Shows
Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBecca's story - returning to breastfeeding after exclusive pumpingSometimes the thing we need most is the space and time to figure it out ourselves.My guest this week, Becca from Oxfordshire, had a challenging start to breastfeeding her son, Rupert. A combination of a tongue tie, slightly inverted nipples, and troubles latching, led to severe nipple damage just days after Rupert’s birth. Becca turned to exclusive pumping to let her nipples heal, and days turned into weeks. Despite her struggles, Becca found hope and support through local breastfeeding groups and charities. Giving herself the time and space to figure out what worked for...
2025-06-031h 03Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endLouise's story - a crisis of confidence second time aroundMy guest this week is Dr. Louise Goldsmith, a urologist and aspiring IBCLC from North London. Louise successfully breastfed her first daughter but was taken aback when that previous history didn’t protect her from a crisis of confidence second time around.Carrie’s feeding style was very different to Paloma’s, which surprised Louise and her husband, and they feared she was not receiving enough milk. But after a weigh-in confirmed that she had in fact gained weight since birth, things started to get on track. At six months, Carrie is now successfully breastfeeding, and her older...
2025-05-2750 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endVicky's story - working as a nurse while breastfeeding Vicky, my guest this week, is a fantastic example of successful breastfeeding at work. She is a nurse in a busy intensive care unit, who takes regular breaks to pump in a dedicated room, with the full support of her manager and colleagues. This success story is even better when you hear how she got to this place - her daughter Evie’s birth was painful and distressing, ending with a ventouse delivery. She struggled to breastfeed in the hospital, relying on expressing and syringes, and continued to struggle through pain and a staph infection at home. Vick...
2025-05-2055 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBabywearing and breastfeedingMany breastfeeding parents also choose to carry their baby in a sling or wrap as they go about their day. There are so many carriers out there to choose from that it can be an overwhelming decision. That’s where my guest today can help. Lizzy Allen is a babywearing consultant, but she's also a breastfeeding peer supporter, trained with the ABM. She runs Chester Sling Library, which offers support to families in person in Chester and in Northeast Wales and also online to families around the UK.We’re talking today about babywearing, how to ch...
2025-05-131h 13Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endCoral's story - 'uni-boobing' after duct surgeryUni-boobing - feeding on just one breast - is more common than many of us think. Whether through child-preference, injury, or as a result of surgery, like my guest this week, it’s absolutely possible to exclusively breastfeed on just one breast.My guest, Coral, had duct surgery due to unexplained bleeding and a family history of breast cancer, in her twenties. Although she was told she probably could still breastfeed, it wasn’t until her son, Rowan, was born that the reality of exclusively breastfeeding him was revealed. She persevered through tube feeding, combined feeding and very...
2025-05-061h 07Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endPhotographing natural term breastfeedingBack in 2020, Ann Owen felt like she was the only person in the UK breastfeeding a four year old. Not an unusual feeling for an extended breastfeeder, but Ann’s next step was unusual. She’s a photographer, specialising in documenting birth and post-partum journeys, so she started a project to meet and photograph other families with older nurslings. Now she travels all over the UK, meeting nurslings from 4-8 years old, with an aim of collating 100 photographs for her Milk Project.The Milk Project can be found at https://milkproject.uk/You can see some...
2025-04-2951 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endSarah's story - breastfeeding toddler twins 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 yea...
2025-04-221h 00Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endA history of wet nursing with Liz Lee-Smith 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 pic...
2025-04-151h 01Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endJessica's story - Breastfeeding and work tripsThere’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...
2025-04-081h 03Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endSarah's story - wheelchair use and other journeysMy 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...
2025-04-011h 13Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endAnnouncing...The Story of Jessie's MilkiesThe Story of Jessie’s Milkies is available from Amazon here: The Story of Jessie's MilkiesOr, 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.
2025-03-2604 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endInfant feeding grief with Dr Harriet HolroydMany 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 we...
2025-03-2556 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding and dental health with Gillian Smith DDSToo 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...
