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

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.

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 possible to safely continue. She also discusses the complexities of parenting with MS, the support from her work, and her ongoing commitment to 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 mentioned - The UKDILAS service https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/about-sps/get-in-touch/medicines-information-services-contact-details/breastfeeding-medicines-advice-service/ (health professionals and breastfeeding supporters make contact on behalf of parents).The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in information service: https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets/MS Society https://www.mssociety.org.uk/Facebook groups - MuMS UK - https://www.facebook.com/groups/351614711568755/MS UK - https://www.facebook.com/groups/MSUK1/Breastfeeding and pregnancy on Ocrevus, Rituxan and Kesimpta  -https://www.facebook.com/groups/412257639666264/ This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

 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.jerseyMy 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.

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 tricycle feed, was almost not a decision at all.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.

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 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.

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 society, and the hows and whys of periods, breast development and hormonal changes.You can follow Tara on Instagram @_taraghosh_ or find out more on her website http://www.taraghosh.com/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 or recommended -Books -This Period in my Life by Saskia BoujaMaking Pink Lemonade by Sarah O'MahoneyMenstrual Doodles by Rebecca MartinPeriod by Natalie ByrneRuby Luna's Curious Journey by Tessa SandersonThe Autism Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn StewardWebsite - https://amaze.org/us/ This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

 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 one twin at a time, changing her positioning to accommodate her daughter Halle’s harness. Despite initial fears and challenges, both mums found that breastfeeding could continue, and that their girls thrived throughout the weeks of treatment.We referenced the following resources - Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets https://breastfeedingtwinsandtriplets.co.uk/South Essex Lactation Support https://www.southessexlactationsupport.co.uk/Breastfeeding a baby with hip dysplasia | Australian Breastfeeding Association https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/breastfeeding-baby-hip-dysplasiaMy 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.

 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 and communicating with Freya to establish boundaries around feeding. Towards the end of our conversation we also discuss the process of donating milk via the local milk bank, as Shonagh has just started to donate, having been inspired by Charlotte’s story in episode 67.You can follow Shonagh on Instagram @‌shonaghmackMy 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.