Breastfeeding Is Natural, But That Doesn't Mean It Comes Naturally For Everyone

“How do you prepare your nipples to be sucked all day long?”

It’s the kind of question that makes a room full of parents laugh, right? Not because it’s ridiculous, but because it’s painfully honest, and everyone relates.

We spend months preparing for birth. We talk about the contractions, the hospital bag, car seats we like, prams and sleep anxieties. Yet the reality of feeding a tiny human with your body, potentially around the clock, often doesn't get a lot of attention.

World Breastfeeding Week takes place from 1–7 August each year. In 2026, the campaign centres on breastfeeding as a sustainable start strengthened by support. It’s a reminder that feeding a baby shouldn’t rest on your exhausted shoulders alone. Families need good information, accessible healthcare and people around them who are prepared to help.

At One Fine Baby Sydney, we asked parents to tell us what breastfeeding was really like: the beautiful parts, the painful parts and the things nobody thought to mention before their baby arrived.

We set them up in the gorgeous feeding chairs from Babystudio. Be sure to check out their fantastic range of nursery items and baby essentials, including the Teddy Creme Electric Recliner and Glider from our video series!

Some babies latch, others need a little help

One mum described feeling incredibly fortunate when her baby latched almost immediately. “He latched literally out of the womb,” she told us. But her friend, she acknowledged, had the opposite experience, with cracked and bleeding nipples. Another mum we interviewed had a baby who actually managed to bite through a nipple shield!

Breastfeeding may be natural, but that doesn’t mean it always comes naturally. It’s an experience that parent and baby learn together, and no two feeding journeys look quite the same. Some babies attach confidently from the beginning, others need help with positioning or attachment. You might need to express, use nipple shields, combine breast and bottle feeding or even discover that breastfeeding isn’t possible (or simply isn’t right) for you.

None of these experiences says anything about how much you love your baby, and all involve a parent doing their best to keep their baby nourished! But it's also worth looking at that spectrum of experiences and seeing that with support, many breastfeeding journeys can be successful.

Can you actually prepare your nipples?

Back to the question everyone was wondering about: do you need to “toughen up” your nipples before breastfeeding? Thankfully, no. There’s no need to rub, scrub or otherwise attempt to prepare them for what’s ahead. The toothbrush can remain safely beside the bathroom sink, haha!

The most useful preparation is much less dramatic. You might learn the basics of positioning and attachment, save the number of a reputable lactation consultant, talk to your care provider about your feeding preferences and find out what support will be available after you leave hospital.

It can also help to set up a comfortable feeding spot at home, complete with water, snacks and a phone charger. Feeding sessions have a habit of beginning just as everything you need is sitting on the other side of the room.

Some parents may be advised to express colostrum in late pregnancy. This is generally considered after 36 weeks and should always be discussed with your midwife or doctor first, as it isn’t suitable for every pregnancy.

But even if you don't try collecting colostrum before birth, getting more familiar with your breasts can shift the way you see your body, and prepare you for the shift. “It’s such a good thing to get to know your breasts in a food-sustenance-for-baby way, not just as part of your anatomy," one mum told us.

When feeding hurts more than expected

Some tenderness can happen while you and your baby find your rhythm, particularly during the early days. Ongoing pain, or cracked and bleeding nipples, however, aren’t something you should simply grit your teeth and endure.

Pain can be connected to attachment issues, nipple damage or infection, so it’s worth asking a midwife, maternal and child health nurse, lactation consultant or doctor to take a look. Nipple shields can be helpful in some circumstances, particularly when a baby is having difficulty attaching. Ideally, they should be used with professional guidance so you can check the fit, attachment and whether your baby is transferring milk effectively.

If something feels wrong, ask for help early. You don’t receive bonus parenting points for waiting until you’re crying before every feed. Many mums told us that they endured pain they really didn't need to endure, because they simply thought it was "normal". Speak up when breastfeeding hurts – it's often a simple solution!

A completely new appreciation for your boobs

Breastfeeding can change the way you feel about your body. It might feel empowering, demanding, unfamiliar and uncomfortable, sometimes all within the same afternoon. For one parent we spoke to, it brought an entirely new kind of appreciation.

“It’s crazy that you can grow life and then be able to sustain it with just your body.”

Another mum agreed: “You get a whole new appreciation for your boobs.”

There can be something extraordinary about watching your body nourish your baby. There can also be moments when you feel touched out, exhausted and desperate for five uninterrupted minutes alone. Basically, both things can be true.

There are the quiet, soft-focus moments, and there's the cluster feeding and leaking. It's all part of the ride, and regardless of how your journey goes, you will definitely find a new appreciation for what your body can do.

What breastfeeding support really looks like

Support isn’t simply telling a parent to "keep going". The best kind of support helps you to make an informed decision without judgement, and then respects that decision.

For loved ones, it might mean bringing food, refilling a water bottle or taking over nappy duty and settling after a feed. It can be washing bottles or pump parts without being asked, helping to find a lactation consultant or simply listening without immediately offering an opinion.

For professionals, look for experienced, compassionate care that meets you where you are at. Judgement-free zones are crucial in that vulnerable early-parenting stage. When you seek out support, make sure it comes with respect for you and your choices. Every family deserves useful information and compassionate care.

Ultimately, World Breastfeeding Week shouldn’t make you feel you've fallen short, it should empower you to trust yourself. "You've got this," one mum told us. "Trust your instincts".

What we would tell ourselves at the beginning

The advice parents wanted to give their earlier selves was rarely complicated.

Ask for help sooner.

One difficult feed doesn’t mean every feed will be difficult.

Your experience may look nothing like your friend’s.

And, most importantly: “You’ve got this.”

We’d add one more thing—you don’t need to have it all figured out on your own. World Breastfeeding Week is as much about building your village as it is about celebrating the way our bodies can feed our babies.

Need breastfeeding support?

The Australian Breastfeeding Association’s National Breastfeeding Helpline is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are amazing, whether you're calling in tears at 2am or with a plan at 10am.

Call 1800 MUM 2 MUM (1800 686 268) to speak with a qualified breastfeeding counsellor.

Also - seek prompt medical advice if breast pain is accompanied by redness, swelling, fever or flu-like symptoms, as these may be signs of mastitis.

This article provides general information and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice.