BREASTFEEDING WITH CONFIDENCE | Pregnancy Tips, Postpartum Wellness, Milk Supply, Tongue Tie, Latch Pain

Wondering about nipple confusion? How do you prevent it? How do you fix it? This episode of the Breastfeeding with Confidence podcast teaches pregnant and new mothers how to avoid nipple confusion to support breastfeeding success. 

Resources:  

www.littlebearlactation.com 

Top tips for getting a deeper latch when breastfeeding to reduce latching pain, increase milk transfer, and establish a strong milk supply. 

Resources:  

littlebearlactation.com 

If you've heard breastfeeding pain is normal, and you just need to wait it out, but you don't want to suffer through unnecessary pain -- this episode is for you. 

littlebearlactation.com 

Many mothers are told two completely opposite things after having a baby:

“Breastfeeding prevents pregnancy.”

—or—

“You can get pregnant anytime while breastfeeding.”

So what’s the truth?

In this episode of the Breastfeeding with Confidence Podcast, we explore one of the most common postpartum questions: Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding?

The answer lies somewhere in the middle. Breastfeeding can suppress ovulation in many women, but it is not guaranteed birth control. Understanding how fertility returns during breastfeeding can help mothers make informed decisions about family planning, natural birth spacing, and postpartum health.

As discussed in this episode, breastfeeding in a healthy woman often suppresses ovulation, but that is not always the case, which is why recognizing the return of fertility signs is so important.

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If you’re pregnant and planning to breastfeed, you’ve probably already decided you’ll only use formula if it’s medically necessary. But here’s the hard truth: most moms are never taught how to determine what “medically necessary” actually means in the first 48 hours after birth.

Nearly 80% of American moms start breastfeeding, yet many babies receive formula in the hospital due to concerns about weight loss, blood sugar, jaundice, or latch issues. The problem? Normal newborn physiology is often presented as urgent. And when you’re exhausted and vulnerable, “just to be safe” supplementation can feel like the only option.

In this episode, we break down:

How formula pressure typically shows up in baby-friendly hospitals

The difference between strategic vs. reactive supplementation

How to protect your milk supply if supplementation becomes necessary

If your goal is exclusive breastfeeding and avoiding unnecessary formula in the hospital, preparation must go beyond latch tips. You need a decision-making framework before you’re under pressure.

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Don’t put “breastfeeding” on your birth plan.

I know that sounds controversial, but if you are pregnant and planning to exclusively breastfeed, this might be the most important mindset shift you make.

Most moms are told to choose a baby friendly hospital, request skin-to-skin, and write “no formula unless medically necessary.” But when feeding challenges show up in the hospital, many still end up supplementing because they were never prepared for what actually happens in those first hours and days.

In this episode, we talk about why traditional breastfeeding prep often falls short and why avoiding unnecessary formula requires a completely different approach. You will learn why breastfeeding is not just a newborn care topic, but something that begins during pregnancy and is shaped by your birth experience and early postpartum decisions.

We unpack the biggest gap in breastfeeding education, the difference between safety-focused hospital care and strategic breastfeeding support, and why early feeding challenges like cluster feeding, sleepy babies, and latch struggles are often misunderstood.

If you want to protect your milk supply, confidently advocate for your goals, and walk into birth with a clear plan instead of just a wish list, this episode will change the way you think about breastfeeding prep.

To go deeper and create your own strategy, learn more about the Avoiding Formula in the Hospital workshop using the link in the show notes.

Because breastfeeding is not about luck. It is about preparation.

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Topics Covered:

Returning to work or school as a breastfeeding mom can feel overwhelming. Many pregnant and postpartum women worry they will have to choose between their breastfeeding goals and their career. But the truth is, you don’t have to—if you prepare early and get the right support.

In this episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, we talk about the biggest mistake moms make when planning their return to work: assuming breastfeeding is supposed to be hard for the first 6–12 weeks and waiting too long to get help. When breastfeeding pain, low milk supply, or latch issues are ignored early, the transition back to work becomes much more stressful.

You’ll learn when to introduce bottles without sabotaging your breastfeeding relationship, how paced bottle feeding helps prevent bottle preference, and why your caregiver’s feeding approach can protect or undermine your milk supply. We also cover realistic expectations for pumping at work, your legal rights for pumping accommodations, and how to advocate for yourself before your maternity leave ends.

The key to exclusive breastfeeding while working is getting breastfeeding off to a strong start. Early support helps you prevent common challenges, protect your supply, and feel confident returning to work.

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Is baby formula really the key to marriage equality?

