Meet Devin: a devoted father to three young children, with a fourth on the way in March ’24! His professional journey has spanned various roles in sales, but he found his true calling when he decided to prioritize family time over long work hours. In his dad blog, devinwallstreat.com, Devin shares personal stories and tips to inspire other men to be better fathers and husbands. Here he shares his perspective of a dad’s role with a breastfed baby. His blog is a treasure trove of lessons learned from his own experiences as a parent and husband.

In my early 20s, I didn’t think I was ever going to be a father. Years later, my wife, Katie, and I had 3 under 3. Our first was a NICU baby. He was stuck in the NICU for 7 days, and the staff wouldn’t let Katie try breastfeeding until the 4th day. By the time she was allowed to try, our son refused to latch. He only wanted the bottle.

She spoke with multiple experts to try to make breastfeeding work. She was heartbroken when she decided it was time to stop.

Our firstborn was bottle-fed, so I had the opportunity to feed him. I’m glad I had that experience because our other kids were breastfed. I experienced the positives and negatives of feeding a baby. 

It sounds cheesy, but I could feel myself connecting more with our son while I was feeding him. On the other hand, I don’t like being stuck in one place. It feels uncomfortable after a while. I was busy and impatient on some days. I tell him to hurry up, and he returns the favor by spitting up down my back. We had oodles of fun. 

I wasn’t breastfeeding, but I got a glimpse of what it might be like. I mean a really small glimpse. I had no idea how difficult and taxing it was going to be on my wife’s body. 

My wife was excited to breastfeed our 2nd baby. The birth went much more smoothly, and she started breastfeeding right away… and it hurt. She was crying from the pain. The nurses told her to keep trying and that it would get better. A few days go by and nothing changes. 

By some miracle, the hospital’s pediatric surgeon came to check on Katie and the baby because one of her surgeries was canceled. Katie asked her to check our baby’s tongue tie and she immediately recommended that we revise it. 

Katie finally got some relief after the tongue tie revision. The exercises to keep the tongue tie from healing back up are no fun. I’m squeamish, so I have to admit that my wife did most of the exercises. 

Breastfeeding was better, but after a few months, my wife decided she didn’t enjoy it. She continued breastfeeding because she felt too guilty not to. We weren’t in the best financial position to pay for formula, and she was well aware of all the benefits of breastfeeding. 

It was time for me to wear my underwear over my pants and put my cape on. She was making a big sacrifice for our family, so I needed to support her as much as I could. I wasn’t off the hook from feeding time just because she was breastfeeding. If anything, she needs my help even more when breastfeeding. 

I didn’t want to burden her with the entire mental load of feeding the baby. I never fed the baby, but I knew exactly when she needed to eat. I knew her eating schedule. I recognized the hunger cues. I didn’t need to ask Katie if the baby needed to eat. I knew it was time for her to eat. 

I let Katie get comfortable and in the position she needed to be. Our kids were picky eaters. I don’t know if it’s common for babies only to want to eat in one position. Once she was comfortable, I gave her the baby. I made sure she had everything she needed. The things she needed most were a blanket, her phone, the TV remote, and, most importantly, SNACKS! 

My wife struggles to eat as much as she needs to in a day. When she’s breastfeeding, she needs more. If she didn’t have her snacks while breastfeeding, she’d hardly eat at all. She only wants to eat fresh foods while she is breastfeeding, so we keep a lot of fruits and vegetables in the house.

I’ll make her ants on a log. One of her favorites is sliced strawberries with whipped cream. We love cantaloupe and watermelon in our house. We rarely have leftover watermelon. If I have the time, I’ll prepare a salad for her. I love to cook, so doing all this is a breeze for me. I enjoy chopping up all the veggies and putting everything together. Her biggest struggle is getting enough protein. We wouldn’t survive in our house without protein smoothies.

Another thing I think husbands need to take charge of is washing the breast pump parts. Pumping is already an absolute pain in the butt. I don’t want to make her wash the parts too. One of the best decisions we made was buying her a wearable breast pump. We bought the Momcozy, and it has been a game-changer. She feels so much more free. She has to sit down with the baby for breastfeeding sessions, but if she is pumping, she can be out and about now. Pump parts aren’t fun to clean. I make a massive mess in the kitchen when I make dinner. I have to clean all of that, so what’s the big deal if I add a few pump parts to the cleaning?