2025-03-181h 06Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endAbby's story - inverted nipples and disappointing supportThe 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...
2025-03-111h 06Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBryony's story - Breastfeeding and aversionMy 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 bo...
2025-03-041h 06Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding and OsteopathyThis 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 @nourishandgrowlondonHer website is https://www.osteokarly.co.uk/My latest book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastfeeding: a Guide to...
2025-02-2554 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endHollie’s story - an eating disorder and postpartum psychosisTrigger 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 un...
2025-02-1850 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding and D-MERMost 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...
2025-02-111h 09Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endLactation for the rest of us - induced lactation and supporting queer and trans parents with Jacob EngelsmanThis 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...
2025-02-041h 02Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endThrush and breastfeeding with Dr Naomi DowThrush 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...
2025-01-281h 08Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endDads and breastfeeding with Scott Mair - The SequelFor 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 Weanin...
2025-01-211h 16Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endDads and breastfeeding with Scott Mair - Part 1For 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 Inst...
2025-01-141h 05Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endMetasha's story - 7 breastfeeding journeysAnother 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...
2025-01-0755 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endTalking to children about breastfeeding, with Emma RosenFor 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 fi...
2024-12-311h 07Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBeth's story - my diabetes and breastfeedingBack 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...
2024-12-241h 05Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endFrancesca’s story - finding attachment parenting, breastfeeding twins and staying strongTrigger 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 mo...
2024-12-171h 07Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endEmma's story - breastfeeding a 35 week old babyNo 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...
2024-12-1047 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endEmily and Ali's story - sister supportThis 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.
2024-12-0349 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endKatie's story - Breastfeeding with hypoplasia/IGTHypoplasia 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...
2024-11-261h 05Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endCharlotte's story - donating milk after lossThis 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 everyo...
2024-11-1957 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endEllie's story - breastfeeding with confidenceThis 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 Brea...
2024-11-121h 07Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endEleanor's story - breastfeeding and Bell's PalsyThis 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 daug...
2024-11-051h 01Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endLara's story - 11 years of breastfeedingIf 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...
2024-10-291h 21Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding in the neonatal unitThis 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.
2024-10-221h 00Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endWHO code and marketing of breastmilk substitutes - with Vicky SibsonThis 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 buyi...
2024-10-1555 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endLouise's story - breastfeeding through PNDLouise’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 m...
2024-10-081h 20Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBec's story - breast refusalSometimes 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...
2024-10-0156 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endStarting nursery Q&A with MollyIt’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.ukMy 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...
2024-09-2457 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endNatural term breastfeeding working positivelyIn 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...
2024-09-171h 14Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBeing a breastfeeding peer supporterVolunteer 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, vis...
2024-09-101h 02Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endRakhee's story - a gradual weaning journeyIt’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 ove...
2024-09-031h 06Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endSummer holiday replay - Weaning a booby monsterThis 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.
2024-08-271h 00Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endSummer holiday replay - Making the decision to weanThis 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...
2024-08-2045 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endSummer holiday replay - Dealing with family pressure‘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, a...
2024-08-131h 08Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endAsymmetry and torticollisToday 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 j...
2024-08-061h 14Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endChildcare and breastfeedingThis 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_foxandthemoonor on www.foxandthemoon.co.uk/My new book, ‘Supporting the Transition from Breastf...
2024-07-301h 08Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endTongue tie and breastfeedingThis 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 Trans...
2024-07-231h 05Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endKatie's story - breastfeeding after fertility treatmentKatie 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.
2024-07-161h 13Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endPerimenopause and breastfeedingBreastfeeding 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 trea...
2024-07-091h 19Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endLucy’s story - saying goodbye to a breastfeeding journeyFew 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 strug...
2024-07-0256 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endQ&A on natural term breastfeedingThis 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...
2024-06-251h 08Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding and medication, with Wendy Jones MBEIf 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 th...
2024-06-181h 05Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endDealing with infection - Chloe's storyThis 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 t...
2024-06-1152 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endPortraits with Purpose, with Leanne PearceI’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 var...
