3 Self Care Tips for Breastfeeding Moms

Updated September 3rd 2024

I think we’ve all heard the phrase “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. And when you’re a mom, it’s real easy to let your cup empty. And one of the easiest ways to care for yourself is often overlooked by most new moms I work with (I know I overlooked the first tip I’m about to share with you when I first became a mom).

I think it’s overlooked because it’s super basic but we’re always putting someone else’s needs before our own so we can easily miss it.

The experience I had becoming a mom and transitioning to breastfeeding with my firstborn is the entire reason I became a Lactation Consultant to help other moms because I struggled a lot not only with breastfeeding but with finding the time to care for myself as well. And not caring for myself began to significantly impact my breastfeeding journey in more ways than one.

Over the years, I’ve found many ways to support myself as a mom with super easy self-care that I find also really help while I’m nursing and I’m going to share them with you in this blog post.

Self Care Tip #1: EAT ENOUGH and HYDRATE ENOUGH

Sounds simple right? But this one can actually be challenging sometimes.  Eating enough calories is essential to not only healing your body but also producing enough milk for your baby AND helping your body manage it’s response to stress. 

Lactation is a nutritionally expensive task for your body meaning it uses about  20 calories per ounce of milk produced! That’s an average of 500 extra calories a day to make enough food for your baby. PLUS you’re recovering from birth (and if you had a c-section you’re recovering from birth AND surgery), and likely depleted in essential vitamins and minerals that went to growing your beautiful baby

My tip: EAT whenever the baby eats. Get a snack with protein, fat and fibre into your body each time you nurse or pump for your baby

You also want to drink enough fluids

Breastfeeding increases thirst for most people. You can thank the love hormone, oxytocin, for that one. Drinking enough water is essential for your body to stay hydrated and produce milk for your baby. It also affects your energy levels, believe it or not!

My tip: Keep a reusable water bottle in each room and have your partner (or postpartum doula) be in charge of filling them for you. Drink whenever you’re thirsty or whenever you feed your baby.

Remember that teas, bone broths, soups, and high water fruits and vegetables all count towards your hydration too!

Self Care Tip #2: Boxed Breathing

Stress impacts all areas of your life. And let’s be honest, most of us are under some kind of stress. But whether there is a physical threat to your life or not, your body PERCEIVES the stress the same way

Being a new parent is hard and stressful. Recovering from birth, caring for a newborn (and possibly older children), interrupted sleep, pumping/nursing around the clock – it’s stressful on your body. Not to mention the stress of parenting in general, finances, balancing breastfeeding and back to work. It’s a lot! And stress hormones negatively affect oxytocin.

Oxytocin is a very important hormone that is responsible for your milk being able to flow. Oxytocin squeezes the muscles around the milk sacs to push it out of the nipple. If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t “get a let-down” or suddenly your baby is becoming very frustrated at the breast, check in with yourself first before hitting google.

How are you feeling at that moment?

  • Safe?
  • Rushed?
  • Overwhelmed?
  • Angry?
  • Sad?

Anyone of those could impact your oxytocin levels!

Something I teach just about all of my clients is boxed breathing

the word breathe as concept in saving earth
Photo by Leeloo The First on Pexels.com

Also known as square breathing, this technique forces you to slow down and focus on your breath. It’s a great way to reset and regroup in moments of stress and frustration and you only need a few seconds

I’m not a professional teacher when it comes to boxed breathing but have personally used this technique myself and had clients used it as well. Here’s how you do it…

  • Take a deep belly breath in for 4 seconds…
  • HOLD this breath for 4 seconds…
  • EXHALE for 4 seconds…
  • HOLD for 4 seconds…

Feel your shoulders relax, your neck softening, your jaw unclenching. 

Repeat as many times as needed.

I like to use a variation of this where you breathe in for 4, hold for 4 and exhale for 6 and then repeat. But there’s many different variations

So how can you incorporate this into your busy day?

You can practice this technique when

  • You first wake up 
  • While you’re pumping
  • When your baby is cluster feeding
  • When your baby is crying and you can’t figure out why 
  • When you need a break
person covering infant with swaddling blanket
Photo by Isaac Taylor on Pexels.com

Self Care Tip #3: Let The Oxytocin Flow

When oxytocin (aka the love hormone) is released, it causes the muscle cells around the milk sacs in your breast to squeeze and essentially push the milk out of your nipple

Things that help oxytocin to flow, will help with your milk release AND help you to feel calmer and more relaxed

This is one reason why feeling comfortable in the environment you are nursing or pumping in is important for milk release. Your physical comfort also matters when it comes to oxytocin flowing

Other ways you can support your milk to abundantly flow include:

  • Looking at pictures or videos of your baby while pumping
  • Back rubs
  • Laughing
  • Snuggling your family pet 
  • Eating chocolate
  • Kissing your partner
  • Music
  • Meditation

Doing these things before nursing or pumping where you can (or some of them during such as eating chocolate and listening to music) can help you feel calmer and more relaxed which naturally supports your milk to flow which can help your supply*

Because when milk flows and is removed often, your body then makes more

*If you’re currently struggling with your supply I would suggest working with an IBCLC to help you. You can book a consult with me here

A Quick Recap of Self Care Tips

  1. Eating enough food and hydrating your body is a very simple act of self-care that goes a long way as a new mom
  2. Boxed breathing (or a variation of it) can help ground us in moments we’re feeling overwhelmed and help calm us – and it costs nothing to practice daily 
  3. When we’re stressed, it’s harder for oxytocin to be release and doing things to help the oxytocin flow (like music, laughter and smelling our babies) helps you feel calmer, more relaxed and less stressed

Alex Wachelka is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and mother of two. She is the founder of Motherhood Blooms Lactation, a private practice dedicated to helping mothers feel seen, heard and validated while helping them reach their breastfeeding goals.

Learn More About Working With Alex Here

How Birth Can Impact Breastfeeding

Last updated April 13th 2025

Congratulations! Preparing for a new baby is so exciting. When you start preparing for birth, you may take a prenatal labour and delivery class, you might read some books about labour and delivery or you might hit the internet to find out about what you can expect (like this blog!). I did a combination of all of those when I was pregnant with my first child and I’ve included some extra resources for you at the end of this post.

