“We had already been talking about adopting anyway for years before. So we just decided we don't want to put ourselves through this journey with all the factors against us. Let's just go the adoption route.”

Aisha's breastfeeding journey was a heartfelt attempt to create a deep bond with her adopted child while fulfilling Islamic guidelines. Despite trying herbal remedies and using a breast pump, she couldn’t produce milk. Her sister stepped in, providing breast milk to meet the Islamic criteria, solidifying the familial bond. Aisha reflects on the emotional impact of this journey, including her struggle with societal support, feelings of inadequacy, and the unique challenges of becoming a mother at 46. She emphasizes the need for early advice, community resources, and emotional support for mothers navigating unconventional paths to nurturing their children.

“For me, obviously, as a non-religious Muslim, it was just a way to feel closer to my child, so I thought this is amazing, was an amazing way to bond with him, even at age two.”

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:41 Aisha's Adoption Journey

01:06 Challenges and Triumphs of Adoption

04:45 Breastfeeding from an Islamic Perspective

12:05 The Process of Inducing Lactation

23:02 Reflections and Advice for Adoptive Mothers

25:44 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

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"You shed the skin of your former self once you give birth to another human. And you'll never be that person again for a myriad of magnificent and horrendous reasons”

This conversation with Rea, a lactation consultant and interfeeding coordinator, focuses on the challenges and complexities surrounding motherhood, breastfeeding, and the broader cultural and medical framework of women's health. She emphasises the interconnectedness of parents' experiences, the systemic gaps in postnatal care, and the need for innovative and culturally sensitive solutions to support families.

“My aspirations are to have people be seen… have their journeys not be in isolation…whether it's your first time, your tenth baby, and this time you happen to be bottle feeding or breastfeeding. I want to break down the gaslighting”

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

01:13 Meet Rea Halstead: Infant Feeding Coordinator

01:50 The Impact of Breastfeeding on Birth Trauma

04:01 Challenges and Cultural Pressures in Midwifery

06:29 The Concept of Matrescence

07:00 The Role of Midwives and the NHS

14:43 Men's Involvement in Postnatal Care

18:29 The Influence of Social Media on Parenting

25:49 Rea's Personal Breastfeeding Journey

36:38 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude

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https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/

"I knew that I wanted to breastfeed. I definitely knew that I wanted to breastfeed and I knew that it was the better option for my child because I did a lot of reading and educated myself around the benefits of breastfeeding."

Amta, an artist and producer from Bradford, shares her experience with breastfeeding and motherhood. She highlights her desire to breastfeed, understanding its benefits from research, but faced several challenges during her journey. She shares the deeply challenging experience of her pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and speaks about the emotional isolation she felt during her early motherhood experience. Aamta’s reflections point to the complexities of modern motherhood, where social media, societal expectations, and neurodiversity all play significant roles in shaping her experience. 

 "I felt disoriented throughout my whole journey... it just feels like there's flashes of different memories, but it's all like muddled into one."

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:41 Meet Amta: An Artist and Mother

01:17 The Breastfeeding Journey Begins

01:50 Challenges and Support in Breastfeeding

03:30 The Role of a Doula

11:16 The Impact of COVID-19 on Pregnancy

18:18 Reflecting on Motherhood and Support

25:47 Conclusion and Gratitude

Support the project by becoming a Patreon member __

https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/  

“The adrenaline rush after birth was just incredible... but then there’s the getting down the mountain. I sort of feel like breastfeeding is the bit of getting down the mountain”

Ella reflects on her surreal experience post-birth. How she felt disconnected, almost like a visitor in the hospital, because her focus quickly shifted from recovering herself to caring for her baby, who was in critical condition. While Ella acknowledges that childbirth is a brutal physical experience, her attention was consumed by her son's health, causing her own recovery to feel secondary. She recounts the bittersweet nature of her experience and highlights the difficulties she encountered with inconsistent advice. 

"A lot of birth and those early postpartum days are a blur, but a lot of it is so vivid. Just like a smell will take me back... it’s quite cathartic in some ways because it reminds me of a time when we were just in this little bubble”

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:41 Ella's Birth Story

02:28 Challenges in Breastfeeding

04:01 Neonatal Unit Experience

17:56 Support and Mentorship in Breastfeeding

22:46 Reflections and Moving Forward

23:52 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

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Anne Marie

"The support from my mum and my husband was probably what kept me going through the hardest times"

 Reflecting on her breastfeeding journey, Anne Marie credits her husband and mother as essential sources of support, particularly in difficult times. Her mother, who hadn’t breastfed herself, learned alongside her, offering encouragement that kept Anne Marie going through the challenges, especially with her second child.

