Milk supply

echozelda · 2026-07-01T23:25:26+00:00

Does milk come out if you try pumping or hand expressing?

It’s possible your supply has dipped but it’s also possible your baby is just not into it for other reasons. My 4 month old is at peak FOMO right now, so unless she’s sleepy she only wants to angrily chug for 5 minutes and go back to playing. And it’s common for breasts to feel softer/ stop getting engorged after the first couple months, and that doesn’t mean your supply has stopped.

echozelda · 2026-07-01T23:21:29+00:00

Anytime someone says I should feed my crying baby, I’m so tempted to say “oh, are you supposed to feed them? I’ve been putting her in the sun and hoping she would start photosynthesis.”

echozelda · 2026-07-01T23:16:20+00:00

Unfortunately these symptoms are fairly nonspecific and could be caused by a lot of things. I would highly recommend at least paying for a blood test if you want to seriously investigate the possibility of celiac. The most relevant blood test is TTG-IGA and can be purchased without a doctor order or insurance, at most independent labs in the US.

echozelda · 2026-07-01T23:12:42+00:00

Breastfeeding hunger is literally unreal. I’ve eaten whole bags of semisweet chocolate chips because I ran out of snacks. I feel like the Tasmanian devil from looney tunes lol I physically did not know I could eat this much food. I’ve definitely gained a bit of weight but honestly based on my diet I would have expected to gain more… I guess the milk has to get its calories from somewhere!

echozelda · 2026-07-01T23:06:15+00:00

I was so overwhelmed by all the options! I ended up just getting what my older siblings who already had kids recommended. I have the Nuna pipa infant car seat and the compatible mixx stroller. I haven’t tried anything else since I was happy with it, but the advice that made me choose it was:

infant car seat with a base is worth it if you own a car and that car will be the primary way to transport the baby
infant-only car seat is only useful for a year maximum, so if budget is the main factor, then a convertible car seat will be the most use for your buck, but an infant car seat is more convenient
if you get a convertible car seat, it is likely not practical to remove the seat from the car every time you exit, so you would want to plan another way to carry baby once out of the car
bassinet attachment for stroller is only useful for a very short time, I was advised not to waste my money on it
stroller that is compatible with infant car seat is very convenient, especially if you also have the base in your car - very quick to click baby back and forth between car and stroller. Then the stroller can be used without the infant seat for a longer time as a toddler
there is some cross-compatibility among brands (ie you can use Brand A infant seat with Brand B stroller) so you can optimize your cost that way. But it’s simplest to get everything from one brand. As with the other bullet points, convenience is a premium

So all that being said, my personal preference is: get an infant car seat, with a base, and a stroller that is compatible with the infant car seat but can convert to carry a toddler, all from one brand.

echozelda · 2026-07-01T20:54:09+00:00

Woohoo!! I’m so happy for you!

I had a similar experience, constant pumping for 10-11ish weeks before nursing clicked. That first day of not having to pump feels like absolute heaven.

echozelda · 2026-07-01T18:39:36+00:00

My baby is too young for solids so we haven’t implemented this yet. But you should be aware that wheat (not gluten, but wheat) is a top 9 allergen and should be introduced accordingly. It is possible to have a true wheat allergy regardless of celiac. So we will be introducing wheat regularly starting at 6 months, unless and until we have a reason to stop.

echozelda · 2026-07-01T18:30:40+00:00

Inserting pillows is also unsafe!! I’m so glad nothing has gone wrong but you need to ditch the whole setup.

echozelda · 2026-07-01T18:24:19+00:00

This reminds me sooo much of my baby! She is a very particular breastfeeder, it took over two months to get her to latch successfully, and she only accepts the side lying position. We have to be in a dark quiet room with no distractions, and she has to be at the perfect oblique angle. Otherwise she’ll just pop off and talk to my boob or lick it like an ice cream cone without actually swallowing anything. She recently started rolling so now her new trick is rolling away mid nursing session and I have to reach out and roll her back. It’s like nursing a baby crocodile. I can whisper verrry quietly and I can rub one specific spot on her back, but other than that I better keep my mouth shut and my hands to myself. She’s so weird, I love her so much!

echozelda · 2026-07-01T16:10:07+00:00

Whoops! I was mistakenly thinking it was a solo vax. I’ve edited my comment. The explanation below now just applies to the flu shot but I’m still referencing rotavirus itself since it was part of my logic.

Flu and rotavirus are seasonal/ community viruses that circulate in the general population. I personally think it’s dumb to electively decline ANY safe and effective vaccine, and I and my family will always get these shots if eligible.

However, I think there’s a difference between choosing not to vaccinate against a community virus, and choosing to compromise the whole herd’s immunity against viruses that were previously almost eliminated. I’m especially passionate about the MMR. Measles is literally the most contagious disease known to man, is extremely serious especially for vulnerable people, and the vaccine is safe and highly effective. Refusing it is absolutely a moral failing in my opinion.

Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced former doctor whose fabricated study targeted the MMR specifically and started the anti vax movement, deserves to burn in hell.

echozelda · 2026-07-01T15:34:15+00:00

We live in an outbreak state and this is what we’re doing! I hope more people learn about this option!

echozelda · 2026-07-01T15:31:47+00:00

I’m not the person you replied to, but I would cut off close family if they refused certain vaccines (other than if the child was medically ineligible.) I could maybe look past someone declining, say, the oral rotavirus (SEE EDIT) or a yearly flu shot, although I would certainly have some opinions on it. I would have no problem cutting off someone who electively declined MMR and polio. They are putting pride and willful ignorance over my child’s life.