If you take a prenatal breastfeeding class (or are reading this right now) you might be surprised to learn that your labour and birth can affect the start of your breastfeeding relationship. It can help and encourage your breastfeeding relationship or it can create additional challenges. You can absolutely overcome these challenges when you are informed and supported by your birth and postpartum care team. But it’s still important to be aware of them.

When thinking about and planning for breastfeeding, it’s important to consider what you already know about breastfeeding and what your goals or desires for feeding your baby are. I would strongly suggest a prenatal breastfeeding class and also encourage you to build your breastfeeding support team prior to your baby’s birth. Research demonstrates support makes a HUGE difference in helping someone reach their breastfeeding goals.

Your breastfeeding support team should include an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. They are the current gold standard of lactation care. Your team can also include your partner, doula, and a peer support group.

When learning about and planning for breastfeeding, it’s important to learn about labour and birth interventions and the impact they can have on the start of your breastfeeding relationship.

Sometimes, events unfold different than we had planned or hoped for. This can hold true for birth. You may find your birth going a different way than you originally planned which is why it’s so important that you’re informed.

Intervention free births are more likely to be followed by successful breastfeeding. However, we also know that when interventions are used it’s still possible to successfully breastfeed but that it may require extra support.

If you’re thinking “what are interventions?”

Interventions can be actions taken to initiate or speed up labour or the birth process. Some common labour and birth interventions include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Epidural and pain medicines
  • IV fluids in excess
  • Vacuum or forceps extraction
  • Pitocin & other induction medications
  • Cesarean section

You can plan ahead and choose none or some of these interventions in advance of delivery or you can make the decision(s) in the moment but whatever you do, you deserve to make informed decisions.

All possible labour and birth interventions should be discussed with your primary care provider whether that’s your midwife or your OB. This discussion needs to happen before you give birth. You deserve to be informed of the possible risks. That’s the only way you can make your own informed decisions.

So let’s talk a little more about some of the birth interventions and how they can affect breastfeeding.

Pain Medications

It’s important you give birth in whichever way is going to make you feel safest. For some, that means pain medications. If that’s what you choose, you should still know how it can affect breastfeeding so you can be prepared and get breastfeeding off to a strong start.

Labouring and delivering with pain medications such as an epidural, may have the ability to interfere with breastfeeding initially. Studies seem to show mixed results but a 2015 study by Kendall-Tackett et al. found that epidurals were associated with lower breastfeeding rates. However there are many moms who birth with an epidural and do have a successful breastfeeding experience. There are a LOT of factors that affect this.

Skin to skin is strongly encouraged to get breastfeeding off to a good start after birth. It regulates your baby’s temperature and nervous system. It releases oxytocin in both of you which helps your milk let-down/flow. A sleepy baby may take up to 1 hour to find the breast and latch. This is perfectly acceptable! There is no rush to immediately get them onto the breast. The medications will wear off in time. In the meantime, spend time getting to know each other.

Induction

Induction is medically started labour which happens for many reasons. Sometimes induction is started with artificial oxytocin known as pitocin which can possibly interfere with your body’s production of oxytocin which is required for your milk let-down. The evidence is not strong and honestly, is somewhat conflicting. Spending time skin to skin after birth will help support your body’s release of oxytocin.

There are many other medications that are used to bring on labour. They don’t appear to directly interfere with the start of breastfeeding. However, often when labour is induced, several interventions may follow (IV, pain medications because the contractions are stronger, instrument assisted delivery) which could then have an effect on the start of breastfeeding.

IV Fluids

IV fluids, while common practice for hospital based births, can inflate babies weight. This is because some of the fluid transfers into your baby’s body before they are born. This results in an incorrect weight because they are now carrying excess fluids.

Just like you will begin peeing out the excess fluids after delivery, so will your baby. Because your baby is peeing out the excess fluid, the “weight loss” can exceed what is considered normal. The hospital staff are quick to intervene with formula supplementation without first assessing how breastfeeding is going.

IV fluids may also worsen engorgement after delivery because your body is still working to eliminate the excess fluids while also increasing the volume of your milk. Excess engorgement not only creates discomfort for you, but it can make latching your baby difficult.

Physical Tools

Tools such as forceps and vacuum may cause some soreness and bruising in your baby and can affect how they latch. They may prefer one side over the other or one position over another. Spending time together skin to skin will help with their pain relief and support their ability to latch. Be mindful of which positions your baby feels most comfortable in (and ones you are comfortable in too!) and focus on those.

So how can you get breastfeeding off to a good start?

I would suggest you find intervention free birth stories (I loved this book when I was expecting). This can help you prepare for delivering without the use of interventions (if that’s what you want).

  • Talk to your primary care provider about the use of interventions and the risks associated with each one. You should be presented with unbiased, evidence based information to make your decisions. If you’re wanting an epidural, talk to your care provider about getting uninterrupted skin to skin contact immediately after birth.
  • You can get breastfeeding off to a good start by investing in a birth doula to help support you through your labour and delivery.
  • Weigh your options about where you might be able to deliver (hospital, birth centre or home). If you want access to multiple interventions then hospital is the way to go but if you don’t, then a birth centre or home birth might be worth considering.

An excellent way to get your breastfeeding relationship off to a strong start is to take a prenatal breastfeeding class or work 1:1 with an IBCLC before birth.

What if I delivered with interventions and are now struggling or have concerns?

  • Find a lactation consultant you trust to help you! You can click “book now” under my services to work with me
  • Spend lots of time skin to skin. This means your baby is in just a diaper and you are undressed from the waist up. This will release oxytocin and encourage your milk let down as well as relax both you and your baby. This also supports your baby’s natural instincts to root and search for the breast and latch
  • Learning how to hand express to protect your supply and encourage your baby to latch on

Additional resources:

  • I love Evidenced Base Birth for evidenced based unbiased information
  • This book is also excellent if you are expecting and want to inform yourself about the options
  • Beyond The Bump Education is an absolutely fantastic Canadian resource for childbirth education including postpartum and breastfeeding
  • Dr. Sara Wickam has a huge variety of evidence based resources for anyone. She is UK based
If you want to feel more prepared for breastfeeding your baby with your choice of interventions in labour and birth, my FREE Mini Prenatal Breastfeeding Class can help 👇🏼
SIGN UP HERE

References:

Campbell, S.H., Lauwers, J., Mannel, R., & Spencer, B. (2019). Core Curriculum for interdisciplinary lactation care. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Kendall-Tackett, Kathleen., Cong, Zhen., Hale, Thomas W. (Aug 2015). Birth Interventions Related to Lower Rates of Exclusive Breastfeeding and Increased Risk of Postpartum Depression in a Large Sample. Clinical Lactation.6(3). DOI: 10.1891/2158-0782.6.3.87

Lothian J. A. (2014). Healthy birth practice #4: avoid interventions unless they are medically necessary. The Journal of perinatal education, 23(4), 198–206. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.23.4.198

Newman, J. & Pitman, T. (2014). Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

How to Wean Your Breastfed Baby

Updated June 10th 2024

When I weaned my firstborn, I didn’t tell anyone I weaned him for a while. Here I am, a lactation expert, helping people solve breastfeeding challenges, encouraging natural term weaning and I was feeling guilty for weaning my child! I felt guilty for doing it even though I know all breastfeeding journey’s come to an end for different reasons.

