Currently on Round 3 of breastfeeding in the past two years. And boy, has it been a journey! Three babies and three years in, I love that I’ve been able to nourish my babies and have a custom supply of milk to fit their needs, all from my own body.

I remember being pregnant with my first child, Leilani, and wanting to breastfeed, but my knowledge of breastfeeding and its many benefits being completely surface level. I mean, I could feed my baby at no monetary costs, and breastmilk being really good for baby was as far as my knowledge went. 

However, there were a number of thing I wish I truly knew before it all began, and I know it will help some of my black breastfeeding moms out there! Here are 10 real things new and expectant moms should know about breastfeeding. 

Commitment // The most important thing new and expecting moms should know about breastfeeding is that it is a HUGE commitment. No, seriously. It’s no easy job. It really is a lot of work nursing a child around the clock. Add pumping to the equation and it’s literally like another full time job. There’s late nights, early mornings. Literally, your body is not your own even after pregnancy because you still give so much of yourself even after the baby is here. Breastfeeding takes a toll on your body, your sleep, your time, and you're freedom. Make sure you’re committed to the process— the good, the bad, and the ugly.  


Your success  is as good as your latch // Latching your baby to the breast can make or break your breastfeeding experience. You and baby both need to learn the best positions to breastfeed but most importantly, baby has to learn how to latch properly so he/she can remove milk from the breast effectively. The keyword here is learn! Both you and baby are teaching each other through this journey - you teach baby to latch properly and baby teaches you which positions they like to nurse in. If baby isn't emptying the breast efficiently that sends a signal to your brain to stop producing the amount of milk baby needs! Take your time in teaching this. Don't quit mama! 

That Ish Hurts // With commitment comes pain. Well, not all the time, but in this instance, it does. Breastfeeding hurts. From a shallow latch to engorement and clogged milk ducts, breastfeeding can hurt like a mother the first few weeks as you and baby are getting adjusted. The things mothers do for our babies! With every baby, I had to relearn how to do things - to latch them correctly, how to properly empty my breasts after feedings. But, it gets better! These are things that natural happen. Not all babies come out knowing how to nurse. Remember to extend yourself grace because this too shall pass.  Push through if you can mama! 

Invest in a Good Pump // I knew I needed a good breast pump because I was due to return back to work in 12 weeks. These days, you can get a free breast pump through your insurance, so be sure to research the breast pumps your insurance has to offer to determine which one would be a perfect fit for you. I had the Spectra S2 both times and loved it. Also, be sure to replace your pump parts every 2-3 months, as they can lose their suction, not removing milk from the breast effectively and causing a dip in your supply. 

Pump realistically // Another thing, if not one of the most important things breastfeeding mamas should know is to pump realistically. There seems to be this thing with moms being obsessed with pumping ounces upon ounces of milk, and other moms worrying that they're not producing enough milk because they're not pumping 10 ounces per breast in one sitting. Whatever you are producing for your baby is more than enough, so long as you are putting baby to the breast on demand, you're eating enough throughout the day, and staying hydrated. How much you pump is not an indication of low milk supply. 

Also, trust me when I say, you do not need a freezer full of milk when going back to work.  

I said what I said. 

I remember with my first child feeling bummed that I didn't have a freezer full of 200 ounces of milk like the moms I saw online. Whether you have a freezer stash or not is no indicator of how good of a mother you are. Some women naturally have an oversupply of milk, and that's okay.


I've never had an oversupply of milk. I’ve always produced just enough for what my babies needed. I am finally okay with that! Riley is still eating, chunking up and living her absolute best life with what she gets. 

Teach caregivers how to bottle feed // This one is for my mamas who have to return to work. Feeding baby from the bottle is completely different than feeding from the breast. Baby can easily overfeed from a bottle, making breastfeeding mothers feel like they need to increase their milk supply to keep up with the demand. The latter is furthest from the truth! 

At no point will you ever need to give your breastfed baby 8+ ounces of milk. Both of my children drank 3-4 ounce bottles THE ENTIRE YEAR they were breastfed. Yes, the entire year. 

You see, the beauty in breastmilk is that it's metabolized much differently from formula. Research shows that formula fed babies use the nutrients in formula less efficiently, so they'll need more milk to meet their nutritional needs. Breastmilk changes in composition to meet baby growing needs. How's that for some good ole' liquid gold!