2024-06-0455 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endApproaches to supporting a weaning journey, with Katy Baker-CohenThere 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 instag...
2024-05-281h 09Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endCharlotte's story - a faltering growth journeyIn 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 instagramCharlotte talks about working with the brilliant Lucy Webber IBCLC. You can hear Lucy talking about the fourth trimester in episode 33 of this podcast. La...
2024-05-2158 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endTracey's story - breastfeeding tripletsMy 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 accur...
2024-05-141h 14Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endTerri's story - night weaning and boundariesToday, 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 @terridellMy new book, ‘Supporti...
2024-05-0759 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endSupporting LGBTQ+ familiesThe 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 o...
2024-04-3054 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endShona's weaning storyThis 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.Fo...
2024-04-2355 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding after blood loss - Leanne's story part 2Although 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...
2024-04-1646 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding after blood loss - Leanne's story part 1Although 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...
2024-04-1643 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endMubareka's storySometimes 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__
2024-04-091h 07Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding and medicationsCan 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 Transi...
2024-04-0256 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endMilk banking with Gillian Weaver MBEFor 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...
2024-03-261h 11Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding with Down SyndromeThere 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_curlsMy new book, ‘Supporting the Transition fro...
2024-03-1945 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endThe Fourth TrimesterToday’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...
2024-03-121h 14Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreast health with Dr Justice ReillyIf 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 du...
2024-03-051h 15Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endThe Great PretendersWho 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 n...
2024-02-2758 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endRhea's storyWeaning 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...
2024-02-221h 02Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endQ&A on weaningMy 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
2024-02-211h 12Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endLucy's weaning storyHow 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
2024-02-201h 10Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endOvercoming a difficult start - Emily's storyA 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 fai...
2024-02-1351 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding the braveI 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...
2024-02-061h 09Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding and allergiesAllergic reactions can be swift and frightening, but they can also be persistent and confusing. They are not only distressing for the baby, but also for their carers too, and the treatment often involves elimination diets for the nursing parent. This week I’ve got Kaya Thorpe IBCLC with me, who has personal and professional experience of coping with allergies in infants. Kaya explains what allergies are, how they present in babies and how we can treat them. Find out more about Kaya at The Milk Hub www.themilkhub.co.uk or www.lowestoftandwaveneybreastfeeding.co.uk
2024-01-301h 08Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endThe one with the abscess and the breastfeedingAs 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 m...
2024-01-231h 07Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endAll things poo!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...
2024-01-161h 13Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endUnsettled babiesParenting 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 o...
2024-01-091h 14Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endDiabetes and breastfeedingCan 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 an...
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Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endHappy Christmas from Makes MilkHappy 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 abou...
2023-12-2413 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding boundaries and big feelingsThere 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.sh...
2023-12-191h 15Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endOversupplyMany 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 AlFind out...
2023-12-121h 12Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding after lossDeborah’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 ow...
2023-12-051h 29Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endDealing with family pressure‘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 MagazineAnd support from other parents here Breastfeeding Olde...
2023-11-281h 04Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding and returning to workReturning 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 Gen...
2023-11-2148 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endWhen breastfed babies see paediatriciansThis 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 DoctorsBOOKS | Dr Pamela DouglasBreastfeeding the Brave - Lyndsey HookwaySome of Melissa Bartick’s work: Suboptimal breastfeeding in the United State...
2023-11-141h 01Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endStarting solid foodThis 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 fo...
2023-11-071h 05Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endBreastfeeding positionsFinding 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...
2023-10-311h 01Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endLactation and fertilityTrigger 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.ukThe books Carol mentioned are...
2023-10-2454 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endCatherine's weaning storyCatherine’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 @stroudmo...
2023-10-171h 02Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endWeaning a neurodivergent child - Eleanor’s storyAre 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 sup...
2023-10-1057 minMakes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endWeaning a neurodivergent child - Faith’s storyAre 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...
2023-10-101h 00Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the endQ&A on weaningOur 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 ParentsFollow me on Twitter @MakesM...
2023-10-0346 min