I weaned my firstborn when he was a toddler. I began to experience something called Breastfeeding Aversion and Agitation which made it feel like my skin was crawling everytime he latched. This started happening around 14-15 months. I pushed on for a bit but the time came that I made the decision to wean my breastfed toddler. It took a few months using a combination of the methods I’ve listed below for you so by the time he was fully weaned, he was 17 months old.

Some would consider weaning a 17 month old extended breastfeeding. The World Health Organization currently recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months at which point solids are introduced and breastfeeding should continue alongside the solid foods until 2 years of age or the mother/child decides to wean.

The global average age of weaning is 4. Many children in other parts of the world breastfeeding until this age or later. Here in North America, there is societal pressure to wean by age 1. Somewhere along the lines, the recommendation of at least 12 months, became “end at 12 months”. So by some standards, my son breastfed for a long time and by others, he was weaned early.

The days after he weaned, I went through an entirely new experience. Post weaning depression is feelings of sadness, irritability, feeling tearful or depressed after weaning. It’s thought it’s due to the shift in hormones and the reduction in prolactin and oxytocin after weaning. The more gradual the weaning process, the less likely you are to experience these emotions. Basically, if you can wean slowly it’s ideal for both you and your child.

Even though my weaning process was slow, I did experience bouts of sadness, grief and some tearful moments. It’s a big change in your feeding relationship. And breastfeeding is truly that, a relationship. It’s so much more than just nutrition. So when this relationship comes to an end, it’s still a very difficult time

It’s so much more than just nutrition. So when this relationship comes to an end, it’s still a very difficult time

Weaning isn’t a linear process either. Because breastfeeding is a relationship, there will be times when your infant is upset, in pain, or needing closeness and they’ll want to breastfeed. You can decide in those moments if you want to breastfeed or offer your child another means of comfort.

If you’re feeling ready to wean

If you’re feeling ready to begin the weaning process with your toddler here are a few suggestions you can consider. These will allow you to approach your weaning journey in a slow and steady way. If you need to wean rapidly for any reason, it’s best to work with a lactation consultant. If you stop cold turkey, you can quickly experience engorgement leading to pain, plugged ducts and mastitis. If you need to wean very quickly, you can book a consultation with me here.

Weaning suggestions for a toddler over the age of 12 months:
  • Start by dropping one feeding per week – e.g. you drop only the morning feeding for an entire week and see how that goes for you. Pick whichever feeding is easiest to remove, right now
  • Set boundaries – for example: we only breastfed in this chair, while mommy sings this song etc
  • Offer a distraction – snack, drink, toy, game, change of scenery etc
  • Hold space for big emotions – expect them to be upset and provide that connect with lots of cuddles, hugs, kisses and 1:1 time
  • Layer in new things before sleep – an extra book, a drink of water, a new game, a new song, an extra song, bouncing, rocking etc. This needs to happen before you take away nursing to sleep
  • Expect it to take time; the gradual weaning process can take months
  • It’s not a linear process. If they are teething, sick, upset, hurt – breastfeeding provides comfort, they may want to go back to the breast

If you want to partially wean

Partial weaning is when you’ve taken steps to actively reduce how often your baby is nursing or how often you’re pumping but your baby/toddler is not fully weaned yet. You can use some of the same strategies from above if you’re wanting to wean during the day and breastfeed during the night, for example.

If you’re needing to wean from a pump or wanting to just wean during the day and breastfeed in the mornings and at night and are needing some guidance to make this happen, my on-demand class, Weaning With Love, has the answers to gently guide you along the way.

Weaning With Love is for you if…

  • You are ready to wean your little one but they’re not quite there yet
  • You’ve already started weaning but it’s feeling a lot harder than you thought
  • You’ve started weaning and are experiencing tenderness, hardness or full blown plugged ducts and mastitis
  • You want to know how to give up those night feeds but keep nursing your toddler during the day (or vice versa)
  • You’ve tried weaning in the past but it was too difficult and you decided to keep going for a few months but you can’t keep going anymore
  • You want your body back to yourself for a little bit but are feeling guilty for wanting to wean your little one

It’s time you feel supported through the weaning process. Because you deserve care and compassion, even at the end of your breastfeeding journey

woman breastfeeding her toddler under the tree
Photo by willsantt on Pexels.com

References:

Bonyata, Kelly. (2018, January 13th). Weaning techniques. Kellymom.com. https://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning-techniques/

Bonyata, Kelly. (2018, January 15th). Sadness and depression during (and after) weaning. Kellymom.com. https://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/depression-and-weaning/

Pearson-Glaze, Philippa. (2021, February 25th). How to stop breastfeeding. Breastfeeding.Support. https://breastfeeding.support/how-to-stop-breastfeeding/

World Health Organization. (2020, August 24). Infant and young child feeding. World Health Organization. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding#:~:text=WHO%20and%20UNICEF%20recommend%3A,years%20of%20age%20or%20beyond

Do Lactation Cookies Work?

Updated June 2nd 2024

If you’re reading this, chances are you have an abandoned online cart of lactation cookies and you’re trying to find out if the purchase is going to be worth it. Don’t worry, I’m going to let you know whether or not you should abandon that cart for good. But first, I want you to know I understand how you’re feeling right now. Like you’re not producing enough no matter what you do. I know you’re doing an amazing job for your baby!

