Makes Milk with Emma Pickett (Emma Pickett)

Welcome to Makes Milk with Emma Pickett.

We'll begin weekly episodes in September, but in the meantime, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In this first episode, we take a moment to celebrate your breastfeeding/chest feeding journey so far. 

However long you have fed your baby for, you have given them and yourself a wonderful gift. Even if you are not enjoying things right now or considering bringing things to a close, you have done something amazing and that deserves recognition. So let’s think about what you have shared, and say well done, before you take the next step on your journey.

Find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding and chest feeding in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In this episode, we explore why you might want to end breastfeeding/chest feeding. I discuss the misleading advice that some parents receive, the societal pressures, and the guilt that you may be feeling, but also the autonomy that you can have to make this decision for yourself and your family.

Find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding and chest feeding in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode -

Online -

@Feedeatspeak (Stacy Zimmels on Instagram)
Nourishing the Mother podcast – Bridget Wood and Julie Tenner
Drugs in Breastmilk Service in the UK
Other services available include the Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) and the InfantRisk center led by Dr Thomas Hale.

Books - 

Adventures in Tandem Nursing – Hilary Flower
Taking charge of your fertility – Toni Weschler
Why breastfeeding grief and trauma matter – Amy Brown
The book you wish your parents had read (and your children will be glad that you did) – Philippa Perry

Articles - 

Articles on breastfeeding and sub-fertility – Carol Smyth IBCLC
Position Statement on the Shared Caregiving of the Breastfed Child – Breastfeeding for doctors

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In this episode, I ask, when is it natural for a nursling to wean? 
We look at the social and biological evidence, and hear from Hannah Barker about her experience as her daughter self-weaned at around 2 years old.

I also explore common methods of weaning, including ‘Don’t offer, Don’t refuse’, and partial weaning.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Night weaning is often the first step in parent-led weaning. In this episode, I explore how you could approach it and I talk about Dr Jay Gordon’s method and Lyndsey Hookway’s habit-stacking approach. I also discuss why I believe leaving your nursling overnight is not an effective strategy for weaning.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

Lyndsey Hookway IBCLC
Dr Jay Gordon - Sleep, Changing Patterns in the Family Bed

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Weaning a booby monster can feel like an impossible task. In this episode, I explore your motivations for weaning, and whether a refresh on nursing manners could help. I talk about ways you can upskill to meet your child’s needs without the breast, how to cut down on the number of feeds and how you can talk with your child to wean with kindness and authenticity.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram and Threads  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

Nursies When the Sun Shines: A Little Book on Nightweaning, by Katherine C Havener

Booby Moon: A weaning book for toddlers, by Yvette Reid

Goodbye Mummy's Milk! by Mariapaola Weeks

The Aware Parenting Institute

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Continuing to breastfeed/ chest feed during pregnancy is normal but not always well understood. Many people feel pressure to stop nursing their child when a new baby comes along. They may be told that breastfeeding during pregnancy is the problem or weaning in pregnancy is essential to avoid the ‘nightmare’ of tandem feeding.

In this episode, I explore the research about breastfeeding during pregnancy, and the experience of feeding two or more children at once. I answer some concerns and questions about tandem feeding, and I speak to Natalia about her experience of nursing and weaning her toddler when her second child was born.

Find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding and chest feeding in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

You can find a summary of the research on tandem feeding here https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/guest-post-breastfeeding-through-pregnancy-and-beyond/

Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond by Hillary Flower

Goodbye Mummy's Milk! by Mariapaola Weeks

Booby Moon with Two: A storybook for gently weaning Tandem fed toddlers by Yvette Reid

Natalia is a birth and postpartum doula based in Ireland and you can find her on Instagram at @10moonsandbeyond. The illustrator who created her cocoon and butterfly colouring pages is @thaiannecavalcanti on Instagram. 

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Our weaning topic isn’t over yet, but this week, I wanted to answer some of your questions about weaning. You can find a list of the questions and when they come up below, and if you have a question that I haven’t covered yet, do message me on Instagram @emmapickettibclc and I’ll answer it in a later episode.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Questions answered in this episode - 

• 1:28 How do you drop that 5am feed, without them starting the day?
• 4:57 Will my child sleep better when I wean?
• 8:40 How do you night wean if cutting the bedtime feed doesn’t feel right? And, If I want to stop feeding during the night, would it be best to also not feed to sleep initially at bedtime?
• 10:18How do you help a toddler fall asleep at bedtime without the breast if it's all they’ve ever known?
• 13:24 It will be helpful to know how much crying is okay. When it escalates and they can't be soothed other than the breast, does it mean they're not ready? Or is it just a change that they're fighting?
• 17:59 Will my child eat more solid food when I wean?
• 20:15 How do you gently wean a three and a half year old when they're always seeing you feed an eight month old?
• 23:11 How to manage engorgement?
• 24:57 How do you manage weaning blues? I'd like to know more about the hormonal changes I'm going through as my son stops breastfeeding.
• 27:13 How do you grieve the end of nursing?
• 28:40 How do you know when you are ready to wean?
• 30:36 Is it better to wean at night first or during the day?
• 31:17 How do you put boundaries in place, rather than stopping completely?
• 32:21 How do you move away from feeding to sleep for naps?
• 34:05 How do you get another parent to be accepted by a toddler?
• 35:58 If you're not influenced by external factors to start weaning, but know that you want to sometime soon, are there ages and stages to avoid?
• 37:37 I cut down to just morning and nighttime feeds, and then maybe one at night, and then it seems to pick up again. And I don't seem to be able to do anything about it - help!
• 39:29 What's the timescale for weaning?
• 41:19 What are the common myths about weaning? And can you bust them?

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Are there additional challenges to weaning a neurodivergent child? What strategies can we employ to wean with care and kindness when neurodivergence is involved?  In the next two episodes, I’m sharing two different perspectives, from Eleanor and Faith.

In this episode, I speak to Faith about weaning her son, Addison. We talk about having a newborn during the Covid lockdown, nursing manners, and leaning into your child’s passions to find alternatives to breastfeeding as you wean.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Are there additional challenges to weaning a neurodivergent child? What strategies can we employ to wean with care and kindness when neurodivergence is involved?  In the next two episodes, I’m sharing two different perspectives, from Eleanor and Faith.

In this episode, I speak to Eleanor about weaning her first child, Anna. Both Eleanor and Anna have recently been diagnosed with autism. We discuss the prevalence of neurodivergence in the breastfeeding supporter world, the similarities and differences between weaning her neurodivergent and neurotypical children, and Eleanor shares some resources that can be of help to parents and supporters.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

Eleanor Campbell is @Eleanor.ibclc on Instagram and her website is www.eleanor-campbell-breastfeeding.com

@DrAimeeGrant on Twitter

Autistic Parents UK

Reframing Autism | Celebrating & nurturing Autistic identity

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Catherine’s story touched on a lot of elements: managing with tongue tie, triple feeding, looking after yourself, setting feeding goals and knowing when parent-led weaning and putting in boundaries feels right. We look at managing the big feelings of little people, the aware parenting philosophy, the importance of support and that final breastfeed when the time comes. 

You can find Catherine on instagram as @‌stroudgentlesleepsupport, where you can follow her link to learn more about her professional life. 

Catherine’s new project is Stroud Motherhood Collective. You can find more about that on instagram @stroudmotherhoodcollective or at stroudmotherhood.com. Shout out to gbsn.org.uk who get a mention - the wonderful Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Support.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Trigger warning: This episode discusses fertility struggles, miscarriage and early pregnancy loss.

Fertility and breastfeeding can be confusing, with conflicting information coming from friends, family and medical practitioners, so in this episode I speak to the knowledgeable Carol Smyth IBCLC to try and make sense of the issue. We talk about what effect breastfeeding has on your hormones, when periods return after birth, nursing and assisted conception, charting and perimenopause.

You can find more from Carol, including her articles about fertility at www.carolsmyth.co.uk

The books Carol mentioned are

Taking Charge Of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler
Fertility Cycles and Nutrition by Marilyn Shannon

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Finding a way to effectively and comfortably feed your baby can sometimes feel like a challenge. Luckily, there are wonderful people like my guest, Maddie McMahon, who can help with all things positioning, attachment and so much more. In our wide-ranging conversation, we talk about Maddie’s charity, Maddie’s Miracle, why cross-cradle hold isn’t for everyone, alternative feeding positions, and whether pain is ‘natural’ in breastfeeding.

Find out more about Maddie on her website - https://maddiemcmahon.com/

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Resources mentioned -
No pain, no gain? What EXACTLY do we mean by breastfeeding pain? - The Birth Hub

My Book: Why Doulas Matter - The Birth Hub

Why Mothering Matters - Pinter & Martin Publishers (pinterandmartin.com)

How to Become a Doula - Developing Doulas

Mobile Breastfeeding Support - Maddie's Miracle (maddiesmiracle.org.uk)

Breastfeeding Resources – Cambridge Breastfeeding Alliance

Nancy Mohrbacher - YouTube

BASIS – Baby Sleep Information Source (basisonline.org.uk)

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week we’re talking weaning as in starting food, rather than weaning from the breast. I’m joined by Cordelia Uys, an NCT breastfeeding counsellor who supports parents with introducing solids, to answer your questions about all things food. 

