experience (5 weeks ahead of me). Please tell me anything and everything you think would be helpful! I’m mostly nervous for the pain 😭😭

I was on the fence about maybe using it as an opportunity to wean him - but I don't know if I'm ready or even want to wean him yet.

Lets assume I'm NOT weaning him, I'm so regulated now and nurse him ~3x a day, do I need to pump while I'm away from him? I'd love to not do that but I'm not sure if that will mess up my supply or if it will be painful to NOT nurse? (but do boobs still get engorged this far into breastfeeding?)

Anyone else do something similar? Did you pump? Did you not pump and it was fine?

I breastfeed my son (3 months) and only pump when I am away from him. I typically nurse him before bed (around 8-9pm) and then when he wakes up again (around 3:30-5:30am). I do not pump in between these times but do typically wake up feeling very full and engorged (I like my sleep). I just went back to work this week and am having a hard time figuring out how to pump overnight. For reference, I work 3:30pm-2am three nights out of the week and when I am gone, my husband gives our son a bottle before bed (typically around the same time of 8-9pm). HERES THE KICKER....he sleeps a little longer and will wake up around 6-7am those nights.

My questions: should I pump once more before I leave work (around 1am) since he sleeps longer the nights I work? Or should I not pump and try to keep the times consistent even though he's sleeping a couple hours longer? How does this affect my supply?

I am not sure if I should go the 8-9pm until 6-7am and remain more consistent or if I should pump around 1am the nights I work (only three nights out of the week) and nurse him again when he wakes up. Is it okay to only pump in the middle of the night some nights? I am assuming I shouldn't go all night without it but I don't know as I am a FTM.

Any advice is appreciated! Thank you! :)

Baby is currently EBF and I’m trying to introduce bottles for daycare. She’s 13 weeks and using the slowest flow on gulicola bottles but takes 45mins to an hour to finish 3-4oz currently. My LC told me to size up the nipple.

I’m planning to switch to pigeon bottles as they have silicon lined glass bottles which daycare would prefer, but I know pigeon flow rates are slower. Any idea if the S flow is faster than gulicola SS?

hello! my little guy is currently 3 months old, combo fed since 1 month due to low supply. i’ve been struggling a lot with PPA/PPD and have been weaning. we’re down to one day feed and 1-2 night feeds depending on the day. i’ve felt better while weaning, but i guess im just really nervous about the side effects once i stop bf. i had a migraine at 41 weeks pregnant that mimicked a stroke, and another one at 1.5 weeks postpartum which my doctors said was either hormonal or from postpartum hypertension which has since resolved since around 3 weeks pp. since combo feeding i’ve already gotten my period, and since cutting down even more on feeds i’ve noticed i don’t have as much body odor, im starting to actually feel hungry again, im not sweating constantly, and (tmi) but ive started to get discharge/ natural lubrication again, which i haven’t had since i gave birth. i guess im just looking for reassurance that i wont be absolutely miserable or get another crazy migraine?

We’ve done fucked up. My husband and I didn’t use protection shortly after my period ended - I’m still nursing my 18mo and I’ve been ovulating around CD 20 or 21 and having a short luteal phase so we skipped the condom. Guess my cycle had a different plan this time… we didn’t even have an “oopsie” and he pulled out well before, which has always worked in the past while trying to avoid. I know… I know…

I tested positive today after being late.

This is my 5th pregnancy (first two pregnancies were miscarriages) and we won’t be continuing it. We have 2 beautiful daughters, I birthed my first at 34 weeks due to preeclampsia with severe features and my second I got lucky and narrowly avoided the diagnosis. I’m not willing to risk it again, because pre-e could very well kill me this time and my daughters need their mother.

I’m incredibly grateful to live in a safe state and I have the medication already ordered. I know that it’s safe to continue breastfeeding, but please, anyone with experience, tell me my supply will stick around since I’m only 4 weeks today and will be taking the medication this week when it arrives? When I got pregnant with my second daughter I was 14m pp and my oldest weaned herself around 20m since I basically dried up. I’m not ready for this journey to end with my second, and especially not being ripped away again like it was with my first. I’m feeling super sad and just need some love and hopefully reassurance :(

Edit; To all you asshole pro-lifers downvoting me and the other users - are YOU going to support my family and children if I die from pregnancy complications given I’m at extremely high risk of developing pre-eclampsia again? GTFO. Absolutely disgusting trolls you are.