Lactation cookies are literally cookies marketed as a way to help you increase your milk supply. They are usually made with an ingredient or two that are thought to have positive effects on milk production. Some of the ingredients might include brewer’s yeast, flax seeds, oatmeal and fenugreek. These cookies though, often have loads of added sugar because brewer’s yeast is quite bitter and fenugreek is quite savoury and they usually suggest eating a couple cookies per day. All that extra sugar for no guarantee that they even work!

The ads though would have you believing that yes, of course lactation cookies are worth it. Honestly though, they are not. I know that’s a bold statement to make right away. And as a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), it’s not that I’m against cookies. If you want a cookie, please, enjoy! They are delicious after all. Or if you have a recipe to make some yourself, go for it! But the cookies marketed as something that’s going to guarantee an increase in your milk supply are not the first thing you should be buying if you feel like your supply has dropped or your milk supply is low.

Does the science say they work?

A 2023 study on lactation cookies by Ana M Palacios et al. found that lactation cookies do not help to increase milk production and that “…recommendations to consume (lactation cookies) for increasing…milk supply may deliver false hope and unnecessary financial costs at a vulnerable time”. In short, they don’t actually help increase milk supply.

The moms they did work for, likely needed more calories in their diet and didn’t have many issues surrounding producing milk (read below for more explanation on this).

The message below was shared with me from a mom who bought lactation cookies because she was made to feel (by their marketing) that she needed them to increase her supply.

So why do moms buy them?!

The reason so many breastfeeding moms buy lactation cookies is because so many moms fees like they’re not making enough milk. Concerns about milk supply are always the number one reason moms say they stopped breastfeeding and it comes from a lack of education around our bodies and what is normal.

We are literally conditioned to believe our bodies are not enough. Whether it’s from formula marketing, the “fed is best” concept, social media, or undereducated hospital staff, most new moms worry they’re not producing enough.

I see this all the time in my private practice and it’s one of the most common questions I get asked on social media “how can I increase my milk supply?” Unfortunately, it’s not a quick fix if it is truly low. You have to address the why behind low supply before you can “fix” it.

But there’s money to be made in making a mom doubt her milk supply! If you make a mom doubt her milk supply, she’s likely to supplement with formula. If she supplements with formula, her baby likely won’t cue to nurse as often because formula milk has different protein ratios than human milk.

toddler sleeping while sucking pacifier
Photo by John Finkelstein on Pexels.com

If her baby doesn’t nurse as often, her body is stimulated less. If her body is stimulated less, her milk production will slow down because this is how milk supply works. More milk needs to be removed in order to tell your body that more needs to be made.

If her milk production slows down, her supply will drop. If her supply drops, she’ll likely supplement with even more formula and then try things like lactation cookies and electrolyte drinks to increase her supply because she does really want to breastfeed.

If she supplements with even more formula, and has spent a ton of money on supplements and cookies, she’s likely to stop breastfeeding altogether because she’s exhausted and “nothing” is working when really, the underlying causes were never looked at.

  • Is it that baby can’t remove milk well?
  • It there an issue with the pump?
  • Did she night wean too early because of sleep training?
  • Is there a hormonal condition like hypothyroidism or PCOS?
  • Is mom insulin resistant?
  • Does she have enough glandular tissue to produce what baby needs?
  • Did she start birth control or a new medication?
  • Has her period returned or could she be pregnant?

These are just a few reasons your milk supply could be affected.

If she stops breastfeeding altogether, the formula company has been successful in acquiring another long term customer and it all started because she was made to doubt her milk supply.

Moms who want to breastfeed and end up stopping before they are ready often have grief around how their journey ended. The research shows us moms who want to breastfeed and are unable to have the support to make that happen are at a higher risk for postpartum depression.

Your body is not broken. You should be able to produce enough milk for your baby and if you can’t, you deserve support and to find out the root cause of what’s going on and help to create a plan for you moving forward

Insufficient Glandular Tissue: an underlying reason for low supply

There is a condition called Insufficient Glandular Tissue and the breast does not have enough milk making tissue to supply all of what baby needs a day but even then, there are options! Things can be tested and ruled out and if you are someone who only produces a few ounces a day, you still get to choose what you want to do. You can nurse your baby and use an SNS at breast to supplement with formula. You can bottle feed formula or donor milk and have your baby finish their feeding at breast. You get to choose what happens next.

So what should you do?

Don’t buy the cookies. Instead, consider putting that money towards working with a lactation consultant. Also, don’t fall for the marketing hype of “I pumped 10oz after taking [insert product name]. An average milk production is about 24-32oz in 24 hours. This is about an ounce an hour or a little more. Pumping 7+oz from both breasts is not the average. It’s an oversupply if it’s happening at every single pump session.

Having a huge freezer stash of milk is also not the average. The human body likes to be in balance. The way human lactation works is to make what baby needs and not too much more. Sure, you can tell it to make more to feed your freezer but the norm is not to be overproducing and filling up freezers.

If you have concerns about your milk supply, work with a knowledgeable IBCLC lactation consultant (you can book with me here).

I teach moms about how their body works so they can learn the skills that actually work to remove more milk. If you want to know what that looks like before working with me, you can sign up for my FREE MAKE MORE MILK video series. Click here.

References:

Palacios, A. M., Cardel, M. I., Parker, E., Dickinson, S., Houin, V. R., Young, B., & Allison, D. B. (2023). Effectiveness of lactation cookies on human milk production rates: a randomized controlled trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 117(5), 1035–1042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.03.010

How Breastfeeding Moms Can Navigate Weddings Without Baby

Updated May 18th 2024

If you have a wedding (or 4) to attend this spring and summer, you might already have questions about what it means for your breastfeeding relationship. You can absolutely continue breastfeeding your baby! It just means planning ahead of time.

When our friends got married 4 weeks after I had my second baby, I made the very difficult decision to stay home. We were invited to the wedding months prior and I let them know it was unlikely I was going to come for the reception but I thought maybe I could make it for the ceremony. I waited until the RSVP date to let them know I wouldn’t be coming. It was August, extremely hot and I didn’t want to spend it out in the sun with a 4 week old. There was also no way I was going to go and leave him behind.

Since then, I have spent time away from my breastfed babies which meant pumping and other people feeding them and I’m also now a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) so I’m going to guide you through everything you need to consider when planning to be away from your baby for 8+ hours at a wedding.

Pumping: you need to remove milk

If your baby isn’t going to be there to nurse, you need an alternative way to remove milk. If you’re already pumping daily, not a whole lot will be changing. I’m going to start with pumping and then share a few other options if your baby is primarily nursing.