You can hear more from Cordelia on her website https://www.cordeliauys.co.uk/ and follow here on instagram @‌cordeliauys.

Questions answered in this episode - 

2:10 Why is the recommendation to introduce solids around six months?
7:22 Do you ever think there's a time when it's appropriate to introduce solid food before six months?
10:39 What about parents with allergies in the family?
12:14 Are there times when you think it might be appropriate to delay the onset of solids?
15:48 Should we be worried about iron levels after six months?
16:54 I'm going back to work at six months, but I don't want to miss starting my baby on solids. Any suggestions?
18:31 What is baby led weaning? And how is it different from spoon feeding/purees? Does it have to be one or the other?
27:10 Is there a risk of choking with baby-led weaning?
33:56 How do you avoid engorgement/mastitis when a baby starts eating solids?
39:32 When do you start worrying about whether you’ve got to three meals a day?
42:51 How do you suggest that families introduce water? And how can they make sure they're giving the right amount?
46:30 What do you say to parents about introducing foods and whether it should it be in a particular order?
49:45 If somebody has a minor allergic reaction, what would that look like and what do they need to possibly do if that happens?
51:23 What are the sort of foods that we really do stay away from in infancy?
55:35 At what point should you look at breastfeeding frequency in relation to lack of solid intake? What should you do when a toddler still very much prefers milk to having solid 18 months plus? My health visitor is suggesting I wean from breastfeeding, is that necessary?

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

Choking video: Children First Aid: Choking baby - YouTube

Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (UK) on feeding in the first year, with discussion on why solids at 6 months: Feeding in the first year of life: SACN report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

November 2022 newsletter — First Steps Nutrition Trust (discussion of allergy studies)

Why Starting Solids Matters - Pinter & Martin Publishers (pinterandmartin.com)

The Baby-led Weaning Cookbook (penguin.co.uk)

For more resources and Instagram accounts to follow see Transcript

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I have the honour of talking to Dr Vicky Thomas, consultant paediatrician and gastroenterologist. She’s here to talk about how paediatricians support families in the UK, some of the reasons why somebody might go to see a paediatrician if they're a breastfeeding family, and we talk about lots of things doctory and infant feeding.

Resources mentioned - 

Breastfeeding for Doctors

BOOKS | Dr Pamela Douglas

Breastfeeding the Brave - Lyndsey Hookway

Some of Melissa Bartick’s work: Suboptimal breastfeeding in the United States: Maternal and pediatric health outcomes and costs (wiley.com)

Adrienne Hedger’s cartoon here #12: 21 Too-Real Comics That Capture The Highs And Lows Of Breastfeeding | HuffPost UK Parenting (huffingtonpost.co.uk)

First Steps Nutrition Trust

The Lullaby Trust - Safer sleep for babies, Support for families

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Returning to work and continuing to feed your little one can feel daunting. My guest this week, historian Genova Messiah, has been listening to the experiences of women returning to work from the 1950s onwards, and coupled with her own experience and training as a peer supporter, she couldn’t be a better person to talk to about how to work with your employer to get the best for them and your family. What are your legal rights in the UK? How can you make your return to work as easy as possible? 

Follow Genova on instagram: @yum.mumma

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

Genova’s episode for the Childcare voices podcast: Breastfeeding (on-the-record.org.uk)

Accommodating breastfeeding employees in the workplace | Acas

Continuing to breastfeed when you return to work - Maternity Action

Breastfeeding and Work - ABM

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

‘You’re not feeding him again are you?’ ‘I’m only saying this because I’m worried about you’ ‘Don’t you think she’s a bit old for that now?’ 

Unsupportive comments from family members can be hurtful and stressful for you and your child. In this episode, Raksha and Lauren share their stories of difficult relatives, and we share some tips for dealing with them.

You can find more from me on this topic in A first Christmas - The Natural Parent Magazine

And support from other parents here Breastfeeding Older Babies and Beyond | Facebook

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Deborah’s story is a long one and it deserves to be. The story of her multiple losses helps us to understand why her breastfeeding journey with her son had the impact that it still does today. This may not be an easy listen for anyone who has experienced baby loss themselves but it’s also a story of hope and repair. It’s a valuable listen for anyone who works with new families and needs to better understand the rainbow baby journey. Breastfeeding can do a lot of very special things, including changing a parent’s relationship with their own body. Running gets a shout out too!

Follow Deborah on Instagram @_spilling_the_milk and @mother_runner_

Get support for baby loss at Together, for every baby - Charity for Babies | Tommy's (tommys.org) and Aching Arms – the charity bringing comfort after baby loss

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Many parents worry that they won’t make enough milk for their child to thrive, but oversupply is much less talked about. For families who experience it though, it can cause pain, worry and lots of stress. This week I’m joined by fellow IBCLC Alice Lucken to identify the signs of oversupply, its causes, and what you can do to ease it. We talk about pumping, positioning, block nursing and supplements, as well as well-meaning advice to avoid.

Follow Alice on Instagram @babyetaluk or go to her website Home - Baby et Al

Find out more from my article on oversupply: “You’ve got so much milk! You’re so lucky!” “No, I’m bloody not”: oversupply, ‘colic’ and ‘reflux’ — Emma Pickett IBCLC (squarespace.com)

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (lllgbbooks.co.uk)

For donating milk:

Home - Human Milk Foundation

UK Human Milk Bank - Breast Milk Donation, BreastMilk Storage, UKAMB

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

There aren’t many things in a little person’s life that they have control over. When you start to impose boundaries or limit their autonomy over breastfeeding, you can often find that some big feelings come out in response. This week, I’m joined by parenting mentor Shelley Clarke, to talk about how we can help our little people experience those big feelings safely, what learning we may need to do about ourselves, and how you can strengthen your relationship as you negotiate change.

Find out more about Shelley on her website - www.shelleyclarke.com
Or follow her on Instagram @_shelleyclarke_

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned  - 

The Aware Parenting Institute - www.awareparenting.com
www.handinhandparenting.org
The Emotional Life of Babies, Marion Rose, Ph.D. 

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Happy Christmas. I hope you’re having a lovely time, whether you’re celebrating with family and friends or tucked up at home. 

In this short episode, I want to offer you a few words of encouragement if you’re having a challenging time, and to answer a few common questions about food and alcohol consumption.

If you need more support with your breastfeeding at this time of year, you can call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212. They’re open everyday from 9.30am to 9.30pm.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

My book on supporting the end of breastfeeding: Supporting the Transition from breastfeeding: a guide to weaning for professionals, supporters and parents is out in February and can be pre-ordered here: Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: A Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents: Amazon.co.uk: Pickett, Emma: 9781839977855: Books

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Can I still breastfeed with type 1 diabetes? What will happen to my baby now that I have gestational diabetes?

In this episode, I’m talking to Lucy Lowe, an IBCLC specialising in working with diabetes in pregnancy. We talk about how gestational diabetes is diagnosed and treated, what steps you can take to prepare for breastfeeding a baby if you have any type of diabetes, and how to get more support.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Get 10% off two of my books with the code MMPE10 from 21st December 2023. Find them at https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-emma-pickett-pid-240164

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned

Free online antenatal course: https://abm.me.uk/product/team-baby-online-course/

Expressing your milk before your baby arrives - https://abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/antenatal-expression-colostrum/

Language Matters article https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2018-09/language-matters_language%20and%20diabetes.pdf

https://jdrf.org.uk/

https://www.laleche.org.uk/diabetes-and-breastfeeding/

https://www.lowestoftandwaveneybreastfeeding.co.uk/

https://www.breastfeedingsupportnorwich.com/

https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/10/Having-meaningful-conversations-with-mothers.pdf

NICE guidelines: 

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs109

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/pregnancy

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Parenting an unsettled baby can be distressing and frustrating, especially when you feel like your concerns are not being heard. My guest this week, Shel Banks IBCLC, is working to help parents to address their worries, calm their babies and ultimately calm them.

In our conversation, we touch on colic, reflux and faltering growth, looking at what each term really means and how they can be addressed. We also talk supplements, exclusion diets and probiotics. 

Find out more about Shel at www.shelbanks.co.uk or follow her on Instagram @shel_banks or Facebook www.facebook.com/ShelBanksIBCLC

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Get 10% off two of my books with the code MMPE10 from 21st December 2023. Find them at https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-emma-pickett-pid-240164

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned

20 Myths about Colic - Shel Banks http://babyem.co.uk/20-myths-about-colic/ 

Managing the baby with colicky symptoms - Shel Banks https://shelbanks.co.uk/managing-baby-colicky-symptoms

NICE guidance on reflux https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng1

NICE guidance on faltering growth https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng75

Cochrane Review on diet changes for infant colic https://www.cochrane.org/CD011029/BEHAV_diet-changes-infant-colic

Cochrane Review on probiotics to prevent infantile colic https://www.cochrane.org/CD012473/BEHAV_probiotics-prevent-infantile-colic

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This might not be the episode to listen to while you are eating your breakfast. We’re talking poo. We’re covering texture, colour, smell, frequency - all the questions you ever wanted to ask, but were afraid to ask. And who better to answer those questions than Charlotte Treitl, IBCLC and founder of the Baby Poo Gallery? 

Charlotte and I discuss every aspect of poo from newborn to potty training, via allergies, when to seek medical help, elimination communication and much more.

