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 further reach. And that is all I wanted; that our collective feeding stories, not just the birth stories, of women, babies and new parents were told. That a space was given to speak on this often complex and fraught topic. I shall keep the podcast up as a resource of course. If you care to,  please do donate and buy me a coffee for the hosting costs of keeping both my podcasts available to everyone. :)This podcast has been a joy, and I’m endlessly grateful to you—my listeners—for being part of it. Your messages, stories, and support have meant everything.But don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere! You can still find me online, in my courses, and on social media. With love and thanksKatie xSend us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 c-section and learning the power of breast compressions with her second, to finally experiencing a smoother, more confident journey with her third—each baby shaped not just her motherhood, but also her work as a midwife and doula.We’ll also be diving into Swedish maternity care, a system often praised for its NICU care but one that has notable differences when it comes to birth and postpartum support.  We’ll be talking about the emotional and physical contrasts of cesarean and vaginal birth, the way language shapes a mother’s experience—no matter how many babies she’s had, and the invaluable role of postpartum support, including doulas.You can find Nandi: https://www.nandizulu.com/Send us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 openness, the pain and power of feeding through a medicalised birth, and the raw beauty of her second experience—free-birthing in an AirBnB just an hour before checkout, and feeling the deep, invisible connection between her newborn and her body.Breastfeeding, for Bria, is a message to the world: I am these children’s mother—do not question me.Send us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 latch for six long weeks due to an uncoordinated suck reflex. And just when she thought her family was complete, peri-menopause masked her usual menstrual cycle and she found out she was pregnant with twins—whilst in her final year of training to become a midwife. Born premature and during the height of COVID, her twins needed naso-gastric tubes and weeks of careful feeding, all while she juggled three young children at home.We talk about the exhaustion of trying to keep everything going when there’s no time to stop, how sleep deprivation crept into every part of her life, and the moment she realised her mental health was spiraling. Claire shares the raw reality of feeling like she was just surviving hour by hour, how COVID restrictions left her isolated, and the overwhelming relief of being admitted to a mother and baby unit with her twins—a place where she could finally breathe after four sleep deprived months.Claire also opens up about the emotional toll of pumping, how the sound of the pump became almost unbearable. We dive into the idea of enough—how pumping for six months with her twins had to be enough, even when it didn’t feel like it. And how, despite everything, she found a way to move forward, making peace with a journey that didn’t go as planned but still led to deep connection with her babies.All this and so much more in today’s episode. So grab a cuppa, snuggle in with ya bubba, and let’s dive in.Send us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 her supply, she stood firm, trusting her body and her baby. Bed-sharing from day one became a lifeline, despite the judgment, as she woke every two hours—sometimes even every 30 minutes—to keep feeding on demand.As her baby grew, she kept going, following her instincts despite feeling the pressure to night wean by 12 months, and her own mum telling her that breast milk wasn’t beneficial past a year. Mel is still breastfeeding on demand at 18 months, and aiming for two years. We’ll also be talking about the societal rush to push babies toward independence far too soon. Why are we so quick to be separate from them, to make them sleep alone, to expect them to self-soothe before they’re ready? As Mel says, this isn’t spoiling them—it’s setting them up to be secure, functioning human beings.And importantly, we discuss how framing motherhood as a season—with its ups and downs, challenges, and joys—can help explain to others that even though we may be tired and stretched thin at times, it’s not something we want to change. It’s simply part of the journey, one that twists and turns, but one that we can embrace and even enjoy along the way.All this and lots more invaluable insights. Send us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 own experiences—after a first birth filled with intervention and trauma, she went on to have a redemptive, empowering second and third birth. Now, she’s on a mission to share real, raw, and honest birth and postpartum stories.In this episode, Sophie opens up about her three boys and three completely different breastfeeding journeys—from the initial feeling of “it’s all on me” to learning how to trust herself as a mother. We talk about the realities of being left in the hospital to figure it out alone, navigating outdated advice from well-meaning grandparents, and the