From constant feeding and milk supply worries to conflicting family advice, the first few weeks of breastfeeding can leave new moms questioning themselves. Dr Sakuntala Khalaiselvan, founder of Beyond Breastfeeding, shares what every mother deserves to know before starting her breastfeeding journey.
You attended antenatal classes, bought nursing bras, and imagined those precious moments of breastfeeding your newborn. Then your baby arrives, and suddenly, everything feels much harder than expected.
Your baby wants to feed again just 20 minutes after the last session. You’re exhausted, struggling with latching and wondering whether you’re even producing enough milk. Meanwhile, everyone around you seems to have an opinion about what you should be doing.
For many new mothers, this is where the self-doubt begins.
According to Dr Sakuntala Khalaiselvan, founder of Beyond Breastfeeding, a medical doctor and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), many mothers enter breastfeeding with expectations that leave them unprepared for its challenges.
Dr Sakuntala Khalaiselvan, founder of Beyond Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Is a Skill You Learn
“Breastfeeding is natural, but it is not always easy. It requires practice,” explains Dr Sakuntala.
Like learning to walk, breastfeeding is a skill that takes time to develop. Yet when mothers struggle, they often blame themselves.
Some experience difficulties with latching, while others become overwhelmed by frequent feeding or worry that their bodies aren’t producing enough milk.
Dr Sakuntala believes parents should begin learning about breastfeeding during pregnancy, when they have more time to prepare. She recommends breastfeeding-specific antenatal classes and encourages partners and family members to participate too.
She also stresses the importance of receiving guidance from trained lactation professionals, particularly those with IBCLC certification, rather than relying solely on social media or influencers.
Why Does My Baby Want to Breastfeed All the Time?
Imagine spending nearly an hour breastfeeding, only for your baby to start searching for your breast again shortly afterwards. Naturally, you wonder if you are feeding your baby right.
Dr Sakuntala identifies cluster feeding as one of the biggest sources of confusion among new mothers. She explains that a mother’s breasts have a familiar scent similar to the amniotic environment babies experienced in the womb. This familiarity may encourage newborns to seek their mother’s breast for comfort and reassurance.
Cluster feeding is also a way infants stimulate their mothers to increase milk supply based on their needs. Dr Sakuntala reminds us that breastfeeding is not only about nutrition but also greatly about the comfort an infant receives through this phase.
“Just because your baby wants to latch frequently doesn’t necessarily mean they’re still hungry,” she explains.
Unfortunately, mothers often interpret frequent feeding as a sign of insufficient milk supply. This misunderstanding can create unnecessary anxiety, especially when family members reinforce the belief that the baby isn’t getting enough milk.
Babies should ideally be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, without other foods or drinks, including water. From around six months, introduction to suitable complementary foods can be safely done.
When Everyone Has an Opinion About Your Breastfeeding
For Malaysian mothers, breastfeeding advice often comes from several directions.
Your mother might recommend one approach, your mother-in-law another, while your confinement lady follows traditions passed down through generations.
Dr Sakuntala recognises Malaysia’s diverse postpartum practices and encourages families to make informed decisions supported by reliable medical evidence.
Maternal nutrition is another important consideration. She believes mothers should receive nutritional guidance that considers their individual needs and food preferences, allowing them to recover and enjoy their time with their newborns.
Having access to qualified professionals can help families navigate conflicting advice and recognise when traditional practices may need to be reconsidered.
Breastfeeding Takes a Village, and Every Mom Deserves Support
Dr Sakuntala’s passion for lactation support began during her early years as a doctor, when she encountered an exhausted mother whose newborn had jaundice and who was struggling to express breast milk. Feeling helpless, she sought assistance from an experienced nurse. That encounter inspired her to specialise in lactation and establish Beyond Breastfeeding, guided by the philosophy, Where Breastfeeding Meets Holistic Care.
Today, she takes time to understand each mother’s emotional wellbeing, family circumstances and lifestyle alongside her breastfeeding challenges.
“Sometimes they do not need advice, but assurance and support. Most of the time, mothers just want to hear that they are doing a good job,” she shares.
She also believes that breastfeeding support begins at home.
“Instead of asking the mom why she cannot breastfeed, ask what we are not helping her with,” she says.
Partners can help by sharing household responsibilities, caring for the baby between feeds and protecting mothers from unnecessary pressure. She also encourages family members, including mothers and mothers-in-law, to learn about breastfeeding during pregnancy.
For working moms, that support should continue after maternity leave, with employers providing suitable pumping spaces and sufficient flexibility.
Dr Sakuntala also hopes to see more accessible lactation services across Malaysia, stronger breastfeeding-friendly policies and financial assistance for families who cannot afford breastfeeding equipment.
Preparing for Your Own Breastfeeding Journey
Dr Sakuntala encourages expectant mothers to start learning about breastfeeding during pregnancy, when they have more time to prepare, ask questions and understand what to expect.
She also reminds mothers that breastfeeding goals may change along the way. Having access to reliable information and professional guidance can help them make informed decisions for themselves and their babies.
Through Beyond Breastfeeding, a Parents’ Choice Awards 2026 winner as Best Doctor-Led Lactation Service, Dr Sakuntala continues to provide personalised lactation guidance to mothers and families navigating their breastfeeding journeys.
Get the guidance you need for a more confident breastfeeding journey. Visit Beyond Breastfeeding to learn more about its professional lactation support services and book a consultation with Dr Sakuntala Khalaiselvan.
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