World Breastfeeding Week, the femme way
Can we just say it? Breastfeeding is one of those topics that comes with an absolutely unnecessary amount of performance anxiety. There’s the guilt, the unsolicited opinions, the “have you tried nipple shields?” crowd, and the occasional emotional breakdown in the middle of a Tesco car park.
And honestly? It’s a lot.
So, this World Breastfeeding Week, we’re not here to give you a perfectly curated how-to. We’re here to say: you’re allowed to take it one feed, one pump, one panic Google at a time.
Every journey is different (because every body is different)
At femme, we talk a lot about knowing your flow – but that doesn’t stop at periods. Your postpartum flow matters just as much. Some women breastfeed with ease. Others struggle, switch to formula, mix feed, pump, cry, try again, stop, or change plans several times.
All of those feeding routes are valid. What is not something you simply have to endure is persistent pain, badly cracked or bleeding nipples, or symptoms of mastitis such as a hot, swollen, painful breast with flu-like symptoms. Those are reasons to ask a midwife, health visitor, breastfeeding specialist or GP for support.
What works for you might not be what your friend did. What worked yesterday might feel impossible today. And what you need tomorrow might surprise you. But that’s not failure. That’s motherhood.
Let’s stop romanticising it (and start supporting it)
Sure, breastfeeding can be beautiful and bonding and magical. But breastfeeding can also feel like having a small, unpredictable piranha attached to your chest at 3am.
- You can love your baby and still hate breastfeeding.
- You can choose formula and still be an incredible mother.
- You can breastfeed for two years and still have hard days where you resent every second.
You’re allowed complicated feelings about it.
Breastfeeding: the messy middle no one talks about
Breastfeeding gets talked about like it’s either a magical bonding moment or a total nightmare. The reality? Most of us are somewhere in the sticky, leaky, slightly sweaty middle.
It’s not just about “feeding your baby naturally”, it’s about suddenly living in a body that feels both miraculous and slightly out of your control. It’s engorgement, uninvited let-downs in the middle of a Zoom call, leaking through your top at brunch and wondering if you’ll ever wear a non-padded bra again. It’s loving the closeness one second and silently counting down until the feed is over the next.
And the opinions? Oh, they will come. Nurse in public? Someone will tell you to cover up. Switch to formula? Someone will gasp. Combination feed? Congratulations, you’ve managed to upset both camps. Truly, you cannot win, so why are we still trying?
Breastfeeding is wildly personal. Some people feed exclusively from the breast for years. Some pump like it’s a full-time job. Some manage a few weeks before their mental health waves a white flag. You do not owe anyone a timeline, an explanation, or a photo-worthy moment.
And no, breastfeeding is not free. It costs time, sleep, energy, and often a solid chunk of your sense of bodily autonomy. That’s why support matters. Not just “You’re doing great!” texts, but the hands-on kind. Someone to bring you water, make you lunch, or take the baby so you can shower. Someone to say, “If you stop, you’re still an amazing mum.”
So if you’re in the thick of it this World Breastfeeding Week, whether you’re loving it, hating it, or living somewhere in-between, hear this: your worth as a mother has nothing to do with how, or how long, you breastfeed. And your health and wellbeing are part of this journey too.
Why we care (even if we’re not a baby brand)
We’re not selling bottles, bras, or breast pumps. But femme is here for women at every hormonal milestone – and trust us, postpartum is one hell of a milestone.
Whether you’re three weeks in or three years out, your hormones, body, energy and identity can be going through something massive. And you deserve more than platitudes or Pinterest advice. You deserve community, honesty and support without strings.
Nutrition matters too, but a breastfeeding supplement should not be sold as a way to guarantee that you or your baby are getting “everything you need”. NHS guidance recommends vitamin D supplementation for breastfeeding mothers, and exclusively breastfed babies are also advised to receive vitamin D drops. Most other nutrients should ideally come from a varied diet, with individual advice where needed.
Proceive Breastfeeding Multivitamins
If you prefer a dedicated postnatal supplement, Proceive Breastfeeding is one current option at femme. Check the label alongside NHS vitamin D guidance and any individual advice from your midwife, health visitor, pharmacist or GP.
Breastfeeding pain and support: common questions
Is breastfeeding supposed to hurt?
Some initial tenderness can happen, but ongoing nipple or breast pain should not simply be accepted. Positioning and attachment problems are common causes, and a midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding specialist can watch a feed and help.
What are warning signs of mastitis?
A hot, painful or swollen area of the breast alongside flu-like symptoms or feeling unwell can be a sign of mastitis. NHS guidance advises getting medical help if you feel worse at any time or are not improving within 12 to 24 hours.
Can you combine breastfeeding and formula feeding?
Yes. Families feed babies in different ways, including breastfeeding, expressing, formula feeding and combination feeding. Support should focus on safe feeding and the wellbeing of both parent and baby rather than judgement.
Some femme-approved reminders
Breast, bottle, expressed milk, combination feeding – feeding decisions are personal and can change.
However you fed your baby today, that is not a measure of how good a parent you are.
Hormonal shifts, exhaustion and the intensity of caring for a newborn can all affect how you feel. If low mood, anxiety or distress feels persistent or overwhelming, ask for support rather than writing it off as “just hormones”.
Five minutes of skincare. A cup of tea. A slow walk. Something that reminds you that you are still in there too.
You’re learning your baby and yourself in real time. Plans are allowed to change.
Final thoughts (and a virtual hug from us)
“I didn’t even get the choice to breastfeed my daughter, a very complicated birth took that away, so I wish we would stop judging and pressuring women that breast is best.” – Stefanie, founder
This World Breastfeeding Week, we’re not here to tell you how to feed your baby. We’re just here to remind you that you matter too.
Your boobs aren’t public property. Your value isn’t in ounces. So wherever you’re at today, breastfeeding, expressing, bottle-prepping, combination feeding, or somewhere in-between, you are allowed to do motherhood your way.
