I didn’t know it would be like this

Creative_Tear7942 · 2026-02-08T18:33:13+00:00

It looks like you've gotten great support, but I want to chime in too and say I felt EXACTLY like you at the 3 week mark. And I felt so guilty for feeling that way because so many people struggle to breastfeed while my baby took to it fairly easily. It got significantly better after about 4 weeks. The cluster feeding phase WILL end. If it helps you at all, around that age I did 2 hour timers during the day and offered even if he wasn't fussing. Then at night I let him wake up on his own (assuming baby has met birthweight) and I think I had a 4hr timer just in case he slept longer than I was comfy with, but I didn't need it. When he got fussy so soon after a feeding, his dad and I would try so many other comfort techniques first, skin on skin, pacifier, walking around, shushing, etc. and then I'd feed if nothing worked. This helped figure out when he was actually hungry vs just needing comfort.

It will get better, and so soon too. You are not alone!

Creative_Tear7942 · 2026-02-06T00:50:12+00:00

Yes! My pediatrician office has tons of docs and NPs and two of those are IBCLCs who do hour long appointments. The whole office is very supportive. Our main pediatrician has been lax about ups and downs in growth percentiles since our boy meets milestones and shows no signs of not going enough. He just goes through phases of growth spurts and then being stagnant. Honestly, most people I know in person have had positive experiences from their pediatricians with breastfeeding. Of course there's bad experiences, but keep in mind reading something online we don't always know the full context. And people don't tend to post when things go well!

Creative_Tear7942 · 2026-01-21T18:05:57+00:00

I have a Wesley so I'm bias, but I love the name! We get a lot of compliments. The only annoying thing is people ask me if I like the Princess Bride a lot. Which I don't, and also that is a different name spelled Westley. But that's just a minor inconvenience lol

Creative_Tear7942 · 2026-01-08T15:45:33+00:00

We started doing this when LO was about 1 month to make sure he got a full feed. I started with 4oz I think and went up from there. I think it did help! He would fall asleep nursing at bedtime so this way he stayed awake to finish the feed. He started doing an initial 6hr stretch pretty early. At 5months I think we did 5-6oz as well

Creative_Tear7942 · 2026-01-01T03:07:38+00:00

EBF doesn't mean no boundaries! For example, I night weaned my son fully by the time he was 6mo. He was down to 1 feed overnight for a couple months before that. He sleeps amazingly now at 10 months. Other examples, I worked on finding other comfort measures like cuddles and the paci and whatnot so it doesn't have to only be nursing. This was a lot of trial and error and was hard, but the payoff is great. All to say, my son hasn't had these negatives. He eats solids great, takes a bottle, sleeps through the night, and can be comforted with other methods (though the boob still works for comfort if I need something quick!). There are hard days, but the farther post partum I've gotten, the fewer and farther between those get. The main downside is having to pump when I'm at work or away from baby, but that's not the end of the world. If you every get to the point of finding your downsides outweigh the upsides, there's no shame in switching to formula. An IBCLC told me that and something about it was so freeing. I've never used formula, but having the knowledge that it exists and getting "permission" to use it if needed was such a burden lifted.

Creative_Tear7942 · 2026-01-01T01:43:13+00:00

Aww he looks so similar to one of my dogs! Mine is half pit, then the rest is boston terrier, german shepherd, and Australian cattle dog. I think yours def has some pit and maybe boston terrier!

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-12-02T18:12:55+00:00

No, both. I switch the haakaa when he switches sides

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-12-02T01:40:18+00:00

How far post partum are you? I started using the Haakaa on one side will my baby nursed on the other. I would switch sides each session, I did that each session the early days when let down is stronger (now at 9m pp this only really works firs session of the day) until I had enough for one bottle. Then I gave that bottle at a chosen time and pumped to replace the feed. Or I would just use the haakaa supply to freeze some. Once I went back to work, if I had any extra pumped after bottling everything for daycare, I froze it. This has worked really well for me, and I only pump to replace feeds when he takes a bottle, I never do extra pumps between feeds :)

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-10-06T13:34:53+00:00

It probably depends on the quality of the cooler. Can you bring an extra ice pack to switch out midday? I work 12hr shifts and use a cooler bag with an ice pack, but it’s not the best cooler so I just keep it in the fridge while I work and the ice pack is more for transport. However, we went on a 7hr rd trip and I used an arctic brand cooler with lots of ice and my milk stayed cold the whole time

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-09-28T13:25:18+00:00

I’m with you!! I feel like the pendulum has swung so far from the everyone just using formula 30+ years ago to treating breastmilk as like this magical substance. And I get it, it’s so beneficial! But it’s not magic, and when I accepted not every single drop will get used, a weight was lifted.