After a long day of working, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kids, we need a break. We timed our kids perfectly so that as soon as the baby was sleeping through the night, the next one came. I am not a morning person. My wife is the only person I have let have a conversation with me before 9:00 AM. Waking up when the kids are crying at night is honestly something I still struggle with. With breastfeeding children, we saw that it’s good to have the dad get up when the baby is crying.

As they get older, they don’t need as many night feedings. If Mom keeps getting up with the baby, the baby is going to expect to be fed. Let’s be real, I don’t blame my wife for feeding them. She’s tired. She wants to do whatever it takes for the crying to stop. I get up with the baby, so I can do the crying instead. This is something that I haven’t been great at. One of my goals for this year is to be better at getting up with the kids in the middle of the night. So far, it’s gone pretty well. The real struggle is when baby #4 comes in a couple of months.

Sleep deprivation combines with all of the chaos in our lives and creates one of our worst enemies: anxiety. Post-partum anxiety has hit my wife hard after each of the kids. I’m so proud of how she has been able to push through it. I see her trying to shift her mindset every day. Breastfeeding is a huge concern and cause of anxiety in her.

When our first baby was bottle-fed, it was easy to keep track of how much he was eating. We always knew he was okay because we knew exactly how much milk he was getting. With breastfed children, you don’t know. Are they crying because they’re hungry? Are they eating enough during the day? Do they still need to be eating at night? The only thing I can do for her is let her know that everything is going to be okay.

We have very small children. All 3 have been under the 10th percentile for weight through their first year. Every doctor that we have had has hammered anxiety into my wife that our kids might not be eating enough because they are so small. I have to reassure her that we have small babies, that I was a small baby, and that she comes from a family of jockeys. I check the baby’s soft spot with her and tell her that they are okay. If the baby is having a bottle of breastmilk, we measure it to reassure her that they are eating.

She mostly needs me to hold her tight and tell her everything is going to be okay. I need to do that for her regularly.

When we got married, I knew that Katie planned to breastfeed the children. I thought I was so lucky. I was so naive. I was also selfish. We’ve grown as a couple and as people. I’ve learned a lot about myself thanks to our kids. They have truly shown me the parts of me I need to improve. I’m thankful every day that I’m the dad because I don’t think I have what it takes to fill the mom’s role. Breastfeeding is only a small part of that role, but I do what I can to fulfill my own role with our breastfed children.

The post A Dad’s Role With A Breastfed Baby appeared first on From Bump To Bubble.

Meet Jessica: a dedicated Registered Nurse and proud mother of three boys! Alongside her husband Alex, they share their parenting insights on their blog, alexnjessica.com. Jessica enjoys outdoor activities, gardening, reading, and quality time with her family. Read on to learn how lymphatic drainage massage while breastfeeding helped her overcome the pain of engorged breasts.

From the time I was young, I had dreamed of one day becoming a mom! Prior to fulfilling that dream, I went to school and became an RN right before getting married. My husband was also pursuing a nursing degree in hopes of furthering his education to become a Nurse Anesthesiologist.

Shortly after getting married my husband and I were both hired at the same hospital working night shifts in 2 separate units. I was working postpartum and loved being part of the beginning stages of life for new mothers! It only made me more excited, and yet terrified to become a mother. 

As part of my job, I was to help assist new mothers with breastfeeding. I worked daily with mothers sharing the tips and tricks I was taught, and helped support them in any way possible.  I saw a variety of experiences where some seemed to pick it up as if it was the easiest thing in the world, while others struggled to find coordination or pain tolerance. I began thinking there wasn’t much to it, and besides it would be a breeze for me…I had all the tips, tricks, and professional advice! Boy was I in for a rude awakening!!!

Our first son was born the same night both my husband and I had gone in for our routine shifts at work. From the beginning, breastfeeding seemed to go pretty well until after being discharged and realizing what it was like for my “milk to come in”. Talk about pain! Even with all of my nursing experience I still did not comprehend what it would feel like. Those first few days were an endurance process but I made it. The worst part however was the few months following. On more than a few occasions, I began getting what appeared to be clogged milk ducts, but only in the same breast.

For hours I would be in tremendous pain as my breasts continued to fill and harden. I was so panicky thinking it would turn into mastitis. Through much prayer, tears, and every position and frequency of feeding my son and I could manage, I was able to finally release the clogged ducts and find relief before mastitis set in. It was still a nightmare.