If you’re already pumping, the main thing you need to focus on is trying to keep to your schedule as closely as possible. If you’re currently pumping every 3-4 hours for your baby, you’re going to want to pump every 3-4 hours while you’re away. This might be easier said than done especially when you’re celebrating and having fun and can easily lose track of time.

Make sure you pack your pump and extra batteries or the cord if it has the option to plug into the wall. The last thing you want to have happen is your pump dying! You’ll also need extra collection bottles or storage bags and a marker or pen to label them.

If you’re mostly nursing your baby and there’s no way for them to come to you for a nursing session, you’ll want to use hand expression. Alternatively if you have a pump, whether a hand pump or electric, you could use that but you may not get that much milk out. Overtime, your body can respond less to the pump if you’re mostly nursing. This is why I love using hand expression because you can actually collect more.

You will also need something to collect and store the milk in like milk storage bags or collection bottles.

Milk Storage: where do you put the milk you pump?

You’ll need a plan to store all the milk you collect. Depending on how long you’re away from your baby for, you may pump anywhere from 2-4x or more. All of that milk will need to end up in a fridge but it’s not like there’s going to be one readily available to you.

If the wedding is at a hotel, for example, and you have a room, you’ll be able to keep your milk in that fridge. An alternative if the wedding is at a golf course, outdoors or you don’t have immediate access to a fridge is to bring a cooler bag and a few ice packs. If you store your pumped milk this way, you’ll have 24 hours before it needs to get into a fridge. The other logistical aspect is where do I keep a cooler bag full of milk?! Well, you might need to get a little creative. Can you let a staff member know and keep it in coat check? Can you keep it under your table? If it’s not too hot, you might be able to keep it in your car.

Is your outfit pumping accessible?

I love jumpsuits/rompers but if you’ve ever worn one, you know it’s always a little weird to get half naked just to go pee. So, you’re definitely going to want to think about what you’re wearing and what it means for pumping.

When I was breastfeeding, I bought a jumpsuit with a zipper in front so that I could nurse and still stay dressed. Consider outfits that give you easy access. Zippers in the front, loose tops that can easily lift up, dresses with some stretch so you can keep them on while pumping. Or even dresses that have been designed with breastfeeding moms in mind and are nursing/pumping accessible. They cost a little more but they’re often pieces you can wear over and over again.

mother breastfeeding her baby
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels.com

Other things you need to think about: travel, baby bottles and booze

What if the wedding is a destination wedding and it means air travel and a week away? Would your baby come with you? What if you’re planning to get a hotel room for the night and will be away from your baby for 24 hours? The longer you are travelling for or the longer you’re away from your baby, the more milk you will need to store.

You’ll also need a plan for how your baby will be fed while you’re away. Do they already takes bottles? Perfect! Use bottles. But what if they don’t take bottles? Introducing one before you leave may or may not be possible depending on your baby’s age how much time you have so you’ll have to plan for an alternative like cup feeding.

Weddings are a time of celebrating and often mean alcohol. If you’re planning to drink, you do not need to pump and dump. You can read my blog post “Is it ok to drink alcohol while breastfeeding” for everything you need to consider. I’ve linked it at the bottom of this post for you.

A final consideration is having milk ahead of time. If you’re leaving for a few hours, your baby is going to need milk left behind. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to start pumping after each feed or anything like that. If you don’t already have milk in your freezer, about two weeks before your event you can begin working to collect a little extra milk. This could mean pumping after your baby’s first nursing session of the day, hand expressing after nursing or adding in a pump session before you go to bed. What’s going to work best for you is going to depend on you and your baby.

If you’re feeling like you need a more personalized approach to planning for being away from your baby during wedding season or other events, you can book a consultation with me here. We’ll go over the specific details of your event, your baby’s current patterns and schedules and we’ll co-create a plan to help you enjoy your time AND continue your breastfeeding relationship with your baby.

Resources mentioned in this post:

Alcohol and Breastfeeding [blog post]

Hand Expression [blog post]

Milk Storage [podcast]

Alex Wachelka is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who knows how hard it can feel sometimes to feed your baby. She’s passionate about educating moms about their bodies and babies so they can make the decisions that feel most right for them. When she’s not working with moms she’s spending time with her kids and rewatching episodes of her favourite TV shows.

Top 5 Postpartum Must-Haves: to help you through the first week

Updated April 5th 2024

When I was expecting my first child I was planning for postpartum while I was still pregnant. I was reading different books to help be better understand what was going to happen to my body and how to best prepare. I read books about labour and birth stories, books about nutrition and books about breastfeeding and child development. I was feeling really good with the information I was learning. I really thought I was prepared. I felt ready, until I was it with the reality that I wasn’t at all prepared.

In all my reading, I was never fully prepared to experience what it was like to be ‘postpartum’.

The reality is, our society focuses so much on your baby and not enough on you.

If you’re a first-time mom, you may not have given a second thought to what’s going to happen postpartum. I know you’ve been busy researching carseats and looking for the best stroller. Maybe you’re thinking your baby bump will be gone the minute your baby is born and you can wear your pre-pregnancy pants home? On the other hand, maybe you have done a bunch of research, asked around and bought what you think you might need postpartum (like pads and nipple cream) but you’re still not entirely sure what to *actually* expect.

It isn’t until you experience it for yourself that you realize what you really needed (or wish you had). After working with hundreds of brand new moms and having experienced postpartum first-hand, twice, I’ve put together what I feel are the top 5 items to help you thrive postpartum. This list is the bare minimum. For how to best support your transition into postpartum and breastfeeding, download my free Peaceful Postpartum Guide at the bottom of this post.

#1 Diapers (and postpartum pads)

Diapers are a total game changer and not just for your baby. This would be diapers for you a.k.a disposable underwear if you prefer. It doesn’t serve the same purpose for you as it does baby. For you, they are very helpful for postpartum bleeding which is called lochia. You might think a regular period pad will do but it won’t. Your uterus has a dinner plate sized organ in it (the placenta) and there’s a separation wound left behind after you have a baby. It will bleed and needs time to heal. This happens whether you give birth vaginally or via c-section.

The disposable underwear is very comfortable especially around the waist. If you’ve had a c-section you’ll appreciate how gentle the waistband is against your skin. The first few days are the heaviest but if you’re up moving around instead of resting, your body will let you know and your bleeding will likely increase.

