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
Orlanda - dealing with grief and loss during pregnancy, waiting 7 days for milk to come-in, succesfully breastfeeding, and self permission to mix feed
Welcome to today's episode. I'm honoured to introduce my dear friend Orlanda, whom I've had the privilege of supporting with lactation and breastfeeding when her daughter, Cassia, was born almost five years ago. Orlanda joins us on the feeding couch to share her deeply personal story. She is the Co-Founder of Narcissus London Cosmetics Company, an Ambassador for the Charity Widowed and Young (WAY), and a widowed mother living in London.
In this episode, Orlanda graciously opens up about her journey from pregnancy to feeding. At 20 weeks pregnant, while on holiday in France, Orlanda experienced a life-changing event: her partner Julian tragically passed away from a sudden heart attack. She reflects on how this loss impacted the remainder of her pregnancy and her experience feeding Cassia. Orlanda shares her challenging early weeks of breastfeeding, ultimately finding strength and triumph despite the chaos surrounding her.
We'll be discussing:
- Coping with loss and trauma during pregnancy
- The vital role of an amazing tribe of women who supported Orlanda during those months
- The challenges of waiting seven days for her milk supply to come in and what was needed to sustain the first week
- The surprising positive effect of a glass of champagne with fish and chips
- Using nipple shields and a supply line device
- The difficulty of breastfeeding in public and the importance of giving yourself permission to use formula and mix-feed
- Orlanda's love for pumping milk
- Her experience with the charity Widowed And Young (WAY) and the incredible support from other women who understood her situation
This episode contains sensitive topics and may not be suitable for all listeners. Please listen at your own discretion.
LINKS:
Widowed and Young
Narcissus London Cosmetics
Instagram:
@Narcissus.London
@WidowedandYoung
@OrlandaBryars
Resources & Links
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🎶 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.