2 years later we got pregnant with our second son and yes I was nervous about breastfeeding. Little did I know there would be one of the greatest storms ahead. 

Our son was born with a congenital heart defect, so very soon after birth he was taken to the NICU and was unable to eat for many hours until an echo was performed and he was cleared that it was safe to eat. It was roughly 8 hours before I could feed him for the first time and I really believe this is what started my tremendous breastfeeding challenges.

My son remained in a cardiac unit at a children’s hospital for 4 days with close monitoring of his heart. It was extremely challenging to keep a good feeding schedule when he was in a different location than me. As my milk came in I began facing the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life… worse than childbirth (and I delivered totally natural with all three kids)! 

I became soooo engorged that each of my breasts competed with the size of my head. No matter what position I was in, I was in excruciating pain! Every time I fed it seemed as if letdown would occur but very little milk would release. Days went by before I finally started feeling relief. That officially was my worst nightmare!

I breastfed my second son until he was approximately a year, and it was a miracle I made it through that time without clogged ducts like my first experience. However, that year I went to great lengths to make each feed a focused event to ensure each breast was drained properly. 

When it came time for our third son to be born I was terrified for what the start of breastfeeding him would bring. I had been so traumatized by my former experience. The benefit this time had was that I was able to nurse my son within minutes of his birth. My hopes were high that this would make all the difference. Thankfully the first few days went relatively well but once again the dreaded stage came, my “milk coming in.” Although this 3rd round wasn’t as brutal as the 2nd, it was still a beast. I was again in tears while trying to maintain some degree of calmness and hope that it would pass. 

I was becoming frustrated as this stage didn’t seem to be an issue to many people I interacted with. Why was it that I was always so engorged postpartum? I began researching and stumbled upon the best understanding of what I was experiencing. 

The first few days after delivering a baby bring a whole slew of changes to a woman’s body, including trying to rid itself of all the excessive fluid buildup during and after delivery. What seemed to be occurring in me was that while milk was trying to flow in one direction out of my breasts, I had increased swelling and fluid throughout my lymphatic system that was trying to drain out the opposite direction through my lymph nodes, causing a major traffic jam. 

No wonder I felt as if milk was really struggling to release! I had so much swelling in my breasts and it was very apparent I needed to help the swelling before I’d see much progress with nursing. This YouTube video was a huge help in learning the best techniques to assist in lymphatic drainage: 

This knowledge came as my engorgement started to turn a corner so unfortunately I couldn’t apply this technique the whole time, but I believe it helped provide relief for the remainder of my engorgement!

I am so relieved knowing this technique as I hope it will create a much better experience with our next child. 

Amongst the pains and struggles the beginning stages have caused me, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I have had to nurse all three of my boys! Breastfeeding is so bittersweet. It wasn’t easy and has definitely brought its challenges, but the bond and time with my boys has been priceless! 

I hope what I have learned will help in any engorgement you experience.  Know that it will pass!! There is light at the end of the tunnel and the rewards are tremendous!

The post The Nightmare Of Engorgement:  How Lymphatic Drainage Massage While Breastfeeding Helped Me  appeared first on From Bump To Bubble.

Meet Ann: an affiliate marketing consultant based outside of Chicago. She specializes in helping brands grow their programs and achieve success. As a work from home wife and mom to three boys, including four year old twins, she also blogs on The Full Hand about her experiences balancing digital marketing with her role as a mother.

Having twins is an amazing experience for any parent – two beautiful babies to love, cherish, and watch as they grow each day. But when it comes to nurturing a newborn duo, one of the biggest decisions you have to make is whether or not you will be breastfeeding twins!

It can be an incredibly daunting process and a scary feeling—especially when facing double the responsibility.

That’s exactly how I felt during the winter of 2018. My hope is that my real-life experiences can help another twin mama feel more connected and less alone in this breastfeeding journey. Ultimately, you want to make an informed decision on what’s best for your family.

One Baby vs. Multiple Babies

This wasn’t my first rodeo breastfeeding. Prior to getting pregnant with my twin boys, I was blessed with my first son Luke.

I breastfed him until he was six months old. Similar to other working moms, I started to wean nursing after I returned to my job. My pumping schedule was hard to maintain with my meetings. My office had a great nursing room, but it took about ten minutes to even walk there. Plus, I was just mentally done.

