From Struggles to Success: My Honest Breastfeeding Journey
Breastfeeding was always something I imagined would come naturally. But from the very beginning, I faced challenges that made me question whether I could continue at all. The pain, frustration, and constant self-doubt had me on the verge of giving up more times than I can count.
Through persistence, support, and a lot of patience, I finally reached a point where things began to fall into place.
Nipple Shields, Engorgement, and Mastitis
The early days of my breastfeeding journey were filled with confusion and a steep learning curve. My son latched quickly after birth, which felt like a victory. But soon, something seemed off. I kept wondering, “Is it supposed to hurt this bad?”
By day three, my milk came in full force—and I was suddenly faced with a whole new set of challenges I wasn’t prepared for.
I had a home birth, so my midwife returned to our house a few days postpartum to check in.
(Read about my home birth journey HERE)
During her visit, she noticed that my nipples weren’t ideally shaped for a proper latch—something I didn’t even know could be an issue. She suggested trying a nipple shield, a small silicone cover that helps give the baby something firmer to latch onto.
Without a proper latch, Waylen was taking in a lot of air, which led to painful gas for him. He also couldn’t fully empty my breasts, leading to severe engorgement and several painful clogged ducts. It felt like I had rocks lodged in my breasts—the discomfort was overwhelming. 😵💫
I was in so much pain. Thankfully, my mother-in-love stayed with us during that first week to help out. Never did I think I’d be standing over bowls of hot water, soaking my boobs. 😅 We tried everything to relieve the pressure and get my milk to drain.
Unfortunately, one night during dinner, I suddenly started feeling terrible. One moment I was fine—and the next, I had full-on flu symptoms: headache, body aches, and chills.
It turned out I had developed mastitis, a painful infection caused by inflammation of the breast tissue. I spiked a fever, making an already difficult situation even worse.
Once I started antibiotics and added a supplement called sunflower lecithin (highly recommend!), the infection cleared up, and I finally felt some relief. I could shift my focus back to figuring out breastfeeding… or so I thought.
Tongue-Ties, Extreme Pain, and Overproduction
Even after using nipple shields for a while, I was still in a lot of pain. I started to believe I was doing something wrong—that I wasn’t cut out for this. Finally, I met with a lactation consultant who gave me tips to get a deeper latch.
At the same time, Waylen was dealing with major gas and fussiness. During a pediatrician appointment, the doctor suggested he be checked for a tongue-tie. I didn’t know much about it at the time.
We found an incredible practice in Atlanta, GA, that specializes in oral ties. They diagnosed Waylen with a posterior tongue tie, as well as lip and cheek ties. They explained that because of these ties, he couldn’t latch deeply enough—which was causing my pain and preventing effective milk transfer.
(Left: before surgery | Right: after surgery)
I temporarily switched to exclusively pumping because I just couldn’t handle the pain anymore. A few weeks later, Waylen underwent laser surgery to release the ties. We were hopeful that this would allow me to return to direct breastfeeding without discomfort.
Meanwhile, I had a major oversupply of milk. At one point, I was producing 64 ounces a day 🤯—a blessing and a challenge. Breastfeeding directly can help regulate supply, but until then, my life revolved around pumping 24/7.
After the surgery, I met again with the lactation consultant—and it felt like magic. Once Waylen's tongue was released, the pain decreased by 90%!
We also started occupational therapy with the tongue-tie specialist. I made the two-hour drive to Atlanta once a week for five weeks—determined to make this work.
We did:
Oral stretches every 4 hours (yes, even overnight) for two weeks
Then every 6 hours for the remaining 3 weeks
Bodywork exercises every 2–4 hours during the day
Keeping up with all of this—on top of feedings, naps, and diaper changes—was exhausting. But slowly, we started figuring it out. 💪
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Success
Finally, things began to fall into place. My supply regulated. I no longer had to pump between feedings. I started feeling more confident feeding in public, in the car, and pretty much anywhere.
Yep, I’m that mama nursing her baby wherever we are—sometimes with no cover.
#SorryNotSorry 💁🏻♀️ You try eating with a blanket over your head.
After weeks of constant pain, I could finally enjoy my baby without that cloud hanging over me.
As we approach the 14-month mark of our breastfeeding journey, it’s finally become the natural, connected experience I always imagined. The road here wasn’t easy—but I’m so proud of myself for sticking with it.
If you’re in the thick of those early days and everything feels overwhelming, just know: 👉 YOU GOT THIS, MAMA.
Be patient with yourself and your baby. You're both new at this—and that’s okay.
And if you ever have questions or just need a listening ear, I’m here for you. 💕
