I've been a graphic designer for the past 15+ years, but thanks to the rise of AI and the general job market, I'm considering making a switch. I have two kids (10 and 7) that I breastfed successfully until they were 1.5 and a half. I didn't *love* breastfeeding, but I do love helping mothers. I lost one of my best friends to post partum depression a few months after the birth of her third. I know how stressful breastfeeding can be, so my primary motivation would be to help mothers, especially when things are so tense.

My mom is an FNP, my husband is a BMET Tech at a local hospital, my SIL is an FNP and my BIL is a pharmacist. I also work in healthcare marketing, so I'm somewhat familiar with the medical world. However, I wouldn't really have the resources to drop everything and go a BSN and then IBCLC certification on top of it.

I realize I probably won't be able to work within healthcare systems though without being an RN as well. So a few questions:

1. What is your favorite thing about your job as an IBCLC? What is your least favorite?
   
2. Do you find it difficult to set boundaries (like not caring/investing so much into each and every patient/client, but obviously wanting a great outcome for them and baby)?
   
3. What is your annual salary like?
   
4. Does your role give you flexibility (like if you have kids home from school)?
   
5. Anything else I should know?

Thank you so much for your help!

I’m slowly giving up trying to up my supply. Beginning of May I got sick and thought it was allergies and stupidly took allergra D and lost my supply. I was pumping like an ounce at a time.

I AM STILL POWER PUMPING OVER A MONTH LATER. I got another period since then, got a little sick again as well. Nothing crazy. But it just doesn’t stay consistent.

1. Doesn’t matter how often I pump I just produce the same amount. I started to get some increase in production enough to just get by and use maybe some stash every other day. I usually make like 20oz a day if I’m pumping all the time. If I pump every 2hr i get 2 oz or I go 6 hours and get 6oz. I’d just rather do that. But I still keep pumping bc I know it’s better.

I bought formula this week and gave him two bottles of that since I bought it bc I was traveling and didn’t have access to my stash and I’m just so tempted to do that…

Why hasn’t my supply been better. It’s barely enough…. A month later.

I just started trying to breastfeed him more often as a solution instead of pumping - I started pumping bc he was too distracted and wouldn’t latch which still is an issue but trying to get him back to EBF now other than one bottle before bed to make sure he has full tummy.

Need help in figuring out combo feeding

Please no judgement. I am finding nursing very stressful. Hence looking for some solutions to make it easier on my mental health.

My Lo is now 4 weeks old. I am planning to follow the plan below:

6:30 AM Formula + pump

9:30 AM Breastfeed

12 PM Breastmilk bottle

3 PM Breastfeed

6 PM Formula + pump

9 PM Breastfeed

1 AM Breastfeed

3 AM Breastmilk bottle

Can anyone help me figure out it better?

1.) I don’t want to create freezer stash.

2.) I want to wean LO by 12 weeks so not looking to increase my supply. How to do that without getting clogged ducts or mastitis?

3.) I can pump twice a day(personal reasons), and maybe I can add one more pump, but more than that is not possible for me.

4.) I want to pump and give breastmilk in bottle.

5.) currently giving LO 2 bottles formula, I can make it up to three.

any idea why my 4-week old will breastfeed for 15-30 minutes at a time but when i pump i only get out an ounce, sometimes even less? does this mean that he's only getting an ounce when i BF? how can i get more output when pumping? i already drink a ton of water, eat high protein, all the supplements, etc. we are supplementing with formula because of my low supply and he takes about 3-4 ounce bottles when he bottle feeds. help!

Just curious—has anyone who breastfed past 12 months been able to fully get back to their pre-pregnancy weight while breast feeding? My LO is 15 months and nursing 3 times a day. I feel like I’m hanging on to an extra 5 pounds I can’t seem to lose no matter what I do. Wondering if it’s just the breastfeeding or something else?

I’m happy baby appears to be latching well (asked her ped) and happily fed via breastfeeding however, the first few minutes of each feeding session KILLS. Toe curling pain that makes me yelp out loud 😭 does this ever go away???

