Breastfeeding Q&A Question: My baby is turning 1 soon and has been exclusively breastfed. After he turns one, I want to continue to breastfeed but I was hoping to scale back some of the breastfeeding sessions so he is more hungry for solid foods and also to give me a little more freedom. He still feeds very frequently (every hour or two) and I think many times it is for comfort or he is just “snacking”. I would like to scale back so that we’re doing one morning feed and one evening feed and less daytime feedings. How do I go about scaling back breastfeeding?      How to sca ..read more

Pumping Q&A Question: Is getting sick from bad breast milk actually a common thing? Or is it unlikely and just one more thing to add to the intense anxiety of being a new mom?     What usually happens if baby drinks spoiled breast milk? Answer: Baby actually getting sick from spoiled breast milk isn’t very common. If baby drinks spoiled milk, the baby may actually refuse to drink the milk in the first place. Once they swallow the milk, they might make a grossed out face and actually refuse to drink any more. If they drink enough of it, they may end up getting an upset stomach. T ..read more

Breastfeeding Q&A Question: When did you stop pumping at work and did it affect your supply?      When to stop pumping at work Answers: Pumping at work can be a real challenge, and you may be looking forward to a time when you can start to decrease your pumping sessions. We asked a bunch of moms when they stopped pumping at work, and here’s what they said: “I stopped pumping at work when my 3rd was 20 months. He's currently 21 months. He latches when we get home and throughout the night. I can feel my milk coming in when I'm on my way to pick him up. Your body will regulate ..read more

Free download of an awesome printable. Celebrate your amazing milk-making capabilities by printing out this free printable and hang it wherever you need some inspiration during your breastfeeding and pumping days.     Click here to get free printable! I Make Milk What's Your Superpower Free Printable! Email * Thank you ..read more

Breastfeeding Q&A Question: I’ve started to get comments about how my little guy should be weaned soon because he’s turning 18 months and it’s “a little weird at this point.”  I swear not a single person in my life understands anymore. Do you have any ideas how I can respond to the criticism?     How to respond to extended breastfeeding criticism Answer: First off, please know you’re not obligated to justify your choices to anyone. But if you feel inclined to respond, here are some ideas… "What an odd thing to say out loud" "I don't remember asking your opinion on ..read more

Breastfeeding Q&A Question: At my postpartum visit the lactation consultant gave me a nipple shield to use but she didn’t mention anything about needing to wean from it. Should I try to wean my baby from using it?     Should I wean my baby off the nipple shield? Answer: Nipple shields can be helpful solutions for babies who are having trouble latching, but they are meant to be a temporary solution. For example, there are concerns that using one long term can decrease milk supply. However, if your baby is gaining weight well and you are not experiencing nipple discomfort, there i ..read more

Breastfeeding Q&A Question: I’m struggling to get more milk on my right side. I pump about 5 oz on the left side and my baby latches on well on that side. On my left side I get 3 oz or nothing at all. Is this normal? And if it is how can I increase the right side supply? And what would be the cause for this! Thank you!     How can I increase milk supply on one side? Answer: It’s actually super common to have one side that produces much less milk than the other side. This can be caused by having less milk-making tissue in one breast or because of a side preference in your baby, w ..read more

Breastfeeding Q&A Question: My 5 month old baby has started sleeping through the night. While this is great news, I’m worried about how it may affect my milk supply. I have always had a great milk supply. Now that he’s sleeping through the night, there is a period from 7:30pm - 7:00am where he’s not nursing. I have added a pump around 10 pm before I go to sleep. Is that enough? Or will my supply suffer without a middle of the night pump? How should I proceed?     Will My Milk supply decrease when baby sleeps through the night? Answer: Congrats on this milestone! As long as your ..read more

Milkology Q&A Question: Is it safe for me to take a small dose of melatonin at night while breastfeeding? This would be after my baby goes to sleep and they sleep through the night.     Can I Take Melatonin While Breastfeeding? Answer: Unfortunately, as a lactation consultant, I can’t give you advice about what medications to take. I recommend you contact your baby’s pediatrician for advice. But I can tell you that, according to the CDC, most medications are safe during breastfeeding, and few are completely contraindicated. According to LactMed, which is a database from the Nati ..read more

Milkology Q&A Question: I'm due in about a month. I had a lump removed from my right breast a couple years ago and the surgeon may have taken some milk ducts. I'm wondering if there is any way to see if I’ll be able to produce milk before baby is born?     Can I Breastfeed After Breast Surgery? Answer: It can be stressful to breastfeed after breast surgery but you should know that many women are able to breastfeed successfully after minor surgery such as the one you describe. Even if that breast produces slightly less milk, you have two breasts! Some people produce all the milk ..read more