Baseball Terms for Breastfeeding Moms
Baseball is America’s favorite pastime; breastfeeding, we’d argue, is babies’. At Mamava, we’re big fans of both. We “root, root, root” for the home team (and cheer extra loud for the Cubs, Brewers, Red Sox, Oakland A's, Mets, Astros, and Rockies, who all play in stadiums that support moms with Mamava pods). We’ve also reimagined a bunch of ballpark terms to describe the most salient breastfeeding situations.
Balk
Baseball: When a pitcher makes an illegal motion—typically, pretending to throw the ball when he has no intention of doing so.
Breastfeeding: When you offer the boob and baby refuses.
Bunt
Baseball: When a batter holds the bat out and just barely taps the ball instead of taking a full swing.
Breastfeeding: When the kid rams your chest with their head, like a small goat. Think: rooting gone wild.
Double play
Baseball: A field play that yields two outs.
Breastfeeding: When a baby nurses on one side, then the other.
Error
Baseball: A mistake in the field that allows a batter to get to the next base.
Breastfeeding: Arriving at work with one or more breast pump parts still at home.
Foul ball
Baseball: A ball that’s hit outside of fair play.
Breastfeeding: A hard, painful glob of dried milk that clogs your ducts.
Hit and run
Baseball: When a base runner takes off as soon as the pitch is released and the batter swings, no matter the pitch.
Breastfeeding: When a quick, forceful feeding is followed by an explosive, leaky diaper.
Homerun
Baseball: When a batter hits the ball and tags all the bases to score a run.
Breastfeeding: When you rush back to baby after a girls’ dinner out because it’s been three-and-a-half hours and you’re without your pump.
Relay
Baseball: When one fielder throws the ball to another fielder who, in turn, tosses it over to another.
Breastfeeding: When you feed the kid, then hand them off to someone else to close the deal with a diaper change and sleep-inducing rock.
Second base
Baseball: The base after first and before third.
Breastfeeding: Uh-uh. Not happening. Mama’s touched out.
Mamava designs solutions to empower breastfeeding and pumping parents on the go, like our freestanding lactation pods, Mamava’s lactation space locator app, and other helpful resources.
More parent resources
Returning to work? Here’s a primer to get the pump party started.
These situations may require professional breastfeeding support.
The info you need to store, freeze, and thaw your liquid gold with confidence.
Common pains-in-the-boobs can get you down and challenge your breastfeeding goals.
Don’t panic. Do continue breastfeeding.
Your go-to guide to weaning when you’re ready.
How to breastfeed with confidence, no matter what sticky situation you find yourself in.
The eight best breastfeeding positions (according to moms).
Rumor, fact, or folklore? Test your breastfeeding know-how with this quiz.
A brief history of human infant feeding—breast, bottles, and formula—through the ages.
Every breastfeeding mom on the go needs a breast pump. Here’s how to get one.
Stop Googling! Here are three breastfeeding myths we can bust right now.
Five practices that help moms with preterm babies breastfeed.
A breastfeeding mom’s guide to fasting for religious observance.
Four thousands moms weigh in on how they feed their baby.
Seventeen breastfeeding moms share their hard-earned wisdom and messages of support for new moms.
Five facts about breast milk to delight your inner nerd (and help you breastfeed).
Mamava’s boob whisperer and certified lactation consultant can help when the flowing gets tough.
Breastfeeding and basketball have more in common than you think.
Breastfeeding benefits babies and their mamas.