All About Breastfeeding – What I Have Learned As a First-Time Breastfeeding Mom

First and foremost, I believe “fed is best.” However, I am so blessed that I have been able to provide nutrition for my baby with breast milk. And since I had the ability to feed my baby my breast milk and build up a stash in my deep freezer, I wanted to celebrate National Breastfeeding Awareness Month with one big blog post going over my personal journey, what I have learned, what has worked for me, some words of encouragement for other new moms, and even provide some facts relating to breastfeeding and Kentucky.

My Personal Journey and Goals

I had an emergency C-section, so it was crucial to me to breastfeed my son so I could feel some motherly connection women have when they give birth that I didn’t get in my delivery room. And It has been so rewarding. My goals for BF are to make it to one year. After one year, I will still offer him breast milk until he turns 2 years old. Weaning goals… I really don’t have any at the moment. I know that in year 3, there are not as many benefits as in years one and two, so I will be weaning before he turns 3. My goal with pumping is to get 1,000 ounces of milk stashed, and currently, at writing this blog, I have 900+ ounces saved! My journey so far has been great, and we have made it to 6 months, which I am very proud of. At the beginning of this journey, it was so hard. The first few weeks are the hardest when you’re establishing a routine and regulating your milk, though mine did not regulate till PP week 8. There was absolutely no sleep for me the first four weeks. I wanted to give up, but thankfully, I had women who supported me, and my husband supported me and told me to keep going, that I was strong and could do this, and he was right. I absolutely love everything about breastfeeding! The connection, the fact that I can do this for my baby, literally makes me forget about my traumatic birth story, and I am just glad that my body can do this and does do this for my son.

Facts About Breastfeeding

• Producing breast milk consumes 25% of the body’s energy; the brain only uses 20% by comparison (Porter, 2024).
• Milk changes its nutritional profile as baby grows (milk made for a 3 month old is different than for a 9 month old). Milk can even change day to day—for example, water content may increase during times of hot weather and baby-sickness to provide extra hydration (Porter, 2024).
• Your breast size has nothing to do with the amount of milk that you produce (Porter, 2024).
• Women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers (WHO, 2024).
• The metabolic energy needed to breastfeed a baby each day is the amount you’d use to walk seven miles (Porter, 2024)!
• Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life (WHO, 2024).
• Breastfeeding reduces the chance of SIDs (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).

Laws About BF in Kentucky

There are some laws in Kentucky that protect breastfeeding moms and their right to breastfeed. Below are the laws I have found along with the sources for the laws so you can directly go read more about them.

• KRS 211.755 – Mothers have the right to breastfeed in public.
• KRS 29A.100 – Judges have to excuse women/mothers who are breastfeeding or pumping milk from jury duty.
• The FSLA Protections to Pump at Work Act

There may be more, so I encourage you to do some research if the above laws are not specific to your curiosity.

Tips & Advice – What Has Worked For Me

Different things work for different people. We all have different types and sizes of breasts and nipples, which makes pump shopping a bit difficult and hit or miss since we all love what works for us, which may not work for others.

A piece of advice I can give about pumping would be to not stress and cover the pumps with clothing or a blanket or towel, so you’re not constantly looking down at what you’re pumping, as that can cause stress, which causes milk supply to drop. Also, DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF with oversuppliers. Getting .5 to 2 ounces total tops after feeding your baby at the breast is a sound and normal milk output. Remember, you’re feeding baby before your freezer, and baby always eats first!

My BF/Pumping Schedule:

This is the schedule that I have followed since I have gone back to work, and that has helped me keep my supply!

• between 11 pm – 7 am – Baby eats anywhere from two to three times throughout the night “snackily”. I do not pump during these times.
• 7 am – Baby may or may not eat at the breast.
• 8 am – PUMP! I power pump. I’ll share an infographic that shows what power pumping is near the end of this section.
• 11 am – PUMP.
• 1:30 pm – Pump.
• 3:30 pm – Pump.
• 4:30 – 7:30 pm – I let the baby eat on demand. I will sometimes pump after the baby eats 1 hour after or right after if I still feel “full” during these times.
• 8 pm – This is the baby’s bedtime, so he eats.
• 9 pm – Pump.
• 11 pm – PUMP!

