Despite common misconceptions, breastfeeding doesn’t always happen easily.

It’s World Breastfeeding Week. Seven days of the year dedicated to celebrating and supporting breastfeeding mothers across the globe.  And it is hard work.

First time mum Amy Harper says she was ill prepared for how challenging breastfeeding was going to be.

“It was a horrible start to the journey,” she says.

It wasn’t until week eight of unsuccessful breastfeeding that Amy was told that her caesarean had affected her body’s ability to produce milk. Her son was weighing under the required body mass, and the anxiety it caused her was unbearable.

Luckily, her lactation consultant came to the rescue and gave her the support she was missing.

Deanna Salib from Pregnancy Practice Perth’s lactation consultancy department says it can be hard for first time mums to know where to start.

She says expectations that every woman will be able to give birth and start breastfeeding straight away are unrealistic.  

For second time mum Jen Craig, breastfeeding is something she adores. A midwife suggested Jen breastfeed both of her children – at the same time. Tandem breastfeeding wasn’t something she was initially keen on, but she ended up finding it incredibly beneficial for both of her kids.

“Normally when you have a baby it takes some time for the milk to come in, but when you are still feeding a toddler, you can start right away!”

The theme of World Breastfeeding Week this year is better supporting breastfeeding mothers.

Beststart Lactation consultant Eve Coote says the week is a reminder for all to look out for breastfeeding mothers.

“The biggest misconception is that breastfeeding is easy, and that is certainly not the case,” she says. “We need to make sure all women are informed and given the appropriate resources to guide them through the process.”

Perth mother of two Ros Rozzie says breastfeeding is a superpower.

She says getting the support she needed saved her from a really scary time.