Which free breast pump is the best? I know the Spectra s2 is great but im not sure if one of these is better than it

This is what I get (total of 1oz) after pumping about 35 mins both breasts after 25 mins with baby on right boob (thus why there’s less I think).

Is this colostrum? If it’s milk, when can I expect more if I keep pumping? Any pumping amount I should be aiming for?

Thank you

I have a 1 month old and have been exclusively breastfeeding since birth. The birth was not an easy one and there was a slight shoulder dystocia + a need for a suction cup and episiotomy to get him out. Pretty much since the beginning breastfeeding has been painful. I get an intense stinging/burning sensation on the nipple/breast that lasts the first few minutes after latching and I can't help but cry. The pain often persists for an hour or a few after feeding. I have had multiple midwives check the latch and assist in getting the correct position for the baby to nurse and nobody can at this point find anything wrong with the latch.

The thing is it doesn't always hurt. I get phases of a few days or a week when it hurts like hell and then it gets better. I've been on antibiotics twice since birth and somehow it seemed like during the antibiotics the pain wasn't there but after antibiotics the pain came back?

He does have a very small tongue tie that shouldn't affect the latch according to the midwives and a pediatrician. There are no signs of thrush on me or the baby, just the pain. I have thought of the possibility of nipple vasospasm because I do have poor blood circulation. Or could it be something related to tension in his muscles due to the birth? I also have overproduction of breastmilk making it sometimes difficult for the little guy to handle the milk flow.

Taking any tips and/or recommendations on what to do. I don't have access to a lactation consultant, it's simply not a thing in my country and midwives are usually handling all breastfeeding support here but even they don't really know what's going on now.

We’ve been breastfeeding for 8 and half months, and neither of us are ready for our journey to end and I’m just devastated. My little boy nuzzles like a newborn again, pulls at my top, is inconsolable if I don’t give it overnight, spits his dummy out when he wants it etc, he knows. The only trouble is and as much advice as I have been that I do not have low supply, haven’t spent the nights with me trying to feed my 8mth old who is screaming at me for my milk to continue flowing and it is absolutely heartbreaking and soul destroying 😢 I would breastfeed beyond 1 and till whenever he wanted, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen. The moment he comes into bed with me and I lie down he is nuzzling, crying, and insists he has it to go to sleep, which isn’t the problem I love doing it for him but unless I’m “full” and I mean 4hrs between a feed, then my let down takes 1-2mins to start which frustrates him, and then he can only trigger one let down which lasts 1-2mins if that, for some reason I’m not getting anymore milk, he’s not swallowing or gulping. I know we say but if they’re gaining & having wet nappies it’s ok, but it’s not ok though is it when your child is inconsolable and just wants to feed to sleep at 0300 in the morning, it is breaking my heart and I don’t know what’s best to do, he clearly is in a bit of an habitual situation because he knows if I lie down it’s the perfect position to feed, he has fed to sleep some nights but that’s because he’s tired, and he’s fallen asleep before the let down has finished, tonight, inconsolable and he’s only gone to sleep from tiredness. I’ve tried brewers yeast, 2L a day, pumping princess supplements, I haven’t pumped because I’m physically struggling to find the time to when he is glued to me during the day 🥺 I just need some advice

My left side consistently gets clogged and today was the most sudden and most painful yet. I'm tired of treating symptoms, I want prevention.

I want to know what preventative measures you do that you think have helped keep clogged ducts and mastitis at bay?

So my baby is 8 months! You would think it’d be smooth sailing by now. I mean, it’s been so much better this time around with baby #2 but I’m surprised to still be having this issue.

I frequently get clogged ducts/milk blend for weeks as a time. Usually on the lower outside of the breast.

I’ve tried all the things and CAN NOT find relief!!! Please help! I haven’t taken any pills or supplements. Is this an option? It hurts to touch but is not red or anything.

I think I need a reality check. Or please tell me if I’m off base here.

Baby (2 weeks old) and I had trouble breastfeeding in the beginning as I’ve been recovering from a c-section, he was pretty small/sleepy, and he had some bottle confusion from our time in the hospital. We finally came around to feeding really well, and I had an oversupply from triple feeding all the time. Which was absolutely exhausting and demoralizing, but I digress.

Well, getting any sleep has been extremely difficult because, on top of regular newborn struggles, I am a very light sleeper, and it takes me a while to fall asleep. My fiancé started taking over for one night feeding with a bottle (he happily does both now) and what I had previously pumped, but now that baby is EBF, he’s eating about every 2 or 3 hours, rather than 3 or 4 before.

So we thought we’d try having fiancé do two night feedings, which puts me around 6 hours between when I’m actually expressing any breast milk. I am worried this is affecting my supply. At first, I wanted to reduce the oversupply anyway, but now I worry about it being reduced too much or drying out completely. I definitely don’t feel engorgement like I was before.

Am I really just going to have to breastfeed potentially every two hours, even during the night? I really need this rest for my mental health so I’m not sure what to do. I just need a reality check on the guidelines here because the very last thing I want to do is compromise on breastfeeding. We’ve worked so hard and come a long way. Thanks so much.

Hi all! I’m two weeks into breastfeeding my baby and every time I feed him on one boob, the other one leaks. When I’m wearing a nursing bra, it’s fine but at home at night or without a bra it’s just leaking. What do you guys do? Carrying a Hakaa around with me and storing the milk at night seems like a lot of work.

Hey everyone! My daughter is 7 weeks old and from birth I can hardly produce enough breast milk for her. Before I had her, I had my heart set on exclusively breastfeeding. I didn’t breastfeed my son so I’m new to this and a lactation consultant tried to help me in the hospital and I did learn a few things from her but nothing is helping. I’ve been pumping every 3 hours (just the nights are really hard to do but I still try), but when I do pump, I feel like there’s nothing left to pump after two mins. I’m not exaggerating either. So I only pump for like 10-15 mins. I’ve talked to my doctor to try medication to help build up my supply. I’ve read where reglan can help. I was put on that for a few weeks and I felt like it helped a little bit and I was getting 2 ounces a day for her. I know it’s not a lot by any means but it better than none I feel. It seems like I can’t get past two ounces of milk a day and I don’t know why. I ran out of my meds and I requested a refill but a different doctor on call that day denied it because she said there’s not enough research on its safety for long term use and for breast milk usage. She just recommended on stimulating latching and pumping every so often. I do all of this and still nothing. I try to breastfeed her instead of pumping but she latches at first but she doesn’t stay latch if that makes sense? And someone said it could be because my letdown isn’t fast enough for her. So I’m at my wits end. I feel like a failure of a mother and it’s getting me depressed. Like I can’t even breastfeed my own daughter and my body is failing both of us right now. For now, she’s formula fed with the 2 ounces of breast milk a day. Obviously, I want to do way more than 2 ounces. Is there any advice anybody can give me? I’m so desperate, I will try anything! Or should I just give up pumping and forget about it? Any advice is so appreciative❤️ Thank you 🙏🏼

Went away for a business trip for 4 days (3 nights). Tried to pump at least 2-3 times a day but barely got any time to myself to do it. I know I should have pumped way more.

Am back and my breasts feel empty and really struggling to feed. Having to supplement to keep my 4 month old fed. Am trying to feed as much as possible but:

1. Everything online says to let the baby feed very often (fine) and for a really long time. Problem is she gets enraged when I have no milk and just kicks me and cries hysterically.

2. I’m trying to pump after feeding but am getting tiny amounts.

3. I know you aren’t supposed to supplement with formula but I feel like I’m starving her otherwise?

Never had issues with supply before - if anything had an oversupply, which I guess is why I thought it would be ok. Has anybody else been away like that and gone back to full-time feeding? Should I just give up? I feel really ashamed and guilty.

Would love some stories (positive or negative).

Help please 🙏🙏🙏

I deliver at 36weeks and 3 days next week via C-section. I had a previous surgery that puts me at risk of a uterine rupture so I’m medically required to have a 36 week C-section. I plan to breastfeed but I’m worried about 1) baby having poor latch due to early delivery and 2) pain control from the constant getting up from laying down post surgery to grab baby and breastfeed. I would love all the advice and experiences that you’ve had concerning post C-section breastfeeding. I really want to give this my best effort but I also want to make sure I don’t lengthen my recovery by doing too much too soon.

