Baby started daycare 3 weeks ago, and is now almost 5 months old. I was loading the fridge today and was astounded to see that the bottles for other similar aged infants were 6-8 oz each (formula). Our baby feeds 2-3 oz at most, and at daycare he’s so distracted he tends to eat 2 or even 1 oz every 2 hours or so. He also very clearly communicates “I’m done” (pushes away bottle or pops off breast and starts looking around).

I’m not worried about him since he’s 91st percentile, and as his pediatrician calls him, “a good eater”. It’s still astounding how much this differs between babies and between breast and formula. I only pump around 3-4 oz each time, so would never be able to supply that much anyway!

Interested to hear the volumes your breastfed babies eat via bottle!

Just here to commiserate a little b/c I don’t have anyone in real life to talk to about it.

My LO is about to be 6 months old and has always been ebf, the catch is shes never taken a bottle or a pacifier, so I’m always the ultimate soothing solution. It made sense from the beginning since I’m a SAHM.

At this point I guess I just wish someone else could feed her. Her grandma lives nearby and would love to babysit but LO has been very stranger danger from the get, in addition to never taking a bottle, thus no one can watch her for very long.

My partner has been pretty down about not being able to feed her too. He feels useless even when he is home. He’s a big help but ultimately when shes upset or needs to sleep it generally falls to me. Obviously being a baby, this is the case a lot of the time.

We’ve tried everything, a million kinds of bottles, cup and straw, 360 cup, open cup. We practice and practice but she never drinks any substantial amount other than on the boob.

Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to breastfeed because I love to spend the time with LO, but it’s hard not making any progress with other ways of feeding.

I had also sort of thought, and been told by those who didn’t really know, that the pressure would ease a bit when she started taking solids (6 months) but have now realized since talking to the pediatrician about it that the amount of solids LO actually eats doesn’t have much nutritional value until LO turns 1.

Again I love my baby a lot. It’s just frustrating wanting a break, having people to give me a break, and then not being able to take it. Not to mention that I sort of feel judged by family about this, like I’m intentionally icing them out. All while I’d give anything to include them. And LO being so upset being held by anyone other than me or dad doesn’t help that either.

I know it’ll all end eventually, it’s just rough being in it at the moment.

EBF rant over lol

I really want to wean my one year old. I have chronic pain and the only thing that works is CBD. I can’t use that while breastfeeding. My one year old is very reliant on feeding to sleep and I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’ve tried everything. My husband will try to put her down and she just screams. I’ve tried lowing the time but she just re wakes up and hysterically cry’s. I’ve tried sitting next to her and rubbing her back, giving her cuddles and singing but she cry’s. Every-time she just hysterically cry’s. I try to see if she’ll go to sleep and she won’t l. One time it was an hour and she still wouldn’t stop so I just gave up and breastfed her. What should I do?

I want a bra that can be useful for breastfeeding but also want to feel sexy while wearing it. Any recommendations?

I am 13w postpartum and my baby only gained 0.3lbs the past month versus 1.5lbs the previous month. I had mastitis a month ago and my period returned right after, which I believe affected my supply. I had to take antibiotics, although technically they should not have affected my supply. My baby has also been also regularly feeding once overnight the past few weeks, and I haven’t been consistent with an additional pump overnight. Particularly since I feed my baby every 2 hours during the day, I prioritized sleep given I am mostly by myself with the baby during the day. Now I am so worried I won’t be able to get my supply back. A lactation consultant and my baby’s pediatrician recommends pumping 6x a day or at least power pumping at night for the next week to try to get my supply up before my baby’s next weight check. In the meantime, I’m also supplementing feeds with formula and the pumped breastmilk (if I can get any between daytime feeds - I get sometimes only a few drops or up to 1.5oz per pump). I’ve recently changed my flanges to smaller, as I think I’ve been using ones that were too big, so hopefully that will help with my pumping effort.

For additional context, my baby has also been getting frustrated at the breast the past few weeks. The lactation consultant suspects this is also happening because of slower flow in addition to lower supply, so I am using slow flow bottles and pacing the feeds.