The key is to pump every 2-3 hours, but I breastfeed from the tap and pump, so when working, I try to do 2 hours, and at night, when the baby is sleeping, I try every two hours. When I am with the baby and on weekends, I usually feed on demand and pump after the baby eats.

But another piece of advice is to wait to drop your overnight pump until your milk supply is established. Many women think they are oversupplied until their milk is regulated, and then they think their milk supply is drying up when that is not the case. I was guilty of feeling that way, but that was not the case at all. My milk was just regulating! However, I dropped my overnight pump since the baby slept more throughout the night so I could get sleep. There was a small drop in supply during the night. I suggest waiting till month 4 or 5 to drop the overnight pump unless you are working towards being an overproducer! I chose to prioritize my sleep over pumping.

When it comes to breast pumps, shopping around can get very expensive. However, I am still wary of buying secondhand from FB Marketplace. Still, the mom groups on FB that are local to your area could be a good source for buying secondhand that I would trust more. I honestly think the off-brand random brands on Amazon are good and would be a great start at seeing what portable pumps work best for you. For the wearable/hands-free pumps I listed below, just know that my specs and anatomy include elastic nipples. My flange size is 16, but I use a 17mm flange insert.

Breast Pumps I Have Tried

• Lansinoh Discreet Duo – 9.5/10 – I love my Lansinoh discreet duo wearable pumps as they have been the portable pumps that have actually emptied my breasts the most! I get way more than I do from these than from any other pump. I usually can get 3-5 uses/sessions out of the batteries/pumps before they need to be charged again! There are also only a few parts to these pumps, which makes washing the parts a breeze! It also is quieter than the other pumps that I have tried. ($$)
• Spectra S2 (Pink Wall Pump) – 7/10 – At first, I would get a good amount, but as my milk regulated, I realized that it did not empty me very well, and I had to really play around with the flange inserts and tubing for it to work well for me. I got my Spectra new through insurance as well! ($)
• Momcozy sS12 Pro – 8.5/10 – These portable pumps work really good, and their battery life is insane I can get 5-6 pump sessions in before battery dies! I get almost the same amount from these as I do my Lansinoh’s, but they have quite a few parts that come apart, and you have to clean them, making them not my favourite when it comes to washing my pump parts. ($$$)
• KMaier (off-brand) Wearable S12 – 7/10 – These pumps are an off-brand of the Momcozy S12 wearables but do so good! These are what made me invest in the Momcozy S12 set! These actually worked better than the Momcozy’s, in my opinion, but the motor gave out at the fourth month on the right side and would not work any longer, unfortunately. The battery life for these also kind of sucked, but the suction was top-notch. I’d say this set has the same number of parts as the Momcozy’s. ($)

Breast Milk Bags I Have Tried

• Evenflo – 10/10 – I absolutely loved these bags when I first started pumping and building a stash. They never leaked when I warmed them up, and they held the right amount I was bagging during the first few months of my son’s life. They hold up to 5 ounces, but I recommend just bagging 2 ounces at first, then up to four ounces as the newborn stage gets closer to an end and you’re going into the infant stage. There is decent enough room to write the ounces and the time and date on these bags as well. ($$)
• Dr. Browns – 9.5/10 – There is space to write on, and they have a temp-sensing version as well! I found that these bags can also hold a lot of ounces at once and are probably the strongest bags on this list when it comes to durability and warming them up. ($)
• Lanisinoh – 9/10 – Though I rated these lower than the first two bags, I use these the most. They give the most room when it comes to labeling the milk, and there is room in these bags. Some people say they leak when warmed up, but I have yet to come across that issue with these. ($)
• Motif – 8/10 – These are hard to open, but my insurance paid for these and still does, so I get these for free sometimes and will use them up. I plan on using these when I start making our own baby food, too! ($)
• MomCozy – 7.5/10 – I would have given these a 9/10, but there is no room to really write what I like to write on the bags, at least not with a Sharpie, and my mom told me a few leaked out on her when she would warm them up. But they are temp-sensing and easy to pour milk into, which makes up for those. I think I will warm these up in another bag next time just so they don’t leak the precious milk and waste my hard work! ($$)
• Grownsy – 5/10 – I did not give these a zero because I am sure they work for some moms, especially the moms on the go, but I did not like these, and neither did my best friend to whom I gave the rest. ($$)

