"Finding Your Breastfeeding Flow"– The Highs, the Lows, and Everything In Between
- Paige Wood
- Jun 6
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 1
"Bringing a new baby home is an incredible whirlwind of emotions, firsts, and a steep learning curve. For many new parents, one of the most talked-about and often anticipated aspects of this journey is breastfeeding. It’s painted with images of serene cuddles and effortless bonding, but the reality, as I quickly learned, is a rich tapestry of highs, lows, and moments that can test your patience and resolve.
As someone who is navigating this path, I want to share a real-talk look at what you might experience. Because while it truly is "liquid gold," it's also a deeply personal journey filled with both beautiful triumphs and unexpected challenges."
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The Beautiful Highs: The Liquid Gold's Rewards
Let's start with the magic. There's a reason breastfeeding is so revered, and these moments often make all the struggles worth it:
Unparalleled Bonding: This, for me, was the absolute best part. Those quiet moments, often in the middle of the night, when it was just me and my baby, skin-to-skin, felt incredibly sacred. The warmth, the closeness, the way they’d root and gaze up at me – it fostered an undeniable connection that words can barely describe. Using a good nursing pillow like the My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow or the popular Boppy Original Support Nursing Pillow can significantly enhance comfort and positioning, making these bonding moments even more enjoyable.
Convenience (Eventually!): In the early days, it feels like anything but convenient. But once you get past the initial hump, having food ready at the perfect temperature, wherever you are, without bottles to wash or formula to mix, is a game-changer. Especially for nighttime feeds, it's a huge time-saver.
A Powerhouse of Nutrition & Immunity: Knowing that you’re providing your baby with perfectly tailored nutrition, antibodies, and all the good stuff they need for their developing immune system is incredibly empowering. It feels like a superpower!
Nature's Pain Relief & Comfort: When your baby is fussy, overtired, or experiencing minor discomfort, often the breast is the quickest way to soothe them. It’s an instant comfort blanket, a warm hug, and a source of security.
Postpartum Recovery Support: Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which helps your uterus contract back to its pre-pregnancy size, reducing postpartum bleeding. It's like your body's built-in recovery mechanism.
Finding Your Breastfeeding Flow (and It's Okay if It's More of a
Trickle!)
If you're breastfeeding, you might just catch glimpses of a rhythm forming with your newborn. It's like you two are developing your own secret language, figuring out what those little wiggles and rooting motions mean, and perhaps even feeling a touch more comfortable with positioning and latch. Think of it as slowly piecing together a beautiful, albeit slightly messy, puzzle – each feed brings a new clue!
But let's hit pause for a moment: if your breastfeeding journey feels less like a blossoming rhythm and more like a never-ending uphill battle, please hear me when I say you are so, so far from alone. There's zero room for guilt or inadequacy here. This is a genuinely challenging process for many parents, and that's perfectly normal. Your best is absolutely enough, and the most important thing is knowing you never have to navigate those hurdles by yourself.
Your milk will come in around 72 hours: You’ll start breastfeeding with life-giving colostrum moments after birth, but the milk won’t come in until a few days later. You may begin to experience some tenderness and soreness in your nipples as you learn to get the appropriate latch.
Hydration & Fuel are Non-Negotiable: Trust me on this one – keep a jumbo water bottle practically glued to your hand, especially if you're breastfeeding (that milk production requires so much liquid!). I personally loved using a large capacity tumbler like the Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler or a Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Bottle to ensure I was always hydrated. And load up on easy, healthy snacks. Think granola bars, fruit, nuts, or pre-cut veggies. If you're looking for a little boost, many moms find lactation cookies or supplements helpful – Lactation Oat Bars from Oat Mama became such a reliable snack for me, especially on those days when I felt like I was running on empty. I personally love that they're crafted with whole-food ingredients like oats, flaxseed, and brewer's yeast – which, as a breastfeeding mom, I knew were traditionally known to support milk production. They also gave me that added protein for really sustained energy, which was crucial. And honestly, the best part? Their soft, chewy texture and delicious taste made them feel like a real treat, not just a functional bar. They were so easy to grab and go!
Nipple Care is Your BFF (Seriously!): If you're experiencing soreness, cracking, or even a bit of bleeding, please know that nipple care is absolutely key. Keeping a good nipple cream handy can work wonders to soothe irritation and help with healing. Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Balm and Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter are consistently top-rated for good reason. For managing leaks and comfort between feeds, reliable nursing pads are a must. I highly recommend Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads or Medela Disposable Nursing Pads for absorbency and discretion. Consistency here is your best friend – a little bit of care goes a long way in making things more comfortable.
Our Top Amazon: Nursing/Feeding Essentials
The Unexpected Lows: The Bumpy Road of Breastfeeding
Now, for the parts that often aren't in the glossy brochures. These challenges are common, and acknowledging them can help you feel less alone if you experience them:
The Learning Curve (It's REAL!): Everyone says "breastfeeding is natural", but that doesn't mean it's intuitive for everyone right away. Latching issues, positioning woes, nipple soreness, and cracked nipples are incredibly common in the early days. It can be painful, frustrating, and make you doubt everything. I remember crying tears of pain and exhaustion more than once.
Supply Worries: Am I making enough? Is my baby getting enough? These questions can consume you. Cluster feeding (when babies feed very frequently for hours) can make you feel like your supply isn't keeping up, even when it is. Some moms explore lactation supplements like Legendairy Milk Liquid Gold or Boobie Bars are specifically designed for breastfeeding moms, and I really appreciated that because it gave me peace of mind about the ingredients. I loved that they're packed with things like oats and flaxseed, which many moms say help support their milk production (always consult with your healthcare provider first!). Plus, they come in several yummy flavors like Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter, and a huge bonus for me was finding out they're often vegan and gluten-free, which was great for my dietary needs. It was so easy to just grab one and feel like I was giving my body a good, quick boost!