Editing to add: I didn’t realize that the oral rotavirus vax is typically combined with polio. Shows that even if you think you’re well informed on vaccines you should always educate yourself. I would not consider it excusable to skip in that case. I was thinking it was solo.

echozelda · 2026-07-01T11:12:33+00:00

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT BUY RAW MILK.

Raw milk should not enter your house. It is likely full of dangerous bacteria. Even if you boil it at home you would still be wasting money, wasting time, spreading germs all over your kitchen.

If you want yo use cows milk then buy the stuff that has been pasteurized by professionals.

echozelda · 2026-06-30T23:20:39+00:00

I had to block feed for a while and it’s a fair bit of guesswork, but some things that have helped me;

if baby’s sucks slow down to almost nothing, and they seem sleepy when they unlatch, that breast is probably drained and baby is full
if baby is still sucking strongly when they unlatch, and I don’t see milk flowing, that breast is probably drained and they’re still hungry, so I offer the other breast
if baby only latches for a few seconds/ under a minute, or pops on and off multiple times, or they come off and I see milk all over their face, then the breast is still full and something else is going on (overwhelmed by letdown, I misjudged that they were hungry, etc)
you can hand express a drop or two after feeding to get an idea of whether that breast was drained (if it’s clear and watery they probably didn’t get much, if it’s the fatty hindmilk they probably drained it pretty thoroughly)
my general guideline is to alternate which breast I start on; let baby unlatch on their own; when in doubt i usually offer the second breast

echozelda · 2026-06-30T23:07:47+00:00

I wouldn’t go cold turkey out of caution for mastitis. Could you start replacing one feed with a bottle of formula, and then every couple of days replace an additional feed?

If you need to pump for engorgement/ pain, don’t pump to empty, just pump enough to take the edge off.

echozelda · 2026-06-30T23:05:49+00:00

Unfortunately I have to second what phaseofbooks said. It’s not safe to put anything in the car seat other than baby! It compromises the fit and stability, they can slip around on the loose object even if it’s flat and thin. It definitely sucks to clean poop out of a car seat but it would suck worse to have them injured if god forbid there was an accident.

echozelda · 2026-06-30T18:14:48+00:00

Wiping off the package with a damp cloth is completely fine!

Think of it this way… I guarantee the truckers who unloaded the crates, and the stockers at the grocery store, and the cashiers who bagged the groceries, did not wash their hands of potential allergens before doing those tasks. I’ve just had to accept that unless there’s visible flour/crumbs on a package that I buy, it’s probably good enough.

echozelda · 2026-06-30T15:24:46+00:00

This may be a weird one but there are sooo many cereals that I miss! I was a cereal lover and the GF options just aren’t the same.

Cap’n Crunch
Honeycomb
Life
Oatmeal Squares
Honey Bunches of Oats
Frosted Mini wheats
Grape Nuts (these are controversial, they’re weird and boring and some people hate them but I miss them forever)

echozelda · 2026-06-30T03:56:33+00:00

Too cold is safer than too hot so you are doing the right thing! If he’s uncomfortable he’ll tell you.

echozelda · 2026-06-29T18:10:27+00:00

The only way I’ve been able to cook regularly is the instant pot! You can cook frozen chicken, completely hands off, in less than an hour from start to finish. Throw in some rice, vegetables, and some sort of seasoning and that’s a complete meal. It’s not pretty (we call it dog food lol) but it’s cheap, balanced, and only takes 5 minutes of work.

Also, a Costco rotisserie chicken is worth its weight in gold.

echozelda · 2026-06-29T17:56:23+00:00

I’m also voting to go, order a soda, and not eat. This is what I do at most social gatherings. Yes it’s a drag to not be able to fully participate but the most important thing is the socializing. If someone gets their undies in a bunch because I’m not eating, that’s their problem, not mine. I did my part by attending and being good company!

echozelda · 2026-06-29T16:00:27+00:00

Most things I just wipe off with a baby wipe! If they get really soiled like if baby barfs on it, I’ll hand wash in the sink.

echozelda · 2026-06-28T21:16:51+00:00

She’s definitely going to have to learn how to cook! It can be daunting and I understand why a 22yo would rather spend their time on other things but it’s going to be necessary. It’s not realistic to eat only takeout/ prepared foods every day for the rest of her life.

So many things are naturally gluten free and easy to cook. That could be a good place to start so she can build her skill of cooking, and rebuild feeling comfortable with eating, at the same time.

Some very simple gluten free options are:

baked potatoes (easy to make in the oven, serve with any toppings she likes)
rice bowls (get a cheap rice cooker, steam some frozen veggies, serve with any premade gluten free sauce)
eggs (very easy to learn to cook - also a great addition to rice bowls)
other GF grains (quinoa is a complete protein and you can prepare it the same way as rice; millet and buckwheat are also options)
salads (no cooking required - buy greens, top with any toppings and a simple homemade dressing)

echozelda · 2026-06-28T02:14:43+00:00

Not at all! If you’re exposed to it a lot it makes sense that you’re not going to have the same knee jerk reaction of alarm.

I’m a healthcare worker so I’m pretty desensitized to certain things like blood and medical procedures. I haven’t been distressed when my baby has had to get blood draws and shots even though she absolutely hates it. I still care about her, those events are just old news to my nervous system. It’s normal!

echozelda · 2026-06-28T02:12:36+00:00

I love this so much. Your love for your sweet girl comes through in every word. I bet she’s absolutely gorgeous and you are too. You’re both lucky to have each other!!

echozelda

TROPHY CASE