The Feeding Couch

I am saying goodbye. Why? I started this podcast as at that time there wasn't really anyone in the podcast space focusing on the feeding stories. But now there is. Bigger podcasts have picked up on this important topic. Podcasts who had previously started and dropped off,  have once again picked up and are telling these stories... AND I am so thrilled! They have a bigger audience, they have f...

In this episode I’m joined by Nandi —a midwife, doula, and Hypnobirthing educator based in Sweden. But beyond her professional expertise Nandi is also a mother of three—an 18-year-old daughter and two sons, aged 10 and 6—all of whom were breastfed, though each journey looked very different. From struggling with painful latching and early formula supplementation with her first, to recovering from a...

Today, I’m joined by Bria—a mother of two, living in Grenada in the West Indies—who has embraced breastfeeding as more than just feeding. From her first-ever public feed on the London Underground to nursing a four-year-old despite outside opinions, Bria has navigated her journey with strength and conviction. She shares how witnessing women breastfeed before becoming a mother shaped her own opennes...

In this episode Claire joins me;  a mum of five and midwife, whose feeding journeys have been anything but straightforward. After breastfeeding her first baby with ease for a year, she assumed it would be the same with the rest—but life had other plans. When her second baby needed surgery just days after birth, she found herself expressing around the clock. Then came her third, who struggled to la...

I’m joined today by Mel, who takes us through how she navigated early struggles when her milk took almost a week to come in, and the overwhelming pressure from professionals to supplement with formula. A lactation consultant even told her she might never be able to breastfeed at all as her boobs were too small– so how did these seeds of doubt impact Mel’s feeding experience? With family doubting h...

In today’s episode, I have a special guest—someone you probably already know and love. Sophie Walker, the incredible founder and host of Australian Birth Stories , joins me to share her personal breastfeeding journey. With a Master’s in Public Health, Sophie is passionate about helping pregnant women and their support teams actively prepare for birth and postpartum. Her podcast was born from her o...

Content Warning: This episode of The Feeding Couch discusses baby loss and the emotional journey of grieving as a parent. While the conversation is filled with compassion, hope, and healing, it also touches on sensitive topics that may be difficult for some listeners. In this episode we’re delving into a topic that’s both deeply personal and profoundly important—supporting families through the joy...

I’m thrilled to introduce Farida; a proud Muslim Oromo Australian woman, a mother of four, a midwife, and a nurse who has dedicated her life to nurturing and caring for others. Her passion for meaningful, thought-provoking conversations shines through in everything she does. We’ll delve into her remarkable breastfeeding journey, which began at 19 and evolved alongside her career as a midwife, with...

Welcome back to The Feeding Couch Season 2! I am thrilled to welcome Nadine Richardson—a visionary in childbirth education, a doula, yoga teacher, and founder of She Births®, the world’s first scientifically verified antenatal program.  Nadine has empowered tens of thousands of new mums, dads and parents across the globe with her approach to birth preparation, blending science, community, and holi...

In this episode I have a conversation with Hannah, a wife to her high school sweetheart, a mother of two, and a passionate advocate for empowered childbirth and motherhood. After experiencing her own journey through birth trauma and healing, Hannah found her calling as a childbirth educator and doula, specializing in VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Hannah’s two birth experiences were vastly d...

In this episode I’m joined by Raylea, a first-time mom to baby Ellie,who faced more challenges in her first week of motherhood than many of us can imagine. After a significant weight loss of 12% by day three, the stress began to mount. Ellie’s weight loss was compounded by jaundice and a diagnosis that would change Raylea’s feeding journey: known as Insufficient Glandular Tissue or underdevelopmen...

In this episode I’m joined by Anja; a mum of three living in Coventry UK with a passion to advocate for women’s mental health, particularly around pregnancy and childbirth. Anya studied biomedical science at University, but her true calling has been in the charitable sector, where she’s spent years fundraising and providing vital admin support for local organizations. Since the birth of her first...

In this episode I am joined by Sarah; a mum of soon-to-be three little ones (at the time of recording). She serves as the Head of Research and Education at a leading UK breast cancer charity. And in this episode we're focusing on Sarah's personal journey, navigating the complexities of motherhood and breastfeeding as an autistic woman. We'll be exploring some deeply personal and imp...

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...

Leah is a first time mum who prepared extensively for labour, birth and breastfeeding through her pregnancy. She was dreaming of the first breastfeed in the birth suite and having the ‘golden hour’ together. However, when her daughter Hazel was born she had breathing difficulties and was taken to the special care nursery within 5 minutes of being born.  Leah tells me her story from the firsts minu...

Julia Neale is a mum of three, with two living children, and originally from the suburbs of Toronto, Canada. She now calls Switzerland, home. She is a former international primary school teacher, and is now a prenatal educator. Julia’s takes me through her three experiences with breast milk and feeding.  Her first baby was born at 36 weeks, hospitalized for jaundice and heavily supplemented with f...

Susanne really enjoyed breastfeeding her two children.  She had made up her mind that she wanted to stop breastfeeding when her youngest was turning two, but she found herself with a difficult internal struggle. Susanne saw this as an opportunity for personal growth and she worked with a coach to dive deeper into all these mixed emotions. The coach provided a beautiful ending ritual and Susanne&ap...

Kate is an endorsed midwife and IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) based in Australia. She is passionate about a no bull-s**t approach to feeding and motherhood, and ultimately supporting families to have their most empowered experience as they transition into parenthood. Kate has honestly shared her own feeding and motherhood struggles through her work in Milky Business. M...

Ana is a 34 year old mama of two. Originally from Portugal, currently living in Austria with her German husband and their 2 kids: a fierce 4 year old girl and a 6 month old baby boy. Ana breastfed her eldest for 2.5 years, something she didn't expect to do when she was pregnant. Ana works in marketing in the tech industry but is using her maternity leave to focus on her baby and launching her...

Born and raised in Perth, Australia, Johanna unexpectedly made Switzerland her home in 2010. Johanna has studied biomedical science, occupational therapy, English literature, philosophy and education… and yet tells me how nothing prepared her for the tumultuous early years of motherhood.  Johanna shares with me her experiences of feeding her two boys, who are now twelve and nine years old, and how...

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.  Eventua...

Claire Summers joins me in this episode. Claire is the voice behind Claire’s Itchy Feet and Claire Summers Speaks. A seasoned travel influencer, yoga teacher, and a passionate advocate for conscious parenting and wellness. With over a decade of experience as a content creator, Claire blends her journey through motherhood, wellness practices, and adventures across the globe into inspiring narrative...

In this episode I talk to Nicole, who is currently breastfeeding her 16 month old daughter.  Amber is Nicole’s miracle rainbow baby after losses and fertility struggles. Nicole shares with me so many insightful and real aspects of ‘normal’ breastfeeding. Even when everything on paper seems ‘perfect’ it still comes with it’s challenges.  We discuss: Getting started with breastfeeding Breastfeeding...

Maayan describes herself as a first time mum who knew nothing about pregnancy or birth but after fighting to have a vaginal birth for her first baby who was breech for most of her pregnancy,  she has found the entire process to be life changing beyond imagination; not just literally & physically but spiritually, mentally, emotionally and socially.  In this episode Maayan shares with me how her...

Heather had a career as a playwright before becoming a Midwife. Approaching 40, gay and single, she decided to have a baby with her best friend Adam, and they co-parent harmoniously together.  In this episode we discuss trying to establish breastfeeding when her baby was in the special care nursery for the first few days, how formula tops up led to a cascade of feeding interventions, pumping and t...