I mean, let’s face it. There are going to be times when you aren’t around your baby. Whether you have to work, run some quick errands, or just get some time to yourself. Your baby is going to have to learn how to take a bottle eventually, and it honestly doesn’t have to be a struggle. There are a few things that once you understand, can prepare you to make the switch from breast to bottle back to breast easier.

Why Babies Sometimes Prefer Bottle to Breast

Understanding the reasons behind the preference can help you better reverse it. Bottles are not the enemy here, as some may have it seem. Going from bottle to breastfeeding or vice versus, can give a momma some much needed relief. When handled correctly. 

First it’s important to understand that when baby refuses breast but takes bottle it does not have to mean you will be pumping for the rest of your breastfeeding journey. Or that you will have to end it all together.  

Bottles are just easier, period. And that’s for everyone involved. Mother gets a break and baby often doesn’t have to work as hard to get milk. Which is what can cause a bottle preference. Three tips to curve a bottle preference: 

1. If you can, purchase bottles that are shaped similar to a breast. This will ensure that your baby still has to open their mouth (and activate the same muscles) they would when breastfeeding. 

2. The slower the flow the better. Breastmilk does not just freely flow out of the breast. Your baby has to actively work to get milk. This includes sucking, squeezing your breast, adjusting their head, among other things. When the nipple flow on the bottle is too fast babies can get used to a faster flow and then end up getting frustrated when they are reintroduced to breastfeeding. 

3. Hold the baby as upright as comfortable for them when they use a bottle. Almost as if they are sitting straight up in your arms. It’s okay to have a little lean, but the point is to have the bottle working against gravity not with it. Again, mimicking breastfeeding in the flow of the milk. 

How to Reintroduce Breastfeeding After a Period of Bottle Feeding 

If it’s been a while since you’ve put baby to breast and you’re worried about your supply, or maybe missing that bonding that comes with breastfeeding, don’t worry. I know you may be wondering  how to breastfeed a bottle fed baby or even how to get baby back to breast, I’m here to tell you it’s doable. With a little bit of consistency and some tips you can be back to breastfeeding in no time. 

Start by Switching to a Slower Flow Nipple

As I mentioned above in my tips, a slower flow on the nipple is going to be key when going back to breastfeeding after bottle feeding. Having a slower flow nipple will more closely match that of your breast, decreasing the likelihood of frustration for your baby during feedings. 

Avoid Using a Pacifier During the Transition Back to Breast

When switching from bottle to breast it is important to avoid a pacifier if you can. Artificial nipples can cause a lot of confusion especially since the way a baby sucks / uses them is completely different from when they are at the breast. Additionally, if baby uses your breast as a pacifier it will help build and maintain your milk supply more effectively. Remember breastfeeding based on supply and demand. The more baby demands, the more the body supplies. Putting baby to breast as much as possible can also prevent mastitis. So take advantage of every opportunity to put baby to breast, if you can.  

Offer the Breast First Thing in the Morning (Not the Bottle)

If your baby seems lazy on the breast after a bottle try breastfeeding first thing in the morning. After sleeping for a longer stretch your baby will be very hungry, use that to your advantage. Offering your breast when they are hungrier could make them want to work harder for the milk. Also, mornings are when milk supply is most abundant, and your breasts are probably fuller. This will give your baby instant gratification at the breast. As an added bonus, if you have a teething baby they will be less likely to bite while nursing if latched while still sleepy. 

Nurse Baby Skin to Skin

The transition from bottle to breast can be hard for the both of you, so utilizing every option you have is vital. Skin to skin not only promotes milk production, because it stimulates the milk hormones prolactin and oxytocin. It also strengthens the bond between you and your baby. Creating calm moments just for the two of you can help when reintroducing breastfeeding after a bottle.  

Nurse in a Distraction-Free Zone

We all get distracted, right. That includes babies. And throw in something that isn’t giving the instant gratification we’re used to and anything is going to be better than trying to figure things out. Making time to nurse in a calm, quiet and even dark room to alleviate distractions will help your baby focus on the goal at hand. Breastfeeding! Remember calm and steady wins the race. 

