189 – Feeling Guilty About Feeding? 5 Powerful Infant Feeding Difficulties That Are Totally Normal

Hi, I’m Helen Thompson, and welcome to First Time Mum’s Chat. If you’ve recently given birth and are feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or even guilty about how you’re feeding your baby, I want you to know you’re not alone — and this episode is especially for you.

In this episode, I gently unpack 5 infant feeding difficulties that so many new mums experience — often behind closed doors and without the support they truly need. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, doing both, or still figuring out what works, this conversation is about releasing the guilt, the pressure, and the constant second-guessing.

Feeding your baby isn’t just about nutrition. It’s about survival, emotion, exhaustion, and connection. And yet, we rarely talk about how incredibly hard it can be when things don’t go “according to plan.” From painful breastfeeding issues to the emotional strain of mixed feeding, I’ve seen firsthand how easy it is for mums to feel like they’re failing — when in truth, they’re doing their absolute best.

You’ll hear a personal story from my own family, where my mother’s struggle to breastfeed in the 1960s — without any support systems — shaped her choice to bottle feed. And you’ll hear why that story still matters today, in a world where social media and outside opinions can make mums feel like they’re constantly being judged.

One of the most eye-opening insights I share comes from a recent infant feeding survey: nearly 70% of mums who mixed breast and bottle feeding felt judged. That statistic is heartbreaking — but it’s also empowering, because it shows just how many of us are silently wrestling with the same feelings.

In this episode, I aim to lift that silence. Whether you’ve tried every remedy under the sun, or felt relief after switching to formula, your experience is valid. Feeding your baby isn’t a test of your love or your worth as a mum — and guilt has no place in that journey.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I doing this right?” — then this episode is your reminder that you are doing what’s best for you and your baby.

So if you’re tired of the judgment and ready to hear a reassuring, heartfelt perspective from someone who’s supported mums for over 20 years, I invite you to listen in.

• Episode 105 – Tips and Tricks For Breastfeeding a Newborn with Lacy Reason.
• Episode 123 – How an Obsession with Newborn Weight Can Lead to Problems Breastfeeding with J’Nel Metherell
• Episode 149 – Breastfeeding Problems: How Routine Labor Interventions Can Lead to Certain Difficulties with Kelly Durbin.
• Episode 151 – How Can Breastfeeding Enhance or Protect a Mom’s Health After Giving Birth? – with Kelly Durbin.