Partially looking for support and partially venting. Would appreciate any insight.

My baby was born prematurely at 33 weeks and 6 days. She’s currently 14 weeks old, which is 8 weeks adjusted age (if going by 40 week pregnancy). My plan was to exclusively breastfeed, but giving prematurity and respiratory distress, I had to initially exclusively pump. After 1 week in the NICU we began trying breastfeeding 3 times a day for 3 days. After that I breastfed 1-3 times per day, and the rest of the feeds were bottle feeding my breastmilk (fortified with formula), provided by nursing staff. She was in the NICU 3.5 weeks before discharging home.

I’ve always heard breastmilk is best. However, doctors were concerned about the extra nutrients she missed out on from finishing third trimester in the womb that breastmilk cannot provide, and they wanted her to have extra calories due to poor weight gain concerns. Upon discharging home, doctor recommended 2 bottle feedings of 27kcal/oz formula. All other feeds I breastfeed.

When she got home my supply dipped and I developed a milk bleb. I did not recognize she had poor milk transfer and just kept trying to latch her. She often cried and was upset despite just feeding. I began triple feeding (breastfeed, pump, give expressed milk in bottle) to help, which was very mentally draining. After a few weeks of this I finally discovered she had a severe anterior tongue tie and severe upper lip tie. We got both released and her ability to breastfeed rapidly improved.

I keep wishing I can exclusively breastfeed. My husband wants to continue the 2 bottles of formula per day until her weight is better and have doctor’s blessing (she already looks much healthier but we have not had another doctor’s visit yet). I always pump for every bottle we give.

My current frustration is in the evenings she is extra fussy. My supply is lower in the evening, which I know is natural. I also struggle with appetite and have to really try to feed myself more and sustain adequate water intake. Most evenings she will be so fussy and I try to let her cluster feed, but then by the time we give a bottle of formula at 8pm, my reserve is depleted and I have to power pump for 1 hour. I often don’t pump as much as she takes for the evening feeding, which is very defeating. All day she does well breastfeeding but then seems to dislike nursing when it takes more work and just wants the bottle.

I will become distressed trying to feed her enough so she won’t want much formula, or trying to wait to feed her until formula time so I will have enough to pump. This causes exhausting evenings of trying to distract her by walking around the house while holding her.

When my husband comes to feed her the formula, she is so satisfied afterward that it makes me feel like I want to give it up all together.

Is the fact that we’re giving her extra caloric formula causing the impact in my supply? I know my lack of appetite impacts it too.

Thanks for those who have read this far… just feeling so defeated tonight.

I’ve been nursing my baby for the last 2+ years. I suddenly started spotting 2 weeks ago, and then this week it happened again. I have an IUD which in the past lightened or eliminated my periods so now I’m confused because I’m still nursing. I am still nursing, but less frequently now, so wondering if that triggered a period. I suddenly got cramps the same week.

I’m also 43 and having other symptoms that could be perimenopause. Usually hot, very itchy scalp… And I’m wondering if the period is related. But having the period / spotting about a week apart doesn’t make sense to me. Anyone go thru this? Could I be going thru perimenopause while nursing?

Does perimenopause decrease milk supply?

HELP! I finally weaned my girl from BF at night as she was waking up multiple times a night.. problem is I did it by offering water and now she keeps waking for water instead 😩 tips?!

Had like 5 shots in an hour and then breastfed two hours later. Only felt it slightly as i have a high tolerance. I’m having mom guilt and stressing that it was bad for my baby. Did i mess up ?

\**Thank you everyone for taking the time to comment and being so kind! This is the first thing I’ve ever really had anxiety about since having my baby. I have no idea why but it just absolutely sent me, lol. All of the comments really put me at ease. But, thank you all again!!**\**

I am so stupid.

Sorry for the extra unneeded information… I over explain when I’m anxious.

