A real breastfeeding story from one incredible mum.

When I was pregnant, I imagined breastfeeding would be natural. You give birth, your baby latches, and off you go. I thought it would be easy — but I quickly learned that for many of us, it’s anything but.

Honestly? I was exhausted — physically, emotionally, in every sense. We had latching issues from the beginning, and I had to supplement with formula. I can still remember the heartbreak I felt. That I couldn’t feed my baby like I was “supposed” to. I felt like I had failed somehow. But I kept going. I borrowed a breast pump from Cartwheels Family Hub — a lifeline — and started expressing. There were days when pumping was the only way I could give him breast milk, and I held onto that. I reminded myself that even if it didn’t look like I expected, I was still feeding my baby.

The pain was real. There were days when it hurt — a lot. I had a blocked milk duct at one point, and I had no idea how painful that could be. I even had a mole removed from my breast a few months after giving birth, and suddenly I couldn’t feed on that side. I had to pump so carefully to maintain supply. But somehow, we made it work. I used a nipple shield at one point to help with the latch. It wasn’t perfect, but it helped us through — and eventually, we didn’t need it anymore.

There were moments I completely understood why people choose to stop. It’s isolating. It’s exhausting. It pushes you to your limits.

And yet… I never seriously considered stopping. Somehow, we just kept going. And slowly, the hard moments began to fade and were replaced with this sense of peace — this connection. We got into a rhythm. My baby and I figured each other out. I felt content, feeding him, holding him, knowing that my body was still doing this amazing thing.

My husband was my rock through it all. He never pressured me. He just held space for me — always there, always encouraging, always saying, “You’re doing an amazing job.” I cried the first time I fed our baby, lying in the recovery ward after my C-section. I looked at him, looked at this tiny human I’d grown, and I just wept. It was overwhelming and beautiful and raw all at once.

I’ll be honest — I do feel different about my body now. It’s not what it used to be. But I’m proud of it. It grew life. It fed life. It carried me through something so vulnerable and powerful. I wish people talked about this more. The messy, emotional side of breastfeeding. The doubts. The pain. The pressure we put on ourselves. I was lucky to have my sister-in-law and a few supportive voices on social media. But many people feel alone in this.

To any mum reading this — please know: You are doing your best. You are enough. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to stop. It’s okay to keep trying. Whatever choice you make, it’s the right one if it brings you peace. I will always be grateful for the bond breastfeeding gave me with my baby — but it’s not the only path to that bond. We each walk our own, and they are all worthy.

💛 Would you love to capture your own breastfeeding journey in a beautiful, gentle and empowering way?

Yellow Blossom Photography offers intimate breastfeeding photo sessions, designed to honour this chapter in your story — however it looks.

📸 Book your session or find out more here: lisa@yellowblossomphotography.co.uk

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