What was your first exposure to breastfeeding, and why is it important?

Were you raised in a family of seasoned boob-feeding pros, or did you forge ahead as the fearless pioneer in uncharted territory? We humans are all about learning through observation, but when it comes to breastfeeding, it’s like society accidentally tossed the manual out the window. Here in the UK (and plenty of other Western spots), breasts have been given the VIP treatment as sexual objects. Whip them out for their intended purpose – feeding your baby – and suddenly it’s scandalous. Parents often feel the pressure to cover up, dodging judgmental stares and snide remarks like they’re on some undercover boob mission.

For me, breastfeeding wasn’t exactly a family tradition. In fact, the first time I even witnessed breastfeeding, I was 18. Yep, 18! I was told I got a brief sip from the boob buffet for about a week as a baby, but as for my four siblings? I have Zero memories of them being breastfed. Nada. So breastfeeding was something I knew very little about.

Fast forward to my first work placement in childcare – cue a sleep-deprived mom with twins and a toddler. Day one, she casually pops out her boobs like it’s no big deal, and I? Well, let’s just say I had no idea where to put my eyes. It was awkward, it was awesome, and it was eye-opening. I saw first hand how tough breastfeeding could be – like, seriously tough – but also how magical. Sure, her nipples were practically in tatters, but she was feeding her babies what looked like strawberry milk (blood in small quantities in milk is fine to give babies FYI), soothing them, and keeping a toddler entertained. It was wild. This woman was a superhero!

Sadly, she didn’t get the support she needed and had to cut her breastfeeding journey short. That sparked a little fire in me – I decided I’d give breastfeeding a try, but not at the expense of my sanity. A couple of years before this, I started dating my (now) husband. We weren’t ready for kids just yet, but the topic came up often. Then swoops in my mother-in-law, the unofficial queen of breastfeeding, slipping in stories about her “boob chronicles” at every opportunity and making it sound like the most normal thing in the world.

A few years later, my sister had her first baby while still quite young. She gave breastfeeding a go but switched to formula when her support system did the old disappearing act. I absolutely supported her decision and enjoyed helping her out with feeds but could totally see why she had wanted to give it a go. Despite her own tricky journey, she was fully supportive of breastfeeding and spoke positively. Time moved on, and then in came my best friend . She’s a literal breastfeeding superhero ( natural term breastfed her eldest until 6, and currently feeding her almost old toddler). She handled her baby’s tongue tie like it was nothing more than a quirky plot twist. By the time my own breastfeeding journey kicked off a couple of years later, she became my personal hype woman, my steady rock, my ultimate lactation sidekick.

So, while I didn’t exactly grow up soaking in a breastfeeding bubble, a few key people fluttered into my life like lactation fairies, sprinkling just the right amount of determination and support into my brain. Was it easy? Ha, not even close. But with my dream team backing me, I powered through the challenges without ever feeling like I had to give up and reach for the formula. My baby, my choices – and you know what? That mattered. Big time. I know how lucky I am; not everyone gets that kind of golden support, and trust me, I don’t take it for granted.

My daughter breastfeeding her soft toy

If you’ve been surrounded by breastfeeders or have witnessed the magic in action, breastfeeding or chestfeeding can feel like a walk in the park. But too often, society nudges breastfeeders into hiding, like they’ve got some secret superpower they’re not allowed to show. Bad move for humanity! We learn by absorbing what we see, like little sponges. When breastfeeding isn’t part of the scenery growing up, it can make our own attempts trickier. That’s not to say you’ll stumble if you’re the trailblazer in your circle, but if you hit a bump, don’t fret! Seek out the pros. Find your tribe, and let the milk flow!

FUN FACT: Bet you didn’t know humans have been called in as breastfeeding coaches for apes! Yep, you heard that right. Take a peek at this wild story about how a zookeeper-turned-milk-guru helped teach an orphaned orangutan the fine art of breastfeeding. Turns out, even our primate cousins sometimes need a little human help!

Further Reading/Resources:

Journal Article – Seeing Other women Breastfeed

Learning to breastfeed – Minnesota Lactation and Beyond

Breastfeeding in public