India, Sept. 6 -- I am a first-time expectant mother and want to breastfeed. But friends say it is painful, and relatives hint my diet will ruin supply, and I won't have enough milk. How do I ensure a smooth start and protect my confidence? Breastfeeding is a primary terrain of anxiety for new parents. A pervasive myth claims it is an automatic instinct that should effortlessly "click on". In reality, though, breastfeeding is tough; it is skilled biological labour that a mother and newborn learn together over time. Even though I breastfed my child for three years without a single bottle of formula, I refuse to glorify the process. A smooth start requires preparation long before delivery. You must choose a lactation professional ideally by the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy. They should counsel the entire family together. When the whole village understands raw biological facts beforehand, it builds a collective shield against generational pressures and unsolicited advice. Lactation operates on a simple law of demand and supply: the more your baby suckles, the more milk your body makes. Our bodies produce small, concentrated volumes perfectly tailored for a human newborn. Do not let early drops of colostrum scare you. To lock in this rhythm, the first two months are critical. You must not skip night feeds because the milk-making hormone, prolactin, hits its peak during the dead of night. Skipping feeds signals the brain to slow production, destroying your supply. Newborns naturally nurse on demand, often in evening marathon sessions called cluster feeding. Many mothers panic, fearing they are empty, but the baby is simply "ordering" tomorrow's breakfast. Similarly, pumping cannot replace direct breastfeeding. The breast is a live sensory organ. Direct latching triggers a backwash effect - vacuum pressure pulls a tiny bit of infant saliva into the nipple. The maternal body reads this saliva like a lab report; if the baby is fighting a cold, the brain alters the milk's recipe within hours, flooding it with protective white blood cells. A single feed is a two-course meal: Watery, high-sugar milk comes first (foremilk) to quench thirst, followed by rich, calorie-dense milk (hindmilk). Switching breasts too quickly fills the baby with sugary foremilk, causing gas, frothy green stools, and poor weight gain that leaves them looking thin. Always let the baby finish one side completely. Furthermore, a mother's stomach is not a pipe to her breasts. Food anxieties release adrenaline, a stress gatekeeper that locks milk inside, while forcing feeds on a sleeping baby oversimulates the system, causing agonizing, rock-hard engorgement. Ultimately, breastfeeding is a shared partnership. Partners must act as primary co-pilots - handling burping, soothing, and diaper changes while outsourcing domestic chores to helpers. Protection must extend to public spaces and workplaces through proper facilities. Source: Bakliwal, A. 20,000 Hours of Breastfeeding. Readomania, 2026....