“I always just assumed that I would give birth and just breastfeed, and that would be it. It would be this natural, straightforward thing.”
“It's not just feeding them. If they hurt themselves, you can offer milk and that’s a comfort. It’s their safe place with Mum.”
Rachel shares her breastfeeding journey, reflecting on initial struggles with her first child. Despite her mother’s positive portrayal of breastfeeding, Rachel found it challenging, particularly as a single parent. She sought help from a lactation consultant but still struggled alone. With her second child, she felt more informed and experienced an easier transition. She highlights the importance of support networks and public breastfeeding-friendly spaces. She also shares Luca’s engagement with creative expression, showcasing how breastfeeding shaped their bond beyond infancy.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
01:00 Meet Rachel: A Mother of four from Bradford
02:00 Breastfeeding journey
15:00 Looking at breastfeeding locations in Bradford
18:00 Conclusion and Gratitude
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"I would see people passing the house and I would just daydream and think, ‘I wonder if they breastfed their baby? I wonder if they found it hard?’ And I was thinking that about people I didn’t even know."
"The idea of baby groups before I had a child was hell to me. Absolute hell… I realise now I've really eaten my words with that massively. The breastfeeding group that I go to—that's for me."
Hannah shares her emotional breastfeeding journey. Desperate for support, she attended a breastfeeding event just two weeks postpartum, where she met the Breastfeed Together group, which became her lifeline. Facing tongue tie issues, painful feeds, and pumping exhaustion, she credits the infant feeding team, for saving her journey.
Despite overwhelming pain and doubts, her determination kept her going. Hannah reflects on the importance of strong female support systems, the lack of preparation for breastfeeding, and how she underestimated the emotional toll of birth interventions.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Hannah's Breastfeeding Journey
02:40 Challenges and Solutions
06:00 Birth Experiences and Their Impact
09:45 Sharing Breastfeeding Plan with Family
12:22 The subject of Tongue Tie
20:25 Discusses Frustrations
23:29 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
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"I researched so much about it, put so much effort into it and it just still wasn't working."
"My mum was amazed at how much I knew about it, you know, from what I'd researched and how much I'd been taught by the midwives and how much support I was getting for it."
Sinead, a mother from Bradford, shares her emotional breastfeeding journey after an emergency C-section. Initially struggling with latching issues, she felt like she was failing despite extensive research. Encouraged by a lactation consultant, she joined a creative writing workshop to share her experience, despite feeling out of her depth. Through the workshop, she found solace in hearing other mothers' varied birth and feeding stories. Sinead reflects on the lack of breastfeeding support in previous generations and how her mother learned alongside her. Her journey highlights the emotional and physical challenges new mothers face and the importance of shared experiences.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Sinead and her family
01:06 Breastfeeding Journey with the First Child
11:30 A Tramatic Labour Story
13:45 Reflections on Breastfeeding and Support Systems
26:04 Conclusion and AcknowledgementsSupport the project by becoming a Patreon member
"It’s about having choices, being informed, and feeling in control of my body and birth. That’s what I wanted."
"I think it's really lovely to be able to, you know, enjoy breastfeeding, which was never something I felt would ever happen with my first journey."
Alison’s journey through birth and breastfeeding was marked by resilience and adaptation. Initially unprepared, she faced painful breastfeeding struggles, complications during her first home birth, and a hospital readmission due to her baby’s weight loss. Diagnosed with insufficient breast tissue, she turned to donor milk, aligning with her ethical vegan beliefs. For her second child, she chose an empowering freebirth and successfully supplemented her milk supply with donor milk. In this interview, Alison highlights the power of community, informed choices, and perseverance, encouraging new mothers to seek support and reminding them that challenges are temporary.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Alison's Breastfeeding Journey Begins
01:23 Challenges and Misconceptions
02:40 Birth Experiences and Their Impact
06:05 Finding Confidence and Control
08:52 The Role of Donor Milk
12:53 Community Support and Empowerment
23:46 Reflections and Advice for New Mothers
25:53 Conclusion and Gratitude
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"I felt incomplete at times, but I kept going. Because motherhood isn’t about perfection—it’s about perseverance."