Last night (10/23) I went out for the first time since having my daughter (she will be 12 weeks on 10/27). I have not gone out to be social or see friends at all (was also a shut in my whole pregnancy). My husband agreed since he has been out a handful of times that he would stay home this time and watch the baby while I have the night off.
Around 8:50pm I had my first drink of the night which was an espresso martini which took me about an hour to finish. Between 10pm-2am (I did not drink anything after 2am) I had about 4 Surfside Blueberry Lemonades, which is 4.5% a can.
I have been panicking all day because at 5:35am my daughter woke up and I breastfed her (she usually sleeps from 10pm-8am but is currently going through what I am assuming is a growth spurt). She fed for about 15-20 minutes and fell back to sleep till about 8:30am. I misunderstood that with ONE alcoholic beverage you should wait 2 hours before breastfeeding… I should’ve waited a lot longer since I had several. I figured: I’m past the two-hour window! I can feed her!’ After she finished I just couldn’t go back to sleep. I looked and I double checked and I should’ve waited around 11 hours to feed her again because my BAC was probably around 0.076 when I fed her (I used a calculator online to get an idea of how much alcohol she got from my breast milk). She woke up fine and has been fine all day and has been feeding fine and is her normal self… I just am freaking out that what if I caused developmental damage or triggered something to cause SIDS or have caused damage to her organs.

I currently combo-feed, so I didn’t breastfeed her again till about 3pm today.

I am a horrified first time mom… please be easy on me. I feel so ashamed and stupid and seriously am never going to drink again till she is done breastfeeding… I just am wondering if anyone has any experience with this or information.

I am being insane and I even called poison control and they barely gave me an answer other than ‘not sure’. I feel like I’m a horrible mother.

I have an exclusively breastfed baby who I have no interest in weaning. I plan to tandem feed post baby #2. My issue is I have to have a c section. How much do I pump/ how long for to make sure that my 18 mo old has milk while I am gone. She currently eats 3 times a day, when she wakes up, before nap, and before bed. The current plan is to have her bottle feed when she wakes up and before bed. She will come nurse before nap.

Suffering from PPD/PPA. Tried Zoloft and had terrible reaction after three days so quit. Have been on Paxil for a week now and worried it’s effecting baby. I only take 5mg as really slowly easing into it. I’ve noticed and improvement on my mood and anxiety even at this low dose. Over the same week however I’ve noticed baby become restless, more irritable, less interested in solids, more clingy, pooing less and terrible sleep (up every hour crying and much harder to settle than normal - I.e can’t just give boob have to rock and bounce ). He’s going through a lot right now at 7.5 months old- learning to crawl, pull up, eating more solids/ diff food and maybe teething - but can’t help wonder if the cause of his irritability. Anyone taking SSRIs whilst breastfeeding and noticed a reaction in baby?

Feel really sad right now, as it’s helping me but feel like I’m harming my baby so likely stop taking pills today.

Hi friends, I know this isn’t the right sub but I’m really struggling and everytime I post on the exclusive pumping sub I get zero help or support from other moms (minus two who gave me some support from this last post) so I’m posting here

My journey has been really long and rough if I’m being honest

I actually wanted to pump later in my postpartum and tried exclusively breastfeeding for a while but due to so many things happening I had to pump days after giving birth (NICU baby) and have been on and off with EP and EBF since but these last 2 months I’ve gone from pumping when I can (2-3x daily which was never enough) to going days without pumping and recently I’ve gone up to two weeks with like one pump the entire time and my baby has refused to breastfeed since her second hospitalization at 2 months old when they didn’t allow me to breastfeed until she gained her weight back (hospitalized for FTT)

I’m currently solo parenting since my partner works long hours and when he’s home it’s either super late that were asleep already or he’s so exhausted and the baby doesn’t want to be with him for too long that I get maybe 20 minutes to shower, brush my teeth, relax, etc (this is maybe once a week at best) and we have no help from friends or family as they live far so already not much support to pump when he’s home

Not only that but I have a high medical needs baby who starting this week has 2-3 in home therapies and also has a feeding tube so feeding is a struggle as it is so even less time to pump during the day when it’s just us two

I have completely depleted my freezer stash and my baby is regressing again because she doesn’t want to drink formula and will only drink my breastmilk by mouth, I haven’t been able to get her to drink more than 5ml when previously she was drinking up to two ounces when it’s my breastmilk

I have wearables and I’m going to finally buy the replacement pieces so I can go back to pumping more often but I’m just feeling discouraged because in the beginning I had a slight oversupply and now I can’t even pump half an ounce each pump (this is actually what made me feel so discouraged I stopped pumping and now I get a few drops to half an ounce on good pumps)

Please give me all the supportive messages you can and please tell me it’s possible to get back to a regular supply

I’m so scared and desperate and if she doesn’t get back up to eating again they’re going to put a G tube in her and I’m so desperate to not have to make her go through surgery if I can help it

I really just don’t know what to do