HOW TO BREASTFEED: The Truth About Low Milk Supply, Pumping & Your Mental Health

Breastfeeding is often held up as the gold standard of early motherhood.Natural. Instinctive. Best.And yet, for many women, it is one of the hardest and most emotionally loaded parts of the postpartum experience.In this conversation, Dr Natalie Hutchins is joined by Dr Mythili Pandi, a family physician and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), who supports mothers through the realities of feeding with both medical expertise and practical, real-world guidance.Together, they unpack the biology, the expectations, and the reality of breastfeeding, and why the “all or nothing” narrative needs to change.We begin with the physiology. How milk is produced, and the hormonal balance between oxytocin and prolactin that drives supply.But it quickly becomes clear that breastfeeding is not just biology.Birth experience. Stress. Pain. Sleep deprivation. Lack of support.All of these shape whether it works, and how it feels.One of the most important reframes from this episode:Breastfeeding is not just the transfer of milk, it is the transfer of comfort, security, and connection.Which means that even when feeding doesn’t go to plan, much of what matters most is still there.We talk about why “low supply” is often misunderstood.In many cases, simple indicators such as wet and dirty nappies are more reliable than tracking minutes, volumes, or rigid schedules.Because breastfeeding, like early motherhood, does not respond well to control. It requires trust.We also explore:* Latch and positioning, and what effective feeding actually looks like* Why night feeds matter, with prolactin peaking overnight* The limits of supplements and quick fixes* How much the right support can change outcomesUnderlying all of this is modern motherhood.Many women are doing this without a “village”, balancing recovery, exhaustion, and often an early return to work.In that context, breastfeeding can quickly become another source of pressure.And perhaps most importantly, we talk about permission.Permission to adapt.Permission to combine feeding methods.Permission to stop.Because it does not have to be all or nothing.CHAPTERS00:00 Breastfeeding Isn’t All or Nothing02:00 How Milk Supply Actually Works06:20 Low Milk Supply. What’s Really Going On08:25 Is Your Baby Getting Enough Milk?12:05 Breast vs Bottle. What Really Matters17:05 Feeding on Demand vs Schedules21:15 Latch Problems, Tongue Tie and Pain27:25 Do Supplements Increase Milk Supply?31:45 Night Feeds. The Secret to Supply33:50 When to Stop Breastfeeding (Without Guilt)KEY TAKEAWAYS:* Breastfeeding is more than milk, it is connection, comfort, and bonding* It does not have to be all or nothing, any amount still has value* Milk supply is influenced by stress, birth experience, pain, and support* “Low supply” is often misinterpreted, nappies matter more than tracking feeds* A good latch should not be painful* Night feeds are key for maintaining supply* Supplements have limited evidence, support matters more* Skin-to-skin remains powerful, even without direct breastfeeding* If breastfeeding is harming mental health, it is okay to stop* A well-supported mother matters more than how a baby is fedBreastfeeding can be beautiful. It can also be difficult, frustrating, and emotional.Both can be true.What matters most is not how closely you follow an ideal, but whether you are supported, informed, and able to make decisions that work for you and your baby.Because at the centre of all of this is not just feeding.It is a relationship. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewomanshandbook.substack.com