The 6 Biggest Breastfeeding Challenges No One Warns You About (+ Expert Help)
August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and at The Tenth, we’re shining a light on the breastfeeding challenges that all too often go unspoken: the painful nipples, the latch struggles, and the anxiety around whether or not you’re doing it right. While breastfeeding can be a beautiful bonding experience, it’s also incredibly complex. Many mothers are blindsided by how difficult it is, physically, emotionally, and logistically. There tends to be a
presumption that, as breastfeeding is a natural part of motherhood, it should be intrinsically easy, something all mothers can just ‘do’. In reality, new mothers often struggle with little to no education or guidance to inform them that it takes time, practice and professional support. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why is breastfeeding so hard?” you are most definitely not alone.
In this post, we’ll explore the most common breastfeeding problems and discuss how our team of expert lactation consultants at The Tenth provide unrivalled breastfeeding support that helps our mothers approach feeding with confidence, positivity and knowledge.
Breastfeeding Pain, Latch Issues & Tongue Ties
Why is breastfeeding so difficult & painful? Many new mothers are surprised to discover that painful breastfeeding is common in the early days. Sore nipples, tugging sensations, and discomfort during letdown can all result from an improper latch or issues like tongue tie affecting breastfeeding.
If you’re unsure about what’s behind the painful breastfeeding causes in your case, it’s important to have your latch assessed early. In some cases, a tongue tie can make it difficult for your baby to feed effectively, which can lead to nipple trauma, low milk supply, or frequent feedings without proper satisfaction.
Signs your baby might have a tongue tie include a shallow or painful latch, clicking or smacking noises during feeding, frustration at the breast, falling asleep quickly at the breast and waking up still hungry and poor weight gain despite frequent feeding.
How The Tenth helps:
Soon after arrival, you’ll be assessed by our lactation consultant, a trained expert in newborn feeding. We look for signs baby has tongue tie, evaluate the latch, and offer evidence-based advice and adjustments that make feeding more comfortable for you. If a tongue tie is found to be affecting feeding, a simple procedure called a frenotomy may be recommended, which often improves feeding immediately or within a few days. Our team provides breastfeeding support 24/7, so that there is always someone on hand to help with any breastfeeding difficulties you might have, day or night.
BREAST ENGORGEMENT AND OVERSUPPLY
When does engorgement go away? In the early weeks after birth, your body produces milk on a supply-and-demand basis. As a result, many mothers experience engorgement, or unpredictable fullness, when breasts become swollen, firm, and sometimes painful, as their body tries to guess
how much milk is needed. Some women also experience oversupply, leading to a forceful let-down and leaking. This can be a lot to manage physically and emotionally, and can overwhelm a newborn, leading to fussiness.
This phase typically settles around 6 to 12 weeks postpartum, when your milk supply begins to regulate. An abrupt stop in feeding, otherwise known as sudden weaning, either by choice or due to medical, emotional, or situational reasons, can also cause engorgement, blocked ducts, or even mastitis due to milk buildup.
How The Tenth helps:
Our lactation consultants are well-versed in the difficulties that arise from breast engorgement. A combination of gentle breast massage, warm compresses and positioning adjustments is used to provide relief, alongside a tailored feeding plan that works for both you and your baby. Our specialists will guide you through breast engorgement treatment, and show you how to gently regulate supply, prevent blocked ducts, and reduce discomfort.
Mastitis: When Discomfort Becomes Infection
What are the signs of mastitis while breastfeeding? Mastitis is a common but painful inflammation of the breast tissue that develops when a milk duct becomes blocked or unresolved engorgement, creating a build-up that can lead to infection. It can come on suddenly and escalate quickly, especially in the early weeks postpartum when milk supply is still regulating. Mastitis symptoms include a hard, red, or hot area on the breast, throbbing or burning pain, especially during or after feeds, swelling, flu-like symptoms and sometimes a fever. While it can be a distressing experience, early intervention makes all the difference.