When I became pregnant with my twins, I had already transitioned to a new job that allowed me to work fully remotely. This meant I didn’t have to worry about attending in-person meetings or walking long distances to find lactation rooms.

Preparation for Breastfeeding Twins

Once the initial shock of becoming a mom to twins wore off, my curiosity drove me to research nursing two babies simultaneously.

I began to question my ability to produce an adequate amount of milk. Not to mention, the logistics of it all. How do I even hold two babies on my breasts?

To ease my anxiety, I read articles, joined twin-focused Facebook groups, and texted with fellow twin moms I knew. I was determined to at least try.

I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, but I had other motivations to nurse. The cost of diapers, wipes, clothes, gear, and more was a huge factor for me. If I could lessen the financial load by having breastfed twins, I was willing to give it a shot.

The Early Days

We welcomed Noel and Liam into our family at 36 weeks. My water broke naturally and it was a pretty straightforward delivery via c-section. Both babies weighed around 5lbs and there was no NICU time needed which can be common with multiples.

The early days were a total blur. Sure, we had help from family and friends but it was exhausting.

Besides the intense fatigue, I didn’t feel like my body was producing enough milk. We were supplementing the boys with 2oz bottles of formula during night feeds. Not only did this allow my husband to help feed the babies, it allowed me two to three hours of rest.

During the day, we tried to establish a good routine. My oldest went to daycare which helped lessen the demand for needs. Plus, it allowed me to spend time with the twins and start to form a special bond.

Nursing Twins

Although I didn’t work with a lactation consultant, I had a good memory from my first son on practical tips and tricks to get them to latch.

I decided early on that I wouldn’t be feeding the babies separately. Nursing one baby at a time just seemed too time-consuming.

With the help of a twin nursing pillow, I’d prop each baby onto a breast in a football hold. The extra cushion gave my newborn twins the proper head control, and the pillow made twin feeding more comfortable.

If I felt like my expressed breast milk supply wasn’t enough, I would supplement it with formula and focus on my nutrition.

Making a Change

Despite a few early weeks in, I noticed that my milk production wasn’t meeting the demands. This made me doubt myself and my abilities. I couldn’t help but wonder, if my body could nourish one baby, why was it struggling to do the same for two?

Another twin-mom friend suggested using a double electric hospital-grade pump. The purpose was to help increase my milk supply. She switched to one, and it helped with her breastfeeding journey. They were free to rent, so I went through the process and picked one up from my local hospital.

Despite using this power turbo breast pump, the stress of feeding these small babies weighed on me. I felt like a cow, hooked up to the pump. It was a physical and mental challenge that I had never faced before.

One night my husband looked at me and said, “You can stop, Ann. We can feed them however we like. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”

With that, I started to adjust my expectations of myself and be realistic about what my body could do.

After four long and hard weeks of breastfeeding twins, we switched exclusively to formula. It was a relief to be free from the pump and its relentless cycle of feeding, pumping, and cleaning.

I had gone into twin motherhood with preconceived notions about what I should do but ended up going on my own journey that allowed me to make choices that worked for our family–not just what I thought was right. 

The post Breastfeeding Twins: Double the Love, Milk, and Challenges appeared first on From Bump To Bubble.

I became a new mom on August 19, 2005, 10 days before Hurricane Katrina hit East Louisiana and caused tremendous turmoil. Hurricane Rita hit West Louisiana a few weeks later.

Needless to say, it was a very rough maternity leave for a first-time mom in her early 20s.

I hadn’t thought a lot about breastfeeding during pregnancy. I just knew I was going to do it. There was a learning curve for me as I went into it nearly blind. I breastfed for about 5 weeks.

Honestly, it was not breastfeeding that was difficult, but the multitude of stressors happening in the world during the time period, not to mention being sleep deprived. I also only had a certain amount of paid vacation for maternity leave, so money was on my mind. 

Motherhood and breastfeeding were going well until the reality of how to pump at work hit, and I knew my employer would not be open to me having to pump every few hours.

I was young and too naive to know to fight the employer on it.

As I was trying to figure out the mechanics of working and pumping without leaving my desk, I stumbled on an article with my answer! The article was similar to this video (below) on how to pump hands-free 4 hair ties (or ponytail holders). 2 hair ties are connected together to hold up each pump. The pump suction keeps the pump in place. An absolutely genius $1 idea that fits right into my very limited budget.

