I went into my second pregnancy feeling cautiously optimistic. My first pregnancy had been complicated — I had gone through IVF, and there were a lot of unknowns. But I made it through, and with great support from my team at Mahmee, I was able to breastfeed successfully even after having had a breast reduction years earlier.
That journey gave me confidence. This time, I figured I knew what I was in for. But the second time around was totally different.
The pregnancy itself? Easy. No complications, a smooth delivery, and a decent recovery. I felt lucky. So I assumed feeding would go the same way it had the first time.
I was wrong.
In the early weeks, everything seemed to be going smoothly. My baby latched well, nursed calmly, and we found our rhythm quickly. I remember thinking, Wow — this is actually easier than before.
But then, around week five, everything shifted. She became fussy during feeds, pulling away and crying. She favored one side — the one with lower milk supply.
Thankfully, I had Mahmee on speed dial from my first pregnancy, and I quickly started working with my lactation consultant, Jennifer. With her help, we got right to work on troubleshooting — we looked at her latch, positioning, my supply. We had her assessed for tongue tie. We tried a lot of things to boost supply and keep my baby engaged at the breast. There were no easy answers.
In-person appointments with Jennifer allowed me to get real-time data on my baby’s weight during the feeding sessions. Even with all the effort we were putting in, my baby still wasn’t transferring milk effectively. My output began to dip, and over time I ended up with nine clogged ducts. It was painful, stressful, and confusing.
It was a hard realization to face, but Jennifer helped me see what needed to happen: we had to adjust the feeding plan to exclusive pumping so I could make sure she was getting the nourishment she needed. It wasn’t what I had planned — and emotionally, it was a tough change. But it was the choice that worked. It gave my baby enough to eat, and it gave me a way to keep going.
As I let go of breastfeeding and started to pump, I felt a little bit of grief. Jennifer met me where I was by helping me focus on the bigger picture. My baby needed to be fed. That mattered more than how the milk got to her.
My first baby breastfed for a year, and I'd hoped for that same experience again. I wanted the bond, the connection, the rhythm of it. Instead, I was pumping seven times a day, juggling newborn care and a toddler. The schedule was demanding. I was feeling stretched thin.
Working with Jennifer really grounded me. She never made me feel like I was failing. Instead, she helped me step back, assess what made sense for this baby, this season, and this version of me.
That conversation lifted a weight I hadn’t realized I was carrying. I could still be a loving, connected parent, even if the story looked different this time.
One thing I tell every new mom now: get in-person lactation support.
Having someone with me, weighing my baby before and after feeds, interpreting what was going on — that made all the difference. Without that guidance, I would’ve been stuck in a cycle of anxiety and second-guessing.
Support isn’t just about techniques. It’s about having someone beside you in the moments when nothing is going according to plan — and reminding you that you’re not alone.
Now, I am in the process of weaning. I’m at peace with the choices I’ve made. I know I gave my daughter what I could — and I’m showing up for both of my kids as the best version of myself I can be.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
No two babies are the same. No two journeys are the same.
You have to let go of the story you thought you’d get, and learn to embrace the one you’re actually living.
You assess what’s working. You adjust. You take care of yourself.
And then you keep going.