Try nursing in a calm, quiet space whenever possible to avoid distractions. If baby consistently fails to empty the breast, it could result in engorgement or mastitis. 

Breastfeed When Baby Is Sleepy (There Will Be Less Resistance)

Sucking is a natural born reflex, something babies can do in their sleep. When your baby is in a light sleep try bringing them skin to skin next to a full breast and see if they latch. You can also try holding your baby for their entire nap and nurse at the earliest hunger cues. Sometimes initiating the let-down (using hand massages to get milk release) before putting baby to breast helps as well. This gives an instant reward, similar to the bottle. 

Consistency Is Key!

I know trying to figure out how to breastfeed again after stopping can be frustrating. But it is important to remember your why. Even if you aren’t getting much success. Just like it took time for baby to get adjusted to the bottle, it is going to take time for them to get back adjusted to breastfeeding. It will definitely take some patience and perseverance, but it is not impossible. 

Common Issues & Questions When Baby Refuses the Breast After Bottle Feeding

If your baby is not taking breast after a bottle and you are wanting to reintroduce breastfeeding rest assured it can be done. Returning to breastfeeding after bottle using the tips and tricks mentioned above will definitely make it easier. If you’ve tried and still have concerns, here are a few of the most common issues and some advice from a breastfeeding momma of five. 

Can I reintroduce breastfeeding after exclusively pumping? 

Yes you most certainly can. It would actually probably help your milk supply too. Our breasts are stimulated to produce not only how much milk baby drinks but also on their saliva. 

When going from exclusively pumping to breastfeeding, start to omit pumping sessions with feeding sessions. The goal here is to slowly get rid of the pump. No, I don’t mean throw it out. I know how much those things cost. And plus, you can still pump for days when you’ll be out more or may be want to use your breastmilk for some of its amazing uses. 

 What I am saying is, the more you put baby to breast, the more likely you will have success with switching to breastfeeding from exclusively pumping. Remember supply and demand. 

Why does my baby pull away and cry while breastfeeding?

This can happen if baby associates breastfeeding with something negative. Maybe baby has spent hours crying at the breast frustrated due to an inability to latch correctly. Or maybe they’ve had their face slammed into the breast one too many times by a well meaning consultant trying to “help” teach your baby to latch. 

I remember with my second born the lactation consultant grabbed her by the back of her neck and very forcibly put her face to my breast. I was so upset, I took my baby off of my breast and gently guided her to it. While she was well meaning, that lactation consultant could have caused issues for me later on had I not corrected that in the moment. 

The best way to fix this? Take a break. I know it sounds counter productive, but hear me out. Your baby currently associates breastfeeding with something negative. Continuing to force them will only exacerbate that. And increase your frustrations. 

Give yourself some grace and take a break. A few more days of bottle feeding is not going to be the end of your breastfeeding journey. Come back relaxed and ready to give it a go again. You and baby will thank you for it. 

How do I get my baby to like the breast over a bottle?

While ultimately this comes down to perseverance and consistency, there are a few things you can do to boost their love for the breast over the bottle. First, try different positions. The football hold, cradle hold or even the side hold. Try as many as you can until you find one that works for you and baby. Being held by mommy in a comfy position all snuggled up will definitely help win them over to the breast. 

Try nipple shields. These are usually pretty inexpensive and can help baby with any nipple confusions. Easy to attach to your breast, you can have baby breastfeeding in minutes. Made of silicon they feel and taste similar to the nipple of a bottle these may make the transition easier. Expressing some milk in the end may help peek your babies interest. 

Make sure to also rule out a nursing strike. Nursing strikes are when baby flat out refuses to breastfeed or only feeds for short periods. These can be causes by ear infections (they make it comfortable to suck), infant acid reflux, too fast (or too slow)  of a let down, breastfeeding in a not so calm environment, or pain due to injury or surgery. 

Your Mental Health Is Important!

Finally, do your best, but remember not to stress. One of the best things about babies is how adaptable they are. While these things can take time, and eventually some babies get it, do not let breastfeeding take over your life. If you are determined to breastfeed after bottle, even if your baby is as stubborn as my fourth child, keep on pushing. But if you notice you are starting to feel shame or guilt around this transition, remember that fed is best. And sometimes that can look like putting your mental health first and pivoting from the original game plan. Whatever the outcome, you got this momma!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Reintroducing Breastfeeding After Bottle [It Is Doable!] appeared first on Not So Perfect Momma.

