Beyond the Rules: Responsive Feeding and Support feat. Emma Pickett | #65

Why is breastfeeding often a learned skill that requires a "village" rather than just a natural instinct?

Emma Pickett began her professional life as a teacher before the birth of her own children sparked a deep passion for lactation. She quickly realized that breastfeeding is a continuing line from teaching, as both roles involve helping people reach their goals and feel successful. Emma transitioned from a volunteer breastfeeding counselor to a certified International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2011. She has dedicated her career to supporting families and even helping grandmothers who wish they had better support in their younger years.

One of her biggest challenges is navigating a modern society that lacks the "drip-drip" of evolutionary knowledge once passed down through generations. She observes that industrialization has separated families into nuclear pockets, leaving many new mothers holding a baby for the first time without ever seeing someone breastfeed. Emma transformed her approach by viewing breastfeeding not just as a set of statistics, but as a deeply personal goal and a relationship that needs nurturing. She advocates for "responsive feeding" over strict schedules and helps mothers reclaim their intuition. Today, she is a leading voice in maternal support, writing books on toddler feeding and providing a library of resources to ensure every mother feels capable and empowered during her matrescence.

Key Takeaways

• Breastfeeding is a learned skill that often requires a teacher, a model, and a safe environment rather than just biological instinct.
• We should prioritize responsive feeding by listening to the baby's needs and our environment instead of following strict app-based schedules or clocks.
• Preparing during pregnancy means gathering your support resources and finding a lactation consultant you personally click with for the postpartum period.
• Modern isolation means we must intentionally rebuild our "village" by including partners and family in our understanding of responsive feeding and milk supply.
• The breastfeeding journey can involve winding roads like difficult latches or medical complications, but these can be overcome with the right patient support.

Resources

• Emma Pickett’s Website: https://www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com
• Emma Pickett’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmapickettibclc

Guests Bio:

Emma Pickett is a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), author, and holistic sleep coach who has been supporting breastfeeding families since 2011. She was honored in 2022 with the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain award for outstanding contribution to breastfeeding.

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