Written by Courtney Human RD(SA)

In honour of Pregnancy Awareness Month, I’ve decided to gently step into slightly controversial territory: breastfeeding. I say gently because I’m fully aware of the irony – I haven’t had a baby yet. But as a newly qualified (and yes, slightly intimidated) South African Certified Lactation Consultant (SACLC), this topic is close to my heart. Breastfeeding is still my dream, and perhaps that distance gives me a clear view of something important. There is something beautifully primal about a newborn placed on their mother’s chest, instinctively rooting. Hormones shift. Colostrum transitions to mature milk. A body responds exactly as it was designed to. It’s biological brilliance in real time.

And yet, in 2026, it somehow feels more complicated than ever. We live in an age where information is limitless. There are reels, forums, pump reviews, feeding trackers and comment sections analysing every latch. As a healthcare professional, I’m grateful that education is accessible – but I’m equally concerned about how much of it is inaccurate, outdated or commercially driven. Knowledge is power but unfiltered knowledge is chaos.

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, yet many mothers stop earlier than they planned. The most common reasons? Perceived low milk supply, latch difficulties, pain, mastitis, returning to work and lack of support. Notice what’s not on that list: laziness or lack of love. Perceived low milk supply is one of the biggest culprits, and social media doesn’t help. Freezer stashes stacked like warehouse inventory. Pumps marketed as essential before your baby has even arrived. “Productivity” creeping into something that was never meant to be performance-based. The reality? Newborn feeding is frequent, messy and unpredictable. Feeding 8–12 times in 24 hours is normal. Babies wanting to be at the breast often is normal. That’s how supply is built.

Then there’s mastitis – now framed online as a near-emergency waiting to happen. For years, advice centred around heat and aggressive massage. But cold is the new hot, with updated evidence showing mastitis is primarily inflammatory. The current protocol focuses on ice, gentle lymphatic drainage, appropriate milk removal (not power pumping through pain), rest and anti-inflammatories where needed. Heat and forceful massage can worsen swelling. Yet old advice still circulates, and mothers are left confused. The same goes for “jungle juice” – the viral milk-boosting drink. Hydration matters. Nutrition matters. Effective and frequent milk removal matters most. There is no magical beverage. Milk supply runs on hormones and physiology, not a recipe hack.

We also can’t ignore the subtle influence of the formula milk industry. Marketing is polished and persuasive, often positioning formula as the easier or equally protective option for normal newborn behaviour. Formula is absolutely lifesaving when medically necessary. But normal cluster feeding and growth spurts are not emergencies. Mothers deserve unbiased, evidence-based support without fear-driven messaging. Furthermore, the increasing medicalisation of birth with strict feeding schedules, routine top-ups and early separation means instinct can quickly be overridden by protocol. Sometimes intervention is necessary. But, more often, support is enough.

One lecture that stuck with me introduced the idea of following “zeitgebers” which are natural cues like light, darkness and infant signals rather than clocks when breastfeeding on maternity leave. Imagine not obsessively timing feeds. Feeding when baby cues. Sleeping when baby sleeps. Letting oxytocin flow in calm connection rather than cortisol spiking under pressure. No social media pressure or screens but being in pure sync with your infant. It may sound idealistic, but biology thrives in safety.

Preparation during pregnancy can make a significant difference. Mothers with risk factors for delayed lactation – such as diabetes, PCOS, thyroid conditions, hypertension, obesity, previous breast surgery or a planned caesarean – can benefit from antenatal education. Colostrum harvesting, under professional guidance, can provide reassurance and stored milk if supplementation becomes medically necessary. For planned caesareans, understanding breast oedema is also key. Post-surgical IV fluids can cause swelling that compresses milk ducts, making breasts feel firm and latch difficult. This is often mistaken for low supply. Reverse pressure softening which is a simple technique using gentle fingertip pressure around the areola, can temporarily reduce swelling and improve latch. Simple. Under-taught. Powerful.

And through all of this, perhaps the most important advice is this: protect your peace.

Choose one or two credible sources. Not twenty. Unfollow accounts that trigger comparison. Save a lactation consultant’s number before birth. Build a support system that steadies you rather than overwhelms you. Modern motherhood can feel like it comes with a 400-page manual and a performance review. There are apps to track feeds, gadgets to measure output and charts to compare progress. Somewhere in all that tracking, the basics get forgotten. Breastfeeding is not a competitive sport. It is not measured in millilitres or freezer photos. It is a two bodies growing and learning together.

This Pregnancy Awareness Month, perhaps the shift isn’t to learn more, buy more or optimise more – but to simplify. The maternal body is not fragile. It is adaptive and hormonally intelligent. With the right support, it is remarkably capable. In a world that constantly medicalises and monetises motherhood, the most radical act might be returning to basics: skin-to-skin contact, responsive feeding, adequate nourishment, hydration, rest and trust.

Sometimes the most progressive approach is also the most primitive. All you technically need to breastfeed is you and your baby. Not a cupboard full of supplements. Not a perfectly curated feeding station. Not a spreadsheet. Just connection. Trust qualified guidance. But also begin trusting yourself because the basics still work and they always have.