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

My guest this week is the fabulous Beatrice Dane, a hypnobirthing instructor and breastfeeding supporter from Melton Mowbray. Bea discusses her early interest in motherhood, and her experiences breastfeeding her first child, Aria, to 4 years and 8 months, and her second child, Sam, who is still feeding today at 2. We touch on the challenges and triumphs of breastfeeding, the impact of family and professional support, and Bea's roles as a hypnobirthing teacher, breastfeeding support worker, and answering calls on the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

You can follow Bea on Instagram @‌beasbirthandboobs

The National Breastfeeding Helpline is available 24/7 on...

Today, I’m talking to the brilliant Caprice Fox, an educator and advocate from Bristol, about her experiences and advocacy work related to breastfeeding and inclusivity. We discuss the importance of representation and inclusive practices in breastfeeding campaigns and the damage of micro-agressions. Caprice shares her personal story and talks about her co-parenting journey with her wife, Holly. We also talk about her work with Black Mothers Matter and the importance of addressing systemic racism and inclusion in healthcare and education.

You can find Caprice on Instagram @‌the.fox.family 

You can find her website here...

This week, I’m honoured to be joined by Amy Viniski, a breastfeeding peer supporter and mindful breastfeeding practitioner, to share her personal experiences with pregnancy loss while breastfeeding. Amy candidly shares the emotional and physical challenges she faced through multiple losses, including an ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages. We discuss the misconceptions surrounding breastfeeding and miscarriage risk, the importance of support, and balancing personal grief while continuing to care for a breastfeeding child. At around 55 minutes, Amy also guides listeners through a mindfulness breathing exercise, providing a supportive resource for others who may be dealing with similar experiences.

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This week I’m speaking to the lovely Gabby from Edinburgh about her experiences with tandem breastfeeding her two children, who are three and a half years and 10 months old. Gabby discusses the practicalities and challenges of her tandem feeding journey, including co-sleeping, night weaning, and dealing with her eldest child's sleep apnea. She shares her struggles with breastfeeding her younger child, who initially refused to latch due to her infection, and the steps she took, including seeking professional help, to successfully re-establish breastfeeding. Gabby also talks about her health conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobility Syndrome and Ankylosing Spondylitis, and ho...

This week, I’m talking to the wonderful Caoimhe Whelan IBCLC, an Irish lactation consultant and author, about her specialist subject, primary low milk supply. Caoimhe shares her research on insufficient glandular tissue and its impact on breastfeeding mothers and families. We talk about antenatal and postnatal support, the complexities of diagnosing low milk supply, and the role of technology and galactagogues. 

You can find out more about Caoimhe on her website https://latch.ie/ and find her research at https://internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13006-025-00699-4

You can find out more about her...

This week I’m talking to the fabulous Maryam, a doctor and mother from Manchester, about her breastfeeding journey. Despite initial struggles, including mixed advice, nipple shields, a tongue-tie, and pump issues, Maryam remained determined and successfully transitioned back from triple feeding to exclusive breastfeeding. We explore the emotional and physical challenges she faced, the role of family support, and the impact of her experiences on her professional perspective as a doctor. Maryam also highlights the importance of culturally competent breastfeeding support and the innovative efforts of the Medics Lactation Community (MiLC) in providing peer support and educational resources fo...

This week, we have two back-to-back episodes answering your questions about weaning. To do so, I’m joined by the brilliant Carly Facius, Midwife, IBCLC, Women's Circle Facilitator and Aware Parenting Mentor. 

We delve into question topics ranging from weaning a toddler while tandem feeding, addressing night-time feeds, and managing breastfeeding with neurodiverse children. 

To find a list of questions, please consult the transcript of this episode.

You can find out more about Carly at www.seedpodfamilies.com or follow her on Instagram @‌seed_pod_

Carly has created a free Guide called...

This week, we have two back-to-back episodes answering your questions about weaning. To do so, I’m joined by the brilliant Carly Facius, Midwife, IBCLC, Women's Circle Facilitator and Aware Parenting Mentor. 

We delve into question topics ranging from weaning a toddler while tandem feeding, addressing night-time feeds, and managing breastfeeding with neurodiverse children. 

To find a list of questions, please consult the transcript of this episode.

You can find out more about Carly at www.seedpodfamilies.com or follow her on Instagram @‌seed_pod_

Carly has created a free Guide called...

This week, I’m speaking to Joelle Morgan, an NHS research midwife, about her recent qualitative study on the experiences and challenges of breastfeeding beyond two years in the UK. We start off with Joelle’s own breastfeeding journey and how she came to carry out the research. She shares insights from mothers on social media support, the lack of healthcare guidance on weaning, and the underrepresentation of extended breastfeeding in research. We also touch on the broader implications for public health and the need for greater awareness among healthcare professionals.