As a breastfeeding momma, there’ve been plenty of nights where I searched the internet with questions about engorgement vs mastitis. Especially as a new mom to my first baby. So if you have stumbled across this post from doing the same, I want to start by saying yes, breastfeeding is hard. Yes, your breasts are made to do this but that does not take away the stress, frustration, or feelings of devastation that can come with it. And if you are struggling in any way with your breastfeeding journey, please know you are not alone. 

With that being said, I hope this post can help inform and empower you through your journey in Motherhood. 

What Is Engorgement?

To put it as simple as I can, engorgement is when your breasts get too full of milk. During the first few days after birth this is completely normal as your body figures out how often baby needs to fed and how much baby will eat. During the first few days / weeks your milk flow may be all over the place until your supply is established. It’s especially easy to see how one could confuse the two. However telling the difference between engorgement vs mastitis comes down to the symptoms, causes and even treatment.

Causes of Engorged Breasts

As I mentioned above, the weeks after birth your body is doing a lot of adjusting, as are you and baby. Babies are not born knowing how to breastfeed properly. Some may catch on pretty quickly while others struggle in the beginning. Even when your newborn has caught on to breastfeeding there may still be some days that go better than others.Especially during the beginning. This fluctuation in production can cause engorged breasts. 

Other reasons you may get engorged would be to baby not emptying the breast during a feed. Additionally if your baby misses a feeding. Like perhaps they slept through the night for the first time. Or baby’s eating habits have changed, maybe eating less or more due to teething or a growth spurt. 

Signs & Symptoms of Engorged Breasts

If you’re wondering, can engorgement cause pain? The answer to that would be an astounding yes. Breasts can get so full that they are hard, swollen and very painful. If they are severely engorged your breast will become hard, shiny, warm and lumpy. As for your nipples, engorged nipples feel like a lumpy painful mess as well. Often becoming flat and tight. Which, for anyone wondering, feels completely different from if baby bites your nipple while nursing.

What Is Mastitis? 

Mastitis is an inflammation/infection within the breast tissue. Most common in breastfeeding women, but mastitis can also affect non – breastfeeding women and men. Mastitis can be very painful and if left untreated will create large amounts of puss around the breast tissue. This may result in a surgical procedure being needed to remove the abscess. 

Causes of Mastitis

Depending on what you read, you can find quite a few different causes of mastitis. But ultimately mastitis is a result of bacteria found on the skin and saliva making its way to the breast tissue through a milk duct or crack in the skin. This typically happens from a blocked milk duct in a lactating woman. Being under a lot of stress (which new mom isn’t?) places moms at an increased risk of mastitis. As does having a low iron count. 

Signs & Symptoms of Mastitis

The signs and symptoms of mastitis are often very similar to a blocked milk duct. Only affecting one breast, sometimes a red wedge-shaped mark will develop. I’ve personally experienced red streaking radiating from the affected breast. I also experienced flu-like symptoms such as body aches, a fever and was extremely fatigued. Other symptoms of mastitis can include: 

• Overall feeling of unwellness.
• Nipple discharge, nausea, headaches and chills
• Nausea
• Headaches 
• And chills. 

Breast Engorgement vs Mastitis: How to Tell the Difference 

I’ve been in the same painful position you are, so I know there’s probably one BIG question on your mind: how do I know if I have engorgement or mastitis? As a mom who was once new to breastfeeding I can understand the confusion when it comes to knowing the difference between mastitis and engorgement. Confused as to whether you need antibiotics or a hot towel to soothe the soreness in your breast, because as we all know the quicker we can get the right treatment the better.  

But knowing what to look for can help alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress and potentially stop mastitis from developing. Since prolonged engorgement can lead to a clogged milk duct which ultimately causes mastitis, getting treatment quickly is critual. 

First know the signs of mastitis vs engorgement. While engorgement is painful and can cause a lot of discomfort, it typically does not come on overnight nor does it have flu like symptoms similar to the ones I listed above.