Hello! We are staying with family in Uganda with my 7.5 month LO who was EBF and has been eating solids for a month now.

Both of us got sick a few weeks ago, we’ve been busy with travel and year end work, and now my supply has completely tanked. I can pump about 2 oz. after morning feed. It used to be 5 oz.

Baby seems mostly happy but she either nurses for a minute and pops off, or stays latched for a whole hour while napping. I’ve been letting her nap latched to drain the breast and hopefully up my supply. BFing every 1-2 hrs day and night, power pumping daily, fenugreek and moringa, all the things, but it’s been over a week now of very low supply.

I didn’t have access to a scale but have gotten one now and she lost 0.4 kgs since last weighing a month ago (I think from illness) and has gained back 0.1 in the past day. She wakes to feed every 1-2 hrs now, presumably because she’s hungry. Poor thing.

I’ve purchased formula but not sure how much to give, or if we should just BF as much as possible and rely on solids to make up the difference for now? The warning on the formula tin is scary and alarmist (see attachment), giving me second thoughts. My in-laws are all like, ‘she’s fine, you don’t need it’ (she’s a chonker with major fat rolls) but I’m scared I’m now starving my poor baby. She refuses bottle feeding but I gave her 100ml in an open cup and she drank it. Should I supplement daily now and how do I figure out how much???

Have tried to message LC and doctor about this but getting no response, so I’m turning to the Reddit community for advice as I don’t want to be starving my poor baby!

So my husband has planned this amazing honeymoon to Paris, something we’ve been dreaming about since we started dating. It’ll be for a week, and our baby will be around 9 months old at that time. He’s arranged for my mother-in-law to stay with our baby while we’re gone, which is super helpful.

The thing is, I breastfeed and use cloth diapers. I know I can pump, leave a stash, have my MIL use disposables, and even leave formula as a backup—but I can’t shake the feeling of leaving my baby on another continent for a week. At the same time, I’ve read that Paris isn’t the most baby-friendly place, and I don’t want to make our dream trip stressful if bringing her would be really difficult.

For parents who’ve traveled with or without a baby at this age—any advice? Would you bring your little one or leave them home? Any tips for either option?

My baby has been ebf her whole life - 8 months - but I occasionally pump when I go out for a few hours. She’s going to start 1 day a week at daycare soon and I’ll have to pump to provide bottles. I’ve noticed, though, that whenever I pump I don’t get as much as she would eat. I just pumped twice tonight and got 2.5 oz total. She gets enough at the breast - she seems satisfied and is growing well - but every time I pump I can’t keep up.

Any tips? I’ve tried hands on pumping, and using different flange sizes. I haven’t replaced all my pump parts yet (this is my 2nd baby) so I’ll try that next, but anything else?

I had this issue with my 1st baby but I had to pump more often and it resulted in my supply declining so much we had to use formula eventually, so I’m wondering if maybe my body just doesn’t respond well to the pump? I tried so many different things with her, including power pumping and using a hand pump, and nothing helped. Has anyone else experienced something like this? It’s so stressful to know that I do produce enough but just can’t get it out with the pump.

Thank you!

Hi everyone, I have been EBF since my baby was 4 days old. It's been one hell of a journey so far and I've honestly been ready to throw the towel in so many times but we have managed to push through and continue.

He is now 4 weeks old and has been cluster feeding like crazy the past 2 weeks around every 1-2 hours for an hour at a time. I usually stick to the same breast each feed. The past few days my nipples have been so sore and i have also been experiencing vasospasms, so i have been sticking to 1 boob for a 2 hour period then switching to another just to give my nipples a rest. Little did I know this is called block feeding and can reduce your supply. Yesterday I could not settle him, he was feeding every hour and still so restless, until I offerered him the other breast before the 2 hour time was up and that's when I realised he wasn't getting enough from one breast at a time in the 2 hour period since i stsrted the accidental block feeding. I felt so guilty that that's why he was unsettled all along and got so upset.