Tips for Supply / What Worked For Me:

• Stay hydrated! Drink at least 64 ounces of water, but more if you can!
• Make sure you eat at least 500 calories at least over the average recommended calories.
• It is supply and demand, so pump, if you pump, as much as you can! I pump every 2 hours while at work and every 3 hours or after the baby eats when not at work. The more you empty your breasts, the more they will create milk.
• Use your correct flange size.
• Make lactation cookies and or brownies on your own with ingredients such as flax seeds, oats, peanut butter or chocolate and honey (for taste), and brewer’s yeast.
• Stay away from products that contain fenugreek.

The above photos represent my first pump of mine (I actually started before I was supposed to because I was trying to induce labor – do NOT do what I did…), and then there is one of my most recent pumps! I wanted to add this because it is normal to collect very small amounts of colostrum and milk initially. The left picture is how it looked when I would pump after the baby ate freshly postpartum as well. This is a normal amount at first because babies’ stomachs are so small! Then, milk will increase as they eat from you and as they tend to cluster feed. The right picture is my milk from being pumped at work. Not after feeding the baby, but what would have gone to the baby. My right side, like many women, makes the most milk. Be sure you’re not comparing yourself to other women at first because that can be a real mood killer, and it sometimes discourages moms from continuing breastfeeding. Just some of my two cents!

Mobile Apps I Use Religiously

• Nara Baby – I use this application every day to track feeding and diapers. I used to use it for more of the features they offer, but I didn’t feel like tracking my son’s sleep was something I needed to do. Moms can also track their health using this app too! There is actually a lot this app has to offer, and I recommend everyone to check this app out.
• Baby Tracker – I used this application before I made the Nara Baby app my main one. This one is really good, and you can download and print the data you collect on this app. It has fewer features than Nara Baby and ads, but it is a good app to track breastfeeding or bottle feeding, growth, and more.
• FitBit – I track my calories and water intake using my FitBit watch and the app. It also helps to see how I slept the night before as well! I watch my calories to make sure I am eating the recommended amount to help keep my milk supply and my water intake because drinking lots of water while breastfeeding is also something that has to be done to upkeep a great supply!
• Dairy Bar – This is a paid app, but it is so worth it. I paid about 2 dollars for this application and it has allowed me to keep track of all my milk that I have stashed in the freezer and deep freezer. It has made tracking my stash so easy!

A Few Items That Helped Me and Have Been Useful in This BF Journey

• My Breastfriend Pillow – I loved this pillow more than a boppy, to be honest; it made breastfeeding so much easier during the newborn phase! And it is so comfortable for the baby.
• Rolling Cart – Get a rolling cart and put all your stuff that you’ll need freshly postpartum on it! This helped me a lot after my C-section so I could regularly change my breast pads and pump wherever with minimal pain.
• Flange Inserts & Nipple Measuring Tool – If you don’t have money to see a lactation consultant and there aren’t any affordable options near you, print out a nipple measuring tool and measure your nipple size. Only measure the part that would go in the pump flange or baby’s mouth. Using the correct flange insert or flanges can help tremendously!

Top Four BF/Pumping Relevant Shops Online & In Kentucky

There is a brick-and-mortar lactation snack store right in the heart of Lexington called The Leaky Momma, which makes the best lactation cookies. The Leaky Momma is also the only established lactation cookie seller local/small located in Kentucky that I know of.

