Conflicting Breastfeeding Advice Can Undermine Parents' Confidence and Mental Health

Maddy Barrett, a first‑time mother, says that within the first 24 hours after her daughter was born, nurses, lactation consultants and midwives each gave her different instructions on how to get the baby to latch. Because the advice was so varied, she left the hospital without a clear feeding plan.

In the weeks that followed, Barrett’s baby began to lose weight. The hospital then put her on a “triple‑feeding” schedule that combined breastfeeding, regular pumping and formula feeds, leaving Barrett exhausted and worried.

A 2024 review of Australian antenatal‑care guidelines found that the five major guidelines scored low in every evaluated domain – scope, stakeholder involvement, development rigour, clarity, applicability and editorial independence. The review concluded that the recommendations are often inconsistent, which can lead to the kind of mixed messages Barrett experienced.

Nicole Highet, executive director of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence, warned that such conflicting advice “increases stress and anxiety” and can make parents hesitant to seek help early. She also noted that national postnatal‑depression screening only occurs before birth and shortly after, missing many cases that develop six weeks to several months later.

Consistent, evidence‑based guidance is therefore crucial not only for a baby’s feeding success but also for protecting new parents’ mental wellbeing.

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