Additionally a hot towel, increased feedings and a breast massage will soon soothe  engorged breasts vs mastitis most likely will require a doctor’s visit. 

Does Engorgement Lead to Mastitis?

While one or two occurrences of engorgement is no cause for worry, such as what is typically within the first few days after birth. If your baby is not emptying your breast well for a prolonged period, getting some assistance from a location consultant may be necessary. I say this because prolonged engorged breast can lead to a blocked milk duct and then potentially mastitis. So the quicker we can get baby draining the breast the better for everyone. 

What’s the Difference Between Engorgement and a Clogged Duct?

One of the more common complaints for breastfeeding mommas is a blocked milk duct. Often the cause of prolonged engorgement, a blocked milk duct feels like a hard lump or wedge within the breast. It can move locations as baby feeds, and the pain can be mild to moderate. Decreasing after feeding. Unlike mastitis, a blocked milk duct is not warm to the touch or show any signs of redness in the affected area. Additionally symptoms of a blocked duct gradually appear and may include: 

• Breast discomfort centralized to one spot. 
• Decreased milk being produced during pumping.
• Stringy or fatty looking lumps in expressed milk.

Does Mastitis Make Your Breast Hard?

Mastitis while breastfeeding can be super frustrating and cause some extreme pain. Accompanied by tenderness of the breast, mastitis causes a lump in the breast tissue. This lump or wedge will be hard and painful. And in some cases it can even be hot and swollen. While engorgement does not cause your breast to get hard this is yet another difference of engorgement vs mastitis.

How I Recovered from Mastitis  

I’ve breastfed five children over the course of 11 years at the writing of this post. In this time I have dealt with mastitis three times. Once with my second child and twice with my last. As I’ve mentioned above the symptoms literally happened over night. I went to sleep with a hard lump in my breast, thinking it was a clogged milk duct. I massaged it with a warm towel before bed. Not getting any relief I decided I would try to pump in between feedings in the morning. 

However, by the time morning came that lump had turned into so much more. It hit me like a ton of bricks each time. I was extremely tired, had a really bad headache and couldn’t breastfeed my child without being in a lot of pain. The first time I ever dealt with mastitis I had no idea what to do. But by the third time I was prepared and got over it without a trip to the doctor. 

What worked for me when treating my mastitis

The name of the game is to try and keep your breast as empty as you can. The fuller your breast gets, the more pain you are in. At least that is what  happened to me. So outside of feeding my son more often than I typically would, I also tried to pump in between nursing. Nothing major, I just tried to make sure I pumped for at least 5 -8 minutes on each breast each time. 

Massaging my breast really seemed to help. What worked best was taking a hot shower before the massage. Pointing the shower head directly on my breast I would massage the lump in a downward motion while the hot water ran down my breast. Once I finished in the shower, using a warm towel I continued to massage my breast for as long as I could tolerate it. Massage can be done manually or with a wide toothed comb. Using oil, HPA Lanolin or soap can help the comb glide smoothly.

Staying hydrated, getting lots of rest and eating well also helped a ton. Each time I experienced mastitis, how long it lasted varied. The first time being a little over a week with me having to get antibiotics from my doctor. While this last time was maybe two days with no appointments or medications needed. 

Tips to Prevent Both Engorgement and Mastitis

Outside of the engorgement most new moms face directly after birth, other reasons you could be experiencing it are baby starting to sleep longer stretches, baby transitioning to solids and not feeding as often or reintroducing breastfeeding after bottle. Which can undoubtedly come with its own sets of challenges. 

And while most of these situations are out of your control, there are ways to prevent engorgement and mastitis during these times. In the beginning when you and baby are just learning how to latch, feed, and empty the breast properly, your body is also learning how much milk it needs to produce. One way to prevent engorgement directly after birth is to make sure to  initiate feeding in a timely manner. So at the first sign of hunger cues, if possible. I personally like to have a timer/alarm. Feeding my newborns every 2-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 at night. 

Seeking help with positioning and latch during feeding is another way to prevent engorgement. Lactations consultants typically work in hospitals and are available 24/7 if assistance is needed. If you’re having a home birth your midwife can offer advice and assistance in the days following your birth as well. Most make home visits! 