"I've got four children, I've breastfed all of them for different amounts of times and they all had different challenges and experiences with every single one of them."

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:55 Meet Anne Marie: Her Breastfeeding Journey

01:20 Support Systems and Challenges

12:19 Breastfeeding in Public and Cultural Influences

20:36 Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Support the project by becoming a Patreon member 

https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/annemarie/

Amy 

“I grew up seeing breastfeeding everywhere... cousins, family friends, it was never something unusual to me"

Amy shares her experiences with motherhood, breastfeeding, and the challenges she’s faced along the way. Her background played a significant role in her motivation: growing up in a family where breastfeeding was the norm, she assumed it would be easy for her as well.

"You do feel very vulnerable in public when it’s something that’s not seen very often"

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:26 Meet the Mothers of the Holding Time Project

00:55 Personal Breastfeeding Journeys

01:35 Challenges and Determination in Breastfeeding

03:48 Support Systems and Resources

06:29 Scientific Insights on Breastfeeding

09:30 Cultural Perspectives on Breastfeeding

15:47 Navigating Breastfeeding Advice

25:43 Reflections and Final Thoughts

26:27 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

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https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/amy_coventry/

Hema 

“I didn't know that you can still breastfeed while pregnant and actually tandem feed”

Hema discusses her experiences and challenges with supporting mothers, and her own journey with breastfeeding amidst personal health issues. As an Advocate for extended breastfeeding, despite societal pressure to wean early,  and with a background in peer support training, she actively assists other mothers with breastfeeding, health challenges, and overall maternal support, blending her experiences with a compassionate and practical approach to motherhood.

“She managed to breastfeed until she was 23 months... It made such a difference with night feeds and I was happier for it.”

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:26 Revisiting Coventry Mothers During Lockdown

01:03 Personal Breastfeeding Journey and Health Challenges

01:53 Navigating Medication and Support Networks

06:14 Balancing Breastfeeding and Parenting

10:13 Cultural Influences on Breastfeeding Practices

16:31 Rediscovering Traditional Parenting Methods

26:12 Empowering Mothers Through Peer Support

27:50 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

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https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/hema/

Rosalind

“People said it would hurt because I wasn’t used to it, but it just didn’t feel right”

Rosalind discusses her journey before and after becoming a mother. Reflecting on how the pandemic affected her ability to access support services and socialise with other new mothers and discussing how trusting her body, and her baby, was key to overcoming challenges in breastfeeding.

“In the early days, I was quite disconnected from feeding my second child because it was so painful and reminded me of how difficult labour had been. It wasn’t until he was about six months old that I started to really enjoy breastfeeding and felt present during the feeds.”

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:56 Breastfeeding Challenges and Early Experiences

03:53 Navigating Tongue Tie Issues

07:16 Support Systems and Personal Reflections

23:34 Impact of COVID-19 on Breastfeeding

26:57 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Support the project by becoming a Patreon member 

https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/rosalind/

Rayyan 

“I think feeding is under-discussed, and new mums don’t get enough information”

Rayyan shares her experiences with breastfeeding and the challenges she faced after the birth of her two children. She talks about the importance of having supportive people around and reflects on the lack of discussion about the complexities of breastfeeding.

“My advice is to try different methods and not stress too much; a happy mum makes a happy baby."

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:56 First Experiences with Breastfeeding

02:04 Challenges and Support in Breastfeeding

03:14 Hospital Experiences and Breastfeeding

04:17 Family and Community Support

13:32 Public Breastfeeding and Adjustments

15:35 Advice for New Mothers

19:01 Mental Health and Breastfeeding

25:58 Concluding Thoughts and Acknowledgements

Support the project by becoming a Patreon member 

https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/rayyan/

Lily

“Don’t quit on a bad day. That was some of the best advice I got”

Lily shares her experiences with breastfeeding, reflecting on both the challenges and the rewards. Emphasising the importance of support and preparation, Lily advises others to educate themselves about breastfeeding and to be ready for its challenges. She shares her strong views on extended breastfeeding and believes it's a natural and beneficial choice for both mother and child.

“I'm quite passionate that six months isn't this arbitrary cutoff point where it stops being good for them. I'm really pro-extended breastfeeding or natural term breastfeeding”

00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast

00:55 Meet Lily: A Mother's Breastfeeding Journey

02:14 Challenges and Triumphs of Breastfeeding

04:10 Support Systems and Public Perception

05:49 Breastfeeding in Coventry: Experiences and Support

10:55 Advice for New Mothers

12:04 Extended Breastfeeding and Cultural Perspectives

17:12 The Emotional Complexity of Breastfeeding

21:07 The Holding Time Project and Its Impact

22:20 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Support the project by becoming a Patreon member 

https://holdingtime.org/portfolio/lily/