You can find follow Charlotte on Instagram @themilkrebel or find out more about her here About Us – Breastfeeding Support

The Baby Poo Gallery is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/babypoogallery

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Get 10% off my books with the code MMPE10 from 21st December 2023. Find them at https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-emma-pickett-pid-240164

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

As a self-confessed TV addict, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to talk to Lauren Heeley, Senior Script Editor at Emmerdale, about representations of breastfeeding on TV. We begin with Lauren’s own story, a struggle to get help when an infection became an abscess just weeks after her daughter was born. Then at around 20 minutes, we discuss breastfeeding in some of our favourite, and not so favourite shows, including Friends, The Office (US) Game of Thrones and the notorious, Little Britain.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Get 10% off my books with the code MMPE10 from 21st December 2023. Find them at https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-emma-pickett-pid-240164

Watch the clips we talk about here - 

Friends: The one with the breastmilk Season 2 Episode 2 https://youtu.be/D2RNE-RttKg?si=n33-2s8JZblKC7Xb

Friends: The one where Rachel has a baby. Season 9 Episode 1 https://youtu.be/PCNqt7qnXwo?si=-ZKCFFJiGPpO7ShF

The Office US Season 6 Delivery Part 2 https://youtu.be/pS9rTOEN3FY?si=TJ8UlROW7on-stqw

Peep Show - Luxury Milk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtiyNv7zCbQ

A Dark Adapted Eye - https://youtu.be/sE1hYGKNXt0?si=_i2Tnz4LHGYKmh-j

Little Britain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuPBbFOiygo

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

I could have asked my guest this week, Dr Lyndsey Hookway, to talk about just about any aspect of breastfeeding. Lyndsey is an author and educator, a paediatric nurse, a health visitor and IBCLC and a researcher, and you might be most familiar with her work on sleep. But this time, we chose to talk about  her project, ‘Breastfeeding the Brave’, which focuses on breastfeeding medically complex infants and children under paediatric clinical care. We talk about breastfeeding a sick child, the challenges in a hospital setting, standards in paediatric care, and supporting weaning for children with complex medical needs, amongst many other things.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Get 10% off my books with the code MMPE10 from 21st December 2023. Find them at https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-emma-pickett-pid-240164

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

Breastfeeding the Brave - Lyndsey Hookway

Why Childhood Illness Matters - Lyndsey Hookway – Pinter & Martin (pinterandmartin.com)

Breastfeeding/Lactation Knowledge & Advocacy | Hospital Infant Feeding Network (hifn.org)

Breastfeeding for Doctors

Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative Guide to Children's Hospital Settings Standards - Baby Friendly Initiative

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

A difficult start doesn’t have to spell the end of your breastfeeding journey. 
In this episode, I’m speaking to Emily Sanderson about how she overcame the struggle of an undiagnosed tongue tie and a 19% weight loss in the first few days of her daughter Elsie’s life. Although Emily was failed at several points in her hospital experience, thanks to having expressed lots of colostrum antenatally and finally getting the help she needed, a year on, she and Elsie are thriving. 

Today’s episode was recorded under slightly different circumstances due to a Wifi fail and recording in a car, so apologies if Emma’s sound isn’t ideal.

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Get 10% off my books with the code MMPE10 from 21st December 2023. Find them at https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-emma-pickett-pid-240164

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

Get the ABM Team Baby course here www.abm.me.uk/product/team-baby-online-course/

And find out more about expressing colostrum here www.abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/antenatal-expression-colostrum/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

How will you remember your final feed? Are you happy to say goodbye to breastfeeding without an occasion, or would you like to mark the event in some way?

In this episode, I talk to Lucy Cass about her weaning journey, and the Moon Day ritual that she celebrated when her daughter, Joy, weaned at 2 and a half. 

Find out more about breastfeeding and chest feeding older babies and children in my book Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond: A Guide for Professionals and Parents

Get 10% off my books with the code MMPE10 from 21st December 2023. Find them at https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-emma-pickett-pid-240164

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Books mentioned -

Booby Moon, by Yvette Reid

My Milk Will Go, Our Love Will Grow, by Jessica Elder

Loving Comfort, by Julie Dillemuth

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out today! 

To celebrate, in this episode I’ll be answering more of your weaning questions from Instagram. 

And exclusively for this episode, you can get 25% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com. Add the code STBPR25 at checkout to get 25% off.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Questions answered in this episode - 

02:59 How do I handle my emotions when I'm so scared to try and wean, but I'm so desperate? 

07:01 What are typical weaning symptoms for a parent?

11:04 Please cover stopping feeding to sleep as part of the weaning process.

23:45 More booby monster weaning please! How do you stop when the language skills and all the communication isn't there?

34:48 Talk about the impact of weaning on the emotional health of the child.

41:09 Is there any evidence that night weaning will promote babies sleeping through the night?

46:46 How do you occasionally stop the older toddler from nursing to sleep when it's all they've ever known? And how do you involve the non -breastfeeding partner in making the child fall asleep?

49:10 I've noticed a correlation between the moments when I tried to hold a breastfeeding boundary with my two year old and her rejecting me in favour of her dad. On reflection, this seems logical, she feels rejected in some way. But she's rejecting me and I wondered if this was common?

52:00 How do I encourage my toddler to drink water or milk from a cup, not from me?

54:28 Advice for weaning the feed before their nap due to returning to work because I'm not going to be there to feed them to sleep?

59:21 How do you stop breastfeeding a baby if they're 11 months old, and they don't have any other comforter or dummy and they've refused a bottle?

1:01:40 Is it possible, is it fair, to keep feeding to sleep and feeding for certain day feeds, and to stop feeding overnight?

1:05:12 Do you have any advice on avoiding mastitis or painfully full breasts? I find that I'm quite uncomfortable on the few occasions we've been apart for 24 hours, so not sure how I'll go on once I start weaning.

1:06:55 I'd love to hear about weaning and timing with the transition of moving their child to their own bed.

1:09:08 Is there an ideal order when it comes to potty training and weaning?

Resources mentioned - 

Guided meditation for bedtime - https://www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com/guided-visualisation

Effect of Current Breastfeeding on Sleep Patterns in Infants from Asia Pacific Region study

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22616943/

Sleep study - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36265054/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Weaning a two year old booby monster while pregnant with your second child is a challenge! 

Rhea has breastfed her daughter Ilaria responsively for two years and they’ve found the weaning process tricky at times. In this episode, we talk about the emotional journey that they have been on together, and some new ideas that Rhea can perhaps use to ease the transition to being a mother to two in the coming weeks.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Who are the ‘Great Pretenders’?  These are babies born between 34 and 38 plus 6 weeks. They might be multiples, pre-term babies, late pre-term babies or early term babies. Lactation Consultant Kathryn Stagg calls these babies the Great Pretenders. They might appear to be ‘full term’, but often struggle to establish breastfeeding because of their prematurity.

In this episode, Kathryn helps me explore the challenges and joys of these babies. We talk about the hospital experience, techniques to try to ensure that sleepy babies receive enough milk, and how to support breastfeeding going forward.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Kathryn Stagg IBCLC is an author and founder of an amazing charity, Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets UK. You can find out more about her on her website https://kathrynstaggibclc.com/

Resources mentioned - 

Breastfeeding 36 or 37 week babies article https://kathrynstaggibclc.com/2019/04/06/breastfeeding-babies-born-at-36-or-37-weeks/

Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets article https://breastfeedingtwinsandtriplets.co.uk/

Kathryn’s book - Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets https://uk.jkp.com/products/breastfeeding-twins-and-triplets

ABM Beyond Bottles video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLGqB3kaP6s

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

If you are breastfeeding, your breasts are going to be central to your success! Changes in breast health, from nipple damage and infection to breast cancer, can impact heavily your breastfeeding journey. In the most extreme cases, they can force a breastfeeding parent to stop nursing before they are ready.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Justice Reilly, an IBCLC, medical doctor and expert in all things breast health. We talk about breast cancer screening and treatment while lactating, abscesses and other breast health concerns, and how to look after your breasts during nursing and beyond.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Find out more about Dr Justice at her website https://breastmed.co.uk/ and @breastmed on instagram

Resources mentioned - 

Breast imaging recommendation in pregnant and lactating women - RAD Magazine Article by Justice and Sau Lee Chang https://www.radmagazine.com/scientific-article/breast-imaging-recommendation-in-pregnant-and-lactating-women/

Breastfeeding course for medical students (unfortunately no longer free): https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/an-introduction-to-breast-feeding-for-medical-students

Amma Birth Companions https://ammabirthcompanions.org/

Mummy's Star Charity https://www.mummysstar.org/

Spectrum (spectrumlactation.org) and @spectrumlactation on instagram

Katrina Mitchell’s website https://physicianguidetobreastfeeding.org/

ABM Clinical Protocol #34: Breast Cancer and Breastfeeding https://www.bfmed.org/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/Protocol%20%2334%20-%20English%20Translation.pdf

Breastfeeding for Doctors https://breastfeedingfordoctors.org/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Today’s episode is a wide ranging discussion about all the things you can expect from the fourth trimester, those first few months with your new baby. 

I’m joined by Lucy Webber IBCLC, a former midwife who went into private practice following the birth of her third child. Her new book, Breastfeeding and the Fourth Trimester, is out now. Lucy shares her wealth of experience and knowledge on hunger cues, recovering from a difficult birth, the early days of breastfeeding, pain and faltering growth, and towards the end of the episode, we bust some breastfeeding myths.

