However you feed your baby, the early weeks can feel intense, emotional and overwhelming. Every parent has their own journey and no two paths look quite the same.
That’s why we’ve asked real mums from our community to share what feeding looked like for them. The ups, the downs, the unexpected turns. From exclusive pumping to combination feeding, late latching to donor milk, their stories show that there’s no single “right” way - just what works for you and your baby.
These stories are honest, real and full of small wins. We hope they offer reassurance and maybe even a little spark of encouragement if you’re in the thick of it right now.
Chloe
Age of child: 14 weeks
My little one is 14 weeks old so our journey is very much not over, but hopefully I can give other mums some positivity or a glimmer of hope!
Our feeding journey did not get off to a good start.
At first I was very optimistic, I'd been leaking fairly significantly since 18 weeks pregnant, soaking through breast pads and many an outfit. As I hit 37 weeks I started to harvest colostrum with a small amount of success, until a few days later a sudden diagnosis got me on medication which completely dried me up.
My labour was fairly straightforward, but a retained placenta and bad tear meant I went into surgery a few hours after Baby E was born, reducing our skin to skin time. Whilst she made some attempts to latch I was very uncomfortable and quite unwell post delivery, and we didn't have any success.
It got to the point she was 36 hours old and yet to feed, unfortunately she wasn't able to latch due to hunger, and we were really lucky to be offered donor milk for the next 24 hours. In that time we continued to attempt to get her to feed from me, and I also was guided through a pump routine in an attempt to get my supply going.
We were discharged from hospital after two nights, Baby E still unable to latch but no jaundice thanks to the donor milk. At this point anything I expressed needed to be supplemented with formula as I was producing tiny tiny amounts. However by Day 5 Baby E’s weights loss was within normal ranges, my supply was increasing and I was almost meeting her demand. I was finding attempts to latch increasingly distressing so gave up but internally really struggled with that decision.
On our Day 10 appointment we were at the lovely birth centre where I'd had all my antenatal appointments and where I'd initially hoped to give birth, and with a really calm unhurried maternity support worked who asked if I wanted some help. At this point I decided one last try. Whipped my clothes off and she took one look and asked if I had tried shields as mine were very flat. They were a total game changer and within minutes E was latched and feeding beautifully.
From then our journey has been much smoother. We last had to top up with formula on Day 14, and we moved to a combination of breast feeding and bottle feeding expressed breast milk. We've slowly increased the feeding at the breast as my confidence (and trust in myself that she was getting enough!) improved and she's probably fed 50:50 on an average day, but will take more of one if needed - so it gives me a lot of freedom as I have needed to leave her for a day with her dad, but equally we can go out for a day without needed bottles.
I also now have a manageable over supply and am donating milk back to the hospital, so I hope other babies are benefitting from my journey.
A short piece of advice
If I could go back and start again I would educate myself on breastfeeding a lot more before giving birth. In the initial weeks my headspace was not there and I was very lucky my husband picked up all the sterilising, working out formula, reminding me when it was time to pump etc. I had no idea about latching, or positioning and felt completely out of my depth. If I do have a second baby in the future I will definitely prepare more during pregnancy even with a now successful journey under my belt.
Lucy
Age of children: 4 and 2
Ruby was born in September 2020, my little lockdown baby! She was my first and I’d done as much research on feeding as possible - well as much as you can in a national lockdown!
It turned out it wasn’t quite as straight forwards as I hoped and we have very limited support available (again thanks COVID!). By 3 weeks I had done a lot of damage both physically and emotionally so I decided to pump as I was determined she would have the milk made just for her!
That lead to 12 months of exclusive pumping - I pumped day and night, at home, on walks, at my best friends lockdown wedding!
My husband was my team mate - I pumped but he was the king of washing up and sterilising! I honestly think this saved my sanity because we really were all in it together!
By month 11, I knew I would start weaning so I started to write messages on any milk I put in the freezer. I wrote things like “I’m proud of you” or “Look how far you’ve come” and then when it came to giving her bottles solely from my freezer stash, those words saved me. They gave me the encouragement to know how well I’d done and how it really was all worth it!
