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

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 tragically, Rupert died during birth. Having heard of milk banks during her pregnancy, Claire decided to donate her milk when it came in, and ended up donating for over six months, helping many babies and families in Rupert’s memory. She also took part in Hearts Milk Bank’s ‘Connecting Hearts’ exhibition. Claire is currently breastfeeding her son, Rory.You can follow Claire on Instagram at @‌love_bertie_bearContact Hearts Milk Bank via their website https://humanmilkfoundation.org/hearts-milk-bank/donating-after-bereavement/For support after losing a baby:Sands | Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.Saving babies' lives | Tommy's | The pregnancy and baby charityMy new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week’s 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 Rupert. Everything seemed to go well with her pregnancy, but tragically, Rupert died during birth. Having heard of milk banks during her pregnancy, Claire decided to donate her milk when it came in, and ended up donating for over six months, helping many babies and families in Rupert’s memory. She also took part in Hearts Milk Bank’s ‘Connecting Hearts’ exhibition. Claire is currently breastfeeding her son, Rory.You can follow Claire on Instagram at @‌love_bertie_bearContact Hearts Milk Bank via their website https://humanmilkfoundation.org/hearts-milk-bank/donating-after-bereavement/For support after losing a baby:Sands | Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.Saving babies' lives | Tommy's | The pregnancy and baby charityMy new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com  This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I’m 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 Instagram @‌imogenibclc.Hannah is @‌littlenestsleep on Instagram.My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comOther resources mentioned - Caoimhe Whelan is an IBCLC with a particular knowledge of low milk supply: https://latch.ie/Finding Sufficiency: Breastfeeding with insufficient glandular tissue https://www.lllgbbooks.co.uk/store/p230/FindingSufficiency.htmlBreastfeeding Grief and Trauma https://professoramybrown.co.uk/breastfeeding-griefIs Your Baby Getting Enough Milk - Video - https://globalhealthmedia.org/video/is-your-baby-getting-enough-milk/ This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

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 @‌rracquah85My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

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 also cover their breastfeeding stories, the resources they found useful, and how they have gone about ending breastfeeding.My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com Resources recommended - Book - Genevieve Roberts, Going Solo: My choice to become a single mother using a donor https://www.waterstones.com/book/going-solo/genevieve-roberts/9780349421513Podcast and solo mum courses - The stork and I https://thestorkandi.com/thrivingsolopod/Podcast - Motherhood Reimagined https://motherhoodreimagined.com/podcast-home/Podcast - Not by Accident https://notbyaccident.net/ This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

 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 finally achieved pregnancy while continuing to breastfeed her third child. My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com Resources mentioned - Carol Smyth IBCLC for fertility and breastfeeding https://www.carolsmyth.co.uk/breastfeeding-resources/posts/2017/june/breastfeeding-fertility-and-subfertility-1/Breastfeeding support in Ireland https://www.cuidiu.ie/@‌lyndsey_hookway for sleep information This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

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.Find out more from Scott on Instagram @‌fatherhood__solutions_My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This summer bonus episode is a replay of episode 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 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 new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

This week, I’m 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 at https://breastfeedingnorfolk.co.uk/My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com Books mentioned - Practical Breastfeeding by Caoimhe WhelanSaggy Boobs and other breastfeeding myths by Valerie FiniganThe Food of Love by Kate EvansBreastfeeding and the fourth trimester by Lucy WebberThis podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

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 Adele.Phoebe recommends this Instagram account for French speakers - @‌madametirelaitMy new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie’s Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.