Emi has always been a boob guy, but she never expected breastfeeding to consume ten hours a day. While she did love the euphoric breastfeeding bonding time, baby A needed a few tweaks to get her schedule more manageable for her boob supplier.

Meanwhile Ren discusses the internal (and external) pressures of breastfeeding, posing the question: is there a moral superiority complex for breastfeeding moms? After childbirth, she learned a shocking issue had made Ren unable to nurse — which could become a blessing in disguise.

We dive deep into the anxiety-inducing expectations around how to feed our babies, managing work/life while being a full-time milk factory, the surprising communal history of breastfeeding, and Ren’s ChatGPT weaning plan.

01:39 Why does everyone feel like they SHOULD breastfeed?

03:31 What is nursing actually like?

05:19 Becoming one with the pump

10:58 In 1904 almost no one fed her own baby: a history

12:36 The trends in breastfeeding today

19:40 Breast milk is free… and the most expensive liquid in the world

20:05 Pumping pro-tips

22:23 Working while breastfeeding

27:02 Saying NO to lactation - one start-up founder’s spicy hot take

31:39 Ren’s chat GPT weaning plan

RESOURCES:

CDC Breastfeeding Report Card, 2022: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-data/breastfeeding-report-card/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

New York Times, Inside the Booming Business of Cutting Babies' Tongues

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/18/health/tongue-tie-release-breastfeeding.html

Zara Zhang, Why I’m not breastfeeding (and feeling awesome about it)

https://zarazhang.com/2024/09/02/why-im-not-breastfeeding-and-feeling-awesome-about-it/

The world’s BEST hands-free pumping bra that makes your boobs look like a ninja turtle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E9AS8XC/

Elvies: Worked for Ren, Not for Emi: https://www.elvie.com/en-us/shop/elvie-pump?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgbe7q9HXiQMVBmlHAR3Loi3CEAQYASABEgIv7_D_BwE

Virtual Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who takes insurance:

https://go-milkyourself.com/lactation-support

// CONNECT WITH US //

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thisalienigrew

Emi Nietfeld

Web: eminietfeld.com

Insta & X: @eminietfeld

Read Acceptance: bit.ly/AcceptanceMemoir

Newsletter: https://eminietfeld.substack.com/

Yiren Lu

yirenlu.com

X: @yirenlu

Frindle: https://www.tryfrindle.com/