exhaustion of those first six weeks. We cover cluster feeding, sleep deprivation, and yes… co-sleeping (and pretending we weren’t doing it!).But we also cover the turning points—the power of skin-to-skin, finding support through the Australian Breastfeeding Association, unwavering love and support from grandparents and knowing when and how to wean on your own terms.If you’re in the thick of it right now, feeling overwhelmed or wondering if you’re doing it “right,” Sophie has some beautiful words of wisdom for you. So, grab a cup of tea, get comfy, and let’s dive in.Find Sophie and the Australian Birth Stories podcast hereInstagram @australianbirthstoriesSend us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 and heartbreak of infant feeding, even in the most challenging circumstances.Our guest is Hannah, an Infant Feeding Supporter at her local hospital. She brings with her an extraordinary story—a journey of love, resilience, and advocacy as a mother to three beautiful children. From navigating the NICU and establishing breastfeeding with her first baby, Lowen, to expressing milk and breastfeeding her second baby, Maisie, through critical illness and unimaginable loss. Amid the heartache, there were many beautiful moments of hope, joy and healing. Hannah shares the joy of breastfeeding her third baby, Theo, cherishing the chance to nurse again after her loss. She speaks about the worries of navigating medical complexities, like Theo’s general anaesthetic at just three months old and feeding through bouts of bronchiolitis, but also the profound healing and hope this experience brought her.Hannah’s story is one of courage and unwavering determination.Hannah is a passionate advocate for supporting families breastfeeding medically complex children, inspired by her own experiences and the incredible work of Lyndsey Hookway and her book ‘Breastfeeding the Brave.’ Now, as a supporter within the NHS, she provides care to families facing their own feeding challenges, determined to make a difference despite the hurdles of time and funding.This episode is a tender conversation about love, loss, and hope. I invite you to listen with compassion and an open heart as Hannah shares her remarkable journey.You can follow and find out more about HannahIG: @our_amazing_maisieSend us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 each child bringing its own unique experiences. From the struggles of cracked nipples to the triumphs of toddler feeding, tandem nursing, and weaning, her story is one of perseverance and growth.She opens up about navigating the challenges of low weight and developmental concerns with her fourth baby, culminating in the need for heart surgery. In this conversation, Farida shares her insights on the courage it takes to advocate for yourself, the importance of finding support, and the power of offering yourself grace through life’s toughest moments. Send us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 holistic care.She’s a thought leader, a social impact entrepreneur, and a passionate advocate for birth. Nadine’s mission is to help restore the sanctity of birth, and her work is loved and followed by parents, birth keepers and health practitioners around the world. Today, we delve into Nadine’s feeding journey with her now 22-year-old son. Reflecting on the beginnings of our motherhood journeys can be incredibly transformative, revealing profound lessons along the way. Nadine and I take a heartfelt stroll down memory lane to revisit a story that is now ready to be shared.Send us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.

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 different. After her first, a traumatic c-section, she found herself grappling with postpartum PTSD, depression, and anxiety, all while breastfeeding her son, who was later diagnosed with a milk protein allergy. She shares the challenges of cutting all dairy from her diet, a process much harder than it sounds! When her milk supply dropped around 8 months, she began supplementing with formula but continued breastfeeding until he reached 12 months.Hannah’s second birth was an unmedicated, low-intervention VBAC with no complications. A week after birth, her baby was admitted to the NICU, and Hannah nursed as often as possible, even standing by her bed to feed during her EEG. She only pumped when she needed to go home to care for her son. Around 8 weeks, latch issues were still a concern. While the pediatrician recommended formula, Hannah trusted her instincts and sought further evaluation from an IBCLC and a pediatric dentist. They discovered a tongue and lip tie, and after having them revised, her daughter started gaining weight immediately and she continued breastfeeding until her daughter weaned at 21 months.So grab your cuppa or latch that baby on, as we sit down on the feeding couch for another episode. Send us Fan Mail Resources & LinksGet your FREE Milk Supply Confidence KitFeel calm, informed and confident about breastfeeding—whether you’re a parent or a professional. Download hereOnline 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 FundamentalsSupport the ShowIf you’re loving the podcast, please leave a review 🎶 Music by Joseph McDadeDisclaimerThe 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.