Breastfeeding 101

Breastfeeding can feel overwhelming, especially when you're surrounded by schedules, ounces, and advice. Sometimes, it helps to get back to the basics.

1. Feed Your Baby, Not the Clock or Freezer

Your baby is your guide. Babies don't always nurse for the same amount of time or follow a perfect schedule, and that’s okay!

Try to focus less on the clock and how much milk is sitting in your freezer and more on your baby's hunger and fullness cues. Your goal is to feed your baby, not the clock or freezer. 

2. Better Input = Better Output

Nursing & pumping tells your body to make more milk. The more effectively and frequently milk is removed, the stronger the signal to keep producing. 

Your baby's nursing, swallowing, diaper output, and growth can tell you much more about how feeding is going than how many ounces you pump. 

Don't let your pump output alone determine your feelings toward your milk supply because it isn’t super accurate. 

Your peace of mind and confidence that your baby is getting enough at the breast is diaper output. 

3. Slight Tenderness Is Normal. Pain Is Not.

Some nipple tenderness can be normal during the early days of breastfeeding as you and your baby learn together.

But persistent, severe, pinching, burning, or painful breastfeeding isn't something you should have to "push through." Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt.

Remember…

Feed your baby, not the clock or freezer.
Better input equals better output.
Slight tenderness is normal. Pain is not.

You don't have to figure it all out alone.

Whether you are pregnant and preparing to breastfeed or are currently in the throes of breastfeeding, formula feeding, supplementing, or everything in between, we are here for you!

But we also want you to have resources when it’s 2 am and you are questioning everything!