You can find out more about Lucy at www.lmjinfantfeedingsupport.com

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned -

Lucy’s book,  Breastfeeding and the Fourth Trimester: A supportive, expert guide to the first three months

English Language Videos - Global Health Media Project https://globalhealthmedia.org/language/english/?_sft_topic=breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Support - Breastfeeding tips, tricks & support https://breastfeeding.support/

Lucy’s Facebook group, Breastfeeding Autistic Children https://www.facebook.com/groups/1528426334368681

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

There are many outdated perceptions and myths around Down syndrome, one being that ‘babies with Down syndrome can’t breastfeed.’ March 21st is World Down Syndrome day and this year’s theme is #EndTheStereotypes. Peer supporter Sarah Ojar, breastfeeding coordinator for the charity ‘Positive about Down Syndrome’, shares her experience of breastfeeding her son Zephy and working with other breastfeeding families and explains that breastfeeding can be a positive and happy experience, especially with support.

You can follow Sarah on Instagram @chromosomes_and_curls

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

The Lived Experience - Breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome www.positiveaboutdownsyndrome.co.uk/breastfeeding/

https://positiveaboutdownsyndrome.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/12112-PADS-Breastfeeding-Report_Oct2022.pdf

DSUK - Down Syndrome UK www.downsyndromeuk.co.uk

Breastfeeding a baby with Down Syndrome - The Breastfeeding Network www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-information/diversity-in-breastfeeding/breastfeeding-a-baby-with-downs-syndrome/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

For those parents with babies in special care, or those wanting to maintain feeding with human milk while going through their own medical treatment, milk banks are a crucial service. Over the last few decades, they often have Gillian Weaver to thank for that.

My guest this week, Gillian Weaver was president of the European Milk Bank Association from 2012 to 2015. She co-founded Hearts Milk Bank in Hertfordshire, with Dr. Natalie Schenker, after a long career of running milk banks at a hands-on level and also consulting internationally. She has been awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to milk banking and breastfeeding.

We talk about how Gillian got started in the world of milk banks, how the service has evolved, how donations and supply works, and the future of the Human Milk Foundation and Hearts Milk Bank.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Find out more about Gillian’s work at 

Human Milk Foundation https://humanmilkfoundation.org/

Hearts Milk Bank https://humanmilkfoundation.org/hearts-milk-bank/

Find a milk bank near you in the UK here: 

UK Human Milk Bank - Breast Milk Donation, BreastMilk Storage, UKAMB

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Can you breastfeed while taking ibuprofen? What about pseudoephedrine? Or even chemotherapy? The published advice on medications and breastfeeding isn’t always clear, so who do you turn to for advice?

Laura Kearney is a clinical lead pharmacist for UKDILAS, an NHS service which provides evidence-based information and advice to healthcare professionals, and professionals and supporters who are working with parents. She’s here to explain how her service works, and to guide us through the evidence for some of the most common medications.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Those working with breastfeeding parents can contact Laura’s service on

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/about-sps/get-in-touch/medicines-information-services-contact-details/breastfeeding-medicines-advice-service/

Breastfeeding and medications information sheets are available to all here

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/guidance/safety-in-breastfeeding/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Sometimes you meet someone who you instantly connect with, and it feels like you will never run out of things to talk about! That’s how I felt when I met life coach, Mubareka Virjee. 

In this episode, Mubareka brings her creative, intuitive, positive attitude to life to our discussion about her breastfeeding journey. We touch on pressure from family members, divorce and single motherhood, lockdown parenting, weaning, Islamic attitudes to breastfeeding and the concept of milk kinship, in our wide-ranging chat.

You can find Mubareka on Instagram @mubareka__

and on TikTok @mubareka__ 

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Although the episode title refers to blood loss, Leanne’s story is about far more than that. It is important to flag up that Leanne’s birth contained trauma and her calm and articulate description of her experience is testament to who she is as a person, and the support and debriefing she has received. It won’t be an easy listen for everyone so please consider this a trigger warning for birth trauma. How does someone get breastfeeding off to a good start despite a very challenging and difficult birth? What factor can blood loss play? Leanne’s story is an example of the value of good support, communication and a mother’s determination.

We’ve split Leanne’s story into two parts, so that you can skip this episode if you prefer not to hear the details.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Find out if you are eligible to give blood at www.blood.co.uk

Information and support for traumatic births can be found at The Birth Trauma Association and MIND

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Although the episode title refers to blood loss, Leanne’s story is about far more than that. It is important to flag up that Leanne’s birth contained trauma and her calm and articulate description of her experience is testament to who she is as a person, and the support and debriefing she has received. It won’t be an easy listen for everyone so please consider this a trigger warning for birth trauma. How does someone get breastfeeding off to a good start despite a very challenging and difficult birth? What factor can blood loss play? Leanne’s story is an example of the value of good support, communication and a mother’s determination.

We’ve split Leanne’s story into two parts. This second half begins after her traumatic birth and medically-induced coma.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Find out if you are eligible to give blood at www.blood.co.uk

Information and support for traumatic births can be found at The Birth Trauma Association and MIND

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I’m speaking to Shona, just three weeks after the birth of her second child, Vaila, who you can hear in the background! We talk about her feeding journey with four year old Jura, anxiety, miscarriage and aversion,  and how he weaned during her pregnancy.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

Bedtime meditation from Nehanda Truscott-Reid https://www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com/resources

The book you wish your parents had read, by Philippa Perry

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/292159/the-book-you-wish-your-parents-had-read-and-your-children-will-be-glad-that-you-did-by-perry-philippa/9780241251027

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

The breadth of experiences that people from the LGBTQI+ community go through cannot possibly be covered in one episode, but today we’re making a start on how to support the community with lactation in its many forms.

I’m speaking to BJ Woodstein IBCLC, who is also a doula, an academic and a translator, about the many choices open to Queer parents, including induced lactation, feeding after surrogacy and SNS chest feeding, as well as the discrimination that many face during medical care and in the workplace.

Follow BJ on Instagram @‌bjwoodstein
Her website is www.bjwoodstein.com

And her book, We’re Here! A Practical Guide to Becoming an LGBTQ+ Parent by B.J. Woodstein - PraeclarusPress

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

Some listings and resources mentioned here (US focused): Our Favorite Queer and Trans-Centered Resources for Families and Birth Workers — Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings (badoulatrainings.org)

UK directory here: The Great LGBTQ UK Business Directory! http://lesbemums.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Today, doula and peer supporter Terri Dell is sharing her breastfeeding story which ends with her night weaning her daughter Riley on attempt number 3. It’s a story that covers some early challenges but ends with a demonstration of how putting some boundaries in place, and getting to grips with nursing manners, can help a breastfeeding journey to continue. As Terri describes, she ‘fell back in love with breastfeeding’ once she started to look after her own needs in the nursing relationship.

Terri is on instagram as @terridell

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

My guest today has achieved something that many people don’t think is possible - breastfeeding triplets. Tracey Chow-Seegoolam was already feeding her son Miles when she found out she was pregnant with three more babies. 

In our conversation, we talk about how Miles weaned during the pregnancy, where Tracey found support and advice for breastfeeding multiples, how she built up her supply through the hard work of triple feeding and pumping, and how she continues to feed Lewis, Felix and Elodie. It’s a story of determination, self-belief and the importance of getting accurate information and support. Breastfeeding multiples, including triplets, is definitely possible.

Find Tracey on Instagram @tracey.c.s 

Find support for breastfeeding multiples from www.breastfeedingtwinsandtriplets.co.uk and their Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BfTwinsUk/?locale=en_GB

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In this episode, Charlotte shares her story of her son Noah’s journey with faltering growth and weight gain challenges. Her family struggled with bottle refusal, insufficient NHS support and hospital stays. Thanks partly to the remote support of lactation consultants, Noah is a happy 14 month old today with some great fat rolls, but the journey to get here was not an easy one.

Charlotte is @the.smart.doula on instagram

Charlotte talks about working with the brilliant Lucy Webber IBCLC. You can hear Lucy talking about the fourth trimester in episode 33 of this podcast. Lactation Consultant | Lucy Webber IBCLC | Bristol, England (lmjinfantfeedingsupport.com)

She also talks about Charlotte Young IBCLC from Milk Matters Infant Feeding Solutions – Infant feeding information, support & education

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

There are as many approaches to weaning as there are nurslings, so in this episode, I thought I’d get another perspective from an IBCLC across the pond. Katy Baker-Cohen works with the Nurse Family Partnership and has her own private practice called Crescent Lactation Care based in Pennsylvania. Together we talk about our approaches to transitioning from breastfeeding, how to talk about bed sharing, methods of night weaning, and which methods we don’t encourage for families choosing parent-led weaning.

Find out more about Katy at https://www.crescentlactationcare.com/

She is @‌crescentlactationcare on instagram

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

“the no man’s land of lactation” Finding the answers to your weaning questions right in your own heart. Crescent Lactation Care

Sleep, Changing Patterns In The Family Bed — Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP (drjaygordon.com)

Breastfeeding Grief | Professor Amy Brown

When Breastfeeding Sucks: What you need to know about nursing aversion and agitation, by Zainab Yate

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

I’m honoured this week to talk to Leanne Pearce about five of her paintings depicting human milk feeding, and her work in general. You can look at the paintings we focus on as you listen by going to Leanne’s website - www.leannepearce.co.uk/emma-pickett-podcast or by visiting my instagram account @emmapickettibclc. 

