Hey, Mommas! Being able to exclusively breastfeed for the first year, and counting, is something I deeply hoped for, but honestly? I couldn’t have imagined what the journey would really be like. Aside from my doula, midwife, and Google, I didn’t have many sources to turn to for helpful breastfeeding tips. No one in my immediate family had breastfed, so I lacked the real, raw, unfiltered truth. The ups, the downs, the ouch of it all. The late-night Googles. The spilled milk. The mental gymnastics. I’ve lived it. I’m still living it. And I’ve got stories.
Let me be clear from the jump: those first 2–3 weeks? Easily one of the hardest parts of my entire motherhood experience. I had large nipples, my baby had a small mouth, and together we were like two awkward puzzle pieces trying to make it work. The textbooks say breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt, but I call cap. It does. At least at first. And for some moms, the pain is just too much.
Now, I’ve always thought of myself as someone with a high pain tolerance. I have fourteen piercings, and had nineteen at one point (yes, including my nipples), three tattoos (one on my foot, if you know, you know), and once had my hand slammed in a car door and calmly said, “Mom… my hand…” while she screamed and struggled to open the door in horror. 😅 I even lost my two front teeth rollerblading through the house (wasn’t supposed to, did it anyway, no regrets, just a toothless smile).
So pain? I can manage. But this? Breastfeeding pain hits different.
I alternated Motrin and Tylenol for about a week. One nipple cracked, then bled. A scab formed. So I started favoring the other breast, which now, funnily enough, still produces more milk to this day. Sometimes my baby didn’t even want to latch, maybe he was over it, too. But I kept trying. He kept giving me another shot. And then one day, I woke up and realized I hadn’t needed pain meds… and his latch felt like second nature. Our rhythm finally clicked. And since then, it’s been relatively smooth sailing.
But whew, there’s so much I wish I had known. So here’s my Top 5 Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms, from the real talk to the science-y stuff to the downright funny. I hope it helps another momma feel just a little more seen, a little more prepared, and a whole lot less alone.
Top 5 Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
1. Pumping is a pain in the cheeks. Literally.
Not the act of pumping itself, although, shoutout to the awkward cow machine vibes that make you feel like a human milk factory, but the pump setup? A whole ordeal. There are so. many. parts. Tubes. Flanges. Valves. Bottles. Backflow protectors. And unless you want bacteria building up, you’ve got to clean them after every single use.
If you’re pumping 3–4 times a day (which is recommended if you’re building a stash or going back to work), that means disassembling, washing, sterilizing, drying, and reassembling multiple times a day. And don’t get me started on putting the thing back together wrong and spilling your precious, hard-earned milk. I’ve cried real tears holding a milk-soaked nursing bra—breastmilk puddles beneath my feet.
Luckily, I got an extra pump through my insurance (yes—most insurance providers cover breast pumps, so call yours if you haven’t already!) and a couple more from my baby registry. I had two wearables and two medical-grade pumps, but guess what? They all still had to be cleaned. 😩
Some days, I skipped pumping altogether and stuck with on-demand nursing, which worked better for my lifestyle. But I made sure to pump once a day to build a freezer stash for the occasional workday or break. I don’t have the magic answer, Mommas. Just the truth: If you plan to pump, know that you’ll be washing parts like it’s a part-time job. If there’s a pump out there with only one or two pieces, PLEASE send me the link. I’ll name my next child after you.
🍼 Pro Tip:
Consider getting microwave steam sterilizer bags or a UV sterilizer if you can. It saves time and helps keep your pump parts clean with less hassle. Also, the fridge hack—where you place pump parts in a clean bag and store them in the fridge between uses—can cut down on washing during the day (just wash thoroughly every 24 hours!).
2. Some days, you’ll feel like all you did was breastfeed, and that’s okay.
Breastfeeding takes everything out of you: mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually… existentially. Some days, I’d look at the clock and think, Have I done anything today besides be an open baby bar? And the answer was usually no.