Interestingly when I had my second in 2023, the support was available and I think I showed anyone who would listen my boobs! I’m now 20 months into exclusively breastfeeding and I put it all down to that! So ask for help and keep asking! It is natural but it also requires a bit of guidance and support to ensure you’re both thriving!
A short piece of advice
Exclusively pumping is still breastfeeding! Your dedication is next level… Oh and eat the chocolate bar, you deserve it!
Lisa
Age of children: 5 and 2
My eldest was born about a month into the first Covid 19 lockdown. She was triple fed initially (breastfed, expressed and formula) until my milk came in and then just breastfed. Lockdown had many negatives but one of the positives was we could sit on the sofa and work breastfeeding out together without interruptions from visitors. We carried on until we gradually started to reduce feeds. The last one was the one before bed and one night when she was nearly 19 month I offered water instead and that was it.
With my youngest, I was better supported in hospital but triple fed again until my milk came in. This time I found a breastfeeding support group and had someone check my latch etc which was really reassuring. Again things went well and I carried on until I gradually weaning him and his last feed was at 22 months.
A short piece of advice
Informed and supported is best no matter which way you choose to feed. If you want to breastfeed, read about it, talk to friends and find your local breastfeeding support group. I think it's important to learn what's normal and when to seek more support.
Emma
Age of child: 13 days
I started my breastfeeding journey in hospital, the day after giving birth. One of the nurses helped me to express colostrum but not enough to even collect. I came home from hospital deflated about feeding but after a rough labour just wanted my own bed and bathroom.
I moved on to formula feeding and started pumping to encourage my milk to come in - which took 4 days. I then struggled to get baby to latch though so got in to a routine of trying to latch baby and then moving to either formula or anything I'd pumped when we were both getting too stressed out. He would scream from being hungry and I was struggling to get in a good feeding position due to stitches.
I went to a breastfeeding clinic when baby was 6 days old which was really useful. My husband started being an extra pair of hands during feeding. Every feeding time we'd try breast first before moving to bottle. Baby is now breast fed and being topped up by formula/ pumped milk for night feeds as we're trying to be easy on ourselves and also dad wants to feed too.
A short piece of advice
Breast might be (seen as being) best but feeding baby in any way in the most important thing. Don't beat yourself up if it's formula or combi.
Don't stress about if/ when your milk comes in - I kept being told that baby would be put on my chest after birth and it would all just start. It takes time.
A lot can change in a few days. I nearly gave up breastfeeding less than a week in but mums and baby are always learning. Don't be afraid to attend a clinic or ask somebody to just help hold baby, hold you or grab a drink and pillow.
Madeleine
Age of children: 4 months and 3
With my eldest child my breastfeeding journey started off harder than I expected. It didn't come as naturally as I thought it would and in the first few weeks I struggled with a lot of pain and mastitis. I definitely cried a fair few times.
It turns out getting my son's tongue tie sorted was a game changer for us. From then something clicked and feeding became an absolute joy! It helped us bond, comforted my son when he was poorly and was an easy on the go snack wherever we were. In fact, in the end I loved it and breastfed until my son turned two, much longer than I expected!
Now I'm breastfeeding my daughter and it's been much more straightforward. I'll be chuffed if I make it to 6 months then we'll go with the flow.
A short piece of advice
The first few weeks are hard as you're both learning but YOU CAN DO IT! And if you suspect tongue tie, get it checked as you shouldn't have to be in pain.
As we enter Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August, we hope these real stories serve as a reminder that every feeding journey is valid.
Whether you're breastfeeding, expressing, combination feeding, or using donor milk, you're doing an incredible job. These mums show the resilience, adaptability and emotional strength it takes to nourish a baby, in whatever way works best. If you’re navigating the early days or supporting someone who is, know that you’re not alone, and help is always out there. Let’s continue the conversation, share our stories, and support one another, because however you feed, you belong in the feeding journey.
