Spill the Milk Breastfeeding Podcast

“Sometimes you don't want to quit breastfeeding. You just want breastfeeding to stop being so damn hard.”Have you ever thought about quitting breastfeeding… and then immediately felt guilty because you don't actually WANT to stop?Maybe you're exhausted. Maybe you're overwhelmed. Maybe you're tired of pumping, questioning your supply, or feeling like your entire life revolves around feeding your baby.And maybe you're wondering, “How much longer can I keep doing this?”In this episode of Spill the Milk, we're having one of those conversations moms don't always feel comfortable saying out loud.Because sometimes the answer isn't to push through. Sometimes it's changing the plan. And sometimes it's deciding you're ready to stop.And ALL of those decisions deserve support. 🤍I'm sharing two recent experiences with moms I helped who needed completely different things.💦 One mom discovered that combination feeding was actually the answer that allowed her to KEEP breastfeeding. It wasn't what she originally envisioned, but it worked for her. And she told me something that stuck: “There isn't enough combo feeding content.”💦 Another mom was ready to stop nursing but was feeling tremendous pressure from her family to continue. She didn't need another breastfeeding lecture. She needed somebody to tell her it was okay to stop.We're talking about:🤍 The difference between wanting to quit breastfeeding and wanting the struggle to stop🤍 Why combination feeding doesn't mean you've failed at breastfeeding🤍 The emotional and physical exhaustion of breastfeeding, pumping, and supplementing🤍 Why changing your feeding goals isn't giving up🤍 The guilt, pressure, and expectations moms face from family and social media🤍 Why you can feel relieved about weaning and still grieve breastfeeding🤍 What real, judgment-free breastfeeding support should look likeI've spent more than 20 years helping breastfeeding families, and one thing I know for sure is that there isn't one feeding plan that's right for every mother.I don't want you breastfeeding to prove something to anybody.Your baby needs to be fed. And YOU deserve to be supported.Two moms. Two different decisions. Both deserving of compassion.Let's keep this conversation going!What do YOU actually want from breastfeeding right now? To continue? Change your plan? Combination feed? Stop pumping? Wean?My Patreon Village is where we can have these honest conversations, ask questions, and support each other without judgment.💦 Join us here:https://www.patreon.com/BabyWhisperer?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fanMy Go With the Flow Breastfeeding Guide and Journal is here to help you navigate breastfeeding with practical education, realistic expectations, and confidence in YOUR decisions.📖 Get your copy on Amazon:https://a.co/d/0eaKhuBn🌐 Visit my website:https://babywhisperernicki.comMy goal isn't to convince you to breastfeed. That's your decision.My goal is to support your decisions with education and compassion.Nicki Davis, RN, BSN, IBCLCBaby Whisperer NickiHelping Families Feed with Confidence.🤍 COME JOIN MY PATREON VILLAGE!📖 GO WITH THE FLOW

Just when you think you've finally figured out breastfeeding… YOUR BABY CHANGES THE RULES! 😂Your baby used to breastfeed for 20 minutes, and now they're done in five.They used to fall asleep at the breast, and now they're popping off to look at EVERYTHING.They used to nurse every time you offered, and now they're turning away.They were sleeping longer stretches, and suddenly they're waking up at night again.And what happens?Mom starts questioning EVERYTHING."Nicki, I think my baby is refusing the breast!""Nicki, are we having a nursing strike?""Nicki, is my milk supply dropping?"And one of my favorite questions to ask is:"Are they refusing the breast…or are they just not hungry?"Because those are two VERY different things!In this episode of Spill the Milk, we're talking about something I wish more moms understood:Your baby isn't supposed to breastfeed at five months the same way they did at five weeks.Babies grow. They develop. They become more aware of the world around them. And breastfeeding changes right along with them.We're talking about:💦 Why breastfeeding changes around 3–4 months💦 Why YOUR BOOBS ARE BORING! 😂 (How are you supposed to compete with a ceiling fan?)💦 Why shorter, more efficient feeds can be completely normal💦 Distracted breastfeeding and why your baby suddenly wants to look at EVERYTHING💦 Breast refusal vs. simply not being hungry💦 What a true nursing strike can look like💦 Why your baby may no longer fall asleep after breastfeeding💦 The four-month sleep regression and why night waking doesn't automatically mean low supply💦 How your baby's comfort and regulation needs change💦 Why softer breasts don't automatically mean less milk💦 When feeding changes are normal—and when I want someone to take a closer lookAnd we're having a bigger conversation about something moms really need to hear.At some point, I need you to start TRUSTING what you've learned about your baby.You've spent months learning their cues, their personality, and what a good feeding looks like.Don't let one new behavior convince you that you've forgotten everything you know.Sometimes breastfeeding isn't falling apart.Sometimes your baby is just growing up. 🤍And remember, I'm not saying every feeding change should be ignored. Poor milk transfer, concerning diaper output, growth concerns, or persistent breast refusal deserve attention.Different doesn't automatically mean dysfunctional.Come hang out with me on Patreon!My Patreon Village gets early access to episodes, bonus conversations, Q&As, practical resources, behind-the-scenes content, and a community where we can keep talking about what feeding a baby actually looks like in real life.The podcast is where I share the education. Patreon is where we get to hang out a little more. 🤍💦 Join my Patreon Village:https://www.patreon.com/BabyWhisperer?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fanI created my Go With the Flow Breastfeeding Guide and Journal because breastfeeding isn't supposed to look exactly the same from the newborn stage through the first year.Your baby changes. Your breastfeeding relationship changes. And I want you to have a resource to come back to as you navigate those changes.Good information. Practical guidance. More confidence.📖 Get your copy on Amazon:https://a.co/d/0eaKhuBn🌐 Baby Whisperer Nicki:https://babywhisperernicki.comMy goal isn't to convince you to breastfeed. That's your decision.My goal is to support your decisions with education and compassion.Nicki Davis, RN, BSN, IBCLCBaby Whisperer NickiHelping Families Feed with Confidence. 💦🤍 WANT MORE SPILL THE MILK?📖 GO WITH THE FLOW

