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Boob Scoop: If you speak to other breastfeeding moms, you will quickly learn that all babies feed at different intervals and for different lengths of time. Just as every baby is different, so is every mother's breast storage capacity. Breast storage capacity refers to how much breast milk a mother can hold in her breast. It is not influenced by a mother's breast size. Due to variations in breast storage capacity, all babies feed differently. As long as your baby is growing steadily, it's best to keep away from rules like "15 minutes on each side" or "every 2 hours." Instead feed your baby when he is hungry and remember that each mom and baby pair is unique.

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: After about the first month of breastfeeding, it can sometimes be tricky to differentiate between a hungry baby and one that has just discovered his hands or is using them for soothing. When in doubt, it never hurts to put your baby to the breast. Breastmilk is always changing in composition and volume throughout the day and these important changes eliminate the concern of overfeeding. If your baby is breastfeeding for soothing you will notice suckling at the breast. If your baby is hungry, you will hear him make "eh" sounds or notice the deep swallows that accompany a feeding. In either situation, your baby will likely be happy to breastfeed since nursing will have met his need to soothe or feed.

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: The number of times a mom empties her breasts each day to maintain milk production has been called her "Magic Number." If a mom is not nursing/pumping enough times in a 24-hour period to meet her Magic Number, her body will decrease milk production. For working mothers, more breastfeeding at night means less pumping sessions needed while mom is at work. For help on figuring out your magic number: http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2010/8/13/the-magic-number-and-long-term-milk-production-part-1.html?rq=magic%20number

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: For both nutritional and developmental reasons, it is uncommon for babies to wean on their own before the one-year mark. In fact, most babies won't wean before 18-24 months unless it is encouraged by the mother. Familiarizing yourself with the different ways of weaning can be helpful when deciding how to approach this stage: http://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/considering-weaning/how_weaning_happens/

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: Oftentimes mothers don't think they are providing breast milk until their milk transitions to mature milk, around day four, when it takes on a milky white color. However, breastfeeding begins with colostrum which appears clear or yellowish and is purposely small in amount to accommodate the marble-size stomach of a newborn baby. Interestingly, the concentration of immune-boosting elements is much higher in colostrum than in mature milk. Just like our babies - oftentimes the best things do come in small packages.

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: The average breastfed baby doubles his birth weight by 3-4 months and will weigh about 2 1/2 – 3 times his birth weight by year one. However, steady weight gain is more important than how quickly a baby gains. A baby at the 5 percentile of the breastfeeding growth charts can be as healthy and vibrant as one on the 95th percentile.

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

As two new moms who needed to find stylish bathing suits to fit our post-natal bodies, we understand the struggle is real.  When traveling together in Mexico we realized that neither of us had swimwear that made us feel good about ourselves or that we loved.  We set out on a mission to design swimwear that was stylish and yet supportive and flattering. 

Boob Scoop: It can be difficult to find a moment to eat with a baby in the house. And although breastfeeding does not require that you have three perfect meals a day, you do need nutrients to maintain and increase milk supply, and simply just to maintain good energy levels. Babywearing enables you to enjoy a meal while your baby is sleeping or nursing. It's one of the reasons why hands-free nursing is so life-changing and liberating for a nursing mother. Of course, it's also a great way to bond with your baby!

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

Boob Scoop: For some babies, breastfeeding can work like a magic wand to ease the discomfort associated with teething. Others may become fussy at the breast and not nurse as well as they normally do. Cooling the gums in between feedings or right before a feed with a frozen/refrigerated teething ring, or by rubbing ice cubes on her gums, can help. If she pulls off and fusses again, repeat the ice-rub. A breastfeeding popsicle can work very well too!

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)