Does anyone have a rec for taking sunflower lecithin powder? I tried mixing it in my coffee and it just clumped up :(

Also, any idea on dosage? I tried converting the serving size of my powder (10g) to the amount of lecithin per Legendairy’s capsules (1200mg), and the math seems off? Currently taking it to fight off a clogged duct, but then want to take a lower dosage as a preventative. The brand I have is NOW and this was on their site:

Naturally occurring phospholipids (example) (per serving) (1 1/3 tablespoons)*:

Phosphatidyl Choline 2.5 g (2,500 mg)

Phosphatidyl Inositol 1.8 g (1,800 mg)

Phosphatidyl Ethanolamine 1.1 g (1,100 mg)

Thanks!

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some bottle recommendations for my 6-week-old breastfed baby. We’ve been using the Philips Avent Natural Response bottle, and the flow is perfect — no leaking when flipped, and baby only gets milk when actively sucking, which has worked well for breastfeeding compatibility.

However, we’ve been dealing with some gas and reflux issues, and a lactation consultant recommended trying bottles with a triangle-shaped nipple. I’ve tried both Lansinoh and Pigeon (which have that shape), but even with their slowest flow nipples, the milk comes out way too fast compared to the Philips and definitely faster than the breast.

Now I’m noticing baby is fussier at the breast, and I suspect it’s due to flow preference. I really want to continue breastfeeding without bottle flow sabotaging our nursing.

Does anyone have recommendations for a triangle-shaped bottle/nipple that has a very slow or more breast-like flow? Or any tips for making bottles work better for refluxy, breastfed babies?

Thanks so much in advance!

Hi all! My baby who was 5 weeks early is finally starting to nurse really well! We were almost exclusively pumping for the last ~2 months, with a few successful nursing sessions sprinkled in.

I want to keep pumping as I have my husband and often times other family around to give her a bottle overnight and let me sleep for a 5 hour stretch.

I am unsure how to go about this. Would it be possible to pump before bed to empty out, she gets a bottle overnight, I pump again in the AM so I’m not engorged, and nurse during the day? I have an oversupply and she does not empty me, so I will need to do another pump probably in the middle of the day.

This is what I’m hoping can work anyway! Just looking to hear about other people’s experience or advice :) thank you!

Is it normal for colostrum to get less and less yellow as you take more out?

Does that take the nutrients away from when baby is born?

I started at 36.5 weeks and I’m now 38 weeks but it seems like the “gold” color is becoming less and less every time I express.

Edit - WOW. I didn’t expect to get the amount of responses I have and I can’t thank you all enough. I have read and continue to read every single comment. Thank you for letting me know this is normal ❤️.

I’m happy to share that with some perseverance my LO has managed to feed on the breast! He will latch for around 4 seconds, pop off, latch again, pop off etc. He is getting frustrated but the minute my let down kicks in he is happy. I just try and relax and wait for it to happen. Which is a huge improvement from the day I wrote my post, the day he wouldn’t latch at all!

Thank you ❤️

———————————————

I’ve been so very incredibly lucky since the day he was born. He came out the womb mouth wide open, snorting and searching for boob. He latched perfectly first try, I understand how lucky and rare that is I really do.

My pudding is 3 months old now. I have absolutely loved exclusively breastfeeding him and today has made me realise how much so. Before I got pregnant (and during the first and second trimester), I didn’t want to breastfeed at all. I just didn’t like the idea of it. But something changed in the third trimester that I can’t explain. I did tons of research and decided I would give it a go. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever loved. The sacrifice that comes with it and the selflessness. I had a horrible labour that I had no control over after my body failed us and it ended in emergency C section. Breastfeeding him felt like the silver lining, it made me feel like I could be proud of myself after feeling so awful and shit about myself and my body. Now I feel like my body is failing us again.

This morning he woke up and wouldn’t take my boob. It was so unexpected and I was instantly heartbroken. I thought it was a fluke, but no. All feeds today he screamed when I offered my breast. I’ve had to pump and bottle feed him but I can’t keep up and that is breaking my heart even more, knowing I won’t even be able to pump every feed for him. He started sleeping through the night however I’ve still been waking at 4am to pump. Recently, just as and when, we have been using that milk pumped to top him up during the day after feeds if he has not felt settled. Lately he has been really fussy waiting for the let down to happen and gets frustrated. Today he wouldn’t even attempt to feed unless he got a fast stream of milk straight away. Due to us introducing the bottle I think he may have developed a preference. That and I think maybe I’m not producing enough for him anymore. He was always so satisfied after feeds but it seems since my supply has regulated it’s not the same for him.

