Real Talk: The Early Days of Breastfeeding Aren’t Always Easy
Real Talk: The Early Days of Breastfeeding Aren’t Always Easy
“Breastfeeding is natural... so why is it so hard?”We hear this all the time.
“Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world.”
And yes, it is natural.
But that does not mean it is easy.
Just like walking, speaking or learning to ride a bike, breastfeeding is a skill.
It is something you and your baby learn together.
It takes time, practice, support and a whole lot of patience.
So let’s strip away the pressure and say this clearly:
If you are finding feeding hard, that does not mean you are doing it wrong. It just means you are learning.The First Few Days Can Be Overwhelming
You are sore, tired, full of hormones and adjusting to life with a newborn. Then comes the pressure to feed.
Maybe the latch is not quite right.
Maybe your baby wants to feed all the time.
Maybe you are not sure if they are getting enough.
Maybe everyone around you is offering different advice and it is making your head spin.
If you are feeling like this, please know — you are not alone.
This is the messy, emotional, tender reality that many new parents experience. And it is okay to feel unsure.
“It should not hurt” - But what if it does?
You might have been told that breastfeeding should not hurt. And that is true.
But here is the nuance. Some discomfort can be normal in the early days while you and your baby are learning.
What is not normal is pain that makes you wince, cry or dread every feed.
If you are experiencing cracked nipples, shooting pain, engorgement or feeding dread, that is a sign to reach out.
Often, small adjustments to positioning or attachment can make a big difference, I promise.
You and Your Baby Are Both Learning
Newborns are born with instincts to root and suck. But breastfeeding is still a learned behaviour.
They do not pop out knowing exactly what to do, and neither do you.
That does not mean anything is wrong. It means you are both navigating something new together.
Think of breastfeeding less like breathing, which is automatic, and more like walking — natural, yes, but something we learn over time. A few falls along the way is part of the process.
You Deserve Support
We used to live in communities where we saw feeding all around us - in aunties, sisters, neighbours, friends.
These days, many new parents go into their feeding journeys having never seen someone breastfeed.
No wonder it feels like a mystery.
Support matters. The right support can help you:
Get a more comfortable latch
Understand what is normal and what is not
Build confidence
Navigate expressing or combination feeding
Reduce pain
Reach your own feeding goals
This is what I offer as a feeding coach. No judgement, no pressure. Just gentle, evidence based help so you can feel informed, supported and heard.
Every Journey Counts
World Breastfeeding Week is here to celebrate every kind of feeding journey.
The ones that start with ease and the ones that start with tears.
The exclusive breastfeeders, the expressers, the combo feeders, the mums who pumped for weeks, the ones who stopped early, the ones still feeding a toddler.
You all deserve recognition.
There is no one right way to feed your baby.
There is just your way. And your journey matters.
Every Journey Counts
World Breastfeeding Week is here to celebrate every kind of feeding journey.
The ones that start with ease and the ones that start with tears.
The exclusive breastfeeders, the expressers, the combo feeders, the mums who pumped for weeks, the ones who stopped early, the ones still feeding a toddler.
You all deserve recognition.
There is no one right way to feed your baby. There is just your way. And your journey matters.
Need a hand? I am here.
Whether you are pregnant and wanting to prepare, in the early days and feeling a bit lost, or a few months in and wondering if things could feel better, I am here.
I offer:
One to one feeding support in person in the Scottish Borders or Edinburgh
Antenatal education sessions (Bump to Breast)
The Milk Circle - a welcoming drop in group for support and connection
If you are struggling, unsure or simply want reassurance, you do not have to wait until things get worse.
You are not failing. You are doing something incredibly important. And you do not have to do it alone.