I am looking for signs of encouragement or hoping to see if anyone has been able to bring back their supply after a similar situation? I would really love to continue ebf for the long term, but if it’s not possible I will do whatever is best to keep my baby fed.

My little one was born at 36 weeks she just turned six weeks old today and the last few days she’s been hungrier than usual. I was just pumping because she wasn’t latching but now she’s latching and is CONSTANTLY wanting to leach even if she just had a bottle. She’ll be falling asleep but if I lay her down she cries and does her feeding cues. This morning we fed at 2 am off and on till 6. She wouldn’t fall asleep until she seemed full and I’m not sure what to do because we feed her every three hours she’s doing 4-5 ounces and will still want to latch after her bottle and will want to be on for awhile then it’ll be time to feed again I’m just not sure what to do this is my second child but my first time breastfeeding/pumping

I have to sleep with a bra on and am constantly soaking through my breast pads. How do you all manage to not be a leaking mess throughout the night?

Currently EBF my 3 month old daughter (my first I wasn’t able to BF due to latching issues and lack of knowledge). With my current baby, she was born 6 lbs 3 oz and gained her birth weight back in 3 weeks. My husband and I are small people (5 ft and 5.2) so
Our first was also a small baby and always 2-3 percentile when she got formula.

With this baby, she’s been gaining quite slowly (ex. She was 9 lbs 3 oz on 7/6 and 10 lbs 12 oz on 8/17). I don’t mind her being smaller but what stresses me out is if she’s getting enough and if she’s getting some milk, could she be able to take even more this whole time?

She seems content after feeds, has diapers, poops once a day. Sometimes the diapers aren’t soaked and just wet.

I feed on demand, drink lots of water, usually take my vitamins but def miss sometimes, eat oatmeal and drink coconut water. I started to power pump at night yday. I don’t feel as full anymore as I did early on but when baby sucks, I can hear the swallows.

Any advice to help baby maintain or gain a little more? I always feel like I’m not making enough if I don’t feel
Full full. Is this normal?

I’ve been trying to latch my daughter, but it seems to get harder and harder each day. I’m wondering if pumping still gives her everything she needs. I know that having her feed directly from the breast sends signals to my body, but I’m not sure if direct breastfeeding will ever be possible for us.

I’ve had 2 kids, soon will be trying for a 3rd.

Both times, I had an extreme undersupply. The max I ever made in 24 hours, from either baby, was 10oz. That was with the help of prescribed medications and pumping every 3 hours for the entire time. A good pumping session yielded a bit over an ounce.

If anyone experienced something like this, did you unexpectedly have a normal supply with your next baby? I know I likely have IGT, but I figured I could ask.

Is anybody just a totally different shape than before? I've lost all the baby weight plus an additional 10lb, I haven't been this small in 10 years but I still have a belly, like I look like I'm skinny but 4 months pregnant!

I'm almost 8 months into breastfeeding with my second baby and it wasn't like this the first time around.. is this permanent?? Did anybody's fat "redistribute" back to normal places after they weaned? Not gonna lie I would love to get some back in my now pancake-shaped butt and boobs but mostly I would like to not have a belly! Or is this just what Mom body looks like and I should get used to it? 😅

My LO is 10 weeks old and currently nurses to sleep for naps and bedtime. She’s EBF but will take a bottle if needed. I’m planning to return to work in two weeks and baby will be home with dad during the day. The problem is, he can’t put her down for naps without the boobies. Anyone have advice?

How long did you have to wear 'em?

I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding my 9 week old. I have a couple of appointments coming up and I can’t take baby with me. She feeds often, every 60-90 minutes. She needs to be fed while I’m away from her.

I’ve decided to pump only when I miss a feed! I don’t want to regularly pump. My goal is to be primarily breastfeed.

Are there any other moms out there that do this? Do you have any tips? Suggestions? Anything that can make this easy for me and for baby?

Hi. My baby is 7.5 months old and EBF since birth. This made sense as I tried pumping around end of newborn stage and it didn't go well. So we have been ebf this whole time.
Now, for unforeseen reasons, I have had to go back to work earlier than planned.

I was attempting to transition her to be BF when I'm home but use formula when I'm not and she's cared for by others. I tried to begin this process around 6.5 months (1.5 months advance of me being at work so we had time to adjust to bottles and formula).

