Half of mums find breastfeeding harder than first expected – as a quarter admit they felt unprepared for it

THE top things mums wish they’d known before breastfeeding include how painful it can be, how hungry and thirsty it can make you and how difficult it can be outside the home. A poll of 1,000 mums who have breastfed in the past three years found 24 per cent felt unprepared for the realities of it. From pain to hunger, around half of mums found breastfeeding harder than expected, a survey found Credit: Getty Around a quarter of mums who have breastfed in the past three years were unprepared for the experience Credit: SWNS With leaking breasts, how lonely the experience can make you feel and how long feeds take among the biggest surprises. But it’s not without positives, as 44 per cent said feeding led to a stronger bond with their child and 22 per cent felt empowered by it. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The research was commissioned by Momcozy, which has produced a report looking into breastfeeding in the UK in 2026. Sophie Martin, author of The Infertile Midwife and lead midwife for an antenatal clinic, said: “There are lots of things mums wish they’d known about breastfeeding before having their baby. Nearly 50 per cent of mums said breastfeeding led to a stronger connection with their child Credit: Getty Only two per cent of mums expected to stop breastfeeding within the first month Credit: Getty “Many mums expect breastfeeding to come naturally, but the reality can be physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. “At the same time, breastfeeding can bring an incredible sense of connection and confidence. “It’s important that parents are given honest, balanced information so that they feel prepared both practically and emotionally for the realities of breastfeeding. “Education and preparation is key.” Most read in The Sun The report, released during World Breastfeeding Week, revealed only two per cent of mums expected to stop breastfeeding in the first month – but more than double actually did. A wide range of experiences were reported, with 35 per cent breastfeeding for longer than planned, whereas 24 per cent stopped sooner than they hoped. It emerged 54 per cent found breastfeeding harder than they expected, while 18 per cent believe it had a detrimental effect on their mental health. Almost half (45 per cent) found feeding their newborn in public “difficult” – due to lack of privacy (65 per cent), feeling self-conscious (55 per cent) and receiving unwanted attention (53 per cent). While 79 per cent said it affected their relationship with their partner, impacting intimacy (22 per cent), causing tension around night wakes (19 per cent) and feelings of resentment (18 per cent). However, it also led to 19 per cent of couples working better together as a team and inspired 16 per cent of partners to find other ways to bond with their baby. And the overwhelming majority (96 per cent) have experienced a “special moment” when feeding their new child. The most special of these was seeing their newborn relax or fall asleep while feeding (47 per cent), followed by knowing they could comfort their child when they needed them (45 per cent). Night feeds when everything felt calm (17 per cent) and the first-time feeding felt easier (14 per cent) are also cherished moments among those polled, data from OnePoll.com revealed. But while 74 per cent of mums felt supported by their network during this stage of their baby’s life – just 11 per cent didn’t feel this way. Tara Cai, head of user research at Momcozy, added: “The findings show while breastfeeding can be one of the most rewarding parts of early parenthood, it can also come with unexpected challenges that leave many mums feeling unprepared. “But the results also highlight the importance of ensuring families have the resources, products and support networks they need to feel confident every step of the way.” TOP 20 THINGS MUMS WISH THEY'D KNOWN BEFORE BREASTFEEDING How tiring it can be How difficult it can be to tell if your baby is getting enough milk How difficult it is to feed with sore or cracked nipples How painful it can be How emotional it can feel How much pressure you can put on yourself How often a baby may need feeding How long feeds can take How important a good latch can be How much your breasts or nipples can change How hungry it can make you feel How difficult it can be in public How thirsty it can make you feel How much leaking can happen How lonely it can sometimes feel How often cluster feeding can happen Growth spurts and how they can affect feeding patterns Tongue tie and how it can affect feeding How rewarding it can be How illness affects feeding Comment now