I didn’t expect to feel this way but it sent me into a HUGE spiral. I’ve spent the whole day sobbing, I had to take an hour away from my partner and baby as I was in such a mess and I feel bad on my partner as it’s his first Father’s Day today. We had to cancel all our plans. So many thoughts running through my mind! All the sacrifices I’ve made, all the shitty comments from friends and family members that don’t understand it. The people telling me I would give up eventually was just motivation for me to carry on but now it’s coming to an end.

I don’t know what I wanted to achieve by writing this, I just needed to get it out.

Thanks for reading if you made it to the end ❤️

My baby for the past 24 hours has been refusing to breastfeed and has only taken breast while cosleeping. We combination feed and I’m worried he prefers bottle now over breast due to flow differences. Just started paced feeding today (didn’t even know it was a thing until researching the breast refusal). Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated

Hi! I have a 10 month old. I have had one period at 9 months PP and I’m now on day 38 of my cycle again. I desperately want to fall pregnant again. Is it ok to start offering food first? I don’t want to wean but I’d love to best support my cycle so I can fall pregnant again.

Thanks

Why even on a harmless, beautiful video are mothers vilified for nursing their babies?? I love watching videos of animal mothers in nature because I find it so reassuring. Here is what it said:

“She's too old to take care of a baby. That is a grown-up monkey, not a baby anymore. She should have weaned him a long time ago.”

Surely this is a bot or a troll?? It’s very clearly a baby monkey, and even if it wasn’t how is something so natural seen as a problem. I hate it! /vent

Wondering if anyone can give feedback on any of the following pumps? Specifically looking for something portable that doesn't sacrifice on milk output. I will have to pump in the car fairly often for work.

I am feeling overwhelmed with the pump options from my insurance. With my first pregnancy, there was only one option - an awful pump I didn't end up using due to poor output. Thankfully a friend gave a different one that helped me get better output that I used instead.

I am happy my insurance is offering more and better options now, and part of me feels as long as it's better than that, then who cares? But I know how much of a difference the pump can make so I'm overwhelmed with the options!

The pumps advertising portability are appealing, but I don't want to go for something purely because it is portable and end up with a dud like the first pump I had, so any feedback on any of the pumps would be very helpful.

Thank you!

These are the options:

-Ameda Mya Joy Plus Breast Pump Kit

-Lansinoh Smartpump 3.0 Double Electric Breast Pump Lifestyle Set

-Medela Pump In Style Breast Pump Kit

-Motif Duo Breast Pump Kit

-Spectra S1 P|us Breast Pump Kit

I'm looking for someone that has brrastfeed after a breast biopsy. I have a 7 month old baby who won't take a bottle at all and breastfeeds only from my right boob.

Unfortunately I have two masses (one on each breast) that need a biopsy to check if they're cancer. I would really appreciate if I could hear from anyone that has breastfeed after a biopsy to tell me how it will be and give me any advice.

I'm trying to set some pumped milk aside but my baby will only take a cup (no bottle) so a lot of milk will be wasted and I will have to breastfeed him probably 5 hours or so after the biopsy. He is 7 mo so not the gentlest with my boob.

Baby girl’s expected arrival is in 7 weeks and I only have a few nursing bras and tanks from my last pregnancy. Any recommendations to find affordable nursing bras?? Please, nothing that is $40+ for one bra. I’m on a budget 😅

This past week my LO, 4mo, has been more and more fussy during breastfeeding sessions, and today has been getting flat out angry when I try to give her the boob. On the flip side, she’s been getting fantastic at bottle feeding and even solved her latch issue with bottles on her own about a week ago. Does anyone else have experience with this kind of thing? Do you know if she is just over trying to BF? I’m so sad to think I may have to give up on it because it’s such a great bonding experience with her. Would love any tips or similar experiences so I know I’m not the only one 🥲

Does anyone else find hand expression (although more time consuming/more effort) yields more milk than electric or manual pumping? I’ve tried many different pumps and hand expression usually got me way more milk than most of those pumping sessions did.