Leanne is a contemporary British artist specialising in portraiture. She has featured twice on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the year. Her skill in elevating early years, breastfeeding and parenthood has led her to be commissioned to work on a variety of projects namely Breastfeeding the Brave, Connecting Hearts for Hearts Human Milk Bank and Family Hubs, Blackburn and Gateshead. Her ability to beautifully capture the complex emotions around breastfeeding and lactation makes her the perfect choice.

You can buy affordable prints of Leanne’s work at her website: https://www.leannepearce.co.uk/. Or talk to her about a commission or exhibiting her work.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

For more about the exhibitions and art featured in this episode - 

https://humanmilkfoundation.org/get-involved/connectinghearts/

https://breastfeedingthebrave.com/

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/st-oswalds-hospice-launches-emotional-29147062.amp

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week’s story from Chloe is about not just breastfeeding through pain and discomfort, but also a wound that seemingly would not heal. Chloe dealt with repeated bouts of mastitis, and an infection, before finally being pain free after 8 months of breastfeeding. She is also a nurse, specialising in wound management, so she’s uniquely placed to talk about how infection and pain affected her feeding journey with her daughter, Nova, and how they overcame their challenges to continue feeding for almost two years. 

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

If you’ve been around breastfeeding support for any amount of time in the UK, you will have benefited from the work of my guest this week. There are few people who have made such an impact on the lives of breastfeeding families. Wendy Jones MBE is a founding member of the Breastfeeding Network (BfN). She ran the Drugs in Breastmilk helpline for many years and she is a respected author of many books and countless fact sheets on breastfeeding and medication.

It was a pleasure to have Wendy on the podcast to talk about all of these things, as well as contraception use in early breastfeeding, how she would advise dads/ partners and grannies to best support their loved ones, and breastfeeding and breast cancer.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

You can find more about Wendy at her website - https://breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk/

And her books here https://breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk/books

The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk service and the factsheets - https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets/

Advice and support for cancer during pregnancy and infancy - https://www.mummysstar.org/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week it’s the return of your questions - this time on the topic of natural term breastfeeding.

Questions answered -
2:28How does self weaning happen?
8:57Is there evidence of calories needed to not affect milk supply while pursuing weight loss?
12:47My baby is 13 months old and my health visitor recently said she only needs two feeds a day at this age, so not to feel guilty if I want to impose limitations. Is this rooted in any evidence?
15:03Breastfeeding and travel - I need to go away for three to four days. This is the first time I've had more than six hours separation from my son since his birth. I'm not sure how to go about it.
22:51I would like to know what you can do if you were tandem feeding, and suddenly start to have strong nursing aversions with the older nursling but don't want to wean, especially if the older one is a Boobie Monster and demands boob for nap and multiple times in the night.
27:40I would love to know what natural term feeding looks like?
29:50I don't want to wean, but I need to be away from my 18 month old for an indeterminate amount of nights. I know breastfeeding can re-start after a break, but is there a length of time where being away could force weaning?
33:24Excuse my new mom ignorance, natural term breastfeeding - does that mean that it ends on baby's terms or when milk dries up?
38:27 How do I overcome the feelings of guilt for schedule feeding my firstborn from four months, and then he lost interest in breastfeeding around one year. And now I'm feeding and comfort feeding my now one-year-old all through the night and sometimes in the day? It seems so unfair.
42:05I'd love to know more about uni boobing, and how common this is when natural term breastfeeding? Does your supply increase on that side? Or does it cap at whatever you've been doing for so long?
45:10Something about dealing with judgement would be helpful. I do plan to carry on but I'm a bit worried about other people's judgement when I'm out and about and I'm starting to feel a bit uncomfortable at 12 months.
49:38 Can I get some information on the benefits of breastfeeding older children?
51:08Could you discuss natural term breastfeeding when feeding a younger sibling, so a four year old and a two year old, for example?
52:24It's common advice to not offer a child alternatives if they're being a picky eater, especially something they previously liked. How do I weigh this up against responsive feeding?
56:42I'm at 20 months. I'm not planning to wean anytime soon, but I'm trying to put some boundaries in place. Do I just keep trying? Or does she need more time to get used to the idea of breastfeeding not always being there on demand?
1:00:15Okay, this might be TMI, but I really want to know if my nipples are ever going to shrink back. Is there anything I can do to change my nipple shape?
1:01:25I'd love to know if using a dummy as a toddler, and if mom getting pregnant can affect natural term breastfeeding?



My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.
You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned -

When Breastfeeding Sucks: What you need to know about nursing aversion and agitation (lllgbbooks.co.uk)
Instagram accounts - 
Lucy Upton @childrensdietitian
Stacey Zimmels @feedeatspeak

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Few people who practise mostly child-led weaning know when their last feed is. Feeds tend to get few and far between until one day, you realise that it’s probably over. When that happened for today’s guest, Lucy, she chose to mark the occasion by writing a beautiful letter to her daughter, Ivy, which she shares here. 

However, Ivy had other plans! She returned to breastfeeding, alongside her younger sister, Erin. Lucy continues to then tandem feed both girls, now 5 and 2 but Ivy is very close to the end of her journey. Lucy also shares her struggles with aversion and tongue tie.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

Hearts Milk Bank - Human Milk Foundation https://humanmilkfoundation.org/hearts-milk-bank/

When Breastfeeding Sucks: What you need to know about nursing aversion and agitation (lllgbbooks.co.uk) https://www.lllgbbooks.co.uk/store/p237/WhenBreastfeedingSucks.html

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Breastfeeding and perimenopause both suffer from a lack of research and investment. When you put the two together, mothers in their 40s and 50s are often met with a lack of understanding and no clear path to follow. So this week, I’ve got together two women who know as much as anyone can do about these tricky subjects, Dr Claire Phipps, the Menopause GP, and Tamzin West IBCLC, to help me untangle the truth and the rumours.

We talk about the symptoms of perimenopause and why blood testing doesn’t always help, how HRT and other treatments interact with lactation, and we answer your questions about sleep, bone health, rage and fertility while breastfeeding during perimenopause.

You can follow Tamzin on Instagram @‌seedsofloveibclc and @‌breastfeedingandmenopause

and Claire @‌themenopauseGP

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned -

British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/

Understanding Menopause Booklet from Diane Danzebrink https://menopausesupport.co.uk/?page_id=17128

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Katie had a difficult route to pregnancy, going through two rounds of IVF and several transfers, as well as multiple surgeries to prepare her for conception. Her story is one of struggle, but also of trusting her instincts to continue. Did her route to conception give her more determination to make breastfeeding work? After a c-section delivery, her daughter, Ava, struggled to latch with a high palate, but with the help of nipple shields and pumping, they made it through. Now a year on, Ava feeds well and Katie has no plans to stop soon.

You can follow Katie on Instagram at @k_comer82

She recommends these instagram accounts on endometriosis:

@gynaegeek

@endometriosis.surgeon.uk

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I’m honoured to have a true legend of UK breastfeeding support for you - Sarah Oakley, IBCLC, Registered Nurse and Health Visitor and Tongue-Tie Practitioner.

Sarah and I discuss how and why tongue-ties happen, what you can expect from a tongue-tie division, if it’s right for your child, how to find a practitioner and what after-care is needed. We also dive into the ethics and history of tongue-tie diagnosis, whether divisions are always helpful, and Sarah’s involvement with the Association of Tongue-Tie Practitioners. 

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Find out more about Sarah on her website www.sarahoakleylactation.co.uk/tongue-tie-assessment-and-division-services

Sarah’s book is called Why Tongue-tie Matters www.pinterandmartin.com/products/why-tongue-tie-matters

Find a practitioner at The Association of Tongue Tie Practitioners www.tongue-tie.org.uk

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

‘You’re not feeding him again are you?’ ‘I’m only saying this because I’m worried about you’ ‘Don’t you think she’s a bit old for that now?’ 

Unsupportive comments from family members can be hurtful and stressful for you and your child. Especially when you’re trying to relax and enjoy your holiday.

This summer bonus episode is a replay of episode 16, where Raksha and Lauren share their stories of difficult relatives, and we share some tips for dealing with them.

I’m taking a break over the summer holidays, and replaying a few of my most popular episodes. I’ll be back with a brand new episode on 3rd September 2024.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This summer bonus episode is a replay of episode 2, where I explore why you might want to end breastfeeding/chest feeding. I discuss the misleading advice that some parents receive, the societal pressures, and the guilt that you may be feeling, but also the autonomy that you can have to make this decision for yourself and your family.

I’m taking a break over the summer holidays, and replaying a few of my most popular episodes. I’ll be back with a brand new episode on 3rd September 2024.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode -

Online -

@Feedeatspeak (Stacy Zimmels on Instagram)

Nourishing the Mother podcast – Bridget Wood and Julie Tenner 

Drugs in Breastmilk Service in the UK (https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/detailed-information/drugs-in-breastmilk/). 

Other services available include the Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) and the InfantRisk center led by Dr Thomas Hale.