So, how do you bottle-feed a breastfed baby? Make sure you're using the slowest flow nipple, as the fast consistent flow of milk makes overfeeding more likely as baby will eat more aggressively than normal. You ever eat a meal so fast, it feels like you ate nothing at all? Then you go back to eat some more and you're completely stuffed? Same concept here. 

Also, try feeding baby in an upright position while also taking short breaks in between. These three methods will help baby realize that they're full, as they'll consume a volume of breastmilk appropriate for their size and age. Supports us working and pumping moms so much better, allowing us to pump in alignment with baby's actual demands. 

Insatiable Appetite // What does every woman want to do after they’ve had a baby? Snap back. Good news is, breastfeeding does help you lose weight in the very beginning. What they don't tell you about breast-feeding is that breastfeeding gives you the appetite of a whole football team, so it’s impossible to diet while breastfeeding. One, if you diet and eliminate too many calories, you risk a dip in your supply. And two, you literally want to eat all the things all the time. Snacking throughout the day definitely helps with the increased appetite, but try to make sure you're snacking on healthy foods like fruits, nuts, etc... Baby will get all the nutrients they need from your breastmilk, but you don't want to be depleted. 

Lop Sided Sistas // You may notice that your baby takes to one side more than the other. For whatever reason, all of my babies favored the left side more, making my right side the slacker. Uneven production of milk means your breasts won’t be the same size! What I try to do is offer the slacker boob first, that way that side is still getting some stimulation during the day versus none at all. Not so pretty cosmetic wise, but most times, people won't notice unless they're all up in your stuff for real for real. 

Free the Nipple // I've breastfed publicly both covered and uncovered. There seems to be this thing where people are super freaked out about us moms using our breasts to do what they were made for - nourishing our babies! I digress. But, by a certain age babies just didn't want to be covered, and there wasn't always a discreet place to nurse. It is what it is!

Take Care Of Yourself // More than anything, take care of yourself mama. Trust me, I know what it's like to have the whole day gone by and you haven't eaten or drank much of anything. While the main thing a mother need to breastfeed is nursing baby on demand, not taking in enough calories during the day or fluids can affect your supply as well. While your diet does not have to be perfect by any means, remember, you have to eat to feed! 

Breastfeeding is hard work, but breastfeeding as a working mother is even harder. Why do I stay the course? Because I know it’s the best thing for my children. My children haven’t had any major illnesses, and I’m grateful that they have pretty strong immune systems because of it. Don’t give up!
There’s tons of support groups out there to help you. And while I do understand that most women are not able to breastfeed, or some women supplement (like I have in the past), you’re still an awesome mother. 

What have your breastfeeding experiences been like? Let’s talk in the comments!

In honor of Black Breastfeeding week, I figured I'd celebrate by dropping some breastfeeding gems on the blog all week long.  I've breastfed two babies, and am currently breastfeeding our third child.

With two breastfed babies already under my belt, I think it's safe to say that I've learned a thing or two about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is definitely a full time job all by itself. Before breastfeeding, I suggest doing as much research as you possibly can to help you on your journey. There's a wealth of knowledge out there to help you along your journey.

Today, I want to share my breastfeeding must haves, things I had to have with each baby and things I've found to be super helpful.