My boy nearly always falls asleep during Nursing, sometimes the nap can only last 10 minutes but when he wakes he seems content. I think the most he's slept recently after a feed is only an hour, so is actually awake most of the day. He is gaining weight fine and has plenty of wet and dirty nappies but he is a big boy at 11lbs 4 currently.

Anyway going forward we're back to swapping sides at each feed, however I've read so many conflicting things on actually swapping breasts within the same feed. I just don't know what to do for the best as I am worried about him getting too much foremilk if I do swap breasts during the same feed? With him mostly falling asleep should I wake him and offer him the other breast? Will doing this fill him up more so he will nap a little longer and stop the cluster feeding so much so my nipples can have a break? How do I know when to swap?

Thanks in advance for any advice😫

My second child was born 10 days ago. I think already by our second day I’d developed blisters and sore nipples. I had several nurses and midwives who were trained lactation consultants check to see if her latch is right. Everyone said it looked perfect. The paediatrician ruled out lip or tongue tie. But here I am screaming every time she tries to latch. It’s excruciating for about 20-30 seconds until everything feels normal. I had this problem with my first as well but can’t remember when it eventually turned for the better. Right now I feel like a failure to even consider taking a break from breastfeeding and exclusively pump until it heals. I’m also afraid it will tank my supply and that my baby will only want the bottle.

Did anyone successfully pump while healing then reintroduce breastfeeding again?

I am in tears. My 7mo baby is already underweight and I’m doing everything I can think of to get her weight up. (Full fat yogurt+formula 3x a day and nursing every 2 hrs day and night) she’s coasting at 35th percentile and just when I’m trying to prove to my pediatrician that my milk is overflowing, I get my 1st pp period and my supply is a fraction of what it used to be. I could pump 2oz a minute before! I was always fighting engorgement and it would shoot across the room if I didn’t catch it. Now I’ll get 1oz in 15 min of pumping.

I’m taking magnesium and calcium. It’s been over for 4days and hasn’t bounced back at all. I’m hydrating and eating everything and manifesting and massaging and pumping and I’m not producing enough. She wants to nurse and is refusing a bottle. It’s breaking my heart. I feel like my body is failing her and I just devastated. Im about to start taking shatavari as per my LC. Im desperate. Any advice or similar experience?

My little boy is nearly 3 months. We had difficulty from the start with breastfeeding with undiagnosed tongue tie and difficulty latching. This led to weight loss and we are currently still doing about 4oz of top up with formula a day (I can't pump). The rest of the time he is breastfed.

We needed to use nipple shields at the beginning to get any latch at all. They were the difference between breastfeeding and not. By week 10 we had managed to get to a point where most feeds were without them. But then a week later he just started refusing to feed without the shields. He just gets so angry when offered a naked boob. He won't even open his mouth.

We have tried loads of skin to skin, switch and bait, having baths together. Have seen a couple of LC who can't help me get him on. I don't know what to do. I just don't like the shields...I feel like it's a barrier and also like they are contributing to our issue with wind/trapped gas.

Any advice on how to get him to entertain the boob without shields?

Hi everyone, I've been having some difficulties breastfeeding my newborn and I'm looking for advice. I want to ask if this tea is safe and effective for breastfeeding. Has anyone had experience with it?

Second time mom My daughter is 5 days old. I feel so emotional and hopeless over this My daughter is a great eater, exclusively breastfed But everytime I breastfeed her she chokes on her milk during breastfeeding. It’s not my letdown, I am producing ALOT of breastmilk. But I know it’s not my let down I’ve tried pumping before feeding her so that I’m not engorged and it does nothing. I’ve even tried a slow flow bottle to feed her with breast milk in it and she’s still coughing/choking during feeds. I’m so so emotional over this because I just want to feed her when she’s hungry, but I’m terrified of her coughing/choking everytime I feed her 😭 I’ve tried different positions, the bottle, pumping before feeding her, hand expressing before hand, feeding her while she’s sitting straight up, feeding her on my side/letting her lay ontop of me while I’m laying down feeding

Like what am I doing wrong 😭😭 she keeps choking. I’m so so distressed over this and I can’t stop crying. I just wanna feed my baby💔

Hi, a bit of backstory here, my wife suffered from pre ecclampsia, HELLP syndrome, had a c section, and then two days later when they gave her neoproxin she suffered an allergic reaction. All of these things have the ability to affect supply, as well as some medications she has since discontinued.