Finally, having a well fitted, loose bra does wonders. I can’t tell you how uncomfortable I was with my first trying to figure out breastfeeding and dealing with a wired nursing bra. I hated it! Later on I also learned that tighter fitting bras (or bras that put pressure on the breast) can cause engorged breasts or a clogged milk duct. Yet another reason to grab some super soft and super comfy nursing bras that allow for easy unrestricted nursing. 

Conclusion

Most of the preventative measures I listed above can work just as well for mastitis, engorgement or a clogged duct.  However, wherever you find yourself on your breastfeeding journey, dealing with mastitis vs engorgement or even a clogged milk duct, remember to: 

• Rest when baby rest 
• Nurse from the affected breast first 
• Moist heat, such as a warm washcloth, and massage before and after feeding will help decrease pain 
• Same as above (moist heat and massage) during a nursing session to help drain any blockage in the ducts
• Pumping in between feeds if possible 
• Cold compresses after nursing to help with swelling 
• And pain medications / anti-inflammatory meds can help too (consult your doctor first) 

Breastfeeding is a beautiful thing, but that does not mean there aren’t pros and cons to it. There are days where your patience will be tested, you’ll long for control of your body back and you’ll definitely wish you could sleep like your S.O. sleeps for just once. All in all though, once this journey has come to an end you’ll hopefully look back fondly and be proud of the sacrifices you made. And enjoy the amazing bond you’ve created with your little one. 

The post How to Tell the Difference Between Engorgement vs Mastitis appeared first on Not So Perfect Momma.

Is it that time in your breastfeeding journey? Or maybe you’ve been thinking about it and want to prepare? Either way, I hope these five tips help make this process doable and easy for you and your baby.

First, let me give this disclaimer:

I am not a lactation consultant. I am also not a doctor. These tips will be from my own experiences having breastfed four children. 

With that being said, I pray you are not looking to wean your child based solely on the advice of others. People with comments like, oh your baby is too big to be breastfeeding, or how old is he, you should of been stopped breastfeeding him are not your people. Trust me. 

However, if you’ve come to a point in your breastfeeding journey where it’s necessary for you to wean or perhaps you yourself want your time or body back, then these five tips for weaning your breastfeeding baby are for you. 

Number 1: First step in weaning your baby is to set a date and make a commitment:

Weaning takes just as much time and dedication as breastfeeding does so keep that in mind. When you set your date make sure you give yourself plenty of time. (At least 30 days) It’s important that you understand your child is used to having you, not just as a food source but as a place of comfort. So it will take time for them to get used to this new normal. 

Number 2. Wean slowly. There’s no rush for weaning your baby:

This is for your benefit and baby’s. Doing it overnight or trying to go cold turkey can cause you to get engorged, maybe even mastitis. Also you’ll probably have one miserable baby. – now if for some medical reason you do have to quote cold turkey that is completely different. 

Number 3. When you are weaning your baby it’s easiest to remove one feeding per week.

An example would be: Koehn currently breastfeeds at 5 am, 11 am, 3 pm, 6:30 pm. So I would start by removing the 3 pm feeding. Then I would wait 7 days before removing another feeding. 

This slight decrease will keep you from being in too much pain. However if you are in too much pain, pump. The key here is to not empty your breast. Only remove enough milk to decrease your discomfort. 

Number 4. Distraction baby. Rule number 1 when weaning your baby, distraction, distraction, distraction:

Once you’ve chosen to remove a certain feeding if baby wants to breastfeed at that time distract him. This can be offering food or water to ensure he isn’t hungry. Or if you know baby isn’t hungry toys, books, music. Anything to take their mind off of feeding. I have also employed others to help. So daddy take Koehn to the store at 3 pm so he won’t want to breastfeed. Or grandma can you do bedtime routine tonight. Things like that. 

Finally number 5. Take it slow. When it comes to weaning our baby my number one tips is to take it slow:

There’s no rush. It can take weeks or it can take no time at all. Whatever the case, don’t compare your experience to anyone else’s and do what works for you. Same goes for when you decided to start. Don’t start because some else thinks you should. Start when you’re ready. 

Hope these tips help! Make sure to check out my Youtube where I cover these tips here.