You can read Joelle’s study here h...

This week, I’m talking to Ruth from Lincolnshire about her experiences breastfeeding her son Rowan, who was diagnosed with craniosynostosis - a condition in which a baby's skull bones fuse too early, leading to an unusually shaped head and potential brain issues. Ruth established breastfeeding despite Rowan's early medical challenges, including a NICU stay with a collapsed lung, and has continued to feed him through the use of a cranial distractor to treat his craniosynostosis. Rowan is now a happy 20 month old, a booby monster and awaiting his next surgery. 

My new picture boo...

The brilliant Lucy Webber IBCLC returns to talk to me today, and this time about a subject that is personal to her  - PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). Lucy shares her personal experiences with PMDD, the importance of recognizing its symptoms, and the need for proper support. We talk about the challenges families face with the impact of returning menstrual cycles on lactation, especially when coupled with the severe symptoms of PMDD. We also explore the intersection of PMDD with perimenopause, and how to approach getting help from your GP.

My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys e...

This week’s story will be a difficult listen for some, but such an important story to share. I’m talking to Claire-Michelle Pearson about being a ‘Snowdrop donor’ at Hearts Milk Bank after the death of her son, Rupert. We’ve split the episode into two parts. Part 2 is about her milk donation journey and the birth of Rory, her five-month old (and we do make a reference to other losses more briefly.)

Claire and her husband Russell tried to conceive for several years before she conceived Rupert. Everything seemed to go well with her pregnancy, but tragic...

This week’s story will be a difficult listen for some, but such an important story to share. I’m talking to Claire-Michelle Pearson about being a ‘Snowdrop donor’ at Hearts Milk Bank after the death of her son, Rupert. We’ve split the episode into two parts. Part 1 covers Claire’s pregnancy with Rupert and his loss. Part 2 is about her milk donation journey and the birth of Rory, her five-month old (and we do make a reference to other losses more briefly.)

Claire and her husband Russell tried to conceive for several years before she conceived Ru...

This week, I’m joined by two special guests: Hannah Clapham, mum of two and a holistic sleep coach, and Imogen Unger, a seasoned lactation consultant with over 20 years of experience. Hannah has Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT) and struggled with her first breastfeeding experience.  She was better-prepared for her second experience, bolstered by Imogen's support, and continues to breastfeed her two-year- old son to this day. We discuss the complexities of diagnosing and managing low milk supply and how the right support can make the difference.

Find Imogen on her website https://www.imogenunger.com/ or on Ins...

Part two of our exploration of solo mums by choice features Becky's breastfeeding journey with her two-year-old son, Struan. Becky shares her experience with day weaning, initially influenced by societal pressures to stop breastfeeding to improve sleep, but ultimately finding a balance that works for her and Struan. The conversation also delves into Becky’s considerations for having a second child through IVF, her decision-making process around solo motherhood, and her support network. 

You can follow Becky on Instagram at @‌rracquah85

My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies...

I have a bumper edition of Makes Milk for you today, with not one, not two, but three stories of solo motherhood. In this episode, I’m speaking to Jenny and Kat, and in the next, I’ll be speaking to Becky. 

We’re focusing on the concept of 'solo motherhood' by choice, through the personal experiences of Kat and Jenny, who both conceived with donor sperm and faced various challenges along the way. They discuss their decision-making processes, the hurdles they overcame, including medical and financial challenges, and the support networks they relied upon. As usual, we’ll a...

 This week I’m talking to Jill Nason from Wicklow, Ireland, who has racked up nearly every parenting experience, or so it seems!

Jill discusses her first child, Clodagh's, premature birth, NICU stay, and successful breastfeeding journey. With her second child, Cian, she underwent a home birth but faced challenges with sleep training and medical issues. For her third child Seán, a c-section was necessary due to prior medical complications, and she experienced reflux issues. Jill reflects on her struggles with wanting to conceive a fourth child while breastfeeding and how modifying her feeding schedule meant she...

This summer bonus episode is a replay of episode 76, where I speak to Scott Mair from Fatherhood Solutions.

I’m taking a break over the summer holidays. I’ll be back with a brand new episode on 2nd September 2025.

In this 2nd part of my conversation with Scott, 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.

This summer bonus episode is a replay of episode 75, where I speak to Scott Mair from Fatherhood Solutions.

I’m taking a break over the summer holidays. I’ll be back with a brand new episode on 2nd September 2025.

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 week, I’m joined by a breastfeeding legend - Jan Edye. Jan was one of the first people to qualify as an IBCLC in the UK, and has run her local breastfeeding support session for decades. She’s a fount of all knowledge and it’s a joy to have her on the show.