"It’s not just about feeding; it’s about connection, about learning, and about standing up for what your baby needs."
Rana recounts how she planned to breastfeed her first child for two years but became pregnant again when her daughter turned one. She struggled with guilt over weaning early, especially due to her high-risk pregnancy. She discusses her experience with the NICU, where her baby needed observation but was physically far from the postnatal ward. She was determined to breastfeed and asked nurses to call her whenever her baby cried, making frequent trips in a wheelchair despite the pain of her C-section recovery. She reflects on how a maternity ward painting of a mother breastfeeding two babies inspired her during pregnancy, making her believe she could do the same.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Personal Breastfeeding Journey Begins
01:20 Navigating High-Risk Pregnancy
01:35 Challenges of Stopping Breastfeeding
02:52 Reflecting on Guilt and Relationships
03:36 Traumatic Birth Experience
04:06 Induction and C-Section Decision
06:24 NICU Experience and Breastfeeding Struggles
10:53 Support Systems and Self-Advocacy
14:54 Community Resources and Activities
24:45 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude
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"Breastfeeding isn’t just about feeding—it’s about connection, comfort, and transformation."
Maddie, a medical doctor and mother to a three-year-old, describes breastfeeding as a transformative experience that led her to switch careers from Obstetrics and Gynecology to public health. Initially, she saw breastfeeding as a casual choice but soon realised its deep emotional significance, especially after overcoming early challenges like weight loss and jaundice. Her journey inspired her to co-found MILC, a support network for breastfeeding doctors. She highlights systemic gaps in medical education, emphasizing the lack of lactation training for healthcare professionals. Passionate about change, she advocates for better breastfeeding support and hopes to establish lactation medicine as a recognized specialty.
"We need to do better. We need to change the system so that women get the support they deserve."
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Maddy: A Journey of Breastfeeding
01:56 The Impact of Breastfeeding on Career Choices
02:36 Challenges and Triumphs in Breastfeeding
07:12 The Role of Medical Professionals in Breastfeeding
10:59 Cultural and Structural Barriers to Breastfeeding
23:45 Future Goals and Aspirations for Breastfeeding Support
25:43 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
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"I wholeheartedly appreciate what my body went through in order to give me two beautiful children. I cherish that."
"I think my biggest hurdle after pregnancy was being told, ‘Oh, you’ll just know what to do.’ But when your baby is crying, and you’re crying, you think, ‘I’m supposed to know... but I don’t.’"
Reena shares her journey of motherhood, highlighting both the joys and challenges. She describes her first pregnancy as a mostly positive experience but was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. This diagnosis impacted her birth plan, leading her to opt for a hospital birth instead of a planned home water birth. She talks about how she struggled with the reality of newborn care, feeling overwhelmed despite having a strong family support system. She describes feeling lost in early motherhood and candidly shares the physical changes after birth, including prolonged postpartum bleeding and the emotional shift of seeing herself in a new body.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Gwena: A Mother from Bradford
00:50 First Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes
02:48 Birth Experience During COVID-19
05:37 Postpartum Challenges and Support
20:29 Breastfeeding Journey and Public Perception
26:10 Conclusion and Gratitude
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"I was really determined to breastfeed. I just knew I’d power through it no matter what."
"The reality of motherhood and birth and all of that is very, like, dirty and it’s grizzly and it’s just very primal... No one can tell you what that’s like until you go through it."
Alexandra’s breastfeeding journey was far more challenging than she expected. She initially believed it would be natural and easy, but quickly realised the reality was much harder. She struggled with positioning and attachment, lacked proper guidance, and felt unprepared despite attending an antenatal class. The experience was emotionally and physically draining, contributing to her postnatal depression. She also faced intense sleep deprivation and frustration. Over time, things improved, but she deeply regretted not knowing more beforehand. Looking back, she gained immense respect for mothers who struggle with breastfeeding and now understands why some choose not to continue.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Birth Stories and Experiences
08:18 Challenges and Triumphs of Breastfeeding
12:47 Reflections on Motherhood
15:56 The Reality of Postnatal Depression
19:13 The Raw and Primal Side of Motherhood
23:29 The Misconceptions About Breastfeeding
25:41 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
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"I 100 percent wanted to breastfeed. I knew about the benefits for mum and baby, and just thought it was something that I would do without question."
