If you’ve found yourself feeling like a failure or guilty for not being able to breastfeed, you’re not alone. Feeding your baby can be so emotionally loaded, even when you didn’t feel strongly about breastfeeding before the baby came. And then the unexpected challenges that are common with breastfeeding, can throw us into absolute emotional chaos (on top of all of the other postpartum whirlwinds).
“Why do I feel such a failure?”
Read more: “I Feel So Guilty for Not Being Able to Breastfeed”
Many mothers describe the day five weigh-in as the moment everything changed. You thought things were going well, your baby seemed to be feeding well, the latch looked fine, you were adjusting to life after birth.
And then, the ground falls out from beneath you.
The midwife weighs your baby and says they’ve lost more weight than expected. Suddenly, there’s talk of feeding plans, top-ups, pumping, and formula. You’re booked for repeat appointments, and left reeling with anxiety, pressure, fear, and stress.
You deserve psychological therapy that respects and understands your whole self – breastfeeding relationship included.
At Breastfeeding Psychology, we understand that everyone’s feeding journey is unique. Some families choose to let their children wean themselves ("natural-term" or "extended" breastfeeding), or are simply continuing to breastfeed "for now". Breastfeeding beyond infancy is a normal and healthy path for many families, but can feel surprisingly lonely or even stigmatised by people who don't understand.
We want to say this clearly:
If you’re breastfeeding beyond infancy, and looking for psychological therapy, you’re safe with us.
Read more: A safe space for therapy while breastfeeding beyond infancy
Breastfeeding grief is the strong sense of loss and sadness that you can experience when breastfeeding doesn’t go as planned. It is a complex and valid emotional response, often intertwined with guilt, frustration, or even relief. Breastfeeding grief can result from a wide range of experiences, such as needing to wean your child earlier than expected, experiencing pain, milk supply issues, or lacking support. It may also be that after a rocky start, feeding got on track and you were able to meet your feeding goals. But the legacy of early challenges still affects you.
Breastfeeding Psychology
Email: info@breastfeedingpsychology.co.uk
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