Maybe your baby is unsettled and you can’t work out why. Maybe your nipples have started to hurt in a way nobody quite warned you about. Or maybe it’s the question that surfaces more than any other in those first weeks — is my baby getting enough milk? If you’ve asked yourself any of that, you are in very good company.
Breastfeeding is often described as the most natural way to feed a baby, and it is. But natural has never meant easy. For both mother and baby it is a learning process, and like anything learned, it takes time, patience and support.
What More Than 100 Mothers Told Us
To understand what actually keeps mothers awake — rather than the tidy version that appears in the leaflets — GEGE surveyed more than a hundred expectant and new mothers, first-timers alongside women who had breastfed before. Most were generous with far more than a tick in a box, sharing worries, memories and the small details that rarely make it into public conversation.
100+ mothers surveyed. Whether it’s a first baby or a third, mothers tend to worry about the same things: how to reduce pain, how to care for their breasts, how to know their baby is feeding well, and how to feel something close to confident in those first days.
Above everything else, one message came through: no mother is alone in her worries.
“Will I Be Able to Do It?” — The Question Almost Every Mother Asks
For first-time mothers, the hardest part is usually the unknown. The same practical questions came up again and again, the sort you can’t rehearse for: will I produce enough milk, will my baby latch properly, is breastfeeding supposed to hurt, and how will I even know whether my baby is getting enough?
What was striking is that mothers who had breastfed before didn’t simply skip past these worries — theirs had a different shape. They already knew what was coming. Many remembered sore nipples, cracked skin or a first few weeks they’d rather not repeat, and wanted to be better prepared this time around. Experience, it turns out, doesn’t remove anxiety so much as turn it into a determination to be ready.
The Most Common Concern: Sore Nipples and Cracked Skin
Among all the responses, one topic rose above the rest — pain in the early days. Mothers wrote about sore nipples, cracking, bleeding, skin that had become painfully sensitive, and, underneath all of it, the fear that the pain might be the thing that ends breastfeeding before they are ready.
Those worries make complete sense. In the first days after birth, breast tissue and nipple skin are adapting to something they have never done before, while mother and baby are both still learning how any of this works. But here is the part worth holding onto: persistent pain is not something to simply put up with. In many cases it can be prevented, or at least considerably reduced.
How to Reduce Breastfeeding Discomfort
Breastfeeding specialists and midwives tend to point to a handful of simple, everyday things that help through the early weeks.
Care for your skin during pregnancy
Keeping the skin soft and well moisturised before birth may help it adapt more comfortably once feeding begins.
Choose comfortable, breathable bras
Avoid unnecessary pressure on the breasts, and favour fabrics that let the skin breathe.
Let your nipples air dry after feeding
A few minutes of air after each feed may support the skin’s natural recovery.
Make use of breast milk itself
Many lactation consultants suggest expressing a few drops after a feed and spreading them gently over the nipple, then letting it air dry. Breast milk naturally contains components that help the skin hold its moisture and support its own healing process.
Reach for a gentle nipple care product if you need one
If your nipples become particularly sore, dry or cracked, a gentle balm or cream made with carefully chosen, skin-friendly ingredients can add a layer of protection and comfort. Look for simple formulations with few ingredients, suited to sensitive skin.
Steer clear of anything irritating
Strong fragrances, alcohol and other potentially irritating ingredients tend to make sore skin feel worse rather than better.
Severe pain, bleeding or deep cracks should never be filed under “normal.” If that’s what’s happening, or symptoms simply aren’t settling, ask your midwife, your healthcare provider or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
Did You Know?
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend starting breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth and breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life. They also stress that breastfeeding is a skill mother and baby learn together — and that patience, support and reassurance in those early days are a genuine part of the process.
Remember
Breastfeeding should not be a painful experience. Some tenderness at the start can be normal, but severe pain, bleeding, deep cracks, redness of the breast or a fever should always be assessed by a healthcare professional. Asking for help early isn’t a sign that you’ve failed at something — it’s one of the most useful things you can do for both yourself and your baby.
“Will I Have Enough Milk?”
Milk supply worried first-time and experienced mothers in almost equal measure. In reality, most women are physiologically able to produce enough milk for their baby, and the concern very often traces back to uncertainty about how breastfeeding works, or to a baby who isn’t latching effectively, rather than to supply itself. If it’s worrying you, don’t sit with it — early guidance from a breastfeeding specialist often makes all the difference.
A Good Latch Makes All the Difference
A good latch quietly does a great deal of work: it reduces nipple pain, helps prevent cracking, improves how well milk transfers, and supports healthy milk production. And neither mothers nor babies arrive knowing how to do it. It is a skill the two of you learn together, usually with a few false starts along the way.
More Mothers Are Choosing Prevention
One of the more encouraging findings was how many mothers now want to prepare before anything goes wrong, rather than searching for solutions at two in the morning. They’re looking for reliable information on breast care during pregnancy, natural skincare, how to prevent nipple damage, evidence-based breastfeeding advice, and the practical things that make feeding easier from day one.
Five Things You Can Do During Pregnancy
1 Learn the basics of breastfeeding before your baby arrives.
2 Save the contact details of a lactation consultant.
3 Begin caring for your breast skin during pregnancy.
4 Remember that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
5 Don’t set out to be the perfect mother.
What We Learned from More Than 100 Mothers
Behind every mother’s story were the same emotions in different arrangements — hope, uncertainty, love, and the wish to give her baby the best possible start. The encouraging news is that a great many common breastfeeding challenges can be prevented or managed with the right information, gentle self-care and support that arrives in time.
At GEGE we believe caring for mothers has to mean more than making products. It means sharing information you can trust, listening to what mothers actually experience, and staying alongside them through every step of the breastfeeding journey.
A Gentle Reminder from GEGE
There is no such thing as a perfect mother. There is, however, a mother who loves, who cares, and who learns alongside her baby every single day — and that has always been more than enough.
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
This article draws on feedback collected from more than 100 expectant and new mothers, supported by internationally recognised breastfeeding guidance, including recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
Krista Winter is the Lead Content Editor at Motherhood Academy by Gege Club, where she creates evidence-based educational resources on fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding and early parenthood. Every article combines trusted international clinical guidance with clear, compassionate writing to help families make informed decisions with confidence.
Every mother and every baby is unique. If you have concerns about breastfeeding or your health, always consult your midwife, your healthcare provider or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).