The Feeding Couch
Welcome to The Feeding Couch podcast; a place where the real, uncensored, breastfeeding and postpartum stories are told. I am a midwife and Lactation Consultant and over the decades working with families I’ve seen a variety of feeding journeys and I can tell you that not one of them is the same. In our worId of perfect portrayal of postpartum on social media its time to shine a light on what's really going on in those first weeks, months and years when we set out to feed our babies.
The Feeding Couch
Zoe - Posterior tongue tie, nipple shields, milk blebs, toddler feeding, to setting up a postpartum support hub
In this episode Zoe discusses with me how she had her first baby at 22 and really struggled with feeding. How she had to hand express for the first week and use nipple shields for first few months.
She tells her story of how no one listened when she was saying how painful breastfeeding was, despite having purple nipples and a baby who fed constantly, all the time, with hardly any breaks.
Eventually Zoe found out that her baby had a posterior tongue tie. She was only able to get it released when he was 6 months. Despite this she fed him until he was 4 years old.
During the COVID pandemic Zoe had her second baby. She tells of how she was really left to it on her own, despite having a seven year gap between babies and feeling like she had forgotten everything. Zoe is currently still breastfeeding her 3.5 year old little girl.
We also talk about milk blebs, dealing with a postpartum injury and navigating breastfeeding.
And Zoe tells us how this led to her setting up a women’s health hub in her hometown of Hartlepool, to make up for all the lost support that never returned after the pandemic.
It is inspirational to hear Zoe talk of what she has grown in this incredible hub.
Join me as I interview Zoe Gardiner is a research scientist, currently studying for her PhD, a full spectrum doula, and the founder of Postpartum Matters CIC - a non-profit committed to supporting women of all ages and stages whilst amplifying and highlighting real, honest postpartum stories, and an autistic mother to two.
LINKS:
Resources & Links
Get your FREE Milk Supply Confidence Kit
Feel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional.
Online Courses by Katie James
– Pregnant or just had your baby? Start with The Feeding Couch
– A midwife, doula, or health professional? Join Breastfeeding & Lactation: The Fundamentals
Support the Show
If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review
🎶 Music by Joseph McDade
Disclaimer
The information in this podcast is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. While we aim for accuracy, no guarantee is made that the content is error-free or up to date. Always seek guidance from a qualified health professional for individual concerns.
The Feeding Couch podcast accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on any of the content provided.
