For many new moms, the question of how to feed their baby isn’t as simple as “breast or bottle?” It’s a deeply emotional journey, and for a lot of women, one that comes with pressure, guilt, and more judgment than support according to a new survey.

A new survey from global parent-care brand Tommee Tippee, released in honor of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7), puts numbers behind what moms have been saying for years. When it comes to feeding their babies, it many still feel like they can’t win.

According to the study, more than half of mothers who aren’t able to breastfeed say they feel judged or ashamed. And for those who can breastfeed, over half report feeling lonely while doing it. Whether it’s about how they feed or how long they do it, moms are left navigating a minefield of expectations, often without the support they need most.

Let’s break down the survey findings.

The survey polled over 2,000 women between the 18 to 45, including 900 mothers. The research made an intentional effort to include 500 Black mothers and women from diverse urban areas. Their stories paint a clear picture.

• 85% of moms want to breastfeed.
• 50% say they can’t.
• Among those who can breastfeed, 51% feel lonely.
• Among those who can’t, 52% feel judged, and 56% feel ashamed.
• 53% say they feel pressured to feed their baby a certain way, even if it doesn’t work for them.

The data also revealed how racial disparities play a role in breastfeeding. Black women, in particular, reported higher pressure from doctors, family members (47%), and social media (41%) to breastfeed. Asian and Hispanic moms were also disproportionately affected, with many saying they felt like they had no help when they needed it most.

Per the research, there are several factors that limit a mother’s ability to breastfeed. Although breastfeeding may be natural, that doesn’t make it easy. Among the top reasons moms said they had to stop before they were ready include:
• Physical pain (32%)
• Low milk supply (31%)
• Latching difficulties (21%)
• Mental health concerns (26%)

These barriers, often invisible, are a heavy emotional burden for new moms already doing the most.

“Most mothers want to breastfeed, but far too many stop before they are ready. It is not for lack of effort. It is because they are in pain, they are exhausted, or they cannot find the help they need,” Kyrstal Duhaney, RN, BSN, IBCLC and founder of MilkyMama said in a recent interview with Parents.com in regarding the survey results. She added, “The real failure is in the system that was supposed to support them.”

Tommee Tippee hopes this new data will spark more open conversations and bring awareness to the very real challenges moms face. Support, they say, should never be one-size-fits-all. Because truthfully, there is no “right way” to feed your baby, there’s only your way. And that should be honored without shame, judgement, or a new mom having to justify their choice to anyone.