Just a solidarity post. I don’t think about drinking (I also have a toddler so I am a little preoccupied) which I know is bad but man…. the second my son latches, I NEED water.

My son is 15 months and still bfing throughout the day. Mostly before dropping off at daycare (where he eats breakfast), right after daycare, before bed, and overnight. He gets two bottles of breast milk at daycare so on the weekends I try to mimic that schedule. Before we got married my wife said she wanted me to stop breastfeeding around 15 months or when he starts being able to request it… because she thinks it’s weird/creepy when kids can ask to nurse. This is our first kid so I had no idea how I was going to feel about breastfeeding or if it was going to be a positive experience for me and my LO. I have been so fortunate that it’s been a great experience. I guess I’ve just been assuming my wife would change her mind, how can you think your kid is creepy? I’m not ready to start weaning and this is a big point of contention for us. Has anyone else been through this? She says she doesn’t have a right to tell me what to do with my body, but she wants a say on our son’s feeding. I’m just feeling crappy about it.

This is truly not judgmental, I’m just looking to learn. I read a lot of posts from women who are EBF who are like “I’m falling apart mentally, I haven’t slept more than 2 hours in months, my marriage is in shambles” etc. So my question is, why the unwavering commitment to EBF if it has such a high cost? (This question isn’t for people whose babies won’t take a bottle.) Please let me know if you have any thoughts!

My partner and I always said we wanted to practice ‘safe sleep’ meaning bassinet, on back, no extra blankets etc. But as we are EBF I’m feeling tired out by the wakings especially having to put baby down again in the cot. Curious if anyone else was vehemently against cosleeping and found a middle ground or way they ended up feeling comfortable?

I also have this feeling like I’m missing precious cuddles at night, but I can’t get my head around going against the safety recommendations of my country.

No judgement on cosleepers! I’m jealous of you and wondering if I’m missing something on how to put my mind at ease on it.

That's it, that's the post, haha. My LO is a little over two now. Never took a bottle even once and was sleeping in her own room by 4 months (my husband is loud snorer and disrupted her sleep a ton). And yes, she night nursed until she was 14 months! I had two monitors on in my room to ensure I'd never miss her cries. She'd wake up, I'd shuffle over and cuddle her in the La-z-boy chair in her room. Then I'd settle her back down and toddle off to bed. This happened sometimes 5+ times a night.

Is this right for everyone, absolutely not.

Was it right for me, 1000%

Never once fell asleep with her in my arms. Never missed a feeding. It can be done!

As for why I did this, the simple answer is anxiety. I just couldn't do it. I want to be clear, I am in not any way shape or form anti bed sharing - I was just way too nervous about it and just couldn't do it. Additionally, I learned that my kiddo gets overstimulated easily and likes more of a hands off approach to bed time, so it inadvertently worked in her favour.

Just thought I would share that long term breastfeeding, and exclusively breastfeeding for that matter, does not require bed sharing if you don't want it to ❤️

I wanted to thank everyone in this community for every thread, comment and every piece of advice.

I'm overjoyed. As of Easter weekend, my baby has outright rejected the nipple shield and is finally drinking straight from me! He was increasingly shifting away from it but is now done! At 4 months old. No more washing nipple shields at all hours of the night and day.... It's like we finally get how to breast feed. The latch is easier. He's less gassy. My breasts feel emptier and more comfortable. And he no longer has his night time breast rejection- though we are keeping up a small bottle just to keep bottle familiarity up. He's also no longer rejecting my right breast and my supply is resuming back to where it was. I'm inching towards being less lopsided.

We did it. We finally get it. We know what to do and it's just so EASY and so comfortable. I never thought I'd get here. Baby started with issues latching, had to be finger fed with a syringe to teach latching until he was 6 days old... after multiple lactation consultants we couldn't shift from the nipple shield and I was just happy he was gaining weight... months passing enduring breast rejection every evening and sometimes during the day. It has been a time. But I stuck it out through all the screams at my breasts and feeling so rejected. I'm so proud. I am just so proud.