"I was desperate to know any detail to make me remember, to understand what I had been through. And that journey helped me heal."
Clare’s story highlights resilience, the power of informed choices, and the possibility of healing after birth trauma. Her first birth and breastfeeding experience was traumatic, marked by severe illness, sepsis, and spinal headaches, leaving her unable to nurse and leading to PTSD. With therapy and support, she processed her trauma, enabling a more positive second birth and a successful breastfeeding journey. Clare emphasises the importance of professional help, family support, and healing, crediting therapy for her recovery. Breastfeeding her second child became a meaningful part of that process, bringing closure and joy.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:51 Clare's Early Breastfeeding Challenges
03:13 Difficult Birth and Postpartum Struggles
09:40 Therapy and Recovery Journey
13:10 Second Pregnancy and Positive Experience
23:19 Reflections and Final Thoughts
26:14 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgement
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"Throughout my pregnancies, I had Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction… where my hips no longer like each other or any other muscle in my body."
"When the baby latches on, if the baby's got a particular infection, your body will pick that up and it'll produce the antibodies for that infection."
In this interview Salma shares a deeply personal experience about the premature birth of her first daughter at 28 weeks. She described the medical challenges, including the importance of breast milk for premature babies, and how she dedicated herself to pumping milk every two hours for 12 weeks while her daughter was in the hospital. She discussed her struggles with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction during pregnancy, which caused significant pain but made labour relatively easier. Despite the difficulties of pumping, sterilising, and storage, she remained committed, recognising the health benefits for her baby.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Our Guest: A Mother of Three
01:04 Career Journey: From Science Teacher to Women's Zone
02:27 Genetics Project and Community Work
03:53 The Importance of Breastfeeding for Preemies
04:07 A Premature Birth Story
08:30 Challenges and Triumphs of Breastfeeding
09:14 Expressing Milk: A Personal Mission
19:49 Cultural Perspectives on Breast Milk
22:24 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
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"I think being pregnant was the first time in my life I appreciated my body."
Ruth, a mother of three, shares her journey and reflections on breastfeeding, childbirth, and motherhood. Her breastfeeding influence came from her best friend’s positive experience and despite initial uncertainties, she immersed herself in learning about breastfeeding, seeing it as an extension of her newfound appreciation for her body during pregnancy. Ruth talks about her two contrasting birth experiences, yet still feels empowered by her choices and emphasizes the importance of being informed and involved in decision-making during childbirth.
"Motherhood is a wild ride—but also about not losing yourself, or refinding yourself, or finding your tribe."
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:36 Meet Ruth
01:01 Breastfeeding Influences and Preparation
04:22 Birth Experiences
06:52 Writing Workshops and Creative Expression
08:44 Upcoming Events and Reflections
13:00 The Power of Women's Circles
18:53 Conclusion and Gratitude
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“Increasing exposure through the media and making sure that it’s encouraged in cafes and things like that would take the individual responsibility away from the mums a little bit more.”
Leanne shares her academic journey and research interests, particularly focusing on perinatal mental health and infant feeding. She reflects on her initial naivety about breastfeeding, highlighting how her experiences as a midwifery service volunteer exposed her to the struggles of women facing breastfeeding difficulties.
This led her to investigate the emotional and societal challenges surrounding infant feeding, particularly breastfeeding.
Throughout the conversation, Leanne emphasises the need for nuanced, empathetic support for breastfeeding mothers and critiques the rigid, one-size-fits-all approach that often fails to address the complex realities women face.
"It seems to be this very sensitive balancing act between wanting to promote breastfeeding, which is healthy for baby and for mom... but by the same rule not doing that at the expense of women's health, autonomy, comfort, voice, safety."
