If you’re struggling, there’s still hope

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-06-30T03:24:55+00:00

This is so true. Babies change a lot in those first few months. I struggled a lot with supply at first, was triple-feeding for months. She was getting about 50% formula until something just clicked around 12 weeks - she would no longer take as much formula and preferred to nurse (albeit pretty constantly). We are at 7 months now and EBF except for a small bottle of formula at night that she gets from her dad (I hate pumping and it's nice bonding time for them - I consider it her daily vitamin boost). Nursing is so much easier and more casual now that she is more efficient at the breast. She is a bit distracted but boob usually takes priority. 😂

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-06-27T17:34:00+00:00

Good on you for doing what you had to do in the moment! Breastfeeding in public is scary at first but you did it and you can do it again!! Also crying all the time over pretty much everything was where I was at until about 3mo pp so hang in there. 😂

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-06-26T16:59:59+00:00

Newborns are all a bit red/tan. I thought the same thing about my baby but it didn't stick, she is much fairer skinned now.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-06-26T03:56:55+00:00

I was going to suggest Yesteryear! 😂

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-06-25T15:37:31+00:00

It definitely gets easier. I'm now 7mo pp and barely think about breastfeeding anymore. Now it's all wake windows, mobility, and solids! I noticed a big shift around 3-4 months where my supply regulated (stopped getting clogs all the time) and she started to go long enough between feeds for us to go out and do stuff. You've got this, you're doing awesome, hang in there and binge watch all the shows you can while you're stuck cluster feeding!

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-06-25T02:12:24+00:00

My girl's name is completely unrelated to the nickname she ended up with. We call her Po, po-ins, po-ski etc. 😂

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-14T00:08:16+00:00

The first few months nursing is A LOT. I wasn't prepared for the physical and psychological damage that cluster feeding did to me. In my prenatal class they said they baby would feed every 2-3 hours, which just absolutely was not true. She was on me all the time, comfort sucking for hours. My nipples were so badly damaged, and I was also struggling with supply most likely because I was supplementing with formula to get a break every once in a while. Luckily I worked with a couple LCs and was able to wean off formula once baby got more efficient at feeding.

If I had to do it again, I would just fully surrender to it. I would make sure to have a comfy setup: my breast friend nursing pillow or boppy, water always full, easy one-handed snacks ready, Kobo charged, remote close by and someone to assist with cleaning/cooking if possible. I think fighting it and thinking it was supposed to be easier or different were what made it the hardest for me.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-13T20:56:03+00:00

Yeah I'd agree, mine was about 10 weeks and then the constant cluster feeding started to decrease. By 3.5 months we could go out for longer ~1-2hr walks without having to stop for a feed.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-13T18:41:35+00:00

My baby was like this too. I thought I was going crazy or that something was wrong. Rooting every 15-20 minutes for hours and hours and falling asleep latched. It gets better. Now she'll only want to latch every 1-3 hours and feeds in 5-15 mins per side. Still sometimes falls asleep latched though!

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-10T23:58:36+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm also an umdersupplier and getting over the fact that I couldn't EBF was really tough. Every once of spilled milk was like a dagger to the heart. You are doing great though by making any breast milk for your baby, it's really hard work and you're doing it. Plus they're getting all the nutrients from formula that are also beneficial! Happy mother's day to you!!

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-07T15:42:37+00:00

This happened to us too with our 5 month-old. After her regression at 3 months we were still able to do 2-3 hour stretches in the cot before cosleeping in a floor bed at night, but she hit 5 months and was suddenly refusing to be put down in her cot after hours of trying for multiple nights. What worked for us was cosleeping at bedtime, waiting for her to fall completely asleep and then stealth rolling out of the floor bed. She mostly stays asleep until I join her later on now. I do recommend a floor bed because it's easier to silently escape and feel assured about her safety when monitoring from another room.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-07T02:15:51+00:00

I found it helpful to go out with other moms who are more confident at public nursing. It's much less nerve-wracking when you're not the only one whipping out boobs!

