
My baby girl was born underweight at 1.87 kgs and didn't latch in the hospital. The staff said it's since she's small and doesn't have enough strength to suck yet.
Unfortunately in the whirlwind of the first few days, recovering from a c-sec and formula feeding her every few hours, I had delayed getting a breast pump and thought my supply had not started yet...

The Shooting Pain Stopped Me On My Tracks


On the 4th day after delivery I had extremely painful shooting pain in my c-sec scar and couldn't walk..We had to rush to the hospital emergency for a checkup. 

The Lactation Specialist (who was an angel) helped me pump for the first time and all of the shooting pain went away!
From then on I was triple feeding my baby - pumping every 2-3 hrs day in and day out, formula feeding her and also trying to breastfeed her which was still unsuccessful! 

My baby had gotten used to being bottle fed and refused to latch - bottle drinking is easier for babies since they don't need to work hard for milk
It was extremely demotivating and depressing ... Pumping 24/7 gave me sore and cracked breasts and made me extremely sensitive and upset.. When she was a bit bigger we tried pipe feeding her, using a pipe dipped in a milk bottle, which was extremely difficult as well since she was refusing that too.


I still remember breaking down in front of my husband, I wanted to stop breastfeeding completely, I didn't want to touch them ever again because they were hurting so much...

And My Baby Saved Me...Voila She Learnt to Latch


Thankfully the next week itself she learnt how to latch.. And I've been happily breastfeeding her from her 6th week.
As she grew, I completely skipped letting her drink from a nipple bottle, and started her off with straws and open tumbler. I was afraid she would stop breastfeeding again if she got bottlefed again.


She's 22 months now and I currently don't want to stop breastfeeding, the peace and calm I feel when I feed her is incomparable.. And she happens to be a very demanding baby, all of our relatives have gotten to know her love for "Mummy Duddu"

I'm going on an office trip with her for 3 days next week and I'm a bit apprehensive about everyone seeing her ask for duddu... But I don't want to stop anytime soon!


If she's the only baby I'll have in my life, I want to savour these precious moments for as long as possible 

My Breastfeeding Story

My Breastfeeding Journey- rough start, but now I don't want to stop!

Read more to learn Neha's breastfeeding story - how she handled her breakdown, latching issues and now wished the precious moments would continue forever. 

Rough Start But Don't Want it to Halt

My journey started off real easy, I was in the hospital for 4 days and the nurses trained me so well. No latching issues. 100% support from family, good rest and food. My baby was gaining the necessary weight. Parenting looked so easy.

When I Realised MotherHood is Never a Walk in the Park


I think after 3 months, breastfeeding was very draining for me mentally, I hated the process. Feeding for 30 mins on each breast made me restless. Repeating the whole thing like 8 times a day was just exhausting. I eventually started ignoring the signs when she wasn't feeding well. I dint pump to maintain my supply. 

(My perception - once the milk sets in I thought it would not go away). I did not speak about my discomfort. Told everyone that everything was great.
Eventually after a month, when she was 4 months old I realised my supply was going down. I expressed this to my doctor, but he didn't seem to think there was any issue, since there was no problem in weight gain. I started paying more attention trying to revive it but not with a lot of success. We tried bottle feeds and she out right rejected it.


Then I started work after another month and things just went downhill. She was active but wasn't putting on enough weight. Everyone said you can start solids and that will improve her weight. She ate in good quantities but it dint reflect in her weight. I tried all the things possible to improve my supply, cluster pumping, pumping extra when she was not feeding. Used spoon bottles to feed 30 ml or so with lot of struggle. I just put people around me in stress too. Nothing worked and she just gained 1 kg from 7 to 11 months. She was only 7.5 kgs on her 1st birthday. She was a small baby at birth, so doctors said this could be because of that.


Luckily she started taking a bottle after 1 year, and solids also digested better. 3 or 4 feedings in a day from me also were helping. Brest feeding now felt very comforting, I enjoyed every second of it. the way she clung to me, I felt one with my daughter . I really enjoyed this phase. After 15 months I weaned her off. She is still in the lower spectrum of weight but she is vey active and happy. Even today, I still carry the guilty. I am always worried about her growth.

Learnings In My Journey: A Lesson For New Moms


I hope this story helps someone out there breastfeeding - not make the mistakes I made - not to take breast feeding for granted. 

Express yourself and seek help. Parenting can take a toll on mental health. 

And also keep your child used to the bottle. 

