Edited for clarity
Some moms may not have a birth story rife with trauma. Some feel completely heard and safe throughout their labor and delivery.
But even when things go right, having a team to support you — whether a doula, a pelvic floor therapist, an acupuncturist, or otherwise — could still make all of the difference.
Alexis didn’t seek extra support during either of her pregnancies. She trusted her OB, she felt heard, and her partner was present and helpful. In many ways, she had what every mom hopes for: a strong medical team and a positive birth experience.
But postpartum life has a way of introducing new and unforeseen variables. For Alexis, those included obstacles surrounding nursing. We spoke with Alexis about latch struggles, mastitis, and what surprised her most about working with Mahmee.
Alexis: I actually met Linda from the Mahmee team at my pediatrician’s office. My pediatrician offered Mahmee as a resource during my daughter’s first visit, when she was only a few days old. Mahmee was incredibly convenient because it was right there in the office. At just a few days postpartum, I was first and foremost trying to keep my tiny human alive. I certainly had no brain space to spare. The fact that I didn’t have to jump through administrative hoops to connect with a lactation professional and could simply reach Linda at my doctor’s office made a huge difference in my choice to seek her support and care.
Alexis: No. With regard to doulas, I think that because I really trusted my OB with both of my deliveries, I felt safe, heard, and able to advocate for myself. Doulas are an amazing resource who offer life-changing services to so many women. I never felt like I’d need someone to advocate for me in the delivery room.
With breastfeeding, my philosophy during pregnancy was, “Let’s see how it goes.” I committed to myself that if nursing became a source of stress that impacted my mental health, I would stop. I wanted to approach it neutrally. So it was with intention that I didn’t seek lactation consulting prior to giving birth.
Alexis: With my son — my first child — my latch wasn’t great at the start, but we fixed it with positioning. With my daughter, it looked like the latch was working, but she wasn’t gaining weight. We tried triple feeding, and I knew immediately that wasn’t a sustainable solution for me.
What I appreciated about my practitioner from Mahmee was that she met me where I was. She presented options, but she also picked up on the fact that I wasn’t interested in triple feeding long-term. We pivoted to exclusive pumping. There was zero pressure — just good advice, good data, and a good plan.
Alexis: That it really felt like a team — my team! During one appointment, a pediatrician from my practice came into the room and joined the conversation. Everything seemed so supportive. We weighed my baby before and after feeding. Right there, I realized we were all aligned on one goal: to make sure my baby gained weight. There was no adversarial energy, it was the perfect collaboration between teams.
Alexis: Not at all, and that mattered a lot. I wasn’t 100 percent committed to breastfeeding, and that was okay to me. After pumping stopped working for me — I got mastitis three times! — I switched to formula. What mattered was feeding my baby, keeping her healthy, and protecting my mental health.
Alexis: Give it a shot until it’s not working for you. And if it doesn’t work, then do something else. Communicate your intentions to your partner or your village ahead of time. When it’s 4 a.m. and you’re exhausted, it’s easy to spiral into “I should be doing this.” If the people around you know your priorities, they can be around to support you in that decision
Alexis: I got mastitis multiple times! It came on fast. I felt freezing on a hot day, got chills, then noticed redness and a fever. It took about an hour for me to connect the dots.
If you think something is wrong, call your doctor. Take care of yourself the way you’d do so for your baby. Mastitis can escalate really quickly and things can go south in all the wrong ways.
Alexis: You can trust your doctor and feel supported and think that everything is going to go smoothly, but you can still benefit from additional support. It doesn’t have to be either/or. Also, always remember that feeding your baby in a way that works for you and her is the ultimate goal.
