When Sarah Martinez had her first baby, she remembers receiving the same breastfeeding advice that most new mothers get: "Just keep trying." But Sarah had undergone bariatric surgery years earlier, and the generic guidance didn't account for her unique situation. She struggled in silence, feeling like she had failed. Stories like Sarah's are at the heart of new research that argues maternity services need to stop offering one-size-fits-all advice and start listening to what individual mothers actually need.
Researchers at Western Sydney University in Australia and the University of Lancashire in the United Kingdom have published a review calling for a fundamental shift in how breastfeeding support is delivered. Published in the journal Women and Birth during World Breastfeeding Week, the study examined 41 breastfeeding papers and highlighted findings from 12 separate studies to understand why so many mothers fail to meet their own feeding goals.
The research team, led by Professor Elaine Burns of Western Sydney University and Professor Gill Thomson of the University of Lancashire, found that women face a wide range of obstacles that generic advice simply cannot address. These include physical complications after childbirth, an unexpected response called breastfeeding aversion, concerns about milk supply, and often contradictory guidance from different health workers. The researchers also identified that cultural beliefs, family pressure, and prenatal education that sets unrealistic expectations can all shake a mother's confidence before she even begins.
Burns, a professor of midwifery, emphasizes that midwives are usually the first health professionals to help mothers start breastfeeding. "Breastfeeding support requires compassionate, woman-centered, culturally safe care that is tailored to individual physiological, psychological, social and cultural circumstances," she said.
The research points to a critical window during the first six weeks after birth, when mothers need consistent, personalized help most. The authors argue that improving education for healthcare workers, strengthening connections between mothers and their care teams, and involving family members in feeding conversations could dramatically improve outcomes.
Thomson notes that most women already understand why breastfeeding is beneficial. "The future of breastfeeding support lies in recognizing that every woman's experience is different," she said. By moving away from simple encouragement and toward care that responds to each mother's specific situation, the researchers believe maternity services can help reduce health inequalities while supporting more families to reach their own feeding goals.