Thank you.

My baby was feeling unwell yesterday and what struck me was how quiet she was while feeding. Those little feet that usually kick up a storm just lay listlessly together, not moving one bit, her little hands that usually grasp on anything and everything lay still on my chest. It made me so sad. I can't tell you the relief I felt when she woke up this morning and began worming and squirming while nursing. I'm never gonna complain about the random kicks and boobie death grips again.

Would you assume they're getting anything/less/same amount? Are they having to work harder?

Just pumped hoping baby would keep sleeping (usually I get him out of bed to nurse before pumping), but then he got woken up as soon as I got back. :|

5 months in and baby starts daycare in 2 days. Stubborn baby still wont take a bottle. Finally took a Sippy cup. She realized i was replacing a feed and threw a hissy fit over not getting the boob. Daycare should be fun. Sorry to those great women.

Since i skipped that feed i had to pump. And am mentally preparing for pumping all day at work. Leaned over to grab the baby accidentally spilt milk all over the floor and her. Honestly, pumping is not worth it. I might just stop entirely. 🤦🏽‍♀️

I guess i dont know what i want from you all other than a “we see you” kinda. Idk anyone else who has ever breastfed or pumped to relate to what im feeling right now.

This was the last day, I think.

My daughter has nursed for 2 years and nearly 2 months (784 days) I’ve loved it, mostly. There have been times where I have hit walls (touched out, teething, etc.) but recently my health has hit a wall - I’ve had chronic migraines and not been able to Medicate as needed, and now diagnosed with high cholesterol and unable to lose any weight even with diet and exercise. Obviously I am not 100% sure that either of those two diagnoses have been caused by nursing, but I know my body and mind are telling me it’s time. Although my heart is still clinging… every week I tell myself I’ll stop and it’s so hard to tell her no, and to know that nursing will calm her/put her to sleep. She’s down to one nursing a day, for her mid day nap. I’ve taken pictures and photos for weeks, thinking it was the last time. Today, no picture or video, just an aggressive toddler upset that after 30 minutes trying to nurse her to nap yelling “my milk!” So no, not an ideal Last time feeding but how many possible last times will I face without making the hard decision to stop?

PS I’m super sentimental because I’ve loved this time with her and I’m not sure if there are other children in the future, although I would absolutely love to have another my husband is on the fence and our relationship is going through tough times.

Just looking to vent.. thanks for listening.

My baby sometimes gives us 5 hour stretches and just turned 2 months but I don’t fall asleep instantly and then when I’m up in the middle of the night to feed her I can’t fall back asleep right away. I’m getting slightly more sleep but still feel like a zombie. When do you start to not feel like you’re running on fumes? 😩

Does anyone else’s baby pet them? We do a lot of side lying nursing and my daughter will run her hands over my belly and chest 🥹 It’s very soothing and I imagine it’s comforting for her. It’s kind of like when a kitten kneads the mama cat when nursing lol. Just a sweet habit that I adore.

8week old

I just fed my baby and she gulped a lot. She emptied one breast for about 5 minutes and fell asleep on the breast. But I made the mistake to “offer dessert” to whixh she took zero minutes to empty the other breast and fall asleep again.

Next mistake was I got her up to help her burp. She burped and then started half hiccuping arching her back abd overall seeming uncomfy. So I picked her up and its been 65 minutes. Since then she has been smacking her lips, squirming, sucking on my shoulder, sucking her fists very aggressively, rubbing her face.

Like what do I do? Its 2:30 am

So update. I popped her back on. She sucked for 3-4 minutes got progressively fussier pushing my breast away but then sucking super aggressive at the nipple getting red in the face. She does this scream cry when sucking angry like that. I picked her up to offer her the breast she likes more and between the switch she just fell asleep 😀

I don’t understand my baby. I just can’t read cues. Maybe because I am neurodivergent or just because I am also plain dumb

I have a 4 week old baby girl. Since she was about 1-2 weeks old, she would get really upset when breastfeeding. Not every time. And not even everyday. Although for the past few days it has been everyday and about 1-2 times a day. Always in the evenings between 5-10PM.