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:27 Leanne's Academic Journey and Research Focus
01:15 Challenges and Insights in Breastfeeding Support
08:06 The Baby Friendly Initiative and Its Impact
13:55 Behavioral Change Theories in Health Research
19:26 Personal Experiences and Broader Implications
28:30 Future Directions and Concluding Thoughts
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"If society saw breastfeeding as normal, mothers wouldn’t feel the pressure to hide or change their choices."
Deqa, a Community Engagement Lead for the Women's Health and Maternity Programme, shares her experiences and challenges with breastfeeding in public in the UK. Despite breastfeeding all her children, she has never done so publicly due to fear of standing out. She explains that in Somali culture, breastfeeding in public is completely normal, with women openly nursing on buses and in other public spaces without stigma. However, in the UK, societal attitudes, a lack of designated breastfeeding spaces, and cultural expectations make public breastfeeding difficult.
"When a mother is supported, she thrives. When she thrives, her baby and society benefit."
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:10 Cultural Perspectives on Breastfeeding
01:30 Challenges of Breastfeeding in Public
07:32 Support Systems for New Mothers
09:38 The Impact of Cultural Differences
16:04 Future Plans for the Holding Time Project
25:50 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
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"The distance for me of where my baby was, in comparison to where I was... I sort of resented having to express and not be with him."
Victoria reflects on her experience of balancing work and motherhood, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns. With her first child, she initially worked in frontline private healthcare and shares how the pandemic influenced her work-life balance and parenting journey, ultimately leading to her decision to transition into self-employment. She also discusses the emotional and logistical challenges of expressing milk at work, highlighting how disconnected she felt from her baby while pumping and discusses the importance of social connection, recognising that many breastfeeding mothers lack in-person support.
"I decided that I would have a little bit of a break... but actually what I've done is I've started my own business."
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Victoria and Her Family
00:57 Balancing Work and Motherhood
02:21 Challenges of Breastfeeding at Work
03:47 Expressing Milk and Emotional Struggles
15:51 Navigating COVID-19 as a Breastfeeding Mother
18:58 Support Systems and Community
26:03 Conclusion and Gratitude
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"It’s not right and it’s not fair... everywhere should be breastfeeding friendly because it is our right, it is literally legally protected."
“I had a lot of guilt and shame that I've had to work through… I've still been really upset about it, but that's more because it just hasn't gone to plan, and I like things to be in control, I've discovered”
Kayleigh, a mother of two, reflects on how her painful birth experiences and postpartum recovery influenced her breastfeeding challenges, highlighting her experiences and perspectives on breastfeeding, systemic issues, and maternal care in the UK. Kayleigh discusses her personal guilt and shame tied to feeding choices, emphasising that societal pressures harm all mothers, regardless of feeding methods, arguing that mothers should feel empowered to make informed decisions without external judgment.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Kayleigh's Breastfeeding Journey
01:28 Challenges and Solutions
02:29 The Role of Tongue Tie
04:10 Birth Experiences and Their Impact
07:14 Emotional Struggles and Support
11:43 The Importance of Donor Milk and Support Networks
16:16 Societal Pressures and Breastfeeding
22:26 Effective Strategies for Breastfeeding Success
25:09 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
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"When I was three weeks postpartum, I reached out to the breastfeeding clinic. I was in tears on the phone, like, I don’t know if I can do this."
"It’s about talking to and having that support system around you to talk to. Women who have breastfed in the past, to get a full idea."
Mahum, a mother of two, shares her breastfeeding journey with all its challenges and rewards. Despite initial struggles, including engorgement and recovery from childbirth, Mahum persisted with the help of a breastfeeding clinic, which provided practical advice and emotional support. Speaking of the contrasts between her two sons’ feeding behaviours, linking her eldest son's autism diagnosis and reflecting on how this influenced her efforts to wean him gradually, she discusses the importance of early support and guidance for breastfeeding mothers, highlighting the physical and emotional demands, such as hunger, fatigue, and pressure to succeed.