Books - 

Adventures in Tandem Nursing – Hilary Flower

Taking charge of your fertility – Toni Weschler

Why breastfeeding grief and trauma matter – Amy Brown

The book you wish your parents had read (and your children will be glad that you did) – Philippa Perry

Articles - 

Articles on breastfeeding and sub-fertility – Carol Smyth IBCLC

Position Statement on the Shared Caregiving of the Breastfed Child – Breastfeeding for doctors

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This summer bonus episode is a replay of episode 5, where I explore your motivations for weaning, and whether a refresh on nursing manners could help. I talk about ways you can upskill to meet your child’s needs without the breast, how to cut down on the number of feeds and how you can talk with your child to wean with kindness and authenticity.

I’m taking a break over the summer holidays, and replaying a few of my most popular episodes. I’ll be back with a brand new episode on 3rd September 2024.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

Nursies When the Sun Shines: A Little Book on Nightweaning, by Katherine C Havener

Booby Moon: A weaning book for toddlers, by Yvette Reid

Goodbye Mummy's Milk! by Mariapaola Weeks

The Aware Parenting Institute

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week we’re talking about all things childcare and I’m delighted to be joined by Molly Morgan, a holistic sleep coach & maternity nurse. 

Molly and I discuss choosing between a nursery, childminder or nanny, what to look out for when making your decision, how a setting can support your breastfeeding journey and some of the practicalities of breastfeeding a child around nursery schedules.

Find Molly on Instagram at @molly_foxandthemoon

or on www.foxandthemoon.co.uk/

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Today we’re talking about a condition that is surprisingly common in babies, but little known - torticollis.

Alessia Testa had already suffered mastitis following a painful latch on one side by the time her son was six weeks old, but it was her insistence that her son had a head tilt that led to him being diagnosed and treated. With the help of physiotherapy and some simple changes at home, Luca’s neck muscles have stretched and strengthened, and he now feeds well as an 18 month old.

We’re also joined by Nicola Walker, an infant feeding specialist, and senior physiotherapist, to help answer the science questions, and explain how you can get help if you have noticed head tilt or facial asymmetry in your child. We discuss the breastfeeding implications of torticollis, sternocleidomastoid tumour, and plagiocephaly - some big words that can feel intimidating, but support is out there.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

@babybegin on Instagram

@kinactive_kids on Instagram 

https://www.cwgenna.com/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

It’s my pleasure to be joined this week by Rakhee to talk about her gradual weaning journey with her daughter Isla. 

It was lack of sleep and aversion connected to her cycle that made Rakhee consider putting in some boundaries with Isla when she was around 18 months. With the support of her husband, Sandy, she made these changes very slowly, allowing for Isla to adapt and grow as she went. Eventually they ended their breastfeeding journey this year, when Isla was 3 years old.

This story touches on post-nursery feeds, aversion, and fear or anxiety over a child’s distress.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Volunteer breastfeeding peer supporters are among the unsung heroes of the breastfeeding and chest feeding world. This week we’re exploring who they are and what they do. 

I’m joined by two peer supporters, Hilary and Katrina, who volunteer for Treasure Chest, in York. We talk about how they came to train as supporters, what they enjoy and find challenging about the role, and how they help families with their feeding journey.

Maybe being a peer supporter is something that you might be interested in? Check out what’s available locally, or in the UK, visit the Breastfeeding Network website to see if there’s a project near you: What is peer support? - The Breastfeeding Network. You can also train with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers from anywhere in the UK: Breastfeeding Training – ABM

Find out more about Treasure Chest on Instagram at @treasurechestyork or on their website https://treasurechest.org.uk/

We talk in the episode about child loss and bereavement, as Hilary’s son Kester died when he was two. Hilary recommends some useful resources here: https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/support-for-you/family-life/bereavement-support/bereaved-parent-support/

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In this episode I’m talking about natural term breastfeeding with someone who has both personal and professional experience of it. Olivia Hinge is an IBCLC, midwife and mum of three, currently breastfeeding her youngest child (who makes a sleepy appearance in the episode).

We talk about the realities of breastfeeding support on the maternity ward and what training Olivia would provide to all hospital staff if she had a magic wand, as well as Olivia’s own breastfeeding and weaning journey. Olivia’s brand new book on infant feeding is available now.

Find Olivia on Instagram @olivia_lactation_consultant

and get her new book here https://www.yellowkitebooks.co.uk/titles/olivia-hinge/a-judgement-free-guide-to-feeding-your-baby/9781399731904/

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

It’s a pleasure to have Molly Morgan back with me today, to answer your questions about starting nursery and breastfeeding. 

You can find out more about Molly on Instagram at @molly_foxandthemoon and www.foxandthemoon.co.uk

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Questions answered - 

1:59 Do I need to gradually reduce my 10-month-old’s day feeds and feeding to sleep for naps, so that he's more prepared for starting nursery?

5:57  My 18-month-old still won't eat at nursery, but takes pumped milk. I'm now being told to limit breastfeeding and sending pumped milk. What do I do?

9:04 I’m preparing for going back to work, not feeding as much during the day, and when I finally do feed my child, there's a lot of milk in my breasts and they are being sick. Is this normal? Is this a worry?

11:25 What practical things does someone need to think about if they're going back to work at six months? 

18:11 My one-year-old refuses milk when at nursery, even though I provided him with bottles. I think that this is adding to him being very up and down at nursery. What can we do?

20:51 How do we know a baby is getting enough milk/fluids? Should they be drinking intuitively at 13 months?

23:27 What do I do when a 12/13-month-old asks for a breastfeed the minute we pick up from nursery, sometimes to the point of being very upset if they don't get it straight away?

29:15 I'll be going back to work four days a week, from 7am to 6:30pm and my son will be going to nursery. Will he manage on a feed before and after work?

38:11 Most nurseries don't exclude children with hand, foot and mouth disease, but it can end breastfeeding journeys. What are your thoughts?

42:34 My child is a Velcro baby. Would nursery or a childminder be better if they're very sensitive and higher needs?

51:12 My 10-month-old is refusing solids because they're teething. They refuse bottles and cups. Will he be okay for 8.5 hours?

We mentioned Stacey Zimmels @feedeatspeak on Instagram

 And here’s my nursing strike article:

"It's like a switch has flipped": The older baby nursing strike - The Natural Parent Magazine

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Sometimes our children can be our greatest teachers. That’s certainly what my guest this week, Bec, believes. 

Although she was a midwife before she was a mother, Bec has learnt so much about mothering and herself since having Lily two and half years ago. Their journey began with a peaceful water birth at 42 weeks, but continued with vomiting and possible reflux, leading to breast refusal. Bec talks openly about that breast refusal period and how it felt. Since those early struggles, they have slowed down together, and learnt to take each day as it comes. Lily is now a thriving boobie monster toddler.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I have the privilege of chatting with Ellie Warner, a hairdresser from Leeds, about her breastfeeding journey with her son, Ezra.

Ellie initially knew little about breastfeeding but had an instinctual desire to do it. Ellie faced challenges, including gestational diabetes, a tongue-tie and torticollis, which eventually contributed to a breast abscess developing within weeks of Ezra’s birth. But Ellie was not to be deterred! At the same time she became a peer supporter and is passionate about providing support for working-class mothers.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Look on instagram for @tortibreastfeeding for Nicola Walker’s discussion on torticollis and breastfeeding. 

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Louise’s story might be a difficult listen if you have suffered from depression, anxiety, or postnatal depression, but it is a story that she feels is helpful to share, and I am so grateful that she has. 

Louise Chappell went into her pregnancy and birth excited and happy, but after her son Robin was born, anxiety and trauma surfaced, and she became fixated on her feelings of inadequacy over breastfeeding and fear. It was the chance meeting of a former-health visitor friend that finally got her the care she needed - a seven week stay in a mother and baby unit, plus medication and talking therapy. Throughout her stay she continued to breastfeed as she recovered, and it slowly transformed into a happy bonding experience.

Find Louise on Facebook @louisechappell

Leeds Bosom Buddies is on Instagram @leedsbosombuddies

Information on antidepressants and breastfeeding here:

Antidepressants and Breastfeeding - The Breastfeeding Network

PANDAS for PND support: Postnatal depression – PANDAS Foundation UK

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I’m delighted to be joined by Dr. Vicky Sibson, Director of the First Steps Nutrition Trust, to talk about the challenges and regulations surrounding infant formula marketing. Vicky explains the importance of the WHO Code, which aims to protect infant health by regulating the marketing of breast milk substitutes, and clarifies what infant formula companies should and shouldn’t be doing in the UK. We also talk about the impact of digital marketing, the high costs of formula, and the role of baby clubs in undermining breastfeeding, and Vicky gives her advice on how to approach buying formula in a supermarket.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Find out more about formula on InfantMilkInformation.org

And find out more about infant nutrition and the work of First Steps Nutrition Trust on their website - https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I’m delighted to speak to Sam Petridis, a neonatal nurse and IBCLC, about her breastfeeding and neonatal care. She is Baby Friendly Initiative Lead for her hospital, so we discuss what that means, and what the UNICEF guidelines mean for breastfeeding.

Sam explains the different levels of neonatal care (Levels 1, 2, and 3) and the importance of early breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact. She talks about leading the way on Baby Friendly accreditation, the challenges of balancing medical protocols with parent-led feeding, the benefits of donor milk, and how COVID-19 impacted life on the neonatal ward. 