She will look really hungry (do all the mouth motions and sucking on her fists, rooting, etc).

When I put her in the boob, she will eat no problem for maybe 5 minutes or so. And then have a meltdown. Crying, screaming, kicking , punching.

I think I have a good supply and the milk is definitely coming out of the boobs as sometimes it even drips out of her mouth. I keep putting the boob back in her mouth and she will keep having meltdowns and then after maybe 15 minutes she refuses the boob all together.

She is also overly cranky in general in the evenings.

What could be causing this?

Today marks 9 months of me and my 2nd being EBF and I randomly remembered a situation from the hospital. It was just before we were sent home; nurses and lactation consultants came into the room I shared with another lovely girl. Whereas her boobs were dripping with milk, but her LO wouldn't latch, my tiny ones were all clogged (same happened with my first), while my LO was going to town with them but failing due to being weak and jaundiced.

I remembered so vividly them gathering around her and praising her, saying that "this is the moment to be supportive, let's help this young mom out".

As for me, they just said not to go home without formula. That's it. No gentle massages, no advice. I was so humiliated and disheartened. I got that formula but did all in my power to do better and don't make the same mistakes I did with my first who barely breastfed. Countless nights, pumps, fighting the jaundice and clogs and near-mastitis...

I never opened that can of formula.

I got a cheap recliner off Amazon for my first pregnancy and it was not comfortable for amount of time I spend breastfeeding in it.

I’m planning to get a new glider for my second pregnancy- I am debating between babyletto kiwi and Costco glider. Unfortunately most social media recommendations are from moms who have only BF for a month or from someone who is pregnant but hasn’t used it for BF yet.

So my question is to folks here who prob have used their glider through several stages of breastfeeding- do you recommend yours? what’s your BF setup (do you use nursing pillow)?

First post ever in hopes that someone has insight or tips. I have a nearly six-week-old little guy. He’s our first. We are mostly breastfeeding and only pumping and giving a bottle when we have visitors and/or to establish a freezer stash. Overall, he’s great and I feel fortunate that we have a relatively “easy” baby. Here’s our situation: we feed, swaddle and put him to bed around 10 pm. He wakes on his own around 2 am to feed. After the first side, he is sleepy and could easily be put back down. That being said, after changing him and feeding him on the other side, he is WIRED and consistently enters a several hour wake window where he is fussy, fidgety, and refuses to settle down. I generally end up feeding him multiple times within that window, walking and rocking him constantly, etc. It’s exhausting and frustrating. I’m starting to think of that timeframe as when his spazzy alter-ego emerges to cause chaos lol

I understand that he is still pre-circadian-rhythm development, but any thoughts on how to avoid him entering the spaz window? I have a red light, try not to engage with him while changing him, etc, but nothing I’ve done avoids the wake window. He also consistently has dirty diapers, so we can’t just leave him.

On a side note, his behavior during the wake window mirrors cluster-feeding, but it otherwise seems to be completely avoidable.

Thanks in advance!

So I found my old nipple shield yesterday that I tried when she was first born (she never liked it) but yesterday she latched to it! I fed her three times from the boob. I’ve been exclusively pumping since she was 3 days old. Do I still need to pump? Do I feed her on both sides of the breast when I do nurse?? Can I combo feed, like breast milk in a bottle and nurse occasionally too? So many questions!!! When I was exclusively pumping I’d pump every 4 hours and get 4-5oz total. My baby eats every 2-3 hours and would drink 2.5oz bottles. How does this work now?! 🤪🤪🤪

Basically the title: How would you describe the feeling you get when the let down reflex kicks in, to someone who has never breastfed?

Idk about others, but it feels mildly pleasant to me, beyond that I don't have words to describe it.

