(This post was written during my postpartum experience when I was navigating latch challenges and finding what worked best for me and my baby.)
Feeding my baby has looked different with each of my children. With my first son, I was able to breastfeed exclusively because I stayed home and only pumped occasionally for a caregiver. He nursed until about 18 months—right around when I became pregnant with my second son.
With my second baby, I planned to pump and bottle-feed more often since I was finishing college and needed to be on campus. However, he preferred nursing and refused bottles due to flavor differences. I ended up breastfeeding him before class and again as soon as I returned home, which was challenging but worked until graduation.
Now that my daughter has joined our family, I’ve had a completely different experience. From the start, she struggled with latching due to a mild tongue-tie (ankyloglossia). Despite hours of trying, help from a lactation consultant, and even nipple shields, nursing remained painful and frustrating for both of us.
I eventually decided to pump and bottle-feed her. Thankfully, I had already purchased a variety of bottles in preparation. While I never expected bottles to become our main feeding method, they’ve allowed me to continue giving her breast milk despite her latch issues.
In the early days, I supplemented with formula until my supply increased. Once I was able to pump enough, I built a small freezer stash and shifted to exclusively giving her breast milk through bottles. It hasn’t been easy — pumping takes time, organization, and lots of cleaning! But I’ve learned to appreciate every feeding, however it happens.
As I prepared to return to work, I knew my stash wouldn’t last forever. But I was proud that I had been able to nourish my baby the best way I could. Whether it’s through breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, pumping, or formula — what matters most is that our babies are fed and loved.
Looking back, I’m grateful for everything I learned through those challenges. Balancing breastfeeding, pumping, and bottle-feeding taught me that fed is best, and that what matters most is nurturing our babies in whatever way we can. These experiences inspired my passion for supporting other moms — and eventually, the creation of the Snuggly Mom shirt to help make nursing and bonding more comfortable for moms everywhere.