1. Boppy Pillow // The Boppy Pillow was a must have for all of my babies. It made breastfeeding a newborn so easy, especially considering how tiny they are when they're first born. This "C" shaped pillow wraps around your waist and helps you get baby to the perfect height to nurse. Definitely a life saver, especially for postpartum.
2. Coconut Oil // While breastfeeding should never be painful, that doesn't mean you won't experience some soreness and discomfort in the early weeks as you and baby are getting adjusted. There's many nipple balms out there on the market, but I find that coconut oil works just as well for healing sore, cracked nipples.
3. Water // While breastfeeding, it's important to stay hydrated as hydration can have a direct impact on your milk supply. Not only that, breastfeeding just makes you thirsty (and hungry) all together Drinking water can be a bit of a challenge for me, so putting it in a cute water container somehow encourages me to drink more. 
4. Breast pump // If you work outside the home and plan on going back to work, an efficient pump is necessary. My favorite? The Spectra USA Hospital Grade Pump. I've used the Spectra S2 breast pump with all of my children, and I love how great it is at getting the milk out. It's a closed system (which means no molding in the tubes!) Pumping is great for relieving engorgment, clogged milk ducts, and building up a nice milk stash if you plan to be away from your baby for a bit.
5. Haakaa // The haakaa is a favorite product of mine, and I wish I knew about it with my first two children! It's a silicone breast pump that catches the let down from the opposite breast you're nursing on. With my first two, I remember using a burp cloth to try and stop the let down, and would be left with a cloth full of precious milk. Just think: if you use the haakaa after every feed for the day, you'll have yourself an extra bottle for the day, on top of your pumping sessions. Game changer!
6. Heating pads // Another gem I wish I had discovered with my first two children. Heating pads are great for helping with the let down reflex when breastfeeding, which will increase your milk flow. This comes in especially handy if you're pumping. There were plenty of times where I've pumped at work, my breasts still felt full and I couldn't get another let down to release the milk. Definitely a must have!
7. Sprigs Life Lacti Milk // In addition to taking my multivitamins, drinking plenty of water, and taking in enough calories, I've also been taking this Sprigs Life Lacti Milk. Low milk supply is the last thing I worry about these days. Lactimilk helps support breastmilk production, and it's been a great supplement in making sure baby gets the vitamin C, iron, and calcium she needs.
8. Manual Pump // A manual pump is another breastfeeding must have that's great for when you don't feel like pulling our your electric pump! I use the Lansinoh Manual Pump while at home for a quick pump. I also leave one in my pump bag at work in case I forget the pump parts to my electric pump (trust me, it's happened before!)
9. Nursing Bra & Nursing Tanks // Your breast will likely go up a size or two once you start breastfeeding, and nursing bras are perfect for supporting them. Nursing tanks are also helpful for nursing around the house.  Just release the snap at the front and feed!
10. Support // Of all these things, the one thing breastfeeding mamas absolutely need is support. If you read my post on Why We Need a Black Breastfeeding Week, if there's anything breastfeeding mamas needs, it's education and support. There's tons of Facebook groups on breastfeeding. There's also a ton of breastfeeding mamas on Instagram. Reach out to your Instagram sister friend with questions!

Black Breastfeeding week is about the fact that even within the breastfeeding community, black women are still underrepresented. There are gaping breastfeeding rates in the breastfeeding community. A most recent study from the CDC found that 75% of white women have ever breastfed versus the 58% of black women. How do you encourage black women to breastfeed and show them that they CAN succeed at if there are no examples of other black women doing it? 



Even further, how do we even feel truly supported if the majority of lactation specialists that are here to help don't look like us? How can they identify with the culture and struggles of black women? 
From our complex history of black slaves being used as wet nurses for their slave master's children to the lack of diversity in mainstream role models, even to the high infant mortality rate in black babies and how breastfeeding could protect them (black babies are twice as likely to die as white babies), there's a different dialogue around breastfeeding when it comes to black culture. 


So why do we need a black breastfeeding week? I mean, black women are obviously just as capable of breastfeeding as white women. But there are some blatant iniquities that exist when it comes to opportunities, resources, and awareness for black women. It makes breastfeeding for black women a completely different ball game. 

With my first child, I decided to breastfeed, even when I was ignorant to everything from the benefits, how to keep up milk supply, pumping, etc... because I knew it was best. Here I am today, breastfeeding our third child. I'm glad I fought through, and still fighting through. Fighting through the sore and cracked nipples I felt the first 2-3 weeks. The time spent researching how to get a better latch. Making sure I'm putting the right foods into my body for quality breastmilk. This week, I salute all the mamas who gave up a little bit of their time, their space, their energy just to give their babies a whole lot more. 

Currently on Round 2 of breastfeeding in the past two years. We’re nearing the 10 month mark, but man I’ll be glad when I’m officially done nursing.

Don’t get me wrong – I love breastfeeding. I love the bond it’s created with my children, and I love that I’ve been able to nourish my babies and have a custom supply of milk to fit their needs, all from my own body. However, being a working breastfeeding mama is hard work!