#2 Peri Bottle (and herbal sitz bath)

A Peri bottle is amazing to have when going to the bathroom postpartum. You might be sent home with one (or you can purchase one ahead of time). My first trip to the bathroom after giving birth required my midwives walk me there in case I felt dizzy. When I sat down they handed me a squirt bottle filled with warm water and said “do not wipe” use this bottle and then lightly pat dry. Well, it was the best thing ever! Washing away everything and preventing any possible “sting” from my urine. Because if you have a tear or scrape of any kind, your urine will sting when you pee until that heals.

The water from the peri bottle helps dilute your urine and makes going to the bathroom postpartum super comfortable. I used that bottle each time I used the bathroom for the first few weeks. The peri bottle is also a great way to use herbs postpartum for healing. You can prepare a batch of herbal sitz bath and put it inside the peri bottle. A sitz bath can easily be found online and is made up of herbs that help reduce inflammation and speed healing. You brew it like a tea except it’s for use on the outside of your body.

glad pregnant woman caressing tummy in house room
Photo by Amina Filkins on Pexels.com

#3 Magnesium (and electrolyte minerals)

Magnesium citrate is a wonderful natural stool softener postpartum. You can take this day 1 after giving birth if you’re not already taking a magnesium supplement. The goal is to prevent any straining when you have your first bowel movement because that first poop after your baby is born can feel a little scary. There are also foods rich in magnesium that are beneficial postpartum like dark leafy greens, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate.

Hydrating your body and eating fibre will help prevent you from needing to push too hard when you have your first postpartum poop.

Your body will also need other minerals like potassium and sodium for example and with breastfeeding making you extra thirsty, adding an electrolyte mix to your water will help your energy levels.

#4 Bone Broth (and/or collagen)

There are many cultures around the world that support a postpartum mom with soups and broths because of the collagen. Collagen is an essential addition to a postpartum care routine. Collagen is an important protein that supports your skin’s elasticity and structure which is needed as your body is repairing and healing from birth.

You can find collagen in soups and bone broths as well as gelatin and slow cooked meats (pulled pork, bone broth, chicken soup etc) due to the breakdown of the animals connective tissues. You can also consume collagen as a supplement, specifically, powdered collagen from a marine (fish) or bovine (cow) source.

Planning some freezer meals like I mentioned above can help ensure you have easy access to these nourishing foods after your baby is born. And if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, focus on foods you love and food that make you happy as well as prioritizing your protein intake. Protein is needed for milk production and often overlooked.

#5 Lactation Support

There is no reason to wait until you have a problem to see a lactation consultant! I meet many moms-to-be who are already worrying about whether or not they will make enough milk for their babies, whether or not breastfeeding is going to hurt and how on earth they can possible tell if their baby is drinking enough. Setting up an appointment to see an IBCLC ahead of birth can help calm your nerves and have you feeling more confident before your baby is even born.

This is exactly what I do inside the Baby Bump to Breastfeeding Academy. It’s a place where we get to work together while you’re pregnant to go even deeper into postpartum prep so you feel confident and ready and then spend a few months helping you through your breastfeeding journey. If you decide to grab my free guide below, you’ll learn a little more about this program.

Do you want to feel even more prepared for postpartum? Get INSTANT ACCESS to my free Peaceful Postpartum Guide

This guide includes how to help you physically heal and plan for baby’s arrival including creating a meal train and your baby’s sleep. You’ll also learn how to set yourself up for breastfeeding success and a smooth transition into motherhood.

Click Here to Download the Guide

How Do I Get My Breastfed Baby to Stop Biting?

It doesn’t mean weaning or switching to bottles

Updated February 27th 2024

Fear not! Teething and biting does not mean the end of your breastfeeding relationship if you don’t want it to. It also doesn’t mean that you need to wean onto bottles (if you’re not already using them) though it may feel like that at first. Cutting teeth and breastfeeding can co-exist!

When does teething start?

You might start to notice sign of teething as early as 8-12 weeks. This does not mean they’re about to cut a tooth. The first two teeth that show up are the bottom two followed by the top two. You won’t actually see those bottom two teeth until much closer to 6 months.

Seeing your baby begin drooling, chewing more on their hands, on toys, or trying to stick things into their mouth can be signs of teething. As your baby is teething and around the time teeth start to cut through, you may notice their latch change. I’ve had many moms come to me worried as their baby now has a shallow latch.

If you notice your baby’s latch suddenly seems shallow and they happen to be teething, discomfort could be one cause. Often, putting gentle pressure on their gums (tracing where the teeth would grow in) can help soothe them prior to a feeding. Skin to skin time during these feedings can also be helpful. This releases oxytocin which is a natural pain reliever. Offering a cold washcloth (that has been dampened with breastmilk or water) to chew before feedings can also help get a deeper latch by reliving some pain. You also have the option of offering a teething toy before breastfeeding which you can keep in the fridge or freezer.

What if my baby bites?

First, don’t panic. When your little one begins cutting teeth and more likely after that first tooth grows in a little, it’s almost inevitable that he or she will bite. While this might sound terrifying, it’s normal baby behaviour and I’m here to help you navigate it.

Many babies and toddlers all over the word nurse long after their teeth come in. Some babies bite and some don’t. Your baby is learning what it’s like to have teeth so you can expect them to want to explore.

The biggest tip I can give you is to watch your baby’s body language. With my first son, when the flow of milk started to slow towards the end of a feeding, he would begin to chew and or bite. This is also true of all the clients I’ve supported through biting babies.

Babies cannot physically bite if they are drinking milk. This is because in order to feed at breast, a baby’s tongue needs to extend past their gum line (where teeth grow in), cup around the nipple, lift the nipple to the roof of their mouth and draw it to the back of their mouth. This means, if they are feeding, their tongue is over their gums/teeth and they physically cannot bite down. The biting down happens after they pull their tongue back. Most of the time, if your are watching your baby while they are nursing, you can see this shift happen and unlatch them before they bite.

Other techniques you can use:

I like to first try breast compressions when you see your baby’s swallowing start to slow down. In general this is an important practice in breastfeeding because it helps increase the flow of milk and can keep your baby drinking a little longer which helps them get more milk.

When swallows aren’t happening anymore, and before your baby has the chance to shallow their latch and bite, put your finger in the corner of their mouth to break the seal they have on the breast and unlatch them. Switch them to the other side if they usually nurse on both sides.