I was excited to try it, so I began looking to purchase a breast pump.

Shortly after discovering the much-needed solution, I got food poisoning. That took me out and dried me up like a desert. I literally thought I was dying! I could not get the milk production back, so my breastfeeding journey ended abruptly.

Four years later, I had another child and was given another opportunity to breastfeed and try out the solution I had discovered four years prior.

By this time, I was at a very different employer, one that had 2 other moms breastfeeding and pumping at work, so the environment was much more supportive for me to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.

Breastfeeding went well during maternity leave, and it came very naturally. I loved watching my daughter’s face as she looked so peaceful after being fed.

Rooting is the absolute cutest thing ever! Skin-on-skin contact with your baby is the best feeling. 

It was time to go back to work, and I could put my hands-free pump solution to the test. It was the best thing ever, honestly. It worked like a charm. It was such an easy solution to implement. I had no idea at the time there were wearable breast pumps! 

I was easily able to pump at my desk and continue to work. I purchased a cover to provide extra privacy. This hands-free hack worked so well I could pump while driving. I only knocked the pumps off a few times when turning the steering wheel. HAHA!

Breastfeeding became a part of our normal routine, and I didn’t let it interrupt my daily activities. I would nurse while walking around, doing laundry, or sitting at a restaurant. It didn’t matter. Not worrying about running out of formula or having to clean bottles was a gift. Not to mention the money you save.

I even figured out how to grocery shop while feeding on the go. Holding a nursing baby in one hand and pushing a shopping cart with the other was a bit of a challenge, but I made it work. I also developed some nice arm muscles from holding that little one.

I breastfed for 11 months and 2 weeks. I tried super hard to get to the 12-month mark, and in the end, I was just super anxious to be able to stop. It was also summertime in Louisiana, and my daughter was a chunky monkey. I couldn’t walk around nursing as much anymore.

For my 3rd child, I could not breastfeed because of some medicine I was on. I was devastated. I felt like a failure as a mother as I cried when the lactation specialist told me the news.

Knowing I would not have the same experience with my son as with my girls was heartbreaking. I was worried I would not have the same close relationship or bond with him.

In the end, God knew what he was doing as my son had some medical issues and had to stay in the hospital, so having him bottle fed was a blessing which allowed his Dad and I to take turns at the hospital.

I will say I had forgotten about milk letdown after pregnancy. I had always breastfed, so it didn’t occur to me that the milk would still come. I was quickly reminded when waking up with the most painful, lumpy breasts. Holy Moly, those things were full! I got through it with ice packs and all the tricks from the internet in a few days. 

My son is now 9 years old, and I love him to pieces. We have just as strong a bond despite not breastfeeding him.

Some days I miss breastfeeding. It is such a special moment you get with your child. I would not trade any of those slightly embarrassing wet shirt moments in public for anything in the world. Life is good, and I am blessed!

The post How $1 Changed My Pumping Experience: Working And Pumping appeared first on From Bump To Bubble.

A father-to-be here and boy have there been changes during pregnancy. To be honest, not much has changed for me personally besides the size of my bank account. Gee, those pregnancy costs add up quickly with ultrasounds, doctor bills, and now all the clothing and furniture. Do you know how much a pram costs?! 

But the big change I have seen is in the mom-to-be’s body. 

Obviously, the main area, her tummy, holding our beloved son. Yes, we decided to find out the sex before the birth via a blue light candle delivered to us by our waitress over lunch in a fancy restaurant… that was my idea, to make it a special moment *pats self on the back*. 

I’ve been watching over the weeks and months as her body adjusts to our son growing; her tummy moving outwards, expanding for our little boy. 

But, which I am sure you’ll roll your eyes at me for while muttering “typical male” there have been two other big changes just a little further up her body. 

Her breasts. 

And have they changed. I’ll be frank! They are huge! 

These truly are an emblem of her femininity, along with her curves and *cough* an area of much enjoyment for yours truly *cough* is now changing for what I call its new and “most important task”:

Breastfeeding. 

Do you know how beneficial breastfeeding is for your child? Facetiousness aside, it’s incredible. 

Breastfeeding provides the perfect nutrition for your child, which also increases the ability to protect against sickness and diseases, increases brain function (hmm, I could use some of that), and get this, it’s even beneficial for the mother too. Just google it.  