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

For more information about milk donation after loss, contact https://www.milkbankatchester.org.uk/donationafterloss/memorymilkgift/

https://humanmilkfoundation.org/hearts-milk-bank/donating-after-bereavement/

For support for premature and sick babies, contact https://www.bliss.org.uk/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

If there was a Breastfeeding Hall of Fame, my guest this week would certainly have a place. Laura has breastfed her three children, Beatrice, Joseph and Georgina, for 11 years and 3 months. She talks to me about the challenges she has overcome, including a traumatic NICU experience with her first child, her decision not to pump, the benefits of tandem feeding, and the emotional journey of weaning her children. Laura's story highlights the significance of community and personal commitment in reaching your breastfeeding goals, whatever they are.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Shout out to the following people who helped Laura on her journey - 

Avni Trivedi www.avni-touch.com

Cordelia Uys www.cordeliauys.co.uk

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I’m talking to Eleanor Nightingale about her breastfeeding experience with Bell's Palsy. During the birth of her daughter Hattie, Eleanor had an emergency forceps delivery, extensive tearing and haemorrhage. Six days later, the left side of her face became paralysed and after a rushed trip to A&E fearing a stroke, Eleanor was diagnosed and treated for Bell’s Palsy.

Eleanor faced several challenges with breastfeeding, from trouble latching and tongue tie to sleep deprivation, but overcame them with support from her husband and a lactation consultant. Despite her difficulties, she successfully breastfed her daughter, Hattie, for two years and shares her weaning experience here too. Eleanor also shares practical tips to help others who might be struggling with Bell’s Palsy in the postnatal period.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This episode does contain discussion of miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death.

This week, I’m speaking to Charlotte Mills, a midwife and IBCLC, whose third son, Robin, died before his birth at 20 weeks. Charlotte talks about losing Robin and her decision to continue lactating. She donated Robin’s milk to the Hearts Milk Bank where it went on to support premature and vulnerable babies.

We talk about the importance of discussing lactation after loss and the value donation can bring some parents. It’s not the right choice for everyone, but everyone deserves to have information about their options and how to manage milk production after their baby dies.

You may find the following resources helpful - 

Find Charlotte at @birthtale on Instagram 

Chester Milk Bank’s resource on donating after loss https://www.milkbankatchester.org.uk/donationafterloss/memorymilkgift/

Hearts Milk Bank’s resource on being a Snowdrop Donor: https://humanmilkfoundation.org/hearts-milk-bank/donating-after-bereavement/

https://www.tommys.org/

https://www.sands.org.uk/

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Hypoplasia or IGT is not often spoken about, but there are estimates that up to 1 in 10 of us have insufficient breast tissue to exclusively breastfeed. Katie found out that she was one of those people when she sought help after her son, Ezra, lost 11% of his birth rate in a matter of days. The advice she received from midwives and health visitors was conflicting and confusing, leading to Katie mixed feeding, taking Domperidone and trying triple feeding for a few weeks. It was only when Katie was able to come to terms with bottle feeding Ezra, and see breastfeeding not as a source of nutrition, but as a bonding experience, that they were able to settle into a more comfortable relationship. Ezra is now two years old and still happily nursing.

Resources - 

Making More Milk: The Breastfeeding Guide to Increasing Your Milk Production, 2nd Edition (lllgbbooks.co.uk) 

Essay on IGT by ABM breastfeeding counsellor Philippa Lomas - https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/igt#:~:text=Breastfeeding%20with%20Insufficient%20Glandular%20Tissue.%20ISSN%202516-5852%20(Online)%20To%20read

Finding Sufficiency: Breastfeeding with insufficient glandular tissue (lllgbbooks.co.uk)

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week’s episode has it all - feeding twins, c-sections (both emergency and elective), triple feeding, cross-nursing, tongue tie, vasospasms - but what comes across most from Emily and Ali’s story is their love and support for one another as they breastfeed together.

Emily had her son Frankie just weeks before Ali’s twins, Suni and Kiri, were born, and they have fed together, often literally side by side at their parent’s home. They have overcome a number of challenges through their journey, and continue to feed their sons at a year old.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

No one expects their motherhood journey to begin in the NICU, but that’s where Emma found herself, after the birth of her daughter Maya, by c-section due to placenta previa. At 35 weeks, Maya did not have a fully developed sucking reflex, and so they began a process of tube feeding, formula, pumping, and eventually breastfeeding. Emma’s determination shines through this story, especially as she faced the additional challenges of overstimulation and feeling touched out because of her autism. Now at 5 ½ months, Maya is exclusively breastfed and beginning to explore the world of food.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned in this episode - 

@‌jessurlichs poet and author of Beautiful Chaos 

For information on autism and breastfeeding, look for the work of Dr Aimee Grant online and the Autism from Menstruation to Menopause project - https://www.autismmenstruationtomenopause.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDhlZ5Lu4wk

Anna Wilson IBCLC - https://wiloaklactation.co.uk/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Trigger warning - Listeners who would prefer not to hear discussion of maternal suicide should skip from 44:48-46:00 minutes.

This episode contains some conversational swearing.

Francesca’s inspirational story is one of determination, positivity and courage. Led by attachment parenting philosophy, she tandem fed her twins, while also bringing up her 3 year old daughter, escaping a coercive relationship, and building her own business. Our conversation touches on PCOS, coercive control, breastfeeding with implants, twin grief and much more.

Francesca is @francescaamber on instagram and you can find out more about her podcast at @lawofattractionchangedmylife 

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Mentioned in this episode - 

The Continuum Concept https://continuumconcept.org/

When the Bough Breaks documentary https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Bough-Breaks-Brooke-Shields/dp/B06XDN3PL1

Donations to support the work of Mums in Need can be given here https://www.mumsinneed.com/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Back in episode 21, we explored breastfeeding and diabetes with Lucy Lowe IBCLC, and I’m delighted to be joined this week by Beth, to talk about her personal experience of breastfeeding her two sons, Sage and Jago, with her type 1 diabetes.

We talk about how Beth’s long-term health condition affected her pregnancies, births and breastfeeding. We also cover prematurity, VBAC, aversion and weaning during Beth’s story.

Beth Hawkins is a doula and holistic wellness practitioner. You can find her at @‌bethanyrosehawkins on Instagram. She will be launching a special diabetes coaching option next year so watch this space.

My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

For too many people, the first time they think about breastfeeding is when they are pregnant with their first child. If we are to change this, and normalise breastfeeding in our societies, we need to start with how we talk to children about breasts and babies. That’s why I’m delighted to be joined this week by Emma Rosen, a breastfeeding counsellor and secondary school teacher, to talk about what schools in the UK are doing now, and what we would like to see change in the curriculum.

Emma Rosen is @‌emmarosenbooks on Instagram.
You can find her books here https://www.emmarosenbooks.co.uk/

You can find my book for pre-teens and teens, The Breast Book, here: The Breast Book – Pinter & Martin

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

https://abm.me.uk/resources-for-schools/ (which also includes some guidance on approaching a school)

Lesson plans from the Breastfeeding Network: https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/product/school-lesson-plans/

How to write to your MP - https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Another candidate for the breastfeeding hall of fame, my guest this week is Metasha who has fed her seven children over 20 years! Unlike many of my guests, Metasha’s story isn’t one of enormous challenges and struggles. Her attitude to breastfeeding and parenting has been to go with the flow, and to respond to her family’s needs, although she does admit that she sometimes lost herself in that process. Nearing the end of her breastfeeding journey with her youngest child, she is now beginning to focus on her maternal wellness business, teaching baby yoga and baby massage among other things.

You can find Metasha on Instagram @‌the_hart_of_mothering

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

For this special Q&A session all about dads and partners, I’m delighted to be joined by Scott Mair. Scott is an ex-military dad of seven children, and one grandchild, who specialises in fathers’ mental health and inclusion. Who better to answer your questions about how dads can support breastfeeding, how non-feeding partners can form a bond with their babies, and how to overcome embarrassment about breastfeeding in public? This episode is part one and we continue talking next week with a focus on natural term breastfeeding.

Find out more from Scott on Instagram @‌fatherhood__solutions_

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

For part two of our Q&A session all about dads and partners, I’m once again joined by the brilliant Scott Mair. 

In this part, we answer questions on natural term breastfeeding, dealing with comments from family members, where to go for advice, and sex and intimacy after birth. I’m grateful to Scott for joining me in some honest and open, and not always easy, conversations.

Find out more from Scott on Instagram @‌fatherhood__solutions_

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Thrush in a breastfeeding dyad has commonly been diagnosed as a response to pain, but my guest today is a part of an important global conversation asking us to look at the evidence more closely. I’m delighted to be joined by Dr Naomi Dow, GP and IBCLC to talk about her work to better understand what is going on, and reduce the over-diagnosis of nipple and breast thrush.

In this episode we discuss the causes of nipple and breast pain, wounds and discolouration, including dermatitis, poor wound management, and physiological conditions. Naomi explains how the symptoms of thrush have often been confused with other things, or even caused by the very things which are supposed to help with nipple pain. We talk about how we can communicate the new messages and what needs to happen next.