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Malcom: A Mother's Journey
01:08 Breastfeeding Challenges and Triumphs
02:00 Family Support and Cultural Influences
04:15 Navigating Autism and Breastfeeding
07:12 Support Systems and Community Resources
08:31 The Importance of Early Support
13:33 Raising Awareness and Future Plans
16:55 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
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"When COVID hit... I was adamant, I am not going to stop breastfeeding this child because we don’t know what this is."
Stacey’s story reflects her resilience in overcoming institutional and personal challenges to prioritise her child’s health and her commitment to breastfeeding despite systemic shortcomings. In this interview, she discusses her two-decade breastfeeding journey, revealing her resilience, advocacy, and challenges in navigating societal norms, workplace barriers, and systemic shortcomings.
"I felt like I was being made to choose between how I feed my child and my job, and even in an ordinary time, that would have been totally unfair."
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Stacy and Her Family
01:25 Breastfeeding Journey with the First Child
02:40 Support and Challenges Over the Years
06:03 Breastfeeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic
07:52 Workplace Struggles and Advocacy
19:17 Current Breastfeeding Experience
25:47 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
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“There’s definitely some very real fear that… people go in to have babies, that they’re going to be told that they have to breastfeed, and that is it”
Benash, a Specialist Cultural Liaison Midwife, discusses her role in addressing health inequalities and promoting maternal and community well-being. Her insights present a critical lens on how societal norms, inadequate systems, and cultural narratives fail to support mothers holistically. Benash discusses the pervasive fear among mothers about being judged or pressured into breastfeeding and talks about the need for inclusive, culturally aware, and empathetic approaches to maternal care, while also addressing the broader systemic issues that perpetuate maternal struggles.
“It’s that narrative of intergenerational trauma that’s taught and passed down through generations… Silences, binds, and prevents the females and the women to feel that they can speak up, speak out, or say things.”
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
01:02 Meet Banash: Specialist Cultural Liaison Midwife
03:12 Challenges Faced by Black and Brown Healthcare Professionals
05:49 Community Engagement Through Arts and Health Projects
06:46 Breastfeeding Rates and Cultural Influences
11:12 Mental Health and Postnatal Depression
18:21 The Role of Arts in Supporting Mothers
25:29 Future Projects and Collaborations
34:55 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
"I think a lot of the pressure for me came from myself... Without this being something that I was consciously thinking at the time, I think I wanted to get it right. I wanted to kind of succeed at it."
This interview with Frances explores her personal journey with breastfeeding, shedding light on the challenges, perseverance, and eventual ease she found in the process. Frances candidly shares her struggles with initial discomfort and navigating societal perceptions, as well as the physical and emotional toll of breastfeeding. She reflects on the convenience of breastfeeding once established, her experiences breastfeeding in public, and the subtle advocacy inherent in normalising it through everyday actions.
"My general experience after getting started is I’ve not worried too much about people."
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Frances and Her Breastfeeding Journey
01:54 Breastfeeding Challenges and Support
13:42 Navigating Public Breastfeeding
17:52 Reflecting on Motherhood and Breastfeeding
26:23 Conclusion and Acknowledgements
"People mean well, don't they? They're like, 'Oh, you know, give yourself a break, give them a bottle.' But when you're really trying to make breastfeeding work, it's kind of not what you want to hear."
Zoe reflects on societal and familial influences that shaped her decisions, including the pervasive normalisation of formula feeding and a lack of visibility for extended breastfeeding. She emphasises the need for supportive environments over prescriptive advice, recounting moments of judgment and support she experienced in public breastfeeding scenarios. Throughout this discussion, Zoe highlights the need for systemic support, cultural representation, and education to make breastfeeding more accessible and accepted.
“I've been really fortunate in that my births and experiences in hospital with the NHS have been wonderful, particularly with the breastfeeding support that I've had”
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Personal Breastfeeding Journey: Reuben's Story
01:26 Challenges and Triumphs in Breastfeeding
03:09 Comparing Experiences with Different Children
05:00 Public Perception and Support for Breastfeeding
06:51 Reflections on Breastfeeding and Support Systems
11:26 Breastfeeding in Public: Confidence and Challenges
16:28 The Need for Better Breastfeeding Education
26:14 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude
https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/
Support the project by becoming a Patreon member