So we decided to that end we needed to prioritize breastfeeding and if size was anything to go by nature has decided for us. But FYI: size does not dictate how successful breastfeeding will be. Did I mention they’re huge? 

Guys, have you seen those breast pumps? Yeah, they’re a thing, and from what I can tell you’re going to need one or maybe two. Yep, another hit to the bank account. 

The reason is if all goes well for breastfeeding (which can be a problem for some mothers, we don’t know yet), a breast pump will be an asset. 

If you’re a little disorganized like myself and my wife, the breast pump will mean we can store some breastmilk for when she’s napping, out with the girls, or back at work. My wife is a self-employed photographer. 

In those times, I will be able to take care of our son and feed him with his own mother’s breastmilk and my wife won’t need to rush home to feed him. 

That’s right, I’m going to be one of those fathers who share the load of parenthood, at least as best as I can. 

The post Father-to-be: My Wife’s Body Preparing For Breastfeeding appeared first on From Bump To Bubble.

When my youngest was born, I felt a real sense of confidence that I hadn’t experienced with my firstborn.  My body responded in kind, my milk supply far surpassing what it had been with my first.  It was as if my body instinctively knew what to do this time around.  I had envisioned the ease of exclusive breastfeeding – no bottles to clean, no measuring, storing, freezing, or warming up milk – just a natural, nurturing bond between me and my baby boy. 

However, sometimes our best-laid plans encounter unexpected roadblocks. For me, this roadblock came in the form of my professional life.  When my maternity leave drew to a close, a change in my work situation occurred that I hadn’t anticipated.  Although my boss had initially agreed I could continue to work from home, he changed his mind, requiring me to return to the office.  My heart sank.  I saw my dreams of exclusive breastfeeding fade away. 

But, as a woman who has made her career in the financial world, I knew how to negotiate I spoke to my boss, and I outlined a new proposal, a compromise of sorts that would ensure my productivity at work while not sacrificing my breastfeeding goals.  It took some maneuvering, but eventually, we agreed on a part-time office schedule. 

Despite my best efforts, the reality was that my breastfeeding plan needed to adjust.  I had to introduce pumping into my routine, which was something I was originally trying to avoid. The adjustment was challenging at first.  The mechanics of a breast pump, the sterilization, the storing and warming of the milk – it was flashbacks to bad experiences with my first baby. 

I soon discovered the convenience of a wearable breast pump, which made a significant difference in my daily routine.  It was less intrusive, allowing me to continue with my work without interruption (as well as chase baby one around who was now a 2-year-old toddler).  My breastfeeding chair doubled as a pumping area and my reliable breastfeeding cover also became an essential tool, enabling me to feed my child during our family outings or my quick visits home without feeling uncomfortable. 

There were times when my milk supply fluctuated.  I noticed a direct correlation between my stress levels and the amount of milk I produced.  The realization made me pay more attention to my emotional well-being, relax, and not put unnecessary pressure on myself.  

My journey taught me that sometimes our paths need to change, and that’s okay.  I learned to embrace pumping as a part of my breastfeeding journey, not as a failure of my original plans.  We, as mothers, have to make difficult decisions every day for the well-being of our children and ourselves. 

In the end, every mother’s journey is unique.  It’s important to listen to our instincts, advocate for our needs, and above all be kind to ourselves.  Whether we are balancing budgets or balancing breastfeeding and work, we are doing the best we can.  Let’s not forget to celebrate that. 

The post The Unexpected Pivot appeared first on From Bump To Bubble.

My daughter’s first birthday is just two days from now and as I approach this momentous occasion, I’ve been reflecting on the crazy juggling act of life as a new and breastfeeding mom and multiple-business owner. 

Just from that statement alone, one can guess – It’s been a wild ride! 

It feels like I have experienced every shade of human emotion. From the deepest most satisfying elation to utter hopelessness and intense overwhelm. 

This past year has been more potent than any year I have yet to experience. The delicate balance of being a breastfeeding mom and entrepreneur has been a journey of trial and error. I’ve mostly found what works by finding out what doesn’t and then course-correcting. 

Every once in a while, there are moments when I get something “right” the first time, but more often than not, I’m learning as I go. I’ve certainly learned how to give myself grace. How to forgive myself, my partner, my daughter. How to (and when to) surrender to the chaos within and without.

And there are a few other “biggies” I’m still learning.  

