Nobody's breastfeeding journey goes perfectly according to plan, and that's not a reflection on you. It's just what happens when two people (one of whom is brand new at this, and also cannot talk) are learning to do something together for the first time.
We sat down with Carrie Wimmer, IBCLC, RN, to talk through the problems she sees most in her practice, what's actually urgent versus what's just a normal Tuesday, and how to fix the fixable stuff fast.
A quick note before we start: This article is for general education and isn't a substitute for medical advice. If you're worried about your own or your baby's health, please contact your doctor, pediatrician, or an IBCLC directly.
Meet the Expert
Carrie Wimmer, IBCLC, RN, BSN
Carrie has spent 5.5 years as a Mother Baby RN and 1.5 years as an IBCLC, working across hospital and private practice settings, including insurance-covered at-home consults. She specializes in newborn feeding, combo feeding, low supply, pumping, return to work, weaning, and prenatal education. She's Baby Friendly certified and a Certified Lactation Counselor.
"I became a lactation consultant after being a Mother Baby RN for a few years, to better support my patients with evidence-based lactation care."
Find Carrie at carrie-lactation.com or on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @carrie.lactation.
This article was created in partnership with Carrie, a paid lactation partner for Zomee.
The Big Three
Ask Carrie what she sees most, and the answer is consistent:
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Low milk supply concerns
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Painful or difficult latch
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Engorgement or clogged ducts
The greatest hits, if you will.
Most of this shows up in the first 24 to 72 hours, right when mom and baby are both still figuring out the choreography. It's also exactly when milk transitions from colostrum to mature milk, which causes normal engorgement all on its own, your body's way of saying "we're doing this now." "I help patients navigate the sleepy first 24 hours, then the second night cluster feeding saga, and continued support after leaving the hospital to get back to birth weight," Carrie says. (If you're deep in those first few days right now, here's a full breakdown of the questions moms ask most that first week.)
Key takeaway: if you're in the thick of the first few days and it feels like a lot? It is a lot- for everyone. This is the steepest part of the learning curve, not a sign you're doing something wrong.
Clogged Duct vs. Mastitis: How to Tell the Difference
Both start the same way: milk staying in the breast too long. Where they diverge matters a lot, because one you can handle with a warm compress and a little patience, and one needs an actual doctor.
"A clogged duct usually feels like a firm, tender lump in one area of the breast, sometimes with a little redness over the spot," Carrie explains. "With mastitis, you feel that same lump and redness, along with flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, or body aches. That's your sign it has progressed to a systemic infection."
If it's a clog, here's what to do in the first 24 hours:
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Nurse or pump on that side frequently
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Use a warm compress on the lump before feeding to help milk start flowing
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Use gentle massage toward the nipple during feeds (skip the deep massage, it can actually make things more inflamed, not less)
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After feeding, ice the area for 20 minutes at a time
You should feel relief within one to two days of home treatment. If it's not budging, or if fever and body aches show up, that's mastitis territory. Contact your OB or healthcare provider quickly rather than waiting it out, it can progress quickly and sometimes needs antibiotics.
At Zomee, we know breastfeeding isn't all sunshine and rainbows. That's exactly why we built our Warming and Cooling Lactation Massager, so you have something on hand the moment you feel that first firm spot. Warm it up before a feed to help milk start moving, then flip to cold after to calm the inflammation, no waiting around for a washcloth to reheat itself for the third time.
Key takeaway: a clog you can manage yourself. Flu-like symptoms mean your body's asking for backup, call your provider.
Getting a Deeper Latch
A poor latch is one of the most common problems out there, and also one of the most fixable (great news!). According to Carrie, the root cause is almost always the same: "not getting enough breast tissue in your baby's mouth."
Here's what a good latch actually looks like:
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Asymmetrical, with most of the bottom areola in your baby's mouth
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A wide mouth (more than 90 degrees)
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Flanged lips: think fish lips, not a pucker
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It should feel like deep tugging or pulling, not a pinch at the tip of the nipple
How to get a deeper latch, step-by-step:
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Hold your baby close, belly to belly, and bring baby to breast, not breast to baby (your back will thank you)
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Use a firm, supportive hand at the base of your baby's neck to guide them on
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Align nose to nipple
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Let their chin and lower lip hit the breast first, followed by their upper lip
Laid-back or biological positioning (baby on top of you) can also help, since gravity is doing some of the work you don't have to.
One important rule from Carrie: "If the latch stays pinchy or painful after 30 seconds of sucking, unlatch and try again. Don't sit through a painful latch, because this is what causes nipple damage."
While you're working on this, your nipples deserve some relief too. Our silver soothing nipple shields go on between feeds to protect and soothe skin as it heals, and our Lanolin nipple cream is safe enough to leave on, no wiping off before the next latch. Between the two, you don't have to choose between healing and feeding your baby.
Key takeaway: pain past the first 30 seconds isn't necessary. Unlatch, reposition, and try again. Your nipples aren't required to suffer for this!
Low Milk Supply: Real Signs vs. Myths
This is one of the most anxiety-inducing topics in breastfeeding, and also one of the most misunderstood. Carrie's advice? Trust the numbers, not the vibes.
It's normal for newborns to lose weight in the first few days after birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics says a loss of more than 10% of birth weight is worth a closer look, and most babies are back to their birth weight within 7 to 14 days. After that, you're looking for slow, steady gain, often cited as roughly 0.5 to 1 ounce per day. However, the exact range can vary by source. Of course, your pediatrician is the best judge of what's normal for your baby specifically.