We’re talking about grannies and breastfeeding. From how to talk about past experiences, to what to do if you stay over to help, to what Jan’s dream post-natal class for grannies would look like.

You can find more about Jan...

This week’s episode is a prime example of how everyone’s situation is unique, and every solution must be too. 

My guest is Phoebe, a nurse from Paris, France. Phoebe shares her experiences, including her initial plans to breastfeed, facing issues like inverted nipples, her daughter Adele’s jaundice and weight loss, and conflicting advice from healthcare professionals. At four months postpartum, after much hard work, Phoebe is now exclusively pumping. She details her current routine of pumping five times daily, managing milk storage, and preparing to return to work while continuing to provide breast milk for Ade...

This week I’m talking to Amy Winterbourne, a mother of two from Watford, about her experience breastfeeding after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Amy shares her journey of breastfeeding her eldest son, William, until he was two and a half, and how she weaned him gently during her pregnancy with her younger son, James. She then delves into her MS diagnosis when James was nearly one, describing the initial symptoms, the process of diagnosis, and her concerns about continuing to breastfeed while undergoing treatment. Despite initial advice to stop breastfeeding, Amy sought further information and found it po...

 My guest this week has personal and professional experience of tandem feeding to share with us. Nicola De Sousa is an infant feeding coach from Jersey, in the Channel Islands. She fed her toddler Mikayla, all through her pregnancy and alongside her infant Diogo.

We talk about Nicola’s experience of feeding both her children, but also from 28:30 we answer your questions about tandem feeding. For details of the questions covered, please refer to the transcript of this episode.

You can follow Nicola on Instagram @infantfeedingcoach.jersey

My new picture book on how bre...

My guest this week shares her amazing journey of triandem feeding - what she calls the ‘path of least resistance’, though I think the rest of us would describe her as inspirational. Golnessa is a GP from Fife in Scotland, and is currently breastfeeding her three children, Gus (10 months), Gertie (3 years) and Gilligan (5 years). 
We talk about the challenges, logistics and the emotional support involved in feeding three nurslings. Golnessa shares how she and the children have adapted and managed their nursing relationship through two pregnancies and each subsequent new baby, and how the decision to triandem, or tricy...

In honour of this being officially my 100th episode, I’m answering listeners’ questions this week. We cover natural term breastfeeding, weaning older children, dealing with conflict with family and a response to a request to share my own breastfeeding story.

If you’d like to read the questions, you’ll find each one in Bold in the transcript for this episode.

My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it...

We’re trying something a little different this week - Tara and I have created a section of the show especially for young people. If someone in your life would like to know more about periods, breast development and what else can change from the age of about 8 to 12 years, they should listen from 46:45 onwards.

My guest this week, Tara Ghosh, is a certified women's health coach and period educator and runs workshops for young people about body changes and puberty. In this episode, she and I discuss how important puberty education is for the whole of so...

 If you have a baby, or are supporting parents of a baby, who has a Pavlik Harness, the chances are that you haven’t found much information about how to combine a Pavlik Harness with breastfeeding. I’m hoping this episode helps.

I’m speaking to Cara from Midlothian, and Jodie from Essex, both twin mums who have breastfed babies through their treatment for hip dysplasia. They share their personal journeys: describing initial diagnoses, the harness fitting process, and their adaptations to continue breastfeeding. While Jodie tandem fed her twins in an adapted rugby hold, Cara preferred to feed...

 We often cover struggles and challenges on this podcast, but my guest this week, Shonagh Johnson, from East Lothian, is a great example of how well tandem breastfeeding can go. 

Although she had some nipple sensitivity, Shonagh found feeding her first daughter Freya relatively easy after a swift home birth. Despite having no expectations of how long they would feed for, she carried on throughout her pregnancy with her second daughter, Charlotte. During this pregnancy, Shonagh did experience aversion, particularly during her third trimester and occasionally post-birth, but she handled it with a mixture of relaxation techniques an...

Every so often a project comes along with the potential to radically change the experience of lactating parents. My guest this week, Amber, has one such project.

Amber Clark is an infant feeding specialist nurse and IBCLC working in Wessex. Her work, the Early Breast Milk Improvement Project is all about improving outcomes for pumpers by fitting flanges properly and increasing pumping efficiency.

In our conversation, we delve deep into the world of breast pumping and flange sizes. Amber shares her expertise and exciting findings, covering the critical impact of correctly fitted flanges, t...

Sometimes 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...

My 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...

 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...

Many 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...

Uni-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...

Back 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...

 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...

 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...

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

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

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

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

You can follow Sarah on Instagram at @__Sarah_Perry

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

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

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