In the early days, when I was still healing from labor, breastfeeding around the clock felt like a marathon. And not a scenic, Instagrammable marathon. I’m talking an emotionally grueling, foggy-eyed, “wait, when did I last shower?” kind of marathon.
I felt like a cow. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. A milk machine with sore nipples and a baby permanently attached to my chest. I lost track of how many hours I spent nursing. Some feeds blurred into the next. I’d get comfortable, turn on a show, and by the time the credits rolled, it was time to feed again. Every two to three hours isn’t just a suggestion—it’s the whole schedule.
But then, something shifted. I stopped seeing it as a burden and started viewing it as a superpower. Like—my body is feeding another human. No bottles, no formulas, just me and my baby. It was intimate. Sacred. Powerful.
And you know what? Even on those days when I didn’t wash a dish, answer an email, or respond to a text, I did a lot. I kept my baby alive, fed, safe, and soothed. And that’s more than enough.
✨ Gentle Reminder:
Give yourself grace. You just gave birth. Your uterus is shrinking. Your hormones are rollercoastering. Your brain is learning a new language: “What does that cry mean?” You’re not lazy. You’re healing and adapting. This season is temporary, but your baby’s nourishment is lasting.
3. You need to drink a LOT of water… and actually eat. Like, regularly.
I learned this lesson the hard way, and probably the hangry way, too.
One day, about four weeks postpartum, I had to head out for ADR (automated dialogue replacement) for a TV show I’d filmed while in my third trimester (Yes! You read that correctly. More on this another time, haha!). I had pumped earlier, left a bottle for Dad, and rushed out the door like I was in a high-stakes action movie, except instead of dodging bullets, I was dodging leaky boobs, spit-up stains, and the sinking feeling of “Am I ready for this?”
I hadn’t eaten breakfast (rookie mistake) and was running purely on hot tea and hope. The session was only two hours, so I used my wearable pump while on my twenty-minute drive home to relieve the pressure and add to our freezer stash, but by the time I got back… I noticed my output was lighter than usual. My breasts felt full, but I was down by about two ounces. Cue the panic.
Breastfeeding is supply and demand, but it’s also fuel and hydration. If you’re not drinking water and eating enough, your body will prioritize YOU over milk production. Which makes sense, it’s trying to keep you alive first. And breastfeeding can burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories a day. That’s a whole meal you need to make up for, with real food, not just a cute lil’ breakfast bar cookie thingy.
Once I got home, I drank water like I’d just crossed a desert, and scarfed down a balanced meal, and my next feed was back to normal. But that moment taught me: breastfeeding is not a time to skip meals or skimp on self-care.
🥗 Helpful Tip:
Keep easy snacks in your nursing station, nursing bag, and purse—think trail mix, granola bars, dried fruit, protein balls, or lactation cookies. Use a large water bottle with time markers (or just obnoxiously bright stickers) to remind yourself to hydrate. Some mommas swear by electrolyte drinks or coconut water to keep their supply up! I personally loved Bodyarmor and Mother’s Milk Herbal Tea. I’m still drinking two to three cups of tea a day.
And if you’re someone who never ate breakfast pre-baby? Now’s the time to change that. Because you’re not just feeding you anymore, you’re creating liquid gold. 💛
4. It really does build a powerful connection with your baby.
There’s something sacred about the way my son looks at me when I breastfeed him. It’s not just a glance, it’s a gaze. Like he sees me. Like he knows I’m giving him something only I can give. There’s this tiny moment, when he hugs me or smiles at me mid-feed that reminds me: this is more than nourishment. It’s intimacy. It’s love. It’s bonding on a cellular level.
When I nurse him, I try to stay present. I rub his little head. I breathe with him. I smile at him. I want him to associate breastfeeding with peace, safety, and comfort. It’s our time. No phone. No rushing. Just us.
Even my husband notices the difference in our baby’s energy after breastfeeding versus when he has a bottle. The bottle gets the job done, yes. But the breast? It’s custom-made, tailor-fit nutrition that shifts in real time to meet his needs. Did you know that your baby’s saliva sends signals to your body, and your breastmilk responds by adjusting its composition? Like, what?! It’s literally magic. Science magic.
