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Pumping & Breastfeeding online store created by an IBCLC for Parents, Lactation Professionals, Hospitals, Clinics & Birth + Postpartum
POV: your 38 weeker catfished everyone into thinking they were a full-term baby and then absolutely could NOT feed to save their life. đŤ
Because hereâs the thing nobody talks about enough:
38 weeks isnât actually full term.
37+0â38+6 = early term
39+0â40+6 = full term
And those two little weeks can matter a whole lot more than they sound like they should.
A 38 weeker can LOOK like a full-term baby. They can be a decent size, avoid the NICU, pass all the things and get handed to you with a casual, âBaby looks great!â
And then you try to feed them.
Suddenly theyâre sleepy. They latch but donât transfer well. They suck a few times and take a lil nap. They struggle to maintain suction. They need constant stimulation to keep going. Feedings take forever. Maybe weight starts getting questionable, supplementation enters the chat, and now milk supply is taking a hit because baby hasnât been effectively removing milk.
Because feeding is WORK.
They have to maintain tone and positioning, create suction, coordinate suck-swallow-breathe, transfer milk AND have enough stamina to repeat that process for an entire feeding.
Their oral structures and feeding mechanics are still maturing, too. The fat pads within a newbornâs cheeks help provide stability during sucking and support efficient milk removal. Combine a little less maturity with less stamina and significant energy demands and you can have a baby who looks completely ready on the outside but feeds like they missed the last two weeks of orientation.
Because⌠they kinda did.
So when we talk about inductions or planned early deliveries, especially without a medical indication, feeding deserves to be part of that conversation too. âTermâ can make it sound like there is no meaningful difference between delivering at 37â38 weeks and delivering at 39â40 weeks.
There can be.
And when that adorable little 38 week catfish is sleeping through every feed like they have absolutely NO bills to payâŚ
Remember there is an IBCLC waiting to help and getting education and support prenatally can make a world of difference!
đđźââď¸ Drop your best guess for whatâs happening đđ˝đđ˝
We often see problems that arose and âresolvedâ in the early days of feeding rear their head later in the breastfeeding journey presenting as a completely new issue. We know where it all stemmed from though!
Feeding troubles in an older baby can look like:
-Breast refusal
-Self limiting feeds
-Refusing solids
-Only wanting solids
-Only eating when asleep
-and more!
Your baby learned how to compensate to feed themselves, because they are INTELLIGENT little babes. As feeding changes and new things are introduced it can suddenly be more challenging for them and you feel like you are in the trenches all over again.
It is never too late to reach out to your IBCLC for support.
PS your baby isnât self weaning đđ
09/22/2026
HUGE SAVINGS!
Run to grab and stock up on your favorite LactationHub ni**le shields!
Two day sale just for you!
09/17/2026
There IS a place for wearable pumps. But itâs probably not the place their marketing has convinced you it is.
Wearable pumps come on and off the market so quickly that we often donât have years of information showing us how well they perform, how long they last, or how consistently they work across different bodies. Compare that to the primary pumps that have been around for years, the pumps weâve watched perform over and over again, that have proven their longevity, and have earned their spot on our recommended list.
Convenience is valuable. But sometimes convenience comes at the cost of effectiveness.
With wearables, we commonly see:
less milk removal
less effective stimulation
fewer options to truly customize settings
limited fl**ge sizing, often relying heavily on silicone inserts
and, when used as the primary pump from the very beginning, sometimes less milk production than that parent may actually be capable of
That doesnât make them useless.
Sometimes a wearable is the difference between getting SOME stimulation and skipping a pump altogether. Sometimes itâs what makes pumping possible during a commute, a workday, chasing toddlers, or just a really busy week.
Thatâs where they can be an incredibly helpful tool.
But you have to know how YOUR wearable performs for YOUR body before you rely on it.
That means troubleshooting it. Comparing output. Paying attention to how your breasts feel afterward. Making sure youâre properly sizedâand knowing that your wearable sizing may look different than the plastic fl**ge you use with your primary pump.
Are wearable pumps a complete no for us? Nope.
But theyâre also not at the top of our âyou absolutely need thisâ list, especially without the education to know when to use it, when to rely on it, and when itâs time to ditch it before convenience starts costing you milk supply.
09/15/2026
đ
Cold and flu season is upon us! Big kids are headed back to school and the weather changes almost always bring in some sort of illness!
Donât panic if you have a little one at home, things may feel challenging, but there are some key remedies that can help you through it!
Have questions about medication safety or continuing to feed and care for your baby while sick? Drop them in the comments!
A huge question we get when babies are struggling to feed at the breast is HOW will we get back to that?!
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