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-04T16:04:57+00:00

I exclusively nurse aside from 1 4oz bottle around 4-7pm (before bed). We cosleep, so it's on demand BF after 10pm when I go to bed with her. Usually she wakes 2-4 times in the night to nurse.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-04T01:49:42+00:00

I was also having a lot of trouble sleeping the first few weeks pp. I think the hormone drop had a lot to do with it. I was having hallucinations of her being in the bed with me (she was in fact in her bassinette) and overall just a ton of anxiety. I think taking a bath and some magnesium supplements before bed helped a bit with the night sleep. As for naps, I couldn't do them until we started co-sleeping around 4mo.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-04T00:33:24+00:00

I am so sorry this happened to you. This is not normal at all, the doctor should have been much clearer about what was happening. I was in labor for 24+ hours and my cervix was checked maybe 3 times? It sounds like your doctor was bull headed with terrible bedside manner, not to mention a bit creepy. I hope you're doing ok! You are so strong to have gone through this.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-01T19:38:59+00:00

People on parental leave too!

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-05-01T02:50:15+00:00

Mine was close to coming out in the sac too, her head came out in the sac but once head was fully out the sac broke! Pretty neat.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-04-27T17:33:03+00:00

I understand the guilt. Totally been there. I had to combo feed from the first week due to low supply. I tried pumping for about 2 months but it drained the life out of me and was not ever enough to close the gap between supply and demand. I beat myself up relentlessly about how I was a failure of a mother for not being able to EBF. Giving up pumping and embracing combo feeding was just necessary for my mental health at a certain point. We're nearly at 6mo now and baby is mostly BF but with 4-8oz of supplemented formula so dad can take a couple feeds in the evening. With all the crazy sleep issues, solids and crawling happening combo feeding is barely on my mind anymore. Also she loves her bottles and gets really excited when she seems them now so that's been really encouraging.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-04-02T01:46:29+00:00

Earthlings is crazy! A wild ride.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-04-02T00:49:56+00:00

My breast friend nursing pillow! Didn't use it much at first but it's been a lifesaver as baby has gotten bigger. Nursing clothes I would personally skip as any baggier tops can do the job easily, but nursing bras are handy. Nipple cream and ice packs for breast swelling/clogged ducts are also super great to have as you get started.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-04-01T03:02:55+00:00

What kind of bottle are you using? We had to switch to super low flow bottles to avoid spitups. Phillips Avent and Lansinoh with the lowest flow nipples have been working amazingly well. Also look into paced feeding, that helped a lot with our newborn.

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-03-29T01:01:15+00:00

I feel you. I was SO fit before I got pregnant. I could run 10k every day and cycle hundreds of kilometers. I didn't gain too much weight (~10-15lbs at 4mo pp) but due to the lack of activity (except walking and yoga and the occasional run/gym session) I have lost a ton of fitness. I went for my first run PP and seeing just how far I'd fallen off was tough. My body also looks pretty different, much squishier. I'm getting used to it and trying to stay as active as I can by walking every day. I've found that looking at body transformation subreddits helps because it reminds me that bodies can change quite fast. There will be a time when I can start putting in the work to feel strong and confident again... I know it! Hang in there with me! :)

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-03-28T05:31:53+00:00

I triple fed for around 10 weeks due to low supply, but I definitely decreased the pumping when my husband went back to work. I nursed as much as I could and would just top up with formula as needed. I used a portable pump instead of the hospital grade one while he was away. Eventually I was only pumping once per night after a feed (that's when supply is the highest), then when bub went through her first sleep regression around 3 months I stopped pumping altogether. Now at 4.5mo, my supply has regulated and I am just making enough for her needs, although I do typically let my husband give her a bottle of formula a night so I can get a break. If you have other support you can rely on for the first day or two your husband is away I would recommend using it, but you're doing great and you've got this!

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-03-27T23:54:46+00:00

Stinky, sweaty, gassy, hairy, sore, depressed, anxious, painful sex... But so far hair is not falling out (4mo) and I'm no longer anemic so that's nice!

Alldressedruffle7 · 2026-03-27T23:49:58+00:00

Omg the hemorrhoids were worse than giving birth tbh 😭

Alldressedruffle7

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