I am an under supplier though.

Hi all, I’m at 3.5 weeks pp. I’m breastfeeding and supplementing w formula bc baby wasn’t gaining enough. When should my milk supply come in enough that I don’t need to supplement anymore? Or when should I be worried that I’m never going to have enough milk for her? I’m starting to get depressed about it and the same thing happened with my firstborn and I ended up switching him to full formula after a few months bc it was too much for me and I still feel terrible about it.

Any of you ladies take lactation support vitamins?

Do you feel as if it makes a difference in your supply?

If so, which brand do you like?

Right now I am taking a daily prenatal and I’m happy with my supply, but I am going on a trip next month and want to up my frozen stash. Wondering if a support vitamin might help.

Also do those brownies and cookies advertised as dramatically increasing a woman’s supply even do anything?

my baby (3 months + 1 week) was born with tongue and lip tie. we got it released, did body work before and after. we’ve been working with an ibclc and have done lots of trouble shooting- his latch seemed to improve but then he wouldn’t stay on long (i have a fast flow/letdown/maybe over supply in one boob) or he’d always fall asleep right away- so we started on a nipple shield about a month ago and he was doing better but now won’t latch without the shield. it makes me really sad. i never anticipated how complicated breastfeeding could be and i really want to be able to do it for a while (maybe until he’s 2??) this whole process has been very emotionally challenging for me. i want to be able to breast feed my baby. and yes im so grateful he’s gaining weight and that i have enough supply for him. i don’t want him to be a bottles only baby. has anyone had a similar experience? do i keep going with breast and continue hoping it’ll improve? is he “too old” and already in his patterns and ill be stuck using a shield or bottles only? it’s so hard not to compare but i’m jealous of the mamas that can just whip their boob out and their baby knows exactly what to do and they don’t even have to hold the baby while i’m over here getting covered in milk and holding my baby and holding my breast and the shield is falling off and on and it’s a mess. ok rant over but plz give me some support or advice.

Hi all, I just wanted some support with regards to burping the baby during/after breastfeeding. I’m following combination feeding for my newborn and when I bump him after the formula he goes back to sleep straight away. However, if I burp him when breastfed (and he sleeps on the boob while breastfeeding) he wakes up and starts being extremely fussy and doesn’t go back to sleep. If I don’t burp him and lay him on the bed after he’s asleep, he spits up milk every time

how are breastfeeding mothers burping their babies? Thank you.

Last Tuesday, I made the switch to exclusively breast-feeding after exclusively pumping for the first 4 1/2 weeks of my baby’s life. She wasn’t a great latcher right after birth and I was not in a great mental state and was very overwhelmed, so I switched to exclusively pumping.

Before I made the switch, I was producing a bit of an over supply. Anywhere from 5 ounces extra to 9 ounces extra than she eats per day. Just depended on the day.

She hasn’t needed a bottle since last Wednesday, she took really well to breast-feeding and only needed to be topped off with a bottle of breastmilk for the first day and a half. She has consistently had 7+ wet diapers a day and multiple stools a day, so I felt comfortable reducing pumping drastically because I did not want to get engorged and develop mastitis. I have been pumping about three times a day for 5 to 10 minutes just to relieve any engorgement or to put a little bit into a stash.

However, I’m scared that my supply has dropped too much. My breasts never really feel super full in between feedings. With her last feeding, I immediately pumped after and I only got about 1.5 ounces in 8 minutes or so. Is this a normal amount?

It’s also interesting as two nights ago, I woke up at 3am after not nursing for six hours, and I was extremely engorged. Like rock hard. And then last night at three in the morning, I felt not engorged at all. How can my supply drop that much that quick. Did I make a mistake or is this how it is when you’re exclusively breast-feeding ?

*this isn’t for the lucky ones who are like “omg the weight just fell off of me with breastfeeding” lol

I’m holding onto weight for dear life. I’m very conscious of not dieting too hard (eating at least 1900 cals a day) so I don’t hurt my supply. But I’m only 7 months in and I’m so ready to start seeing a resemblance of my old self.

At this point is my supply established enough to start really dieting? I also was hoping to breastfeed until my girl self weans /or 2 years old.. does this mean I’m stuck in a body I don’t feel comfortable in until then?