And now that he’s walking and wilding out, the relationship has evolved. He’s grabbing at my shirt like it’s a drive-thru. Trying to pull my boobs out in public like, “I said what I said.” 😂 It’s funny, humbling, and slightly terrifying, but it’s also beautiful. He knows what he wants. He knows where to go. And he knows I’ll be there.
👶🏽 Good to Know:
According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding for at least 6 months exclusively provides optimal immunity and bonding benefits. Even beyond that, continuing to breastfeed (alongside solids) helps with emotional regulation, developmental growth, and deepens that parent-child connection.
So when your baby stares at you with that milk-drunk look of pure satisfaction? You’re not just filling their belly, you’re filling their heart.
5. It’s been good for my mental health, like, really good.
Here’s something I didn’t expect: breastfeeding has helped me feel emotionally grounded. There’s something empowering about knowing my body can feed and sustain life. Like… I made this little human. I birthed him. And now I’m feeding him from my body. That’s wild. That’s ancient. That’s superwoman stuff.
Standing at 5’1″, petite in frame but mighty in spirit, I feel like a walking miracle. And every time my son reaches for me to nurse, I feel proud. Honored. Chosen. He doesn’t know how much it took to get here—how painful, how exhausting, how uncertain it all felt at first. But I do.
And I know not every mom gets this experience. Some choose not to breastfeed because of time, lifestyle, or mental health. Others want to desperately, but struggle with low supply or latch issues or medical complications. I’ve had so many heartfelt conversations with moms in both camps, and I feel nothing but empathy and respect.
So I don’t take this privilege lightly. I’m grateful. I rest in the joy of knowing I can give my son something made just for him. And while I’m not against formula at all—I think every mom should do what works best for her and her baby—I know for me, I’ll never regret choosing this journey. Not for a second.
🧠 Fun Fact:
Breastfeeding triggers the release of oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.” It helps your uterus contract post-birth (bye-bye, swelling!) and supports emotional bonding between you and your baby. It’s one reason many breastfeeding mommas report feeling calm and emotionally connected during nursing sessions.
Bonus: Breastfeeding saves you so much time
Let’s be honest—waking up every 2–3 hours to feed is already a lot. No wonder mommas are sleep-deprived! And if you’ve got to make a bottle in the middle of the night? Whew. Bless you. Mixing the formula, warming it up, making sure it’s the right temp—that’s time and coordination your half-asleep self may not always have.
But a breast with milk that’s already at the perfect temperature? Winning! As soon as baby stirs, the boob comes out, baby eats, and we’re both back to sleep—no bottle prep, no waiting. It’s the definition of convenience.
Especially for mommas who safely co-sleep or use a bedside bassinet. Not having to get out of bed at all? Yes, lawd! An even bigger sleep-saver. But we’ll get more into that another time. 😴
In Closing: You Got This, Momma.
Breastfeeding isn’t just a feeding choice—it’s a journey. One that’s filled with cracked nipples and spilled milk, snuggles and sacred moments, hormonal highs and frustrating lows. There will be days when you feel like a superhero… and others when you feel like a vending machine with leaky parts.
But wherever you land, know this: you’re doing something incredible.
Whether you breastfeed for two weeks or two years, whether you pump, supplement, triple-feed, or bottle-feed, what matters most is that you show up. With love. With intention. With your whole self, even when you feel like you’re falling apart.
This post isn’t meant to shame or compare—it’s to uplift. To say: Here’s what helped me. Here’s what I wish I knew. And here’s what I’ve learned.
And if you’re reading this with a heating pad tucked into your nursing bra or a crying baby latched onto your boob while you scroll? I see you. I love you. I am you.
Stay strong. Stay hydrated. And don’t cry over spilled milk (unless it was 5 ounces… then cry. Cry hard.)
You got this, Momma. 💛
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