I have also found a calming nursing environment helpful for the families I work with. Distractions often amplify wanting to play at the breast rather than drink especially in babies older than 3 months where they are much more distracted at breast. The reality is this is not always possible especially if there’s older children in the home or you are not in your own space.

And if the bite happens…

If and when my baby bites, I unlatch them and follow it up with a gentle but firm “we don’t bite”. It’s important to talk to your baby. They will learn it’s not ok to bite but we need to be the teacher. Often if your baby gets a big reaction out of you, they may just do it again for the reaction. It’s incredibly difficult not to shout or yell when it happens but the more you can remain calm, the easier it will be to teach your baby not to bite again.

I also wanted to add that if you’re reading this and freaking out thinking a bite means they will break the skin and draw blood, that’s generally not the case. Yes, a bite will hurt but often they’re just exploring and your body will “sound the alarms” and stop the process before the skin is broken. That said, I have worked with moms after their baby did break the skin but there’s often other factors involved such as a shallow latch creating more difficulties. IF that happens to you, get an IBCLC to help you heal the wound and stop the bites from happening.

As for toddlers, when a full set of teeth have grown in, if they continue to have a good deep latch, you won’t feel their teeth.

And if none of that is working for you, reach out for support. Lactation consultants aren’t just for brand new babies. This message was from a client of mine who had an 8 month old who was always biting. The biting would cause a small wound that mom would need to heal while also nursing.

We put some plans in place for their unique breastfeeding relationship and she was able to continue nursing and prevent future biting.

If you need 1-1 support help with latching, painful breastfeeding, milk supply, plugged ducts, pumping or anything else related to feeding your baby I’m here to help you. You can click here to work with me.

Join my weekly Tuesday email community and receive helpful tips, real stories, support and exclusive access to my online programs.

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How to bring back your milk supply after it drops

Updated April 13th 2025

It’s an awful feeling to feel like *or know for sure* your milk supply has dropped. Especially if you’ve already been having a hard time with your milk supply. You feel defeated, sad, worried. I completely understand and that’s why I want to provide you some reassurance and walk you through what you can do to help bring your supply back.

Why did my supply drop?

Your milk production can slow down for many reasons. Because milk is made 24/7, the speed is what is changing but you see it as a drop in supply when it begins to slow. So why does this happen in the first place?

Getting your period back can reduce your milk supply. The hormones needed for ovulation compete (essentially) with the hormones needed for lactation. So when your body decides it’s ready to menstruate again, it can impact your milk supply. You might notice your baby is fussier at breast or you’re not pumping as much in the few days leading up to your bleed and the few days into your bleed.

This is quite common and considered normal. It will take your body two to three cycles before you stop noticing this dip before each period.

Your supply might also drop after a bought of sickness. If you had a cold or the flu and were really run down, you might not be pumping or nursing as often. You might not be eating or drinking as much and let’s face it, it can also feel stressful. This can all reduce your milk supply.

Your supply might have dropped because you decided to cut out night pumps or night feeds before your baby was ready. It might have dropped because you started a new medication such as birth control. It might have dropped because you had mastitis. There are many reasons you may see your supply drop.

What can I do to bring my supply back?

First, you want to find out what caused the drop because that will determine how to best approach increasing your supply. For example, if it was because of a cold, you can introduce power pumping for a little while to create a boost and/or add a pump session or two if you’re nursing. If it was because of a medication (birth control, decongestants and some anxiety meds) then you would need to speak with your doctor and discuss if there are any other appropriate options for you. In this situation I would also encourage you to work with an IBCLC (a Board Certified Lactation Consultant).

Power pumping is a technique that most people can use to act as a “boost” for your milk supply. It mimics a cluster feed essentially. You get lots of stimulation over a long period of time which sends the feedback the body needs to increase milk production.

How to power pump to increase supply

Power pumping is fairly straightforward. There’s several methods of power pumping/cluster pumping. I’ve shared the most common below.

With my clients, I suggest it 1x/day for 3-5 days in a row and then see how volumes have changed. Keep in mind in these situations, I’m also taking their health history into account and assessing the full picture of feeding and what’s going because there’s often more than one factor that’s affecting milk supply. I also look at their pump equipment to make sure it’s being used in the best way possible.

Power pumping takes 1 hour of on and off pumping as follows:

  • 20 minutes of pumping
  • 10 minutes off – just turn the pump off but leave it attached to your body. You have to be using a double electric pump for this. Not a wearable pump like Elvie, Willow, MomCozy or anything similar
  • 10 minutes of pumping
  • 10 minutes off
  • 10 minutes of pumping
  • You’re done!

Tips to get the most out of your power pumping session

While pumping, use gentle compressions and massage to maximize your output. This technique is called hands on pumping and helps your breasts empty. The research demonstrates that this increases how much milk you collect as well as the fat content.

Remember to always be gentle. Your breast tissue is not muscle. You cannot massage it as hard as you would other parts of your body. If you’re pushing really hard and being really vigorous with your massage, you can damage the very delicate breast tissue. This can lead to inflammation which could lead to plugged ducts and possibly mastitis. Not to mention you breast will feel sore and tender. So please be gentle.

The massage helps to unstick any of the fattier parts of milk. Basically, more milk is being removed which in turn means more will be made because an empty breast makes milk faster. You can also hand express after the pump session to ensure you’ve removed as much milk as possible.

Power-pumping sessions should be as enjoyable as possible since you have to devote an hour to them. Listen to your favorite podcast or music, watch a tv show or movie, or just lean back and enjoy some silence (if possible!). Have a snack or a drink as well because it’s important that you’re eating and drinking enough. You can do them anytime of day that works for you there’s no one time that works for everyone. With my clients, they often choose the evening hours because their partner is home and it means their partner can look after their baby while mom works on power pumping.

Alex Wachelka is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and mother of two. She is the founder of Motherhood Blooms Lactation, a private practice dedicated to helping mothers feel seen, heard and validated while helping them reach their breastfeeding goals. She provides care with a non-judgmental, evidence-based and holistic approach. With the birth of her first child and her own challenges breastfeeding for the first time, she found her passion for lactation support and education. She is dedicated to ensuring you feel well supported and confident in how you feed your baby.