So whenever there is problem there is something to fall back on. Practice feeding in different positions.

Breastfeeding releases myriad emotions. It is a period of highs and lows. Celebrating moms and their nurturing spirit on the occasion of Breastfeeding Week. Read these timeless stories of mothers who showed resilience and strength in the tough times of breastfeeding. 

Motherhood is Not a Walk in the Park

Teaching personal safety and consent, early on, is must. In today’s day and age, children are exposed to online media and subjected to lot of exposure from early age. Most of the times the screen time and the content they are watching is not supervised by adults. Children getting exposed to sensitive or age-inappropriate topics could spike curiosity and lead to unhealthy means to satisfy that curiosity. Engaging with them and keeping an open communication on matters related to body autonomy and the evolving needs of their body will allow them to put forward their thoughts and feelings with ease. Building a safe space at home is very important so that they come and talk on their observations and happenings at school or other places without shutting themselves in one corner. 

Books are a great way to broach sensitive or a difficult subject like personal safety, consent, body awareness etc. Books carry the messages succinctly through words or illustrations which make it easier for parents to pick up the conversation. With pictures or infographics, children get more interested on the topics and show enthusiasm to learn more. Also, when parents sit and engage with them through books, they are more conversant and are able to articulate their thoughts more openly.

Educating Personal Safety – Need of the hour?

With child abuse rising every minute, it is a dire need to teach children personal safety and show them the ways to take care of their body. Healthy personal boundaries and safety hygiene 101 need to be educated using creative ways. By using the actual body parts names instead of vaguely answering or not teaching them the exact definition of private parts will raise curiosity when they grow up. Using age-appropriate words through drawing, illustrations, books will foster a safe environment and establish an honest participation in children. Educating personal safety to children will help prevent unsafe incidents and equip them with knowledge and strategies to deal with such situations in future.

Home is an inviolate space that children regard as safest in the world. Home is where the primary caregivers reside. Primary caregivers are their parents whom they regard as key members in the safe circle. While that is so, establishing a safe circle outside home is very important to guide the children when they are out of the confines of their homes. It could be teachers from school, parents of their classmates or friends, neighbors etc with whom you can trust your child and your child feel comfortable to confide in. Draw the safe circle and teach them the members who form the safe circle. Empowering with books and resources will strengthen their ability to deal with manipulation and child abuse when they are away from their safe circle.

Setting Body Boundaries: 5 Books to Empower the Young

Books on child safety and body autonomy should be gentle, suiting to the sensibilities of a child. Here is the list of 5 books which cater to both children and parents and allow a space for these difficult topics to sit comfortably between the two.

This book teaches children to set personal boundaries and empower them to say no when they sense a breach of trust and invasion of privacy around them. The book is told using a little girl’s narrative with catchy pictures and empowers the children to understand their body rights and express them openly without fear or apprehension. Children can relate to a little girl’s narrative and it is easy to pick up the words and language expressed by the protagonist when they see the main character of their age.

 This one land straight home as it teaches children to treat their bodies as sacred and form an invisible circle so that others cannot enter the safe zone. A parental guide that serves as conversation starters and familiarizes one to pick up the phrases of unsafe touch and healthy boundaries to teach their children on how they can protect their body rights and combat sexual abuse. Told in an engaging and interesting way, this picture book will always have a soft corner in your child’s heart.

 A ready reckoner on personal safety issues, My little Body Book, is a must have in your shelf. With charming and endearing illustrations, the author has given some simple, practical tips on self-care, body safety and establishing body boundaries for children to be aware of when they are interacting with the external environment. You can read aloud to your child and delve deeper using the information mentioned to empower them with more insights on personal safety.

This book is a transformational guide that talks about personal space, protecting private parts, and honouring consent. It enhances body awareness and confidence in children to adhere to their body rights and take charge of their safety at all times. This book calls for a read aloud with its captivating storyline and pictures. Little nick encounters situations that help him build resilience, awareness and know the difference between good and unsafe touch. Flowing in rhythm, this book becomes an emotional learning guide with sing song text.

Talking about the difference between secrets and surprises, how should one never keep the secrets from their parents and delving deeper on body positivity forms the main crux of this beautifully researched book. There are many takeaways for children especially how keeping secrets from their trusted caregivers can land them in problem and there is a freedom in speaking up. It is written for parents as well as children and promotes body awareness and emphasizes on a key message that it is not your fault and trusted caregivers can help if you do not keep any secrets from them.