Here are six tips for breastfeeding working moms:

Commitment // Breastfeeding is a commitment. No, seriously. It’s no easy job. It really is a lot of work nursing a child around the clock.  Add pumping to the equation and it’s literally like another full time job. There’s late nights, early mornings. Literally, your body is not your own even after pregnancy because you still give so much of yourself even after the baby is here. All babies are not the same and all breasts are not the same. Make sure you’re committed to the process— the good, the bad, and the ugly.  

Invest in a Good Pump // These days, you can get a free breast pump through your insurance. Still, be sure to research the breast pumps your insurance has to offer to determine which one would be a perfect fit for you. I had the Spectra S2 both times and loved it. Also, be sure to replace your pump parts every 2-3 months, as they can lose their suction, not removing milk from the breast effectively and causing a dip in your supply.

Pump realistically // So there seems to be this thing with moms being obsessed with pumping ounces upon ounces of milk, and other moms worrying that they're not producing enough milk because they're not pumping 6 ounces per breast in one sitting. Look, whatever you're producing for your baby is more than enough so long as you putting baby to the boob on demand, you're eating enough throughout the day, and staying hydrated. I've never had an oversupply of milk. I’ve always produced just enough for what my babies needed. Both of my children drank 3-4 ounce bottles, and that's what I was able to pump during the day at work.

Insatiable Appetite // What does every woman want to do after they’ve had a baby? Snap back. Good news is, breastfeeding does help you lose weight in the very beginning. I lost maybe 30 pounds after I had both my children after only gaining 10-15 pounds with both. Breastfeeding gives you the appetite of a whole football team, so it’s impossible to diet while breastfeeding. One, if you diet and eliminate too much you risk a dip in your supply since you have to keep up your calorie intake. And two, you literally want to eat all. The. Time!

Supply Issues // I’ve had my fair share of milk supply issues. And honestly, it’s exhausting! With my daughter, we didn’t supplement because she refused to take anything other than my breastmilk…which was fine, but it also meant lots of early mornings and waking up twice in the middle of the night to pump so she had milk enough for the next day. I also didn’t have much flexibility when it came to going out because I was never able to pump more than the 3 ounces she drank. Like I’ve said before, I’ve never had an oversupply – I’ve always been a “just enougher”, but even then I struggled with supply issues for a number of reasons.

One, a pump is not as effective at removing milk from your breasts as your baby is. And two, lots of things can lead to a dip in your supply: not enough rest, not staying hydrated, not taking in enough calories, birth control, etc…

Because I had some struggles with my daughter, I introduced my son to formula early just so I can have some flexibility. So yes, my son is breastfed and formula fed as well…and I’m not ashamed of that.

I knew things would be a little harder this time around managing two small children and running on very little sleep, so my supply would (and did) take a hit. And to be honest, no one tells you how hard it is to maintain your milk supply when you’re away from your baby for 8+ hours a day. When I went back to work with both children, my supply tanked. Once I got it back and thought I was smooth sailing, my son started eating more solids, and my supply tanked some more! Then my cycle came back and my supply decreased some more during that time.

Breastfeeding and pumping is a legit emotional rollercoaster.

As I’m typing this, I have two things working against me: my cycle, and I’m getting over a cold, so my milk supply took a serious hit.

You’re always worrying about whether or not you’re producing enough milk, and I didn’t want to be concerned with whether or not I’d be able to get enough milk pumped at work for the next day this time around. I do what I know to do to get my supply up (staying hydrated, taking in enough calories, etc…), and whatever I can’t pump at work we supplement with a bottle. Yes breast is best, but fed is also best. And at this point, so is my sanity!

Lop Sided Sistas // You may notice that your baby takes to one side more than the other. For whatever reason, both my babies favored the left side more, making my right side the slacker. Uneven production of milk means your breasts won’t be the same size! With both kids, I tried offering the right side first, but they both just weren't having it. With my son I offered my right side to "top him off" just so he's removing milk from that side as well. Worked for a while, but he's now 9 months old and won't even drink from my right side. *shrugs* It is what it is at this point.

Breastfeeding is hard work, but breastfeeding as a working mother is even harder. Why do I stay the course? Because I know it’s the best thing for my children. My children haven’t had any major illnesses, and I’m grateful that they have pretty strong immune systems because of it. Don’t give up! There’s tons of support groups out there to help you. And while I do understand that most women are not able to breastfeed, or some women supplement (like me), you’re still an awesome mother.

What have your breastfeeding experiences been like? Let’s talk in the comments!