27 Reasons Your Baby Wants To Breastfeed

Updated January 22nd 2024

You’ve likely had someone question how often your baby was nursing or maybe you’ve been wondering “what’s normal”? This is so common especially because someone likely told you a breastfed baby eats every 2-3 hours so when your baby wants to nurse more often than that, it makes you wonder. You might have even been taught that in a prenatal class somewhere. The hard truth is, however, this is not accurate for most babies.

Most babies, especially newborns, eat more frequently than this. This is because baby’s are driven by biology. They want to eat when they are hungry. Just like you or me. Unlike you or me, they don’t understand schedules, and do not operate off of them.

Some days they will want to eat very often. Some days they may go that 2-3 hours between feedings. Some days however, they won’t want to eat much but they will want to be at the breast all the time.

Babies seek out the breast for so many reasons. Reasons far beyond just food or thirst. You are your baby’s safe space. Their home. You are the place they go to for comfort. How special is that?!

Yes, your baby will want the breast when they are hungry or thirsty but they may also want it if they are overwhelmed or stressed. If babies become overstimulated and overwhelmed with their environment, they will seek the breast as a familiar safe space that will comfort them. This is not a bad habit. It’s our biology.

Because of this, I’ve put together a list of 27 different reasons your baby may want to breastfeed. It’s mainly for fun but I’ve experienced these with my own two children as well as had clients experience these. Every single one of these reasons is a valid reason to want to nurse. We have to stop thinking of breastfeeding as just “food” and see it for what it truly is a relationship. It’s a connection between parent and baby, a way to mother our children; a bond. It is so far beyond just food and hydration (though it’s the best tailor-made nutrition you’ll find for your baby).

27 Reasons Your Baby Wants to Breastfeed

  1. Hungry
  2. Thirsty
  3. Tired
  4. Scared
  5. Sad
  6. Hurt
  7. Overwhelmed
  8. Stressed
  9. Have a cold
  10. Have a fever
  11. Teething
  12. Had a bad dream
  13. They love you
  14. Trying to poop
  15. Settle their stomach
  16. Feels like a good time to breastfeed
  17. They saw your boobs
  18. To fall asleep
  19. They met a stranger
  20. To spend time with you
  21. It makes them happy
  22. It makes them feel safe
  23. They’re hot
  24. Breastmilk is sweet
  25. They need a quick snack
  26. They were separated from you
  27. They’re frustrated

Alex Wachelka

Alex Wachelka is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, mother of two, educator, writer and podcast host. She works with families locally and across the globe to help them feed their babies.

Learn More About Me

Breastfeeding During Pregnancy: what you need to know

Updated July 30th 2025

Maybe you’ve already found out you’re pregnant or you’re currently nursing your baby or toddler and are planning for your next pregnancy. Whatever your situation, I’m going to walk you through what you need to know to breastfeed during your pregnancy.

What can you expect?

There are many people all over the world who continue to breastfeed their baby or toddler through their pregnancy. Your body is preparing to feed the newborn so your body is going to go through some changes. Many moms experience very tender and sore nipples. This happens during pregnancy and this can make nursing feel uncomfortable or painful. Depending on how often your older child is nursing, it might be something you need to take precautions around. If you have a toddler, you can set some boundaries around feeding them.

Another big change that happens is that your milk will transition back to colostrum. When you are around 16-20 weeks along in your pregnancy, your body is going to change your milk. The nutrition will change and the volume will drop because it’s changing back to colostrum in preparation for the newborn. This means your supply will drop. There isn’t anything you can do to try and keep your supply up, unfortunately. Biology and hormones will be making those changes for you.

This is important because if your older child is under 12 months old when you reach 16-20 weeks in your pregnancy, you’ll need a plan for supplementing them. Either introducing formula or using donor milk depending on what your goals for feeding them are. They can absolutely still drink the colostrum. It will be full of antibodies to continue to protect their immune system. So if you’re comfortable, you can continue to nurse them.

Colostrum is also very salty. It’s not sweet like mature breast milk so some older babies and toddlers will choose not to nurse as often with the change and some end up weaning. Though, it is very common and normal for your older child to continue to want to nurse throughout your pregnancy.

Colostrum also has a laxative effect. It helps your newborn pass their first poop (called meconium) and this will also affect your toddler. Be on the lookout for loose stools as this is just likely the result of the colostrum.

Is it safe?

Breastfeeding releases the love hormone, oxytocin. Oxytocin is what pushes milk out of your nipple so it flows and your baby can drink it. Oxytocin is also the hormone needed during labour for contractions. Because of this, you might be wondering if nursing your older child during your pregnancy is safe.

Generally speaking, yes, it is safe. If you have a low risk pregnancy, you can continue especially if it’s desired by both you and your older child. Always speak with your primary care provider if you have any concerns.

mother breastfeeding her baby
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels.com

Tandem Breastfeeding

You can also begin to think about what your next breastfeeding journey is going to look like. Will you be tandem breastfeeding your children? This means nursing both your newborn and your toddler. Sometimes it’s at the same time, sometimes it’s separate but it’s your body feeding both children.

You can do whatever feels right for you. Some moms choose to wean their older child closer to their due date while others continue to nurse both their newborn and their toddler. Your toddler will not take milk away from the newborn. You can give each child one breast to feed from or allow the newborn to nurse first, followed by your toddler.

If you have a toddler who seems less interested as your pregnancy progresses whether it’s due to the drop in milk supply or the change in taste, you may notice they change their mind when the new baby arrives. Many moms report their toddler being more interested in nursing again because they see their newborn sibling nursing.

The drop in milk supply

The reason your supply will drop around 16-20 weeks is because biology is taking over. You are pregnant. Your hormone levels have changed. High levels of progesterone reduce milk supply and progesterone is naturally very high during pregnancy to help grow your baby and your placenta.

It’s not until the placenta is born that your supply will begin to increase again. Just as it did with your previous baby and breastfeeding journey. Because it’s hormonal, our usual “go-to’s” for increasing supply like pumping, won’t work. This is why it’s important to have a plan for your older baby as your pregnancy progresses.

 

This is THE PLACE to be for all things breastfeeding whether you’re nursing or pumping. 

Join my weekly Tuesday email community and receive helpful tips, real stories, support and exclusive access to my online programs.

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If you need help

If you need some help for challenges that might come up while you’re breastfeeding like painful latches, low milk supply, pumping issues and more, you can book a consult to work with me under the “lactation consults” tab when you click on my services.