

Makes Milk with Emma Pickett: breastfeeding from the beginning to the end
Emma Pickett - Board Certified Lactation Consultant
A companion to your infant feeding journey, this podcast explores how to get breastfeeding off to a good start (and how to end it) in a way that meets everyone's needs.Emma Pickett has been a Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 2011. As an author (of 5 books), trainer, volunteer and breastfeeding counsellor, she has supported thousands of families to reach their infant feeding goals.Breastfeeding/ chest feeding may be natural, but it isn't always easy for everyone. Hearing about other parent's experiences and getting information from lactation-obsessed experts can help.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 6min
Breastfeeding and dental health with Gillian Smith DDS
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 @fitzwilliamclinicMy 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.comThis podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Mar 11, 2025 • 1h 7min
Abby's story - inverted nipples and disappointing support
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.comResources 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.

Mar 4, 2025 • 1h 6min
Bryony's story - Breastfeeding and aversion
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.comResources mentioned - When Breastfeeding Sucks: What you need to know about nursing aversion and agitation https://www.lllgbbooks.co.uk/store/p237/WhenBreastfeedingSucks.htmlBreastfeeding Aversion https://www.breastfeedingaversion.com/https://www.breastfeedingsupportnorwich.com/This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Feb 25, 2025 • 55min
Breastfeeding and Osteopathy
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 @nourishandgrowlondonHer 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.comThis podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Feb 18, 2025 • 50min
Hollie’s story - an eating disorder and postpartum psychosis
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.comResources 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.

Feb 11, 2025 • 1h 9min
Breastfeeding and D-MER
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.comThis podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 3min
Lactation for the rest of us - induced lactation and supporting queer and trans parents with Jacob Engelsman
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 InstagramMy 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.comResources mentioned - Get Jacob’s book Lactation for the Rest of Us here https://uk.jkp.com/products/lactation-for-the-rest-of-usB J Woodstein, The Road to IBCLC https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-road-to-ibclc/b-j-woodstein//9781946665737Lindz Amer, Rainbow Parenting https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61885086-rainbow-parentingAJ Silver, Supporting Queer Birth https://uk.jkp.com/products/supporting-queer-birthAnd competency workshops https://queerbirthclub.co.uk/workshops/This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Jan 28, 2025 • 1h 9min
Thrush and breastfeeding with Dr Naomi Dow
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 instagramMy 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.comResources mentioned - Dr Katrina Mitchell’s resource:Physician Guide to Breastfeeding for Parents, Physicians, Lactation Consultants, DoulasIABLE 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 pathogenMammary 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 painNCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic - study looking at alternative explanations for breast/nipple painMiLC https://www.facebook.com/groups/480916214609440/This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Jan 21, 2025 • 1h 17min
Dads and breastfeeding with Scott Mair - The Sequel
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.comThis podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Jan 14, 2025 • 1h 6min
Dads and breastfeeding with Scott Mair - Part 1
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.comThis podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.