Your supply is also naturally in flux for the first couple of months while your body runs its own trial-and-error process. "You may go through some highs and lows as your body figures out exactly how much to make, sometimes overshooting or undershooting until it regulates around two months," Carrie says. This is a great time to remind you that every mom’s journey is different, and if your body deviates from the norm, it doesn’t necessarily mean that something’s wrong.
What's normal/not a red flag: baby wanting to feed more often or longer, feeding for less time, breasts always feeling soft, not feeling a letdown, or not leaking. None of these on their own mean low supply, your breasts don't owe you a dramatic sensation to prove they're working.
Key takeaway: trust weight gain and diaper output over how your breasts feel. Feelings fluctuate, math doesn't lie.
When to Actually Call a Lactation Consultant
Short answer: it's never too early, and you don't need a five-alarm emergency to justify the call. "It's never wrong to reach out to a lactation consultant, even if everything is going well," Carrie says. IBCLCs can perform weighted feeds, which show exactly how much milk your baby transferred at the breast, information you genuinely cannot get any other way, no matter how good your gut instinct is.
Reach out if:
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Pain doesn't improve after adjusting the latch
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Baby isn't gaining enough weight
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A clog or engorgement doesn't improve after 24 hours
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You're weaning off supplementation and exclusive breastfeeding is the goal
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You want to learn combo feeding or pumping and bottle-feeding for more flexibility
And a detail worth filing away: lactation care is frequently covered by insurance, something Carrie says a lot of moms don't realize until they actually ask. Worth the five-minute phone call to find out, right?
Key takeaway: you don't need a crisis to justify a consult. Early support almost always means an easier fix, and yes, it's allowed to be preventive.
The Worry That's Usually Not a Problem: Cluster Feeding
If there's one thing Carrie wants moms to stress less about, it's this one. Cluster feeding feels alarming in the moment, but it's instinctual, not a sign of starvation.
"They cluster feed the most on the second night of life, because that night is vital for sending the signal to mom's body to transition from producing colostrum to higher volumes of milk," she explains. That marathon of frequent, long feeding can make it feel like your baby isn't getting anything, which sends a lot of exhausted new parents reaching for formula they didn't actually need.
Cluster feeding shows back up throughout your breastfeeding journey, especially during growth spurts. It's not a sign something's wrong. It's your baby, in their own tiny way, placing a large order.
Key takeaway: a baby who wants to eat constantly for a stretch isn't starving, they're signaling your supply. Annoying timing; good intentions. We still love ‘em.
The Most Preventable Problem: Flange Fit
Of everything Carrie sees, this is the one she says is the most avoidable, and the most often missed. "A flange that's too small can cause friction and nipple damage. A flange that's too big can create a suction ring around the areola and cause low milk output, which leads to low supply if you're primarily pumping."
The catch is that most pumps still ship with a one-size-fits-most assumption, when the reality is that flange size is specific to you, and it can even shift a few weeks postpartum as your body keeps changing (because apparently it's not done yet)
"I always appreciate when brands acknowledge this and provide a measuring tool along with a range of flange sizes," Carrie noted. Zomee offers a range of flange sizes plus a measuring guide, because one size definitely doesn't fit all.
If you've been wondering if some of your own discomfort or low output might come from fit rather than supply, this quick video walks through how to find your correct size.
Key takeaway: if pumping hurts or output seems low, check your flange size before you spiral about your supply. It's often the easiest fix on this entire list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have a clogged duct or mastitis?
A clog is a localized, painful lump without feeling sick, and it typically resolves after 24 hours of home treatment. Mastitis is that same lump plus fever, chills, or body aches, and needs treatment from your provider.
Why won't my clogged duct go away?
Usually because the area isn't being drained frequently or fully enough, or the inflammation isn't being addressed. Increase how often you empty that breast, check your latch or pump fit, use ice (not heat) to bring down inflammation, and stick to gentle massage rather than deep tissue work.
Why does breastfeeding suddenly hurt when it didn't before?
Most often, a few shallow latches in a row are enough to cause nipple damage. Make sure the latch is deep every time, and unlatch and retry if you feel pinching. Your body will tell you, listen to it.
What causes low milk supply?
True low supply usually comes down to insufficient milk removal, certain medications, retained placenta, or an underlying hormonal condition.
Why won't my baby latch?
Common culprits include tongue tie, nipple shape or anatomy, oversupply causing an overwhelming flow, or a baby who's overtired or overstimulated at the breast (also a mood, honestly).
Is it normal for one breast to produce more than the other?
Completely normal. Most moms have a side that produces more, and it doesn't affect your baby's overall intake. Bodies are asymmetrical by default, yours included.
How long does it take to fix a bad latch?
Many moms see improvement within a few days of consistent repositioning, though it can take a couple of weeks to feel fully comfortable. And for the record: it's a myth that breastfeeding doesn't hurt at all when you're doing it right. Everyone goes through a learning period, you're not failing a test you were never handed a study guide for.
Can stress really affect milk supply?
Yes, mainly through your letdown reflex rather than actual production, which is why supply often bounces back once the stressful period passes. One more reason rest isn't optional, it's practically clinical.
When should I call a lactation consultant versus wait it out?
Any time there's pain that isn't improving, a weight gain concern, or a feeling that something isn't right. Early support almost always means an easier fix.
Have a flange fit question of your own? Explore Zomee's full range of flange sizes here, read more about breastfeeding in our Learning Center, or check out more ways we support breastfeeding families.