I hope that by sharing a bit of my story, I can inspire more peace for the other mamas out there. I hope that I can inspire more strength for the hard moments and a deeper capacity for all of the beautiful and wonderful feelings in between. 

Because, as Katie says, “a happy (mama) is a productive (mama)!” We are mothers AND we are entrepreneurs. It’s a tall order for sure. And we can totally do it!

A Little Backstory… And My “WHY”

“Whether or not” I would try to breastfeed was never a question for me. I deeply believe in its benefits for both my baby’s and my own well-being. While I’ve educated myself on what science knows to be true about the benefits, I also wholeheartedly trust in nature and the natural way. 

This has been a significant driving force in my decisions around parenting and life in general. I’ve always viewed nature as the magic that fills in the missing gaps of what science tells us.

Before giving birth, I had made the decision to breastfeed exclusively. 

My daughter’s birth didn’t go as planned, however. My vision of a home birth, with my baby immediately in my arms, in bed, turned into a hospital birth and emergency measures that prevented that immediate latch attempt. 

It was a month-long journey of getting Quinn to the breast after being physically unable to breastfeed her initially due to blood sugar levels and her very tiny mouth, among other health issues. 

Eventually, though, after excruciating feelings of hopelessness and failure multiple times a day, Quinn and I succeeded in transitioning from finger-syringe and bottle feeding to breastfeeding and we never looked at another syringe or bottle ever again. 

I share this part of our story to demonstrate the importance of taking the necessary time to focus on the more important things before we jumped back into the business. 

I think my success with breastfeeding while running a business has been due to my early commitment to it and laying the foundation, allowing the proper space to nurture that process as deeply as was needed.

My decision to start and continue the food business was 100% inspired by my dream to exclusively breastfeed. 

I didn’t have an online business yet or any ideas for one, and I knew that if I didn’t bring in an at-home income, I would have to go get a job which would mean bottle feeding (not to mention spending hours away from my baby). 

On top of that, there would inevitably be childcare costs that I just couldn’t imagine being able to afford. 

There was plenty of incentive for me to brainstorm how to make money in my community, and so my little food business idea was born.

When I was 33 weeks pregnant, I launched a community-based, farm-to-table food project out of my kitchen. I wanted to make samosas! And I wanted to make them from the delicious, organic produce that my neighbors were growing. 

I was inspired by the thought of nourishing my community with such high-quality food and the sustainability factor of using local produce and zero-waste packaging methods. I felt like a pioneer in a world of waste and fast food.

Still, it took me three months to muster the courage to send that first email! The first week went incredibly well. Much to my surprise. I sold about 70 samosas. 

Even more to my surprise, the very next week, my daughter was born. 

I thought, of course, that I had about 2 more months before having my baby, but Quinn had other plans. 

So, after a two-month break from the business, we were back at it and luckily our customers didn’t skip a beat. Orders continued to roll on in just like the first week. After about a month, my partner was able to quit her job and be home full-time with Quinn and me and now it’s a family business!

I realize that my story is fairly unique in that I have been able to create a work-from-home situation that isn’t possible for most. But the principles I have adopted for a smooth running ship can be applied to any situation. As I look back on the last year, there are a few major takeaways. 

These are the foundational aspects of my life that make it all possible:

Allowing and Receiving Support

I’m convinced to my core that raising a baby is not a one or two-person job! 

I have a whole new appreciation for the popular saying, “It takes a village.” 

I will say, though, it’s taken me nearly 12 months to really master the skill of receiving support from anyone other than my partner. 

The shame surrounding this runs so deep. It’s as if that shame had a vice grip over my mouth and wouldn’t let me say, “Yes, thank you. I could really use the help today. Please come over and hold the baby while I take a shower/do my dishes/cook me a meal/hang out and play with the baby for a bit while I work on the computer/etc.” 

There are levels to this skill too. After the newborn phase, help was offered less frequently, if at all (probably because I rarely accepted it), and so I would have to initiate and ask for it! This was a huge struggle for me. 

I think it was partly due to the cultural programming that so many women receive that says “You should be able to handle everything and do it on your own.” 

This, coupled with my fear of judgment on my ability to “be a good mom,” made receiving support a real challenge. 

Eventually, my exhausted and run-down self acquiesced so that I might survive! Slowly, I’ve strengthened this muscle and now I am the biggest advocate for communal support! Any time and I mean ANY time someone offers their support, I accept it. What’s even more, I’ve learned how to ask for support when I need it too, and also just when I want it. 