💦 Breastfeeding Survival Tactics for the First Few Weeks | Spill the Milk Season 2, Episode 4Those first few weeks of breastfeeding can feel like absolute chaos.You just had a baby. You're recovering. You're exhausted. Your hormones are everywhere. You're trying to figure out this brand-new little human—and meanwhile, everybody has an opinion about what you're supposed to be doing.How often should baby eat? How long should they stay at the breast? Should you wake them? Should you pump? Is your milk “in”? Is the latch good enough? Why do they want to eat AGAIN?Can we please give moms—and babies—a minute?In this episode of Spill the Milk, I'm giving you the breastfeeding survival tactics I wish every new mom knew before she started doubting herself.We're talking about:💦 Why skin-to-skin shouldn't end after the golden hour💦 Why colostrum IS milk💦 Why you don't automatically need to breastfeed AND pump💦 Why hand expression can work better for those tiny amounts of thick colostrum💦 Why pump output is NOT a test of whether you have milk💦 The learning curve of latch—and why neither you nor your baby needs to be perfect at it💦 Normal newborn weight loss and why context matters💦 Why my newborn rule is “When in doubt, guess hunger”💦 Why I want you to stop timing the damn feed💦 Second-night cluster feeding and why it doesn't automatically mean low supply💦 What diapers can actually tell us💦 Why I want everybody to LEAVE. THAT. BABY. ALONE. when they're peacefully feeding 😂💦 And why I do NOT recommend swaddling your baby while breastfeedingI'm also talking about the difference between normal newborn behavior and something that really does deserve assessment.Because “This is normal” should reassure you. It should never silence you when something doesn't feel right.And maybe most importantly:You are not supposed to be perfect at breastfeeding on Day 1.You're learning your baby.Your baby is learning you.You're both going to get better with time and practice.The first few weeks aren't about doing breastfeeding perfectly.They're about learning your baby. 🤍🎙️ Episode 4 airs Friday, October 9.🤍 PATREON EARLY ACCESS — OCTOBER 7Patreon members with early access can listen beginning Wednesday, October 7, before the episode releases publicly on Friday.Patreon members also get bonus conversations, Q&As, practical resources, behind-the-scenes content, and a community where we can keep talking about what feeding a baby actually looks like in real life.The podcast is where I share the education. Patreon is where we get to hang out a little more. 🤍💦 Join Baby Whisperer Nicki on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/BabyWhisperer?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan📖 GO WITH THE FLOWI created my Go With the Flow Breastfeeding Guide and Journal because I don't want you trying to remember everything you've ever been told about breastfeeding while you're exhausted, recovering, and learning your baby.It's a resource you can come back to when you're sitting there at 2 a.m. wondering, “Is this normal?”📖 Get Go With the Flow:https://a.co/d/0eaKhuBn🌐 Baby Whisperer Nicki:https://babywhisperernicki.comMy goal isn't to convince you to breastfeed. That's your decision.My goal is to support your decisions with education and compassion.Nicki Davis, RN, BSN, IBCLCBaby Whisperer NickiHelping Families Feed with Confidence. 💦

