Before we dive in, let me make this very clear:I am not a doctor, lactation consultant, or medical professional.

This blog is simply about my personal experience with breastfeeding — what helped me, what didn’t, and what I learned through trial and error. Please speak to your healthcare provider or lactation consultant for personalized guidance.

When I had my first baby, I assumed breastfeeding would just happen. You give birth, your milk comes in, and boom — you feed your baby.

Wrong.

For the first three days, I had no milk. Nothing.
As someone who had dreamed of that sweet bonding moment of nursing my baby, it shattered me emotionally. I felt like a failure before I even started.

But eventually, I found some tricks and methods that helped my milk come in — and kept it going.

Here’s what worked for me:

1) Help Baby Latch Properly (Even if You’re Using Formula at First)

One trick I learned early on was using a syringe with formula to help encourage baby to latch. I’d slowly drip formula around my nipple while trying to nurse, so my baby associated sucking with milk flow. It mimicked the experience of breastfeeding and kept her motivated to latch and suck — even before my milk came in.

This helped bridge the gap between no supply and that crucial first latch.

2) Follow the Golden Rule: Supply & Demand

Breastfeeding works like a simple economy — the more your baby (or pump) demands, the more your body supplies. I didn’t fully grasp this early on, but once I started nursing or pumping consistently, I noticed a steady increase in my milk production.

Skipping sessions or spacing them out too much would cause an immediate dip. Consistency truly is everything.

3) Night Feeds Are a Must (Even When You’re Exhausted)

As hard as it was to sacrifice sleep, I learned that night feeds are essential in building and maintaining milk supply. That’s because prolactin — the hormone responsible for milk production — naturally spikes during the night.

So even when it felt like torture at 3 a.m., I reminded myself that those sleepy feeds were doing powerful, behind-the-scenes work for my supply.

4) Eat Milk-Boosting Foods (Yes, They Make a Difference)

Certain foods are believed to support milk production, and I found that incorporating them into my diet helped. I regularly ate oatmeal, chia seeds, flaxseed, and eggs — all easy to work into breakfast or snacks.

Some moms swear by brewer’s yeast, but for me and my baby, it caused gas and tummy issues — so be cautious with that.
If you’re looking for a gentle boost, these lactation cookies worked well for me:
Lactation Cookies – Amazon

5) Drink a CRAZY Amount of Water (Coconut Water Helps!)

Hydration is non-negotiable when you’re breastfeeding. I made it a point to drink water constantly throughout the day — especially after every feeding or pumping session. Adding electrolytes or coconut water gave me even more energy and helped with hydration recovery.

Here are the drinks that became staples for me:
Coconut Water – Amazon
Body Armor (Mango Peach) – Amazon

6) Track Your Pumping Sessions

Keeping a log of when I pumped and how much milk I got gave me clarity during a very foggy time. I was able to spot patterns — like when my supply was highest or when I needed to pump more frequently.

I used an app called PumpLog, which made it easy to track everything without needing to write it down manually.

7) Try Power Pumping to Boost Supply

When I noticed a dip in my supply, power pumping helped bring it back up. It’s a technique where you pump in intervals (like 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off, then 10 back on) for about an hour. It mimics cluster feeding and sends your body the message: we need more milk!

I used this a couple of times a week, and it made a noticeable difference in my output.

Final Thoughts: Give Yourself Grace

Even though these are the things that helped me, I want to say this loud and clear:

Breastfeeding is not the only way to nourish your baby.

If you’re using formula — that is perfectly okay. A fed baby is a happy, healthy baby, period. Don’t let guilt or pressure rob you of joy during this precious (and exhausting) season.

I made the mistake of putting too much pressure on myself, and it left me drained and emotional. Please — give yourself the same grace and love you’re pouring into your baby.

You’re doing great, mama.

Disclaimer:

This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you choose to purchase through the links provided. I only share products I have personally used and found helpful. Thank you for supporting this blog!