Dr Naomi Dow is @‌dr_naomidow_ibclc on instagram

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

Dr Katrina Mitchell’s resource:

Physician Guide to Breastfeeding for Parents, Physicians, Lactation Consultants, Doulas

IABLE website https://lacted.org/
The Role of Host and Fungal Factors in the Commensal-to-Pathogen Transition of Candida albicans - a paper discussing the mechanisms by which Candida changes from commensal to pathogen
Mammary candidiasis: A medical condition without scientific evidence? - the Jiminez et al paper - one of the key pieces of evidence we have that demonstrates that Candida is not the cause of nipple/breast pain

NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic - study looking at alternative explanations for breast/nipple pain

MiLC https://www.facebook.com/groups/480916214609440/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week I’m delighted to be joined by American IBCLC Jacob Engelsman, whose new book, ‘Lactation for the Rest of Us’, is out now. 

Jacob and I talk about inducing lactation, for birthing parents and non-birthing parents, the drugs and supplements that are used to aid milk supply in different parts of the world, the mental health aspects of breastfeeding for queer, non-binary and trans people, and alternative ways to feed your baby.

This episode is intended for members of the LGBTQ community, anyone interested in induced lactation and listeners who want to be better allies and supporters.

Jacob Engelsman is @jacobibclc on Instagram

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

Get Jacob’s book Lactation for the Rest of Us here https://uk.jkp.com/products/lactation-for-the-rest-of-us

B J Woodstein, The Road to IBCLC https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-road-to-ibclc/b-j-woodstein//9781946665737

Lindz Amer, Rainbow Parenting https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61885086-rainbow-parenting

AJ Silver, Supporting Queer Birth https://uk.jkp.com/products/supporting-queer-birth

And competency workshops https://queerbirthclub.co.uk/workshops/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Most of us who breastfeed, or work with breastfeeding parents, are on the look out for the symptoms of postnatal depression, but we aren’t always fully informed when it comes to a condition known as D-MER. This week I’m joined by two guests with personal experience of D-MER, experiencing waves of sadness and emptiness that only coincided with breastfeeding or the letdown reflex.

Mum of three, Jen Hall, joins me to talk about her experience with D-MER in the UK, which was improved greatly by the work of my other guest, Alia Macrina Heise. Alia is a retired IBCLC who, together with Diane Wiessinger, coined the term Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex after she experienced it herself while feeding her third child. We talk about what symptoms feel like, the state of current research, and what you can do to mitigate the feelings of D-MER.

Find out more about D-MER at https://d-mer.org/

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Trigger warning - In addition to maternal mental health and a discussion of postpartum psychosis, this episode deals with anorexia and disordered eating, which some listeners may find triggering.

I’m honoured that my guest this week, Holly Crawley, is willing to share her story with us. Holly is a mother of three, who was diagnosed with anorexia in her teens, and suffered postpartum psychosis with her first child. After the birth of her third child, Imogen, Holly suffered relapses of both conditions, and as a result spent several weeks in a mother and baby unit, away from the rest of her family. Throughout all of this, she was determined to continue breastfeeding, which she had not been able to do with her other children. Now she is recovering well, and Imogen is a healthy, happy, toddler who continues to enjoy breastfeeding.

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

Breastfeeding | Lowestoft & Waveney Breastfeeding Support | Lowestoft https://www.lowestoftandwaveneybreastfeeding.co.uk/

For support with eating disorders https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I’m pleased to be joined by Karly Proverbs, a specialist paediatric osteopath and maternal osteopath. She explains what an osteopath is, what goes into their extensive training, and what you can expect to happen during a consultation. 

We discuss the applications of osteopathy for breastfeeding babies and parents, including treatment of tension, torticollis, back and pelvic pain.

Karly is @‌osteokarly on Instagram and @‌nourishandgrowlondon

Her website is https://www.osteokarly.co.uk/

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

The advice and support that we receive in the early days of breastfeeding can have a profound impact on our journey. My guest today, Abby, had an experience with an unnamed IBCLC that really knocked her confidence, and could have had dire consequences, had she followed the incorrect advice she was given.

Abby discovered that she had inverted nipples while preparing for the arrival of her son, Yardley, but she managed to find some adaptations that worked for her and initially feeding was working for both of them. When she then started to feel some pain when nursing, she visited an IBCLC for advice. What she got was an alarming consultation in which her concerns were not listened to, her supply was inaccurately assessed, and she left feeling fearful and confused. Luckily, in this case, Abby was able to find other support from her sister and other practitioners that she follows online. 

Abby is sharing this story with me having just finished her training as a peer supporter. We both feel that these experiences should be shared to help those of us who work with nursing parents to understand what bad practice is, and to see the impacts it can have on parents.

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/breastfeeding-the-dangerous-obsession-with-the-infant-feeding-interval/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

My guest this week ticks so many different boxes when it comes to breastfeeding experiences - birth trauma, tongue tie, mixed/triple feeding, tandem feeding, gentle weaning - but what we’re going to focus on in this conversation is aversion. When I asked many of you recently about your experiences of breastfeeding in pregnancy, many of you mentioned aversion.

Bryony is a peer supporter from Norwich. After a traumatic birth and a very difficult start to breastfeeding, she fed her daughter Winnie, now 3.5 years old, through her pregnancy with her son, Stanley, and tandem fed them both for five months. Throughout the pregnancy and beyond, she felt aversion while feeding Winnie. Whilst Winnie is now weaned, she continues to feed Stanley, who is now 10 months old.

Find Bryony on Instagram @‌giveitabreast 

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

When Breastfeeding Sucks: What you need to know about nursing aversion and agitation https://www.lllgbbooks.co.uk/store/p237/WhenBreastfeedingSucks.html

Breastfeeding Aversion https://www.breastfeedingaversion.com/

https://www.breastfeedingsupportnorwich.com/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Many parents who don’t meet their breastfeeding goals experience feelings of grief and even trauma that can affect their lives for years to come. This week I’m joined by the brilliant Dr Harriet Holroyd, a clinical psychologist and EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) practitioner, to discuss some approaches to resolving those feelings. We discuss some of the reasons for breastfeeding grief and trauma, and suggest some ways you can begin to find support if you or your loved one is suffering.

Dr Harriet Holroyd is @‌the_lactation_psychologist on instagram or find out more on her website www.thelactationpsychologist.com

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

Lucy Ruddle IBCLC, Breastfeeding Grief: Understanding and Recovery

Professor Amy Brown, Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Too often I meet parents who have been told by their dentist that their toddler should stop breastfeeding because it contributes to tooth decay, so when I met this week’s guest, I knew I had to have her on the show to talk more about this issue.

Dr Gillian Smith DDS is a dentist from Bray in Ireland, who specialises in treating children and patients with additional needs. Together we explore why dentists still say that breastfeeding contributes to poor oral health, what actually causes tooth decay in toddlers, and what can be done to treat it.

You can find Gillian on Instagram as @tonguetieclinicbray and at @fitzwilliamclinic

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

There’s a common assumption that if you breastfeed, you can never be apart from your child, and you have to sacrifice career ambitions if you are going to breastfeed longer term. My guest this week is here to bust that myth, and show how you can both breastfeed and also travel for work.

Jessica Greenfield is a singer-songwriter and member of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. She has continued to feed her daughter Ava, while touring with the band and balancing work. We talk about her relationship with Ava, maintaining her breast health on the road, family support, and her plans for the future.

Follow Jessica on Instagram at @greenfieldsings

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

My guest this week, Sarah Perry, is an author, lecturer and mum to two-year-old Zangi. She overcame a challenging birth, an extended hospital stay and inverted nipples, to meet her breastfeeding goals and continues to feed to this day. Sarah is also a wheelchair user and in this episode she shares some of her powerful writing about her experience of motherhood.

We talk about breastfeeding with limited mobility, feeding positions in a wheelchair and other people’s reactions to mothers with disabilities.

You can follow Sarah on Instagram at @__Sarah_Perry

My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to Weaning for Professionals, Supporters and Parents’, is out now.

You can get 10% off the book at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

 We’re doing something a little bit different this week, as you may have guessed from our title. I'm talking to Liz Lee-Smith, who is @‌thebirthhistorian on Instagram. She's an antenatal educator,a breastfeeding peer supporter, and she's a history nerd as well. And we’ll be discussing wet nursing, by looking at the lives of a handful of women through history. 

One note of warning, we will be talking about a story that involves baby death, and we do note that it’s coming up so that you can skip if you need to.

My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.

You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com

Resources mentioned - 

https://spectrumlactation.org/

https://kimberlysealsallers.com/books/

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

The Story of Jessie’s Milkies is available from Amazon here: The Story of Jessie's Milkies

Or, if you prefer not to use Amazon, ask your local book shop to order from our other publisher, Ingram Spark, and libraries can order from them too. 

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

 My guest this week, Sarah, is a great example of the power of self belief. Sarah’s twins, Louie and Robyn, were conceived through IVF during the COVID lockdowns, and had a tricky birth resulting in transfusions and a hospital stay. Throughout all this, Sarah knew that she wanted to breastfeed her twins, and advocated for herself despite busy maternity staff not providing the support they needed. She managed to establish breastfeeding with a combination of pumping and nipple shields, continuing when she returned to work as a primary school teacher.

Louie and Robyn are now three years old and thriving. Sarah plans to continue breastfeeding them as long as they need.

You can find Sarah on Instagram @‌sarahgrace2710

My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.

You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.

Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com 

This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.