Okay, friends… I’m a little spicy in this one. Actually, I’m pretty pissed. 🔥Tongue-tie revisions have become one of those breastfeeding conversations where I keep asking myself:How did we get here?I’ve been helping breastfeeding families for more than 20 years, and I remember practicing before it seemed like every breastfeeding problem led to somebody looking inside a baby’s mouth for a tie.Now a mom can post online:“My nipples hurt.”And within minutes:“Have you had your baby checked for a tongue-tie?”WHAT?!Nipple pain tells me we need to assess the feeding. It does NOT automatically tell me something in your baby’s mouth needs to be cut.In this episode, we’re talking about the rise in tongue-tie diagnoses and revisions, internet advice, babies being revised before leaving the hospital, repeat procedures, informed consent, potential complications—and something we don’t discuss enough:The baby.How many people need to put their fingers in this baby’s mouth? And because a baby can’t tell us, “Enough,” shouldn’t that make us MORE thoughtful about what we’re doing to their body?I’m also sharing two cases from my own practice that have stayed with me.This episode is NOT anti-frenotomy. Some babies with symptomatic tongue-tie may benefit from one.What I’m against is jumping from:“Breastfeeding isn’t working” → “Your baby needs a revision.”Before we cut anything, I want to know:💦 Has someone watched an ENTIRE feeding?💦 Has Mom been taught how to improve the latch?💦 Is baby transferring milk and gaining appropriately?💦 What is diaper output telling us?💦 What is Mom’s milk production doing?💦 What other causes have been considered?💦 What FUNCTION is the frenulum interfering with?💦 What are the benefits AND risks?💦 What happens if we wait—or if the procedure doesn’t work?A visible frenulum is not automatically a feeding problem.Finding a frenulum is not the same thing as finding the cause of the feeding problem.I’m not anti-procedure.I’m pro-assessment, pro-informed consent, and pro-baby.Before we cut anything, ask:What problem are we actually trying to solve?📖 BEFORE YOU REVISEIf a tongue-tie or lip-tie procedure has been recommended for your baby, I created Before You Revise: The Parent’s Checklist Before Saying Yes to a Tongue-Tie or Lip-Tie Procedure to help you understand what should be assessed, what questions to ask, the potential benefits and risks, and when it may be time to slow down and get more information.📖 Get Before You Revise:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HKDJNK95🤍 WANT MORE SPILL THE MILK?Come hang out with me on Patreon for early access, bonus conversations, Q&As, resources, behind-the-scenes content, and our community.The podcast is where I share the education. Patreon is where we get to hang out a little more. 🤍💦 Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/BabyWhisperer?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan🌐 https://babywhisperernicki.com📚 RESOURCES & FURTHER READINGAmerican Academy of Pediatrics — 2024 Clinical Reporthttps://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/154/2/e2024067605/198022/Identification-and-Management-of-Ankyloglossia-andAcademy of Breastfeeding Medicine — Position Statementhttps://www.bfmed.org/assets/Anklyloglossia%20position%20statement%202021.pdfAmerican Academy of Pediatric Dentistry — Frenulum Policyhttps://www.aapd.org/research/oral-health-policies--recommendations/managment-of-the-frenulum-in-pediatric-dental-patients/JAMA Otolaryngology — Feeding Evaluation & Frenotomy Rateshttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2737712The New York Times — Inside the Booming Business of Cutting Babies’ Tongueshttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/health/tongue-tie-release-breastfeeding.htmlMy goal isn’t to convince you to breastfeed. That’s your decision. My goal is to support your decisions with education and compassion.Nicki Davis, RN, BSN, IBCLCBaby Whisperer NickiHelping Families Feed with Confidence.

Somewhere along the way, the breast pump went from being an incredibly useful tool to something breastfeeding moms started believing they have to use.And I have questions. 😂🔥Since spending more time talking with moms on social media, I’ve been surprised by how many are nursing their babies and pumping—not because they’re returning to work, separated from their baby, or exclusively pumping, but because they’ve been told they need to pump to “protect their supply.”And every time I hear that, I want to ask:Protect your supply from WHAT? 👀In this episode of Spill the Milk, we’re talking about the new pumping culture and all the extra work we may be giving breastfeeding moms without ever stopping to ask whether they actually need to do it.We’re getting into:💦 Why directly breastfeeding your baby can be enough💦 Boob, bottle, and pump—and why they don’t automatically all have to go together💦 When pumping actually makes sense💦 Why some moms end up owning multiple pumps without ever being taught how to properly use the one they have💦 Returning to work and planning for bottles💦 Freezer stash culture and the pressure to collect more and more milk💦 Why pumping extra can sometimes create problems you never needed in the first placeAnd yes, we need to talk about those freezers packed from top to bottom with breast milk.There is absolutely nothing wrong with being proud of milk you worked hard to collect. But seeing someone else’s freezer stash without knowing the context can quickly turn into another breastfeeding expectation.Suddenly, you’re doing two jobs:You’re feeding your baby AND you’re feeding your freezer.Friends, moms already have enough jobs.I’m not anti-pump.I’m not anti-bottle.I’m not anti-freezer stash.I’m anti-unnecessary work for moms. 🔥The breast pump is a tool. Sometimes it’s incredibly helpful. Sometimes it’s essential. But it is not a requirement for being a successful breastfeeding mother.So before you add another pumping session, buy another pump, or decide you need another 100 ounces in your freezer, I want you to ask yourself one simple question:WHY am I pumping?Because the plan should match the reason.🤍 Want more Spill the Milk?Come hang out with me on Patreon!Patreon members can get early access to Spill the Milk episodes, plus bonus conversations, Q&As, practical resources, behind-the-scenes content, and a community where we can keep talking about what feeding a baby actually looks like in real life.The podcast is where I share the education. Patreon is where we get to hang out a little more. 🤍💦 Join Baby Whisperer Nicki on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/BabyWhisperer?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fanNicki Davis, RN, BSN, IBCLCBaby Whisperer NickiHelping Families Feed with Confidence.💦 babywhisperernicki.com