#BreastfeedingJourney Still using the #Haakaa manual pump & getting 3-4 oz per session mixed with feeding little one @ the breast. Leaving behind the electric pump has been the best adjustment I've made so far. I feel so empowered now that I know what works & doesn't; sticking with the trial & error process was worth it. 2.5 months in now; no set goal for how long I'll breastfeed. #Breastmilk #Breastfeeding

From my experience no one book covers everything, so #Read as a many books as you can to help cover your interests/concerns & increase your knowledge. Like I've also said before, reading about breastfeeding & actually breastfeeding are two different things - so be sure to reach out to friends who have breastfed & lactation consultants for support. Groups like La Leche League are also great (where available).
#BreastfeedingJourney #Breastfeeding

3. The Breastfeeding Class You Never Had: Getting Started Nursing Your Baby by Ann Bennett - a down to earth guide on things to expect
4. Work. Pump. Repeat.: The New Mom's Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work by Jessica Shortall - for the world of working moms
5. Lactivate!: A User's Guide to Breastfeeding by Jill Krause - a simple guide with great graphics & tips.
#BreastfeedingJourney #Reading #Books #BookRecommendations #Breastfeeding

#BreastfeedingJourney
#Books I recommend on #Breastfeeding
1. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International - a fabulous primer for all things breastfeeding
2. Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk: A Guide to Providing Expressed Breast Milk for Your Baby by Stephanie Casemore - beautifully leaves open the option of pumping breast milk for breastfeeding
#Reading #BookRecommendations

#BreastfeedingJourney Resources I used to order a #BreastPump through my #Insurance:
Ordering site - AeroFlow Breast Pumps - https://tinyurl.com/2zyjueue,
More info in these articles: Forbes - https://tinyurl.com/4ha3jb8u
BabyList - https://tinyurl.com/2p84u8kp

#BreastfeedingJourney Because of the mastitis I went through my milk supply dropped from 5+ oz per breast to about 2.5 oz from both combine - supplementing #Formula was necessary due to the reduction in volume. He gets both formula & breast milk combined. It's not a lot of #BreastMilk but still valuable.

#BreastfeedingJourney Other #ElectricBreastPumps I've tried & did not like: 1. Lansinoh SignaturePro breast pump - tried multiple flange sizes & still had POOR suction, 2. Momcozy wearable breast pump - didn't cause milk boogers like the Willow 3.0 but cleaning the duckbill valve annoyed me.

#BreastfeedingJourney I also learned when being treated for #Mastitis that using a vibrating massager can cause further tissue damage to the breast. When I stopped using mine I felt less painfully sore. Warm compresses & showers were the best for mastitis pain.

#BreastfeedingJourney #Mastitis from using the Willow 3.0? Every time I used the pump I had blisters, cracked/bleeding areas on my nipples, & often these stringy, booger-like secretions on my nipple. It was gross. Apparently this is subclinical mastitis - read more about it here: https://tinyurl.com/4fwzft66

#BreastfeedingJourney I first tried using a wearable #ElectricBreastPump specifically the Willow 3.0. I quickly came to hate it. While it may work for some, it didn't work for me. It was painful, even after trying different flange sizes. I feel that this pump may have also been the reason why I developed #Mastitis.

#BreastfeedingJourney Okay, so on to #ElectricBreastPumps. Like I said, I read a bit about #Breastfeeding & pumping - but I'll be the first to say that pumping & reading about pumping are two different things. It was emotional & it felt foreign & I did it alone without having a real live person to lean on for support. Brace yourself for this process & if you can, have someone close for some support.

#BreastfeedingJourney FYI, I'm not getting payment or kickbacks from sharing about any breastfeeding product i've tried. Sharing here rather than product reviews to give more content to the experience I've had #Breastfeeding. This series is not an ad - I can't stand that shit either. #AdFree

#BreastfeedingJourney Manual pumps i've tired & did not like: 1. Haakaa ladybug - not enough suction & too squishy, 2. Medela manual hand pump - working the pump by hand felt tedious & stressed me out & lessened let down, 3. Breast milk collection shells - seemed messy & easily forgotten about.

#BreastfeedingJourney The Elvie Curve is convenient for placing in the bra to collect let down. This manual pump also uses simple suction like the Haakaa, but isn't as awkward. You will need to wear a bra for it to work unlike the Haakaa. I personally just get tired of wearing a bra & that's why I like having both the Haakaa & the Elvie Curve. It's nice to have options.

#BreastfeedingJourney The Haakaa is by far my favorite manual breast pump. It uses suction to collect the let down. No breast pump will completely empty the breast - something I learned the hard way - so you may have to hand express & massage when using a manual pump. The Haakaa is also great for clogs using the epsom salt method found here: https://tinyurl.com/nc6z9bwp

#BreastfeedingJourney When it comes to #ManualBreastPumps I use a Haakaa & the Elvie Curve. I like these because of their versatility & simplicity. I'll describe each in more detail later. I came to manual pumping after having issues with #ElectricBreastPumps & being treated for mastitis. I did some reading, but still didn't really feel prepared for pumping (which is why I'm writing the things I've learned).

#BreastfeedingJourney What works for me #Breastfeeding now is a combination of feeding at the breast & manual pumping. Feeding at the breast was difficult @ first due to latching issues because my nipples were flat. To help I used a nipple shield for a while until my baby was overwhelmed with the amount of let down. Thankfully my nipples aren't as flat any more making it easier to feed @ the breast.

#BreastfeedingJourney I have been #Breastfeeding my 2nd #Baby. At times I feel guilty for not being able to breastfeed my 1st. But, comparing the circumstances for both boys only robs me of joy. What's important is that both are fed & healthy. It's hard to breastfeed & hard being a mom in general. Breastfeeding isn't an 'all or nothing' event, so be kind to yourself.

#BreastfeedingJourney I'm not gonna be the person to tell you there's only one right way to feed your baby. Anyone that does is being unkind & you don't need that negativity. However you feed your #Baby is awesome - all #BreastMilk, at the breast or bottle, #SupplementingFormula, or just plain #Formula - you are still doing a great job as a mom!

#BreastfeedingJourney I didn't breastfeed my first child. After delivering him i had trouble getting him to latch - i also had to address my suicidality. The hospital lactation consultant was adamant about #ExclusiveBreastfeeding & anything less was unacceptable. I spent the rest of the hospital stay with nurses shaming me for using #Formula, saying his brain wouldn't develop & he'd experience leukemia. I was paralyzed with fear when i needed compassion.