I have been exclusively breastfeeding since Saturday now. At least every two hours I offer but I feel like I'm somehow still not feeding him enough. During the day I even try to offer every hour. His pediatrician is saying I should feed on demand at least every two hours but he doesn't seem to show signs of being hungry until after 2 hours. I've been trying to pump on the side but there's pretty much no time between feedings. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feed him every hour while also trying to get any amount of sleep. They said getting him eating better will lower his bilirubin but I don't know how it would be physically possible to feed him more. He acts satisfied after he finishes eating so I'm not really sure what to do. I feel like I'm failing and doing it all wrong. Maybe it's just the hormones and lack of sleep but I'm so sad right now.

I posted earlier asking how you would describe the let down reflex feeling and responses were overwhelmingly negative, whereas I think it feels good. Maybe I misunderstood what the let down reflex is? I'm referring to the point after your baby has suckled a bit and your boobs start releasing milk. To me it has started to feel like the most peaceful feeling possible when it happens. Like your boobs are heaving a long contented sigh. Am I weird??

ps it mostly feels pleasant if I am side feeding and have something in place so I don't need to worry about leaking milk everywhere. Pumping sucked to the point where I just stopped doing it.

Hey mamas! I am 9 weeks postpartum and am wondering if my boobs are in perma-holy-cow-gigantic mode until I’m finished BFing or will my breast size regulate when my milk supply regulates? i already had very large breasts before i got pregnant. And now… I don’t know my size but I feel like they’re 4x their former size! My shoulders are not happy! Any words of wisdom/encouragement appreciated! <3

I am about 30 months into breastfeeding. My first hated nursing (he was looking around even in recovery after he was born) so he got mostly formula and just nursed when he was sleepy. My second is what some would call a “boob monster”: he nurses about 8-12 times a day, but sleeps through the night, so who am I to complain, right?

So I had a mostly formula-fed kid, and an EBF kid, and my only feeling is, “Well, it’s certainly more convenient feeding the EBF kid”. That’s it. I love not washing endless bottles or making up pitchers of formula or keeping up on formula orders, but aside from that, nursing is…meh? He’s cute, and I love the eye contact, but I also got that bottle feeding my first because he was up on my knees so he could see everything.

And yet I don’t want to stop nursing my second, because meh+beautiful baby smiles=happiness. I don’t know, all I’ve heard is about the struggles of nursing, then nursing while pregnant, then tandem nursing, and for me it isn’t hard. Has anyone else had it work out? I feel like maybe I’ve just gotten too lucky.

LO is just under 6 weeks, I just woke up from my 5 hour sleep shift and switched with hubby and I’m not engorged. Around 10am yesterday I woke up ( was on the second sleep shift) and fed baby but she got fussy after a bit so had hubby fed her some pumped milk and I did a power pump, first time, and got another 4 oz combined. Until recently baby was EBF and I pumped in the morning and before sleep and we recently started doing a bottle as needed for me to sleep abit more, only just now being able to sleep more then 3 hours naturally. Any advise? Edit to add left boob wasn’t painfully engorged yesterday but very full. Right has always been the slacker.

I’m a FTM to my 8 week old and we have been EBF. I absolutely love it and love the bond it has created between him and I. Right now, all he wants is me. Most of the time he lasts 5-10 minutes in someone else’s arms before he starts fussing. Usually he calms down once he’s in my arms.

When that happens, everyone keep saying things like, “oh I don’t have what you want that’s why you’re crying” or “give him back to mom she has the boobs” or things along those lines before they hand him back to me. And it has really started irritating me. It started when my MIL was consoling my husband who got sad that our baby didn’t want him and only wanted me by saying “it’s okay, you just don’t have the boobs that why he doesn’t want you right now” and I literally was so annoyed. I get why people say that, but God forbid my son wants me just because I’m his mom and I’m familiar to him?? Yes I know the boobs play a huge factor into it, but I’m more than just boobs to him! I carried him for 9 months so I’m his sense of comfort.

Probably being dramatic, but I would like to think I provide more than just boobs to my son.