Mastitis, Clogged Ducts, & Engorgement: Oh, the joys! These painful conditions can truly feel like the flu, complete with fever, chills, and rock-hard breasts. They can be incredibly discouraging, and they definitely require quick action. Many moms find that sunflower lecithin supplements, like the Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin, are often recommended to help prevent clogged ducts and are definitely worth keeping on hand just in case.
Time Commitment & Exclusivity: This was a big one for us, especially in those blurry first few weeks. Breastfeeding truly felt all-consuming – I was literally spending hours of my day either feeding, getting ready to feed, or recovering from feeding! It made it so incredibly hard to leave the house, get even the simplest chores done, or just grab a moment to myself. And for my husband, I know it sometimes led to him feeling a little left out of the feeding time, which was tough on both of us because we're such a team.
Physical Discomfort & Exhaustion: Beyond just nipple pain (which, let's be real, is enough!), I quickly learned that breastfeeding takes a huge physical toll. My back would ache from all the awkward positioning, my shoulders constantly felt tense, and the sheer fatigue from being our little one's sole food source – especially through endless night feedings – was truly profound. I can't stress enough how much of a difference wearing truly comfortable nursing bras made in my daily comfort. Finding ones like the Kindred Bravely Simply Sublime Nursing Bra or the Momcozy Seamless Ultra Comfort Maternity Bra felt like a little act of self-care. They really do offer the support and softness you need to alleviate some of that strain and make those long feeding sessions just a little bit easier on your body.
And if you need to pump – whether it's for returning to work or simply to build up a freezer stash – that's another massive learning curve and time commitment with its own unique set of challenges (like keeping all those tiny pump parts clean!). For me, having the right gear made all the difference. I personally found Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump to be fantastic, when you're trying to sneak in a pumping session without waking the whole house, or you just want a little peace and quiet while you pump, its whisper-quiet operation is a total godsend. Seriously, it's so discreet, you can use it late at night or even while others are in the room without feeling like you're operating a vacuum cleaner! I also relied heavily on wearable pumps like the Momcozy Wearable Breast Pump for hands-free convenience, especially when I needed to chase after our toddler or get some quick tasks done around the house.
My Personal Takeaway & Resources for Your Journey
"My breastfeeding journey in the first few weeks was a mixed bag, to say the least. There were days I wanted to give up, and days I felt like a supermom. What I learned is this: every drop counts, every feed matters, and your mental health is paramount. Whether you breastfeed for days, weeks, months, or years, or if you choose formula from day one, you are an amazing parent. Fed is truly best."
If you are struggling or want support, please know you are not alone. There are incredible resources out there that I found invaluable:
Don't Hesitate to Call in the Pros: If you're feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or if breastfeeding is still consistently painful, please, please don't hesitate to reach out to an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). Speaking from personal experience, they are absolutely worth their weight in gold for tackling latch issues, pain, or any supply concerns you might have. Getting that early support can make a huge, huge difference in establishing a successful and much less stressful breastfeeding journey for both you and your little one.
Online Courses & Communities: For structured learning and peer support, I found platforms like Tinyhood to have excellent breastfeeding courses; it was like having an expert right in my living room, guiding me through common challenges. And let's be honest, sleep (or lack thereof!) often goes hand-in-hand with feeding, so for those endless questions about baby sleep, The Sleep Lady offers truly fantastic guidance that helped us navigate those exhausting nights. For general parenting insights that genuinely helped me feel confident in my choices and understand our baby better, I can't recommend The Baby Manual highly enough. These resources really felt like a comforting hand to hold when I needed information and a sense of community.
Fussiness & Colic Relief: If your baby is struggling with intense fussiness or colic, please know you are absolutely not alone and it is a common, albeit tough, period. While I didn't personally experience intense fussiness or colic with my little one (phew!), I've heard from so many friends and fellow moms that it can be an incredibly challenging phase. Beyond soothing techniques like those shared by Happiest Baby, many parents have told me they've found significant relief with specific remedies. I've heard positive feedback on their product recommendations and many of their blog articles have mentioned discussing infant probiotic drops (like those from MaryRuth Organics or Mommy's Bliss) with their pediatrician. These can be real lifesavers for both baby and parents during such a difficult time.
Visit: Parent Resources
Self-Care & Support for YOU: Amidst all the giving, it's so important to remember to nourish yourself. My husband and I quickly learned that we couldn't pour from an empty cup! We found that services like Little Spoon were a lifesaver for getting easy, healthy meals on the table when cooking felt impossible. For mental wellness support or just really practical parenting advice, I've personally found so many valuable insights from Positive Parenting Solutions and Gottman Institute; they offer such a reassuring and knowledgeable voice. And for postpartum physical recovery – because your body truly deserves care after everything it's done – I've seen fantastic results from programs like The MINT Prjct or Hatch Athletic. If you ever feel like you just need a moment to yourself, please don't hesitate to look into reliable childcare options through Care.com or lean on family members for help. It's not selfish; it's essential.
"No matter how your breastfeeding journey unfolds, remember that you are an incredible parent, providing the very best for your baby, however that looks for your family. Celebrate every milestone, be kind to yourself through every challenge, and trust your intuition. You've got this!"
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