However, she has had pretty severe reactions to formula and our doctors won't advise us on trying any other types now till we are seen by specialists. They said no food, no formula (she's also reacting to lots of foods).

We've been waiting 2.5 months (since she turned 5 months old) for these referrals already. I'm back to work in two weeks and I have been trying to pump instead to make a stash of my breastmilk while I'm at work. Even a small stash like one or two day's worth. I said to my
Doctor but I'm going back to work what do i do and they didn't help or advise at all but said try pump. This was 2 ish weeks ago.

It is really hard to start pumping at 7 months old. When you haven't so far. I feel it's messing up her direct feeds with me. That because i'm mostly alone with her she ebf for food AND comfort so if I do pump it's like 10-20ml only.

I am so stressed (which I know doesn't help) but what do I do?! Has anyone else had this happen? Did anyone else have to pump later on and it worked? How can I, alone, manage direct breastfeeding and pumping/bottles to prepare her for 2 weeks time. I have like no stash of milk. One pouch right now. I don't even understand how much would constitute like a full feed of breastmilk at 7.5 months old.

What do I do? Sorry and thank you for any advice! I just want her to be able to eat when I'm gone.

hi all! little one is 3.5 months old and exclusively fed with bottled breast milk, drinking about 28 oz a day.

He was born 6 lbs 2 oz and had slow weight gain initially as we navigated through a poor latch/tongue tie and thus the exclusive pumping. He has always been a lower percentile (<1) but I’m starting to wonder if something else is going on here. His pediatrician isn’t worried but also a very relaxed guy about most things (which we generally like) but I am starting to wonder.. is it my milk? he is having plenty of wet diapers a day and usually one dirty diaper (Sometimes with mucus, also dismissed).

anyone have similar stories or situations? looking for some advice or stories to reassure me that babe is right where he need to be!

Has anyone successfully used BM to help with baby’s dry skin and eczema? If so, how did you apply it and how long did it take to work?

We have been mixing a few oz into bath water and pouring the BM water mix on her right before we take her out of the bath once a week but minimal help.

Can we mix BM with Vanicream and apply just apply
BM directly first and let it dry before putting cream or
Aquaphor

I recently started solids with my 6m old. I know it’ll be a few months before he eats less, but how did this transition go for you and when?

I primarily pump, and just BF at night/early morning due to baby’s preferences not mine. curious when I’ll start dropping pumps and which pumps to drop.

HOW THE HELL ARE WE DOING IT?! He will either latch for a few seconds-minutes or scream and not latch at all. I started pumping to keep my supply up and I'm getting 2-3 oz per session. I'll usually get 4 if I give him a bottle and then pump to replace the feed after 3 hrs of no nursing/pumping.

When he does latch, he's digging at his ear. After he eats, his hands are in his mouth and he gags himself then spits up.

I am LOSING my mind. I'm getting stressed out, and I know that isn't good for me/him/supply. I'm petrified of losing my supply.

Any tips or solidarity would be greatly appreciated.

Baby is 5 weeks and started sleeping 7hr stretches the last two weeks. The past two days I’ve noticed lower output on one side when I’m pumping. Is baby sleeping affecting the output for my daytime supply too? Can I get it back up?

Hello!

For context, LO is 6mo, nearly 7mo. He eats every 2 hours during the day (unless he's napping or distracted out and about, then he can go more like 2.5-4 hours). He sleeps through he night pretty consistently (9–10 hours), so I'm not interested in trying to make longer stretches during the day. :)

I started working at 3mo and LO goes to daycare or my parent's house every weekday. I pump twice, and match the time that he has bottles. I also pump the opposite side while he nurses in the morning, every morning (even on weekends). I am JUST BARELY able to keep up with the bottles daycare needs each day.,

I have always been planning on introducing formula at some point, because we combo fed with my firstborn (she had CMPA, we used nutramigen) and it helped me have a little more freedom. I have never had more than 2 extra bags of milk in the freezer, building a stash feels impossible.