• The Leaky Momma – Click here for their website! And be on the lookout for a blog post from me covering their new location and an exclusive interview with the founder and owner! Make sure you’re subscribed to the blog site by clicking here so you don’t miss out on that blog post! But the Leaky Momma has amazing cookies, and the OG Chocolate Chip cookie is the best! They also have started shipping to some states here in the USA! Their grand opening event is actually on September 12th, 2024!
• Legendairy Milk – One of my favourite stores online! I used the Liquid Gold supplements, and though I didn’t see an increase in my supply, I believe they helped add nutrients to the milk I serve my baby. They also have pumps and other stuff to check out that can help you on your journey as well! Click here to visit their website.
• Milky Mama – Online Store that I’ve tried once. They have some good products. You can check their website out by clicking here.
• Lansinoh USA – They have an online store with a bunch of pumping and breastfeeding products that I actually enjoy and love. Check out their website by clicking here. I highly recommend looking at their products.

Regardless, sometimes lactation products work, and sometimes they don’t. It depends on the person, and I think sometimes they can be considered a luxury. That’s why you should also look into making your own lactation snacks!

Words of Encouragement

I understand how hard breastfeeding and pumping can be, and I know how tempting it can be to just not breastfeed at all or give up entirely. The first month postpartum is the hardest, in my opinion, when it comes to BF and pumping. I just want to say that I see you, you’re not alone, you can get through this. And if you decide to stop, that is 100% okay. But if you need someone like I did in the beginning to tell you to keep going, this is your sign. Keep going. Establish a routine if possible. You got this, mama!

If you’d like to stay motivated, consider following me on TikTok, where we can motivate each other! I post a lot about pumping, and I post quite a bit of pumping and pouring content! You can follow my TikTok account by clicking here or searching for me there using the username @ lifewithcaitie! I follow back fellow moms.

Consider following me on Instagram, as I also cover topics relating to motherhood, breastfeeding, and the good state of Kentucky! All things Kentucky, such as places to eat, visit, and shop. I’ve had a bit of a break, but I’m coming back with amazing content! Same username as TikTok, or you can click here.

Resources:

My Top Two Fave Facebook Groups

• Breastfeeding And Mom Support FB Group
• Latched

Blog Post Works Cited Pertaining to Breastfeeding Facts:

• Cleveland Clinic. “Benefits of Breastfeeding”. Cleveland Clinic. 17, July 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15274-benefits-of-breastfeeding
• Porter, Ruthie. “10 Facts You Didn’t Know About Breastfeeding”. Western Missouri Medical Center. Accessed 8, August 2024. https://wmmc.com/ten-facts-about-breastfeeding/#:~:text=10%20Facts%20You%20Didn’t%20Know%20About%20Breastfeeding&text=Producing%20breast%20milk%20consumes%2025,the%20perfect%20milk%20for%20baby.
• WHO. “Breastfeeding”. World Health Organization. Accessed 10 August 2024. https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_1

Disclaimers & Author Notes

I am NOT a LACTATION CONSULTANT or a medical professional. Please seek out the professionals for any medical questions you need answered. This blog post was written from a first-time mom’s perspective, and I’m only suggesting things that I have personally gone through and that have helped me in my journey.

I was gifted the Lansinoh wearables; everything mentioned product-wise and linked does not earn me any commission. Though, I wish it did. I’m only sharing my experiences and honest reviews. This post is not sponsored in any way and was written because I felt it was heavy on my heart to share! Also, I’m not a gatekeeper! Hopefully, anything I’ve said in this blog can help others and entertain those who are interested in reading. My blog site is for entertainment purposes only, not for medical purposes of any kind. I am not eligible to give medical advice, but I am allowed to give advice and tips based on my learned experiences.

If you’re having issues with breastfeeding, please contact your local lactation consultants and any other support you have near you that is relevant.

As always, thank you for reading. Consider subscribing to the blog for more! Especially if you’re a Kentucky Mama!

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