Want to raise a reader and make your children aware about such grave topics, Join our Momly tribe. More such recommendations available on Momly storefront. Download Momly App and join our Momly Plus Whatsapp group to share, connect and grow more insights on maternal and childcare topics.

Teaching consent and early empowerment lessons on healthy boundaries 

Books on child safety and body autonomy should be gentle, suiting to the sensibilities of a child. Here is the list of 5 books which cater to both children and parents and allow a space for these difficult topics to sit comfortably between the two. 

5 Books to Teach Body Autonomy To Kids

The day my son was born was filled with joy, but also with unexpected challenges. After a normal delivery, the silence in the room was deafening—my baby didn't cry. He was quickly taken to the NICU, and my heart shattered as the hours of waiting began. The much-anticipated first moments of skin-to-skin contact were stolen from us, and with them, the rush of happy hormones that kickstarted milk production. I feared I had failed him before our journey together had even begun.


When I finally held him in my arms the next day, I learned he had already been fed formula. My fear deepened—would he reject my breastmilk now? I worried that the effort needed to nurse would be too much for his tiny body. But that night, my baby surprised me. With a determination that belied his size, he latched onto me with all his strength, suckling through the night, urging my milk to flow. It was as if he knew that this bond was our lifeline.

The first weeks were a whirlwind of pain, exhaustion, and overwhelming love. No one had told me how much it would hurt, or how relentless the cycle of feeding would be. Every two hours, like clockwork, I had to nurse, or else face the painful swelling of engorgement. Sleep became a distant memory, and each day stretched endlessly before me. But I was not alone. My husband became my rock, helping with burping and comforting our colicky baby when I was too drained to continue.


Still, the weight of guilt was immense. People criticized my diet, blaming it for our son's colic. The whispers of doubt crept into my mind, making me question everything I was doing. The exhaustion, the relentless feedings, the lack of sleep—it all became too much. But I persevered, holding onto the belief that this was the best I could give him.

Returning to work after six months was another heartache. Leaving my child each day felt like tearing a piece of my soul away. His cries haunted me during meetings, a constant reminder of the distance between us. I pumped milk at the office, determined to keep nourishing him even from afar. This routine became our new normal, a testament to the strength of our bond.

After 18 months, I made the difficult decision to wean him. The process was heartbreaking; we both cried for hours, mourning the end of this special connection. But as we moved through it, I found relief and a new kind of peace, knowing we had given each other everything we could.

know that you are warriors. This journey is not easy, but it is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your child. Trust in your body and your bond, and remember that you are doing something extraordinary. Even in the hardest moments, you are enough.

A Tale of Love and Resilience

Breastfeeding is an important postpartum milestone for both babies and mothers. It is also a strenuous affair that gets demanding and challenging in the initial months of childbirth. Postpartum struggles like poor mental health, low self-esteem, erratic sleep patterns, and continuous feeding and baby-caring put a lot of pressure on new mothers.

Resuming work after delivery is another battle altogether. Being mentally ready is one thing but getting your baby adjusted to the new routine with breastfeeding pumps is a huge challenge that many mothers grapple with.

In celebrating breastfeeding week and raising awareness and noise to motivate moms to come forward and join the breastfeeding movement, we as a motherhood community have listed down some breastfeeding must-haves for back-to-work moms for a smooth transition.

The breast pump is a manna from heaven for working mothers. A wearable breast pump comes first in the list of breastfeeding essentials. A wearable breast pump helps you go hands-free and lets you at ease as you need to insert it in your bra to use it. With a provision of 2 expression modes and nine suction levels, it allows you to use the pump your way. Remember, even if you pump, feed directly from the breast whenever you return from work or before going to work and through the night so that the supply is not affected.

 Buying a freezer bag for breastfeeding or a container with enough space to hold             the breastmilk is very important. Make sure the storage bag has enough pockets or compartments for you to store the breastfeeding essentials. Use the storage container and sterilize it properly with boiling water before next use. And most important check the compatibility of the container with the breast pumps you use.

Invest in a comfortable nursing cover. Not all workplaces have a dedicated nursing pad or a room where mothers can pump comfortably. There are chances that you may have to pump in a public sitting area or a desk. Worry not. This is where getting yourself a nursing cover helps. Buy a skin-friendly nursing cover that is breathable for your baby to breathe easily while tucking behind the cover.