Leave any questions in the comments below

The post Five Tips For Weaning Your Breastfed Baby appeared first on Not So Perfect Momma.

Before leaving, thinking about how and when I would pump was my main concern. With an 7 hour flight which included an 1 hour layover, I knew I would have to pump either at the airport, on the plane or maybe even both.

Tip 1: When booking your flight, try to book with an airline that has outlets in the seats. On my way to NYC I flew with American and unfortunately they did not have outlets. Flying back however I was with Jetblue and was happy to find their seats were equipped with outlets. Below is a list of airlines that offer traditional power outlet compatible with a breast pump.

1. JetBlue

2. Virgin

3. AirCanada

4. Alaskan Airlines

5. American Airlines (on select aircrafts)

6.Delta (on select aircrafts and only in first/business class)

7. United (On most of their aircrafts)

I tried to plan my sessions out the best I could. I pumped right before leaving for the airport but left that breastmilk at home. This gave me roughly 4 hours until I would need to pump again. As I mentioned above, my inbound flight to NYC did not have any power outlets. Which meant I would have to wait an extra hour before pumping. Once I landed for my layover in Indianapolis I knew it was time to pump again.

Most airports have breastmilk pumping rooms now. However, the rooms may not be anywhere near the boarding gate you need. Be prepared for this. Or as in my case, you could have employees who have no idea there is a nursing / pumping room. In either case, always be prepared. I ended up pumping on the ground while hundreds of people walked past me (see photo above). Luckily for me, breastfeeding four kids has made me a little less concerned about others watching. But since not all mommas are willing to go full on breast out for the ‘gram don’t be like Jazmyne. Make sure to check the airports website in advance. Because although one would think the employees would have a good handle on the amenities of the airport they work at, one can never be too sure.

When it was time to leave New York, I frantically searched high and low for a styrofoam cooler at a local store. Only to be informed New York has banned all styrofoam which was probably why I couldn’t find one after calling several different locations. But let me tell you why was I so frantic, as this will move us into tip number two.

During my time in New York I stayed at two separate hotels. At the first hotel they offered to freeze my breastmilk for me in their restaurant freezer. I would pump in my room and leave the breastmilk in the mini frig and then call room service each night. They would then bring it down to their freezer. It was amazing! So of course, I just assumed the same would prove at the next hotel. Boy was I wrong.

Tip Number 2:

1. Call your hotel and request a mini frig in your room. A lot of hotels have them already in the room, but these are usually filled with drinks and I have noticed are nowhere near as big as the ones they provide for you if requested.
2. It may be worth it to call ahead and inquire about what accommodations they can provide for your breastmilk. You’ll be surprised how helpful they can be, or at least I was.
3. If the hotel has a restaurant they will probably be able to freeze your milk for you. Having frozen breastmilk going through TSA is way better, believe me.

So what do you use if the a styrofoam cooler isn’t available? I ended up using a regular cooler (more like a lunch pal to be exact). If you are planning to bring your breastmilk on as your carry on / personal item, which I highly recommend, then this option should be fine.

The cooler I used was purchased from The Container Store and came with 6 gel ice packs. I requested the hotel I was at put them in the freezer as well as provide me with ice if possible. Before I left for the airport, I packed my breastmilk in the cooler and then added the gel ice packs around it. Once done, I had the hotel staff put ice on the top before closing the cooler. I chose not to use dry ice because of an article I read where the TSA agents at the very airport I was flying from made a new mother dispose of her cooler who dry ice, leaving her with a cooler full of breast milk and no way to keep it cool.

Going through TSA with your breast pump and breastmilk can be rather daunting. First, per TSA guidelines, breastmilk is allowed on a plane but there is no set limit for the quantity permitted. Which, is some cases, won’t matter. But if you have an oversupply like me, that could mean a number of things. I was worried sick that I may or may not have to disregard some of my breastmilk. After speaking with several TSA workers this is what I was told.

Always inform the TSA agent you have breastmilk, before they start going through your bags. This will keep it from going through the x-ray machine. Per the Food and Drug administration there are no adverse effects to breastmilk being x-rayed, but for me I was a little uneasy about it.