How The Tenth helps:
Knowing how important immediate intervention is, our nursing team will work around the clock, monitoring you for signs of mastitis during your breastfeeding sessions and act quickly if they spot any early signs or symptoms. We also guide you on how to treat mastitis at home (with rest, compresses, and continued feeding or pumping). For those experiencing mastitis, we provide targeted support and will coordinate with healthcare providers if antibiotics and further care are needed.
milk supply concerns
What causes low milk supply & how to increase milk supply naturally? Worrying about milk supply is one of the most common breastfeeding problems. Whether it’s actually rooted in a real shortage of milk or just a fear that your baby isn’t getting enough, anxiety around how much milk your body is creating affects most mothers.
Causes of low supply can include a poor latch, infrequent feeds, medical conditions, or stress. However, many mothers who think they have low milk supply are actually producing enough; they’ve just been given confusing or incomplete information. Myths around milk supply cause confusion, such as: ‘If my baby feeds all the time, I must not have enough milk’ or ‘my baby cries after feeding, so I must not be making enough.’ In reality, these are not signs of a low milk supply. Frequent feeding is normal in the early weeks, especially during cluster feeding or growth spurts. It doesn’t mean your baby isn’t getting enough milk; it means they’re helping build it. Crying doesn’t always mean hunger. If weight gain and nappies are on track, your supply likely is too.
How The Tenth helps:
We approach milk supply concerns with equal parts evidence and empathy. Our experts closely monitor your baby using tangible markers like baby’s weight gain, wet nappies and audible swallowing during feeds, so that they can accurately measure whether or not your baby is getting enough milk - regardless of how stressed you might feel about your supply.
Prioritising skin-to-skin contact and encouraging baby-led feeding are part of your personalised feeding plan, created for you by our lactation consultant, who will be able to assess and adjust your plan in real time. Our in-house chef will prepare lactation-boosting meals designed by a postpartum nutritionist to ensure you’re receiving optimum nutrients throughout your feeding. We also offer 1:1 therapy to help unpack the mental and emotional load behind the feeding journey.
BREASTFEEDING & MENTAL HEALTH
What D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex) and why is breastfeeding making me sad? For some mothers, breastfeeding triggers unexpected emotional lows. Known as D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex), this condition causes brief but intense feelings of sadness, dread, or anxiety just before letdown. Some women report a physical sensation of being emotionally ‘pulled under’ that can last a few minutes. D-MER is believed to be caused by a hormonal imbalance, specifically a rapid drop in dopamine that occurs just before oxytocin triggers the milk ejection reflex.
This dopamine drop is completely involuntary and physiological, but causes real emotional symptoms. It is not related to trauma or ambivalence about breastfeeding, nor is it the same as postpartum depression. In other cases, postpartum depression and breastfeeding can coexist, adding more emotional weight to an already distressing experience.
How The Tenth helps:
Alongside lactation consultants, our team includes therapists who specialise in breastfeeding mental health and postpartum care. You’ll have 1:1 sessions to talk through any feelings that breastfeeding is bringing up for you, whether feeding is making you sad, useless, anxious or making you struggle with your identity in early motherhood.
Sometimes something as simple as knowing that D-MER exists and understanding that it’s a biochemical reflex, rather than something you’re doing wrong or something wrong with you, can help validate new mothers' feeding experiences and make them feel more positive. We offer evidence-based coping strategies and educate you and your support system on breastfeeding hormone changes so you understand what’s happening in your body.
going home with confidence
How to get breastfeeding help after you leave. Even if things are going well at the retreat, many mothers ask: “How will I keep this up when I get home?” Whether you’re searching for a lactation consultant near you, trying to return to work, or unsure of how often to pump, it can feel daunting to do it alone.
How The Tenth helps:
We don’t just support you during your stay with us; we help you develop a postpartum care plan that includes when to see a lactation consultant, what to do if problems arise, and who to call for ongoing help. You’ll leave with a toolkit of resources, including referrals, feeding plans, and remote follow-up access to our team. We also encourage partners and family members to be part of the education process, so your breastfeeding support network continues long after you’ve checked out.
To conclude
Breastfeeding is often treated as something mothers should just know how to do. The truth is, it requires education, support, and a village. At The Tenth, we’re rewriting that story with our certified lactation consultants, providing expert care, guidance, and round-the-clock support. We’re here to meet you exactly where you are. If you’re pregnant or recently postpartum and curious about how The Tenth Programme can support you through breastfeeding and recovery, contact us to learn more or book a free consultation now to inquire about our retreat dates in London.