Breast pads help soak the liquid gold that might leak or drip from the breasts while nursing your baby. Maternity nursing breast pads with skin-friendly fabric are another must-have that you cannot be without. Look for breathable and leakproof or breastmilk absorbent breast pads or breast shields that will ensure comfort and help stay discreet in the workplace.

Hands-free pumping or nursing bras are in vogue given their easy access with slits that lets you pump with less hassle. Nursing bras are designed for breastfeeding mothers, so it is recommended to use them while feeding your little ones. Some nursing bras have hook or zip closures which gives easy access for babies or when using breast pumps.Visit a maternity lingerie shop to get the right fit. Do not go for flashy ones but aim for utmost comfort.

Nursing pillows alleviate back pains that develop in the postpartum period. It allows you to express milk in a breast pump more comfortably and efficiently. Nursing pillows can be used both while breastfeeding and during pumping sessions. Look for an easy-to-wash and compact pillow that helps maintain a good latch and reduces strain on your back and shoulders.

Go easy on your office wear and style yourself in a baby-friendly attire to pump with ease. If you have a dedicated feeding room in your office, stock up on enough breastfeeding bras and nursing wear to get comfortable while using breast pumps.

Many workplaces offer lactation support for new mothers to have a better transition experience. Lactation consultants for working mothers offer personalized lactation classes to teach basic and improved feeding techniques, tips to use breast pumps in the workplace, and efficient breast pumps to new mothers.

Talk to HR and know the workplace policies for new mothers or mothers returning to work after a maternity break. You may have to choose flexible work timings in the initial months of resuming. Have a 1:1 chat with your manager and set expectations for your work deliverables and the time that you can spend at the office in the postpartum period. Check if they are offering a hybrid work atmosphere for you to adjust as a new mother.

Joining a breastfeeding support group is important to learn and share insights on breastfeeding techniques and nursing positions. Check a support group for breastfeeding mothers near you or join Momly – the only tribe for a motherhood vibe. Speak to our community moms to make your transition as a working mother easy and stress-free.

, our community mom, has following tips for new breastfeeding mothers who are returning to work after delivery.

Your breastmilk supply is psychological. You can produce as much as you think possible. So, think big. Think positive and believe in yourself. Say your thoughts aloud. And you will see the magic happen.

Invest in a good pump. When it comes to pumps, one size doesn’t fit all. Check your nipple diameter before you shortlist the pumps for you. Customizable pumps are a great option.

Pumping should not be painful exercise if you are doing it right and if you have the correct flange size for you. Consult a lactation specialist if it is painful for you.

Take care of your breasts/nipple if you are planning to pump for a longer period. For example, apply coconut oil at the end of the day after your pumping routine for the day is over to soothe any sore spots. Make sure you clean your nipples before the next pumping session if you are applying coconut oil.

If you have been pumping regularly for 4 months, adjust the number of times you pump without losing the milk supply. Reduce the number of pumping sessions gradually. For instance, if you are pumping or breastfeeding eight times a day, take it down to seven times for the next three weeks. After three weeks, bring it further down to six times and so on.

Consistency is key. Try to pump at the same time every day for the milk supply to stay stable.

During some days of the month, you might have lower milk production. Continue pumping. It will go up in a couple of days.

Breastfeeding requires patience and care. Joining work during the breastfeeding period triggers a lot of mental distress and anxiety in new mothers. Making sure you have every nursing essential in place is half the battle won and reduces much of your mental load. Last but very crucial – Have positive self-talk with yourself to erase the negative thoughts that hover on top of the apprehension and care during this period.

“As a breastfeeding mother, I get great support from my family and in the workplace”

“I am taking care of my baby’s needs”

 and speak to our mom tribe to gain more insights on nursing and starting work after delivery.

breastfeeding must-haves and pumping care routines

Breastfeeding is an important postpartum milestone for both babies and mothers. It is also a strenuous affair that gets demanding and challenging in the initial months of childbirth. 
Resuming work after delivery is another battle altogether. Being mentally ready is one thing but getting your baby adjusted to the new routine with breastfeeding pumps is a huge challenge that many mothers grapple with. 
In celebrating breastfeeding mothers on breastfeeding week, and raising awareness and noise to motivate moms to come forward, and join the breastfeeding movement, we as a motherhood community have listed down some breastfeeding must-haves for back-to-work moms for a smooth transition. 


Rough Start But Don't Want it to Halt

Motherhood is Not a Walk in the Park

5 Books to Teach Body Autonomy To Kids

A Tale of Love and Resilience

Top 10 Breastfeeding Essentials for Working Mothers

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