Breast-feeding and formula feeding support

Tips on fully emptying breasts?

So when I gave birth to my son 2/26, I was quickly increasing in production on my colostrum. The lac consultant and all the nurses who helped me hand express said they could feel I had a TON of milk ducts and would easily be able to produce. Well here we are 6 weeks later and there is maybe one pumping session per day I get over 2oz between both breasts. I go back and forth between my wearable “MomMed” brand pump and Madela pump in style pump. I realized recently I needed to replaced the valve on my wearables and have done so. I also realized I am still able to hand express after a 30 min pump session with both types of pumps so I am realizing I don’t get fully empty which is probably why my supply isn’t increasing as I am doing everything else right, (eating oatmeal daily, taking lengendairymilk’s Cash cow supplements, and hydrating with plenty of water and coconut water). Adding hand expression to my pumping sessions has taken FOREVER. Even after like 30 additional minutes of hand expression I am still able to get streams of milk showing me I am still not empty. I am tired, my hands and breasts hurt, and I feel like giving up. Any advice? Please help as I don’t want to fully switch to formula if I don’t have to.

in our community

Rock to Sleep? Or Cry to sleep?

not too long ago, my fiancé allowed our baby to cry himself to sleep because our son was tired. I entirely oppose to this way of nurture I despise it. There’s no way that these tiny creatures who were born with no coping abilities are somehow going to go to sleep with no comfort, I find it absolutely neglectful. I wanna share this topic asking for a mothers opinion as well how do you feel about the “cry it out” method does it work? Does it not? What’s your thoughts on it?

Co-sleeping and a glass of wine?

So this post I know might be a one where you will judge me, but hey I am only human.

I haven’t had any alcohol since before I was pregnant. I’m co- sleeping my 9 month old and I am quite anxious to put her in any risk.

The weather is so nice and I really fancy a nice cold glass white wine on the terrace.

I know the advice is not to drink anything and co - sleep. But my baby is good at letting me know when she is unhappy.

But what is your thoughts?

5 months in and the toughest journey mentally I have ever been on

Second reflux CMPA baby , with my first it was intense . This time round it's gone up a notch . I physically do not get a minute each and every day is the same . He is in my arms all day every day with tolerating floor time with me for 5 mins every few hours . The crying , fussing and sensitivity it's another level . Today is the day I have had to reach out to the drs for support to get me through this extremely difficult time. Trying to care for my eldest , run a home and look after and soothe my baby is taking me over the edge . I have never felt so emotional in my life .to all the velcro mums I see you and your doing an amazing job 🫶🏼

Am I wrong for telling my friend I think he should get tested for STDs after what he told me about his girlfriend?

Last week he told me that his girlfriend was sick and throwing up. And then he told me again today that she felt sick again and that she thinks it is a stomach bug. I asked him if she was pregnant and he says "No she got her tubes tied." I told him "it is still possible to get pregnant after that but it is rare. And if she is then it is probably an ectopic pregnancy." She has a history of being on drugs but he says she stopped years ago and she still smokes weed even though she stopped the other studf. And they have cheated on each other before but I don't know how far they went when they cheated. I asked him if she has any STDs and he said no. I said "well people who do heavy drugs have a higher chance of having an std and stds can weaken the immune system." I told him "If its not an std then maybe it is a hang over." If she keeps getting sick a lot then I think it is more than just a stomach bug. Either she is back on drugs and having hang overs or she has an STD or some other kind of illness. He himself has also been sick several times during their relationship but he keeps claiming that it is from stress. Also, her symptoms sound worse than his. They also fight a lot. Their relationship is very toxic.

Why do people like to give unsolicited advice about breastfeeding my baby?

My baby is 1 (just turned one a few weeks ago). She’s always been breastfed. When people realise I still breastfeed my baby I always get comments. Just the other day my friend told me that I should probably stop breastfeeding now as I’ve done it for a year and she would have gotten all the benefits from bf already. She said bf is so hard and I will have no freedom if I don’t stop, and then she told me which formula she recommended. Advice which I didn’t ask for. I’m quite happy the way things are going and have no intentions of stopping anytime soon. So why the unsolicited advice?

Giving baby water

I’ve seen mixed advice on giving babies water, does anyone know what the current advice is?

I’ve heard it’s a good idea to start them using a sippy cup when you start weaning but does that have milk in it or water? When are you supposed to start giving your baby water? Thank you!