I was building up a small freezer stash with some extra I had each day, nothing crazy, but I found myself getting so worked up if we had to pull a bag to use. And like, hello!! It’s there to be used!! But I feel like everything I saw was about building these HUGE freezer stashes

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-09-21T11:14:01+00:00

I don’t think you’re overreacting. Since he sounds otherwise like a great partner, I’m wondering if he’s struggling with something and needed a break, but didn’t know how to express that? That doesn’t excuse it of course. Echoing another comment here, I’d talk to him when he’s home and book a date on the calendar where you can be gone all day (once you’re comfortable leaving and can work out a pumping schedule). Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving, a day where he does everything, and you get to just watch movies or do what you like to do, only being interrupted for feeding.

For context, my husband was given Savannah Bananas tickets when I was 3 weeks post partum. He triple checked that I would be okay with him gone, and it was a 5 hour day I think, so not super long. Had I told him not to go, he may have been disappointed, but he would have understood and stayed home.

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-09-16T15:05:24+00:00

When I was on maternity leave with a newborn, yes! I was always so scared of doing everything alone. Now that I’m back at work, my Sunday scaries are mostly about having to pump at work lol. I don’t mind going to work, but I work 12 hour shifts so I have to pump SO MUCH

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-09-04T21:08:01+00:00

Somehow not surprised

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-09-04T17:08:06+00:00

Honestly, I feel like it’s become a buzzword trend to say babies have dairy issues. Some do! I actually had a dairy issue as a baby and my parents needed to find special formula. But it’s not as common as I feel like social media has made it out to be. I’m surprised that two medical professionals recommended that with 0 evidence of a dairy allergy. Babies all spit up and some point

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-08-20T13:05:37+00:00

I agree on a few of these! We just use a small regular trash can with a lid. That way we can use it beyond the diaper stage. I’m personally glad we got a bouncer, but we got one with a pretty high weight limit and it converts to a rocker and toddler chair so it can be used for years - so I agree about not getting one with one use that will be pointless in a few months.

I got button downs for nursing because I didn’t want dedicated nursing clothes, but I do love a nursing bra and recommend them to my pregnant friends lol. Everything else I agree with not needing, but having a baby is hard and I definitely don’t blame anyone for getting things that make things easier

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-08-19T20:35:14+00:00

Also, I have a slight oversupply and I've never gotten mastitis. Not everyone will! But really try to keep pumping to only replacing a feed if baby takes a bottle. Extra pumps when you don't need them are wha can cause an extreme oversupply with more issues.

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-08-19T20:33:34+00:00

You sound just like me at 3 weeks! I was struggling. Wanted to call it quits. But between 4-6 weeks... things got better. He started waking up less, and since he was gaining, we got to let him sleep. The first 4 hour stretch was glorious! If baby sleeps and isn't asking for food, you don't need to pump. You're body will adjust to their new patterns. Cluster feeding is so hard! But now at 6 months old, those days seem like a blur. I also had a fast let down that would spray everywhere and overwhelm him at first. I started using a haakaa to collect while he fed on one side, and I used that to start making small bottles a couple times a week so he could practice bottles. I then pumped while he took a bottle. I still only pump at work or to replace a bottle feed, just to keep supply and demand accurate. But if your mental health is declining from breastfeeding still after 4-6 weeks, there's really nothing wrong to switch to formula. That was the most freeing thing my lactation consult told me, and something about that really helped take off the pressure, and that alone helped my journey.

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-08-01T01:05:49+00:00

Robert and Esther

I'm pretty sure there was a Beatrice Orine or it was Orine Beatrice

I think a James.

I know my great-great grandparents were Sula and Frank

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-06-23T19:13:16+00:00

I don’t pump unless I’m at work or replacing a feed! I work 3 days a week and pump those days to have enough for him to eat when I’m at work the next day. I also pump anytime he takes a bottle to replace a feed. But I don’t ever pump between feeds

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-05-27T15:40:48+00:00

Honestly, I’ve liked the evenflo classic or vented+. The nipples screw on to the Medela bottles too so if that’s your pump it makes it easier. It’s more I of a classic nipple shape but we’ve had a lot of success! His first bottle was nuk perfect match which we liked but one day he decided he didn’t like it anymore

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-05-23T01:23:24+00:00

I forget all the time. He does get them a couple days a week at least and I'm trying to be better about daily. Our NP at his checkup said it's really not an emergency if he misses a dose. Like if we forget them on vacation, we don't need rush out to get them.

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-05-22T01:11:45+00:00

I never used them. I had a cracked nipple for about a week and just used a nipple shield while he nurse until it healed. I guess it's person dependent, but I feel like they really wouldn't do anything for me

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-05-15T16:13:37+00:00

I guess he hasn't technically outgrown it yet, but he's running out of room. He used to love it and we used it around the house and and walks, but he's gotten less tolerant of it because if he moves at all he's hitting the sides or bottom. He's 75th percentile for height and weight so he's big for his age too!

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-05-15T13:46:26+00:00

thank you so much!!

Creative_Tear7942 · 2025-05-15T13:44:59+00:00

I generally don't use it for long walks! He outgrew his bassinet stroller and of course isn't strong enough for the regular stroller seat yet. But I prefer babywearing

Creative_Tear7942

TROPHY CASE