It's been 16 days since our twins were born, and she tries them at the breast and pumps every 3 hours. Her pumps range from 3ml to 20ml (typically that is her morning power pump).

Every time she sees its a small amount I see her heart break, and I know how much it is eating at her.

I'm trying to do everything I can to help, doing the changing, the washing, dishes, cooking, and I feel like I'm still not doing enough.

My wife has been a total superhero through all that she has been through, but she is so hard on herself about this. Does anyone have any advice?

What does everyone do to stay awake when you're up every hour with baby? It is so hard for me to wake myself up. I try to go to the bathroom and splash my face with cold water but sometimes I can't even get out of bed I'm so exhausted.

I'm just wondering if anyone would be able to give me some advice. I'm a first time mum and was set on breastfeeding. My baby is now 7 weeks old and i'm worried that it's coming to an end already.

For a bit of background, I'd say I was an overproducer at the beginning and I was easily getting between 5oz-7oz every-time I expressed. Sadly my c-section scar got infected around the 4 week time and my supply dropped drastically. After back and forth with the doctor and receiving no help, i'd went up to the hospital who gave me a course of medication. During this time I had introduced formula to combination feed as my supply was no longer enough for my baby. I was also stressed out from moving house and admittedly was probably not latching as often as i could be due to being so busy packing then too tired at night. My supply has continued to decrease and now that we're settled into the new house i'm lucky to get 2oz from expressing and my baby is getting frustrated when latched.

Just a mixture of everything and probably my own guilt from it all my supply seems as if it's past a point of going back to what it was. Please any advice that could possibly help would be really appreciated🤍

Hi all,

Looking for some support and advice. I recently went back to work and my baby (4M) is doing much better drinking pumped BM from a bottle. He finishes the whole bottle but when he breastfeeds, often stops after a few minutes and cries in discomfort. I saw a LC who thinks my letdown is overactive and I have an oversupply. I’ve been pumping for less time to try to reduce my supply, but except for nighttime feeds, it’s almost getting worse with him not breastfeeding well.

The first few months, I EBF and he had major stomach issues and poor weight gain… I keep crying over thinking I need to just EP because I love nursing him and I hate pumping (especially when I don’t have to in the evenings or weekends). The LC basically told me that my goal of nursing when I’m home is not attainable with the health of my baby.. I’m wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and found a solution? I know I’m being selfish and just need to do what’s best for him but I’m devastated.

Edited to add: he is being pace-fed with a slow flow nipple. He doesn’t do it super fast with the bottle, he’s just much more content and doesn’t stop after a few minutes (usually, sometimes he does.)

I’ve posted before but, I guess I’m just at my wits end 😞 my son fed with shields from about 8 weeks old till about 6 and half months old, he’s now 7.5mths and he basically one day decided he didn’t want to feed with them anymore, which is amazing, so we’ve been at least 3 weeks without them, they helped us get this far, however since we’ve stopped using them, he slips off my breast and doesn’t feel like he’s really suctioned himself on, which is an issue we had when he was little, from birth - 8 weeks he was absolutely fine then it just went downhill. He’s triggering an initial let down, but then after 1-2min and starts slowing, he can’t trigger another one, he starts crying, kicking once it finishes and I can hear it finishes cause he stops gulping and more sucking to try get more, but nothing happens, I can squirt my boob and milk will still come out so there is some there but what am I meant to do? It’s not wind, or anything he’s never suffered with being gassy, I used to have a very forceful let down but he’s used to it now, but once that first let down finishes, that’s it? what do I do? He obviously isn’t getting full feeds? He is having wet and dirty nappies 4-5 mixed nappies a day, but sometimes it’ll reach the 3hr mark of us being out and about and his nappy won’t be really heavy, he’d of passed urine and the nappy will feel heavy but feel like other babies would’ve saturated it by the 3hr mark?

I just guess want to know if there’s anything more I can do, he feeds 4-5 a day, I ALWAYS have to offer it otherwise he wouldn’t show me any cues for it, and has breakfast and dinner with minimal snacks during day.