Hey, Mama — come in close for this one. As I prepare to welcome my third baby, I’m here to share some lessons I’ve learned (mostly the hard way) about nursing and pumping, from one mother to another. 💕
This will be my third baby in three years, and I’ve learned so much about breastfeeding, pumping, and all the messy, beautiful in-between moments in that time.
If you’re a first-time mom, overwhelmed by all the information out there — or feeling like you missed the memo on how this is supposed to go — I’ve been there. And I want to share a few things I wish I had known (and a few I wish I hadn’t stressed about) before I started this journey.
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Breast Pumps are NOT Self-Explanatory
With my first, I was so focused on nursing that I barely even opened my pump before my maternity leave ended. I had this mental block — like if I ignored it, I wouldn’t need it. But when it was time to start daycare, I realized I wish I knew how to use it yesterday.
I wish I had taken the time early on to learn my pump, what size flanges I needed (spoiler: it’s not one-size-fits-all), and what settings worked best for me.
If you’re pregnant or newly postpartum, now is a great time to get familiar with your pump. Trust me, learning how to assemble pump parts while sleep-deprived and emotional is very much not the move.
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Build a Stash — But Don’t Panic About It
I waited until two weeks before returning to work to start pumping regularly, and I had a tiny stash that barely covered those first few days. The stress of “not enough” was overwhelming.
What I know now is that just one extra pump session each morning — when you produce the most milk — is enough to start building a solid freezer stash over time. A couple of ounces here and there adds up fast, and it takes the pressure off when you’re trying to juggle everything else.
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Think Through Your Return-to-Work Storage & Clean-Up Plan
I worked in the field with my first, and it never crossed my mind to plan for how I’d store my milk or clean my pump parts. I ended up shelling out over $500 on a fancy car cooler to make sure my milk didn’t spoil in the Texas heat.
Now? I keep it simple. I pack multiple sets of pump parts and use a Ceres Chill to store milk safely. A little planning goes a long way in saving your sanity.
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Don’t Worry About Pumping in Front of Your Partner
I remember being weirdly embarrassed to pump in front of my husband. I felt exposed, mechanical, and not at all “natural.” But the truth is — this is what love looks like. If you feel awkward at first, that’s normal. It passes.
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Understand the Volume Baby Needs
My daycare insisted my baby needed 20+ ounces in an 8-hour day, and I made myself miserable trying to keep up. But most breastfed babies take 3-4 oz every 2.5-3 hours, not the 6oz bottles our daycare thought he needed. Paced bottle feeding can help baby adjust and protect your supply, too.
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Try Not to Stress Over Being Perfect
I wish I could go back and hug myself in those early months — so full of love and fueled by anxiety. I made myself crazy worrying over every ounce.
Just remember, every drop of milk you provide is a gift. Every decision you make is rooted in love. It’s messy and will never be perfect, but you are a great mom.
You’re not alone. You’ve got this. And your BabyBuddha village is here to help.
