As my breastfeeding journey with Allison comes to an end, I reflected on everything that happened in the past year. Breastfeeding is a wonderful, natural process but it is definitely not easy. In a way, all the challenges I had in the past year made me a better...

When Allison turned one, we were both ready to stop breastfeeding. We successfully introduced milk and she (and I) were loving it. I started taking longer intervals between pumping sessions and within a few weeks the milk was...

Many of us have read horror stories online about traveling with breastmilk. I’m thankful to say I have not had any issues. When traveling to Greece, we took several bottles of milk on the airplane. At security, the milk had to go through the X-ray machine. It was...

When Allison was 10 months old, we (my husband, daughter and one of our best friends) went to Greece for a wedding. First of all, everyone I came across during the trip was very nice and supportive. I pumped in the plane, in the car, at historic monuments, and in...

I was fortunate enough to be able to donate some of my breastmilk. If you ever have any supply that you can share, it is an amazing thing to do. Donated breastmilk is mostly used for infants in the NICU, many of whom are born prematurely. For them, breastmilk is...

A quick word on teeth. They are super cute to see and a very exciting milestone to reach. However, they are not so fun for the nipples. Mostly, it’s not a big deal because babies use their tongues to extract milk from the breast...

You can always find a way to make things work. I’ve forgotten bottles, ice packs, and covers but always managed to find a (creative) solution. Don’t be afraid to ask for the things you need. I’ve walked into Starbucks to ask for...

As babies grow older and become more alert, they become increasingly interested in their surroundings. At around 6 months, Allie became more interested in the things around her than in feeding. Catching up on shows while breastfeeding became no longer possible =(....

My husband’s holiday party was at a fancy NY restaurant. We were picked up in a car which we made sure had a plug for pumping convenience.  I pumped most of the way to the city. Then, we joined the party, which was amazing. A few hours into the party, I had to pump...

One of the worst things that can happen is forgetting your pump phalanges. Forgetting bottles is not as bad because there are ways to improvise but phalanges are definitely trickier to replace. One time, while at work I realized I forgot the phalanges at home. This...

I won’t talk about how hard it is emotionally to go back to work. I had a good experience because my husband was able to stay home with the baby after I went back and I would FaceTime him throughout the day on my pump breaks. It’s tough, but it gets better. Before...

Pumping and breastfeeding in a public place is not for everyone. Thankfully, our culture has become more accepting of breastfeeding mothers and there are plenty of products out there that make the process convenient and discrete. One of the best places to pump, for...

A few weeks after I got mastitis, the fever was back. This time my breast was red and painful and I knew what was going on. Immediately, I started pumping, massaging, and breastfeeding as frequently as possible. I decided to give it 1-2 days before starting an...

About 4 weeks after giving birth I was to be a matron of honor at my best friend’s wedding. This was tricky. I had to be there at 7 am and this was going to be an all-day affair. This experience really taught me to think outside the box when it came to pumping. That...

Baby is a few weeks old. We were invited to a birthday party before I gave birth and we’re determined to go. Grandparents are babysitting. Pumped milk is in the fridge. Baby is full. Mommy found a dress that fits (yay!). I packed all my supplies and we’re off. We...

On day 10 after giving birth, I developed a fever. I was feeling fine all day and then suddenly, after taking a nap, I started feeling warm. Then, I developed muscle aches. I took my temp and it was 100.4F. This is one of those times when knowing too much is harmful....

My baby girl was born breech. We discovered that she was breech at 32 weeks of pregnancy and despite my consistent attempts at doing the exercises I found online, she did not turn. She did wait until 39 weeks, which is when she was delivered via scheduled C-section....

With so many things to worry about during pregnancy, I considered myself very lucky having the knowledge about breastfeeding when I embarked on the journey of motherhood. I’ve been doing it for several years and it has been an interest of mine for a long time, so I...