Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the end

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 lossFind 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 @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comThis 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 MagazineAnd support from other parents here Breastfeeding Older Babies and Beyond | FacebookFind 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 @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comThis 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.mummaFind 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 @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comResources mentioned in this episode - Genova’s episode for the Childcare voices podcast: Breastfeeding (on-the-record.org.uk)Accommodating breastfeeding employees in the workplace | AcasContinuing to breastfeed when you return to work - Maternity ActionBreastfeeding and Work - ABMThis 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 DoctorsBOOKS | Dr Pamela DouglasBreastfeeding the Brave - Lyndsey HookwaySome 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 TrustThe Lullaby Trust - Safer sleep for babies, Support for familiesFind 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 @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comThis 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 ParentsFollow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comResources mentioned - Choking video: Children First Aid: Choking baby - YouTubeScientific 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 TranscriptThis 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 ParentsResources mentioned - No pain, no gain? What EXACTLY do we mean by breastfeeding pain? - The Birth HubMy Book: Why Doulas Matter - The Birth HubWhy Mothering Matters - Pinter & Martin Publishers (pinterandmartin.com)How to Become a Doula - Developing DoulasMobile Breastfeeding Support - Maddie's Miracle (maddiesmiracle.org.uk)Breastfeeding Resources – Cambridge Breastfeeding AllianceNancy Mohrbacher - YouTubeBASIS – 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.comThis 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.ukThe books Carol mentioned areTaking Charge Of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement and Reproductive Health by Toni WeschlerFertility Cycles and Nutrition by Marilyn ShannonFind 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 @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comThis 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 ParentsFollow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comThis 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 ParentsFollow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comResources mentioned in this episode - Eleanor Campbell is @Eleanor.ibclc on Instagram and her website is www.eleanor-campbell-breastfeeding.com@DrAimeeGrant on TwitterAutistic Parents UKReframing Autism | Celebrating & nurturing Autistic identityThis 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 ParentsFollow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comThis podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.