How I Prepped for Breastfeeding (And Avoided a Total Meltdown)

The no-fluff guide to classes, gear, and support systems that actually help.

Let's get one thing straight: breastfeeding is not just a natural instinct—it's a full-contact sport. One minute you're cradling this sleepy, squishy newborn, and the next you're sweating, crying, Googling "cracked nipple bleeding??" while trying to remember which boob you fed from last. And that's if everything's going well.

Here's what they don't tell you in the baby books: breastfeeding takes mental load, physical prep, emotional bandwidth, and sometimes—literal backup. The idea that it just "comes naturally" to every mom? Cute. For a lot of us, it's more like learning to dance blindfolded while someone critiques your form and your partner screams. That doesn't mean it's not worth it. It just means that prepping before your baby arrives might save you a few breakdowns, late-night panics, and Target runs in your pajamas. This blog is your no-BS starter pack: the classes that help, the supplies you actually need, and the support system that makes it all suck less (pun intended).

🧠 Step One: Take the Dang Class (No, Really—Take It)

Look, I'm not the "sign up for all the things" kind of mom. I skipped the maternity shoot, declined the weekly fruit-size updates, and still have no idea what a baby moon is. But I did take a breastfeeding class—and it changed everything.

These classes aren't just about how to hold your baby like a football while your boob gets suctioned like a vacuum. They actually walk you through:

• How milk production works (Hint: it's supply and demand, not "hope and vibes")
• What a good latch looks like, sounds like, feels like
• Common problems (oversupply, low supply, clogged ducts) and how to fix them
• When to call a lactation consultant vs. when to just breathe and keep going

Most hospitals, OB offices, and birth centers offer them in person or online. Do yourself a favor and register during your second or third trimester. And if your partner is part of this journey? Drag them to class with you. You'll want someone else who knows the difference between a letdown and a meltdown.

🛒 Step Two: Gear Up Like a Pro (Because Desperation at 2AM Isn't Fun)

Here's what I know for sure: no one has ever successfully treated sore nipples with optimism and an old sports bra. Breastfeeding is physical work, and having the right tools on hand can make or break your first few weeks.

🧺 The Must-Haves:

• Nursing bras – Get 2–3 comfy, stretchy, easy-to-clip-down bras. Not cute lingerie. Not underwire. Comfy.
• Nipple balm or cream – Lanolin is the go-to, but coconut oil or plant-based options work too. Apply after every feed in the early days—religiously.
• Breast pump – Call your insurance now. Most cover a free one (yay). Go with a double electric if you're planning to pump regularly.
• Haakaa or silicone milk catcher – This little thing will catch your letdown on the non-nursing side and save you wasted milk (aka liquid gold).
• Breast pads – Disposable or washable. You'll leak. You'll forget you're leaking. You'll need these.
• Water bottle the size of your head – Hydration is not optional. You'll be thirstier than a frat bro in the desert.

💡 Nice-to-Haves (But Game-Changers):

• Nursing pillow – Great for positioning, back support, and turning any couch into a feeding throne.
• Hands-free pumping bra – If you're working, pumping, or just want your hands free to scroll TikTok while you pump.
• Milk storage bags & mini freezer stash – Give yourself a buffer and reduce pressure to always be the milk machine.

Pro tip? Make yourself a little nursing station—think snacks, phone charger, remote, nipple cream, water, and a burp cloth. Because once baby latches, you're locked in for a while.

🧍🏽‍♀️ Step Three: Build Your "SOS" Squad Before You're in Tears

Breastfeeding can be lonely, especially when you're on your third cluster feed in six hours and your partner is somehow sleeping peacefully. (How?!) That's why you need support lined up before the baby gets here.

👯‍♀️ Here's what that looks like:

• Lactation Consultant – Ask your OB, pediatrician, or hospital for a list now. Bonus points if they do in-home visits or virtual consults. Save the number. You'll thank yourself at 2am.
• A bestie who's been there – Not just a mom friend, but someone who remembers what cracked nipples and sleep-deprived rage feel like. Someone who will validate your "I'm not sure I can do this" texts without fixing or judging.
• Your partner (if applicable) – Let them read a few posts, watch a latch video, learn what it actually takes to feed a baby 8–12 times a day. They're not just the snack runner—they're part of your team.
• Online support – Reddit's /r/Breastfeeding, Facebook mom groups, local La Leche League meetups—they're hit or miss, but when they hit, they hit. Find your people.

If you don't have a big circle, don't worry. You don't need dozens—just one or two solid people who will show up when your boobs hurt and your brain says "give up."

🔄 Final Truths: Flexibility = Survival

Breastfeeding is not all or nothing. You can combo feed, pump, supplement, or switch to formula without breaking any sacred mom codes. I started strong, hit a rough patch, and ended up combo feeding for sanity. And my kid still smiled, grew, bonded, and adored me.

You can be a good mom and:

• Breastfeed for two days or two years
• Supplement with formula
• Decide to quit for your mental health
• Hate every second of it
• Love every second of it

None of it defines your worth. You are feeding your baby. That's what matters.

Caitlyn's Final Sign-Off (a.k.a. The Mental Load Acknowledgment)

If you're reading this while making a hospital checklist, comparing pump brands, and also wondering how you'll remember to feed your dog postpartum—congrats. You've officially met the mental load of motherhood. Welcome.

Here's what I suggest:

• Prep now.
• Ask for help later.
• Close the door when you need to cry, scream, nap, or eat peanut butter from a spoon in silence.

Because breastfeeding might be a beautiful journey—but it's still your journey. And you get to call the shots.

You've got this. You're already doing more than enough.