Tip 3:

1. If your breastmilk is frozen, the quantity no longer matters.
2. Most TSA workers are not going to request you disregard your breastmilk as long as you corporate with them. If the breastmilk is slushy or in a liquid state it will need to undergo some testing.
3. The testing depends on how the milk is being stored. I had most of my milk in breastmilk storage bags. I later found out that having it in bottles may have been more helpful. As with most things TSA, this will depend on the actual TSA agent.

I had to deal with quite a few TSA agents while they inspected my breastmilk. One began by putting my breastmilk in a machine to check for explosives. However when the machine wouldn’t register the bags, she had to call over a supervisor. The supervisor, a male who no children (I asked), began opening the bags and smelling the milk. At one point he even stuck his finger in. At which point I got very angry and proceeded to ask for a supervisor and record what was going on.

The next TSA agent that came to help was a breastfeeding mother herself. She took a wand over my bags and let me go on my merry way once they didn’t set off the alarm. While she was inspecting the milk she made sure to tell me, it is always better to travel with frozen breastmilk when possible. But if I can’t, she has noticed that the bottles seem to do better in the machine then the breastmilk storage bags. This way the breastmilk doesn’t have to be handled so much. Also, you have the right to request your breastmilk not be opened or x-rayed. This may result in you having to go threw a few extra steps security wise, but if you have the time, go for it.

Overall, my experience traveling with breastmilk was frustrating but luckily I learned quite a few things to help improve my next trip. I hope the tips above can help you and keep you from having to experience what I did.

Love,

Jazmyne

The post Traveling With Breastmilk appeared first on Not So Perfect Momma.

Having breastfed four children, you probably won’t believe this. But I still get a little anxiety breastfeeding in public. That moment when I notice Koehn getting fussy while I’m strolling through the dollar bins at Target almost always makes me sweat. Especially now since he is older and hates being covered. But why do I even have to put a blanket over him? Breastfeeding is hard enough without having to feel bad for doing it.

   Though I’m not ashamed of breastfeeding and actually find it quite empowering, there’s always these few seconds where I feel butterflies in my stomach whenever I’m in public. Over the years, I’ve had quite a few bad experiences.  I’ve had women tell me I’m trying to seduce their husbands (in so many words)  and I need to put my breasts away. Men have come up to me and asked why I’m not in the bathroom like I should be (major eye roll). I’ve even had other mothers say I just wanted attention. I mean the list can go on and on. I’d almost relate it to some sort of traumatic stress disorder, or breastfeeding anxiety. Is that a thing?

Each and every time my baby starts to suck his little fingers or fidget around all those past encounters come rushing back to me and my heart starts racing. I frantically root around in the diaper bag praying I didn’t forget a blanket. Because, ya know,  God forbid I have to show some skin. All while trying to calm my son who only wants to eat. A basic human necessity. To think we live in a society were feeding your child is frowned upon. Am I the only one who feels anxiety when breastfeeding?

At times it seems like things are getting better. Women are fighting to normalize breastfeeding and it’s becoming more and more commonplace. I mean, they made a hashtag for it, so it must be legit, right? Just this past weekend, an older lady came up to me and told me how proud she was of me. I had him covered up as I was sitting in one of those display rocking chairs at Target (my second home really) and mentioned I shouldn’t feel the need to cover up. She said I was only doing what was natural. She made my heart smile and for that brief moment my breastfeeding anxiety surpassed.

Living in California has made it a little easier to breastfeed in public, and although most times I won’t leave the house without a blanket of some kind in my purse (that’s mostly due to my insecurities about my stomach nowadays) I’ve had moments where I’ve breastfed in public and was proud. I felt like I accomplished something huge that day. Not just for myself but for other moms, or mommas to be, who may have seen me. Maybe it gives them the courage they need to try it. Or maybe it made them proud to see another momma on her breastfeeding journey. Who knows. As moms we should try to stick together. Even if what I’m doing isn’t exactly what you would do. No need to bash me. I’m just trying to feed my hungry baby. Who doesn’t care if we’re at home in bed or at a restaurant ordering food.

Love,

Jazmyne

The post I Still Get Anxiety Breastfeeding In Public appeared first on Not So Perfect Momma.