New mothers are reporting a lack of adequate support for breastfeeding following childbirth, with many experiencing trauma due to inconsistent advice and insufficient resources. Some mothers have stated that the information provided prenatally emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding but inadequately prepares them for potential difficulties. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy when the process is not easy, as one mother, Jess, noted, "You feel like you're making the wrong choice every time because nothing's coming easy, as it was told to you."
Another mother, Vicki, described feeling re-traumatized by the need to repeatedly explain her feeding journey to different healthcare professionals. "It's too many different people getting involved, because every single time you see a new person, you have to retell the entire story," she said.
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Carla Mastroianni emphasized the need for a more holistic approach to infant feeding advice. She suggested that healthcare providers often focus on a feeding plan without adequately assessing the mother's well-being. "We see this plan and no one is looking at the mother behind this plan [...] if we asked we'd know that she's not OK, she's not coping, she's drowning," Mastroianni stated. She also noted that resources and training for feeding support are critically low, with infant feeding specialists ideally visiting mothers twice a week for two to three weeks.
In response to such experiences, the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has expressed regret for negative experiences and stated it is working to ensure advice and care are clear, consistent, and compassionate. Jo Haworth, chief nurse for the trust, said they have strengthened support for parents, including assistance from community midwives, infant feeding cafes, and on-ward help from midwives, nursery nurses, peer supporters, and a dedicated infant feeding support worker. "We will continue to focus on ensuring families receive the care they need in the postnatal period," Haworth added.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust also apologized for instances where mothers felt unsupported. The trust is reviewing care and seeking to collaborate with families to improve their experience. "All our maternity staff are trained every year in infant feeding, and we've recently strengthened our breastfeeding support with new guidelines, specialist input and improved training," the spokesperson said. The trust highlighted its high breastfeeding initiation rate, nearly 90%, and its efforts towards Unicef Baby Friendly accreditation to enhance family care.