Here’s the sustainability factor. I realized that if I’m going to get through this above the level of just mere survival, I need to ask for help way before I’m desperate. And so I do. And the reality is, everyone is always so happy to pitch in. 

And now, at 12 months of age, Quinn is much more mobile and her preferred place isn’t in the carrier but on my hip or crawling (and now walking!) around. So my partner and I take turns being with her, while the other is doing something productive toward the business. As she ages, her needs and the timing of them are a bit more predictable which allows more concentrated slots of time where I can focus on business. 

We have also just recently hired two young maidens who live in our neighborhood as “mother’s helpers” which has been revolutionary to our life! I also love the idea of nurturing the youth in gaining wisdom around caring for small children – something I see as being tragically scarce in our culture.

Essentially, both my partner and I can be focused on business-oriented activities while Quinn is still very nearby and getting the engagement and exploration that she needs. 

And now, I have the capacity to include another passion project in my life where I get to help other eco-driven individuals live a more sustainable lifestyle – all while being Mama to Baby Quinn. This second business is incredibly important to me because not only is it a creative outlet of “my own,” but it is my plan to take our income to the next level, beyond just meeting our basic needs.

It truly takes a village to navigate the journey of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Finding and embracing a support system is crucial. Whether it’s accepting help from family and friends, hiring assistance, or connecting with other like-minded moms in the community, having a network of people who understand and can lend a hand makes a world of difference. 

Over time, I learned to let go of the shame and embrace the support that was available to me.

The second factor in making it possible to run two businesses as a breastfeeding mama is:

Flexibility in Business

As a breastfeeding mom, schedules are often unpredictable. Being open to adjusting and adapting my work routine has allowed me to meet the needs of both my baby and my business.

At the time of writing this, my daughter is just about to turn one, and I have a pretty good idea of how long she can go in between nursing sessions, but it’s never been an exact schedule.

Especially in the first several months of her life, with cluster feeding and growth spurts, I often felt like I was nursing her around the clock! My focus on work is often interrupted or paused without much warning. 

Luckily, the way both of my businesses are set up, there is ultimate flexibility. 

And the way I take advantage of this is by breaking up my work into smaller, manageable tasks that can make it easier to handle interruptions. Instead of aiming for long, uninterrupted work sessions, I focus on completing smaller tasks during breastfeeding breaks. I make progress bit by bit over the course of the day and I’m more likely to avoid feelings of overwhelm.

And a Few Other Things…

Creating a nurturing environment for Quinn was essential in running a business. 

For me, wearing my baby in wraps and carriers was a game-changer. It allowed me to have Quinn close and involved in my daily activities while providing her with the comfort and security she needed. 

I wore Quinn everywhere and at all times! This allowed me to do so much. I did all of my prep and cooking with her wrapped on my chest. When customers would come to pick up their orders, you guessed it, she was wrapped up on my chest. It was incredible for both of us. 

In addition to being functionally beneficial to the daily tasks of life and business, having her wrapped on me allowed a certain part of my brain and body to be at ease. It always felt like she was right where she belonged and I could just glance down to see that she was okay. When she got a bit older and able to, I could nurse her in the carrier as well which allowed me to be a little more mobile and able to keep going with the task at hand.

In addition to having a “move-with-me” workspace, having a dedicated stationary workspace that is organized and clear of clutter has also been a huge contributor to my productivity. This way, when I have a moment to focus on computer work, I can dive right in without wasting precious time.

My workspace follows me into other unlikely moments as well. There are those precious nap times. Even though Quinn primarily naps at the breast, while we lay in bed, I can still use the time wisely. If I don’t take advantage of those moments for some rest myself, I am using those solid chunks of time for research or emails or anything else I can do on my phone. 

The skill of time management has been honed over the last 12 months to a fine art!

Final Thoughts…

Every breastfeeding mom’s journey is unique, and it’s important for each mama to find what works best for her and her baby. It may take time to discover the right balance, and there will undoubtedly be challenges along the way. However, with a mindset of resilience, an embrace of support, and a willingness to adapt, you can thrive as a breastfeeding boss mommy! 

Remember, you are not alone, and the growth and fulfillment that come from this journey are worth every moment of struggle. So keep going, trust your instincts, and know that you have the strength to conquer breastfeeding, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. 

Much love!

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