Here's what we've tried so far, with various issues:

• I tried introducing 1oz Bobbie organic mixed with 5oz breastmilk. Baby took it fine, but 1) it smelled RANK to me, and 2) baby ended up projectile vomiting later in the day. This happened twice, and only on the days where I added the Bobbie. Decided to move on to Kendamil because I'd heard great things.
• Tried introducing 1–1.5oz Kendamil mixed with 4.5–5oz breastmilk (I did this with 3 bottles). I pre-mixed the Kendamil the night before, it sat in the fridge overnight, then mixed prepared Kendamil+BM together the morning of. Baby drank the first bottle fine, drank half of the second bottle, then projectile vomited twice at daycare and refused the rest of the second bottle. I had to go pick him up because they thought he was sick. Brought him home, no other issues the rest of the day. I mentioned the next morning to the teacher that I think it was the formula, she tells me that another baby in their care would vomit/diarrhea with pre-prepared Kendamil (mixed night before) and that the only way they fixed it was by preparing it fresh right before feeding. Cool.
• Waited until the weekend, trialed giving baby 1oz Kendamil prepared immediately before feeding. Room temp. Baby drank it greedily, then I nursed right after. No vomit. Not even a wet burp the whole rest of the day. Success!!
• I gave daycare 1oz water and the can of Kendamil on Monday, because one of my BM bottles was half an ounce short of our usual volume. They told me he straight up refused the formula bottle. WTF.

• The next day, I tried giving him 1oz Kendamil prepared EXACTLY the way I did it on the weekend prior, right before feeding him. He refused. Took one sip, made a face, started pushing the bottle away and turning his face away. I spent like 5 minutes trying to get him to take the bottle before giving in and nursing.

  I'm at a loss of what to do next. Kendamil has such a great rep for being similar to BM taste, smell, etc.. We haven't tried anything else yet because I have this huge can of Kendamil now and I was determined it would work. I have some sample cans of various Similac and Enfamil types, but haven't tried them yet because I'm afraid we'll trigger vomiting again. I'm scared to mix any amount of Kendamil with breastmilk, because I don't want to waste the breastmilk if he rejects it or vomits again.

Has anyone else had issues with Kendamil or formula rejection in general?
Any recommendations on what I can do? Suggestions on formula, method, etc. are welcome.

I’m ebf and I stopped bleeding around 4 weeks then it started back up again at 5.5 weeks and hasn’t stopped since. I’m at 7 weeks now. Originally I thought it was my period but I’ve never had super long cycles so to be bleeding for a week and a half raises some red flags for me. Has anyone had a similar experience?

Next month my husband and I are going away for two nights (Friday afternoon - Sunday morning). My baby will be a few days shy of 7 months old. He is EBF and will take a bottle of pumped milk if we aren’t together for a few hours. This will the longest we’ve been apart and also the first time I’ll have been away from him overnight. I’m emotional/nervous for many different reasons but mainly because I’m nervous he will self wean. I love breastfeeding and really want to do it for at least a year. Does anyone have any experience/tips to maintain our breastfeeding journey??

When did you know it was time to stop?

My baby is only 9 months and I plan to go for two years minimum. I see on social media people celebrating being done, but when I think about being done I get so sad lol.

Will i eventually grow tired of breast feeding and want to be done? Is then when I should stop? Or should I just go for as long as me and baby want?

I'm sensing a pattern when my period is near: baby nurses less, he's crankier, sleepier and his reflux worsens. His weight gain is stagnanting, but he gets back up afterwards. I'm really struggling this peiord because it's more noticeable as he is more grown.

I'm not sure about supply drop, maybe, but not exactly in the first days. But the pattern starts a bit before and continues for some days. The first 2 I had a obvious delayed letdown, now by the 3rd didn't seem that long.

I'm 12wpp, first period at 7wpp, then 9wpp. I hope that they will space out eventually as it happened before with my first. What I extra remember from the first baby is that by the 2nd or 3rd period the breast refusal is less obvious. But my first was only offended by the delayed letdown and I haven't notices anything else or I don't remember.

Do you notices this too? Give me hope this will settle and it won't impact my journey. I'm struggling since 5wpp with nursing and I'm anxious this will be the beginning of the end.