That’s the provocative claim behind a recent New York Times article—and in this episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, Jaimie (IBCLC, mom of five) sits down with her husband Sebastian to unpack why that headline isn’t just misleading… it’s dangerous.

Because when we frame formula feeding as the solution to an unequal marriage, we quietly teach families that breastfeeding is the problem—instead of asking the deeper question:

👉 If a marriage feels lopsided after a baby arrives, is feeding really the cause—or just where the cracks show up?

The New York Times headline “The Secret to Marriage Equality Is Formula” and why it’s problematic

Equality vs sameness in marriage and parenting

Why breastfeeding often becomes the scapegoat for deeper relationship issues

How media narratives subtly undermine breastfeeding and femininity

Formula as a tool vs formula as a cultural solution

The myth that combo feeding information is “sparse”

How inconsistent supplementation impacts milk supply (biology vs opinion)

Why “fed is best” rhetoric often avoids root-cause problem solving

A father’s perspective on feeling “left out” during breastfeeding

What real support from dads actually looks like (without feeding)

Why bonding is not dependent on putting milk in a baby’s mouth

Breastfeeding as a short season vs marriage as the foundation

How cultural normalization shapes parental expectations and decisions

RESOURCES & PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS

www.lilttlebearlactation.com 

For Doulas seeking advanced lactation education & expert curated breastfeeding support frameworks, check out Breastfeeding Beyond the Birth Plan Here: https://www.littlebearlactation.com/birthworkers/lactation-education-for-doulas

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Topics Covered: breastfeeding and marriage, formula vs breastfeeding, marriage equality and parenting, equality vs sameness in marriage, breastfeeding support for couples, fathers and breastfeeding roles, feeling left out as a dad, breastfeeding misinformation, combo feeding and milk supply, fed is best narrative, media influence on infant feeding, breastfeeding and femininity, partner support during breastfeeding, postpartum relationship dynamics, breastfeeding education gaps

What happens to your milk supply if you’re separated from your baby after birth?

Whether you’re planning a hospital birth with the possibility of monitoring or NICU time, or you’re planning a home birth but know that transfer is always a possibility, separation can feel scary — especially when breastfeeding matters deeply to you.

Here’s the good news: breastfeeding can still work even if you’re separated from your baby after birth.

In this episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence podcast, we talk about how to protect your milk supply if mom and baby are separated, without panic, rigid rules, or feeling like everything is ruined if birth doesn’t go exactly as planned.

You’ll learn:

How milk supply is established in the early postpartum days

Why early milk production is time-sensitive (and what that actually means)

What to do if your baby can’t latch or is taken for monitoring or NICU care

How pumping, hand expression, and advocacy protect your supply

Why preparation — not luck — makes the biggest difference

We also talk directly to moms planning home births and walk through why it’s still important to have a flexible breastfeeding plan, even if separation feels unlikely. Knowing how to advocate early, ask for support, and stimulate milk production can make a powerful difference in long-term breastfeeding success.

Separation is not ideal — but it is not a deal breaker. With the right plan and early action, you can protect your milk supply and move forward with confidence.

RESOURCES & PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS

BREASTFEEDING RESOURCES

www.lilttlebearlactation.com 

For Doulas seeking advanced lactation education & expert curated breastfeeding support frameworks, check out this FREE Doula Training 

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT FOR PREGNANT & NEW MOTHERS

Thank you to RESTORATIVE ROOTS for sponsoring this episode of the Breastfeeding with Confidence Podcast. Learn more about how RESTORATIVE ROOTS can help you thrive now: restorativeroots.com

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Should you wake a sleeping baby to breastfeed — or is “never wake a sleeping baby” actually hurting your milk supply?

This is one of the most confusing and anxiety-producing questions new parents ask, especially in the early weeks of breastfeeding. One person tells you to let your baby sleep as long as they want. Another warns that if you don’t wake every 2–3 hours, your milk supply will tank. So which advice is actually correct?

In this episode of The Breastfeeding with Confidence Podcast, we break down when waking a sleeping baby to nurse is necessary, when it’s optional, and when it can actually backfire. You’ll learn how a newborn’s age, weight gain, feeding effectiveness, and overall patterns matter far more than the clock. We also talk about why long stretches of sleep can sometimes signal that feeding is hard — not that everything is going great.

If you’re wondering how long a newborn can sleep between feeds, whether you should wake a sleepy baby at night, or how sleep affects milk supply, this episode will give you clarity without fear-based rules. You’ll walk away with a simple framework to help you make confident, informed decisions — while still trusting your instincts and protecting your breastfeeding relationship.

🎧 Perfect for pregnant moms and new parents navigating night feeds, milk supply concerns, and conflicting advice.

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