The Feeding Routine That Changed Everything for Us
I’d always heard that breastfeeding was hard, but I never really understood why. When my body started producing colostrum at 28 weeks, I felt optimistic—maybe even a bit idealistic—about how breastfeeding would go for me and my little one.
Now, I get it completely.
Exclusively breastfeeding means you are your baby’s sole food source. Even if you and your partner take turns caring for your child, your entire schedule revolves around your newborn’s feeding times, which occur every 1-3 hours. In my case, it was eight hours nonstop in the early days because I wasn’t producing enough milk to meet her cluster-feeding needs. It was heartbreaking and incredibly stressful to hear her hunger cries, knowing I couldn’t fully satisfy her. This was all happening while I was also healing from giving birth and dealing with intense postpartum hormones.
Then there’s D-MER (dysphoric milk ejection reflex), a condition that causes intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or dread during milk letdowns. I personally experienced a mix of dread and wistfulness every time I breastfed or pumped. I only managed to push through because my symptoms were somewhat bearable.
Despite these common challenges, many women successfully exclusively breastfeed because it’s what works best for them and their families. Going through this has given me immense respect for moms everywhere—I now truly understand how challenging it is just to feed your newborn.
After trying out breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, formula feeding, and various combinations of these, I eventually found a streamlined process that worked best for me.
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Now, without further ado, let’s dive into my newborn feeding strategy.
My Feeding Strategy
I currently triple feed my daughter (breastfeed, top off with formula, and pump when I can). This may sound intense, but it actually gives me more options and freedom than committing to just one method. I’ll describe my daily feeding routine and link to all of our frequently used products below!
MORNING
Each morning, I prepare a pitcher of formula and divide it into 8-9 individual bottles for the day, storing any extra in the fridge for later feeds. Formula stored in the fridge stays fresh for 24 hours. When she’s hungry, I warm a bottle of formula and start by breastfeeding her until she naturally pulls off. Then, I top her off with the formula to ensure she’s full and getting all the nutrients she needs. We have 14 bottles in total, which really helps cut down on the number of times we need to wash them throughout the day—just one quick run through the dishwasher (on sanitize mode), and we’re good to go! :)
AFTERNOON
During my husband's afternoon shift with the baby, I aim to pump every 2-3 hours. This helps me maintain my milk supply and gradually build a freezer stash for when he returns to work and another caretaker steps in.
EVENING
I gather all the stray bottles from around the house and place them in a dedicated basin for baby items and pump parts. My husband then loads everything into the dishwasher, using the sanitize option, so they’re ready for use the next day.
NIGHT
At night, I follow a consistent routine to help our baby settle: I swaddle her, dim the lights, turn on the sound machine, and nurse her while she's still swaddled. To ensure she’s full enough to give us a good 4-5 hour stretch of sleep, I top off with formula. Once she’s settled in her bassinet, I stock my mini fridge on the nightstand with the remaining bottles for the night. During my night shift, I keep everything calm and straightforward to encourage her to go back to sleep after each feed. When she wakes, I simply change her, warm a bottle, nurse her, top off with the bottle, and then settle her back to bed.
This feeding strategy has worked wonders for our family. It allows my husband to bond with our daughter through feedings, gives me the chance to take a real break and pump when needed, ensures our daughter meets her weight goals and nutritional needs, and gives us longer stretches of sleep because she’s never put to bed hungry.
Whether you choose to breastfeed, pump, supplement with formula, or use a combination of all three, remember that you’re doing an incredible job caring for your baby. I firmly believe that fed is best because your newborn needs a mother who is physically, spiritually, and emotionally well. So prioritize your mental health, momma, and choose what works best for you!