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.

RESOURCES:

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.

RESOURCES:

Topics Covered:

• breastfeeding prep during pregnancy
• how to prepare for breastfeeding before birth
• what to put on a breastfeeding birth plan
• breastfeeding birth plan strategy
• how to avoid formula in the hospital
• avoiding unnecessary formula after birth
• exclusive breastfeeding in the hospital
• how to advocate for breastfeeding in the hospital
• baby friendly hospital breastfeeding myths
• does baby friendly hospital mean no formula
• protecting milk supply in the first 72 hours
• what to do if baby will not latch in the hospital
• cluster feeding vs low milk supply
• normal newborn feeding behavior explained
• sleepy newborn not feeding enough
• fussy baby breastfeeding in early days
• early latch problems and solutions
• how to protect breastfeeding after a difficult birth
• preventing breastfeeding struggles from the start
• why breastfeeding fails in the first week
• how to build milk supply after birth
• hand expression before milk comes in
• how to respond when formula is suggested
• how to know if baby needs formula
• hospital supplementation and breastfeeding
• newborn weight loss and breastfeeding
• blood sugar concerns and breastfeeding
• breastfeeding confidence before birth
• partner support for breastfeeding success
• breastfeeding education for first time moms

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.

RESOURCES:

• returning to work while breastfeeding

• breastfeeding and going back to work

• how to continue breastfeeding when returning to work

• exclusive breastfeeding and working

• pumping at work tips

• breastfeeding after maternity leave

• maintaining milk supply at work

• back to work breastfeeding schedule

• working mom breastfeeding

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

FREE 5 Breastfeeding Mistakes to Avoid

Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy

Supplementing for Breastfeeding Moms Mini Course

Book a Virtual Lactation Consultant

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

NEEDED. Nutritional Support (Bioavailable Supplements, Hydration & More) SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST ORDER!!!!

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?

If you’re pregnant and this question has quietly been sitting in the back of your mind, this episode is for you.

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. A rough start does not mean your journey is over.

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

FREE 5 Breastfeeding Mistakes to Avoid

Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy

Supplementing for Breastfeeding Moms Mini Course

Book a Virtual Lactation Consultant

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

NEEDED. Nutritional Support (Bioavailable Supplements, Hydration & More) SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST ORDER!!!!

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.

RESOURCES

Breast engorgement* during the first week of breastfeeding is incredibly common — and incredibly misunderstood. In this episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence, IBCLC Jaimie Zaki breaks down exactly what breast engorgement is, why it happens, and how to relieve engorgement safely without damaging your milk supply or latch.

If your breasts feel hard, hot, swollen, painfully full, or difficult for your baby to latch onto, this episode is for you. Engorgement is not a sign that breastfeeding is failing, and it does not automatically mean you have too much milk. In fact, engorgement is usually caused by inflammation, increased blood flow, lymphatic fluid, and IV fluids from labor — not just milk volume.

You’ll learn:

• What breast engorgement actually is (and what it’s not)

• Why engorgement can happen even with low milk supply

• How engorgement affects latch, milk transfer, and nipple pain

• Why aggressive pumping can make engorgement worse

• How to use feeding techniques, cold therapy, gentle massage, and hand expression effectively

Jaimie also explains why early engorgement can trigger a cascade of problems — from poor latch to clogged ducts, mastitis, and unnecessary formula supplementation — and how addressing engorgement correctly can prevent those outcomes.

Whether you’re pregnant and preparing for breastfeeding or navigating the first days postpartum, this episode will help you feel calmer, more informed, and more confident in your body.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to move milk, protect your breast tissue, and support your baby — without panic or misinformation.

Can you breastfeed after breast cancer—even after a double mastectomy?

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Breastfeeding With Confidence Podcast, I’m joined by my friend Emily, a birth worker and breast cancer survivor, to talk honestly about what breastfeeding can look like after cancer—and how a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) made it possible for her to nurse her babies at the breast.

This conversation challenges the idea that breastfeeding is only about milk production. We talk about bonding, healing, hormones, and why breastfeeding still counts even when it doesn’t look the way you expected.

If you’re a breast cancer survivor, supporting one, or working with mothers navigating complex breastfeeding situations, this episode is for you. And if you don't have breast cancer? This episode is still helpful for moms supplementing for low milk supply!

• Can you breastfeed after breast cancer or a double mastectomy?

• What a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) is and how it works

• Using an SNS with low or no milk supply

• Why breastfeeding is about more than milk

• Emotional healing and closure after cancer through nursing

• How long an SNS can be used

• Practical tips for using a Supplemental Nursing System successfully

• Why breastfeeding after cancer still “counts”

RESOURCES & PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS

FREE 5 Breastfeeding Mistakes to Avoid

Confident Mama Breastfeeding Academy

Supplementing for Breastfeeding Moms Mini Course

Book a Virtual Lactation Consultant

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

NEEDED. Nutritional Support (Bioavailable Supplements, Hydration & More) SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST ORDER!!!!

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