In this special episode for Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, host Vikki chats with lactation consultant Sally Rickard about the ups and downs of breastfeeding and early motherhood. Sally shares her personal and professional insights on common challenges like tongue-tie, milk supply issues, mastitis and the emotional strain these can bring. With kindness and clarity, Sally offers practical advice on latch, positioning, and mixed feeding, while reassuring parents that it’s okay to ask for help. This episode is a comforting reminder that you're not alone—and that support is always available.

In this Episode:

[00:00] Teaser Quote

[02:04] Meet Sally Rickard, lactation consultant

[03:02] Personal breastfeeding challenges

[04:15] The reality of motherhood expectations

[06:46] Navigating conflicting advice

[07:50] The complexity of breastfeeding

[09:32] Sally's own breastfeeding issues and birth experience

[18:30] Sally’s journey to becoming a lactation consultant

[25:55] Tongue-tie

[30:22] Common issues with latch

[33:24] Supply issues and solutions

[38:19] Mixed feeding: a balanced approach

[43:30] How to tell if you're baby is feeding well

[45:11] Mastitis and blocked ducts

[50:11] Soothing cracked and sore nipples

[52:47] Final thoughts and resources

Key Takeaways:

1. Find out more about Sally Rickard and her breastfeeding expertise and support in South London through her website, Baby-thrive.com.  
2. I B C L C stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. It's a globally recognised certification for professionals with specialist knowledge and skills in breastfeeding and lactation management. 
3. The N C T is the National Childbirth Trust, who offer antenatal classes where you can meet fellow parents in your area and learn more about looking after a baby.
4. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (E P D S) is a widely used screening tool to identify women who may be at risk of postpartum depression. It's a 10-item questionnaire that assesses symptoms like guilt, sleep disturbance, and low energy. 
5. Listen to 'Double Cancer Didn't Cause Depression, Giving Birth Did' (Blue MumDays S1 Ep1 with postnatal depression counsellor Liz Wise), to learn how a problem bonding with her daughter didn’t cause issues later in life. Liz’s daughter Emma talks beautifully about the close bond she has with her mum and how Liz’s experience of PND actually made her a better mum.
6. The Lactation Consultants of Great Britain is a registered charity working to improve the health and wellbeing of families through advocacy and expert IBCLC breastfeeding care. A lactation consultant can help you with breastfeeding issues and advice.  
7. NHS guidance on tongue-tie, a condition where the skin under a baby’s tongue is shorter or tighter than normal, restricting movement.  This can cause feeding difficulties like poor latch, frequent feeding, and slow weight gain, and may lead to nipple pain for breastfeeding parents.  It can usually be treated with a simple procedure.
8. Colostrum is the first breast milk your body makes. It contains antibodies which protect your baby from infection and helps their immune system to develop. NHS advice on colostrum harvesting here.
9. Global Health Media’s video Is Your Baby Getting Enough Milk? shows signs to tell when your baby is feeding well. The section on sucking and swallowing is about 2 minutes from the beginning.
10. Mastitis is a common condition that can affect breastfeeding individuals, causing breast inflammation and flu-like symptoms. It usually occurs on one breast, where a swollen area may feel hot and painful to touch. The area may become red but this can be harder to see if you have black or brown skin. This is often caused by problems with positioning and attachment.
11. NHS advice on breastfeeding positioning and attachment
12. Mother & Baby Magazine review of silver nipple cups. They can soothe and heal sore, cracked nipples caused by breastfeeding issues. Their natural antibacterial properties promote healing, reduce inflammation and protect against infection. The cups help maintain moisture and provide a gentle shield, allowing the skin to recover while still enabling breastfeeding.
13. La Leche League offers friendly breastfeeding support from pregnancy onwards. 
14. Listen to my episode with Sarah Edge on 'Breastfeeding Trauma and Grief' (S3 Ep35 Blue MumDays) if you are struggling with breastfeeding. Know that you aren’t alone.
15. The National Breastfeeding Helpline offers friendly, non-judgemental, independent breastfeeding support 24/7 within the UK. Call 0300 100 0212. Support is also available in Welsh, Polish, Bengali & Sylheti and for people who have hearing or speech impairments.
16. Further independent advice and tips on breastfeeding can be found with the Breastfeeding Network.
17. The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers is a group of trained volunteers dedicated to supporting breastfeeding mums and their families.

Follow us:

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook Group / [email protected]

Taking A Pause:

Due to some sad family news, Blue MumDays is going on hiatus, so thank you for your patience while I take some time out. In the meantime, please feel free to listen to the many fantastic conversations I've had in the archive.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share, rate and subscribe. It really does make the difference in helping others find it – which means helping more parents in need.

You are not alone and will not feel this way forever.

Links to Support: (please note we do not check or monitor them individually).

1.    Acacia Family Support Pre and postnatal depression support for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic mums and dads.  0121 301 5990, [email protected]. 

2.    Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) Moderated Forum, click here to find out more. Email: [email protected] / Tel: 020 3322 9900

3.    AIMS for better birthing. [email protected]. This email will go to a group of AIMS volunteers and someone will respond as soon as possible. / Telephone: +44 (0) 300 365 0663 (leave message)

4.    Andys Man Club A non-judgmental talking group for men. [email protected]

5.    Association of Postnatal Illness Helpline: 10am – 2pm – 0207 386 0868 / Email: [email protected] (Live chat online facility)

6.    Best Beginnings. Free NHS-accredited Baby Buddy app offering 24/7 App support for new parents

7.    Birth Trauma Association Email: [email protected]

8.    CALM. National helpline: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight)

9.    Cedar House Support Group for mums with postnatal depression. Email: [email protected] (Liz Wise) / Mobile: 07773 283556.

10. Contact - for families with disabled children. Helpline: 0808 808 3555.

11. Dad Matters. Support dads to have successful relationships with their families, with mental health and accessing services through peer support and signposting. [email protected] / 0161 344 0669

12. DadsNet offers support and knowledge through a community of dads on practical parenting and fatherhood.

13. Dope Black Dads - A digital safe space for fathers who wish to discuss their experiences of being black, a parent and masculinity in the modern world. [email protected]

14. Family Lives provides immediate help from volunteer parent support workers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Helpline: 0808 800 2222.

15. Family Rights Group. Support for parents and other family members whose children are involved with or need social care services. Helpline: 0808 801 0366.

16. Fathers Mental Health UK is a UK-based community interest company dedicated to enhancing the mental health of fathers and their families, especially during the perinatal period. Run by paternal mental health pioneer Mark Williams, offering support to dads.

17. Fatherhood Solutions. Scott Mair is a consultant in paternal mental health and parent education, Peer support trainer. Dad, Husband, Army veteran. 

18. FiveXMore. A grassroots organisation committed to changing Black women and birthing people’s maternal health outcomes in the UK. Email: [email protected]

19. Gingerbread offer help and advice on the issues that matter to single parents. Helpline 0808 802 0925.

20. The Hub of Hope - A directory of mental health support around the UK.

21. Lactation Consultants of Great Britain – for support with breastfeeding.

22. LGBT Mummies support LGBT+ women & people globally on the path to motherhood or parenthood. Email: [email protected]

23. Make Birth Better (Birth Trauma Support) Email: [email protected]

24. The Maternal Mental Health Alliance is a UK charity and network of 130 organisations, dedicated to ensuring women and families affected by perinatal mental health problems have access to high-quality, compassionate care.

25. Maternal OCD Peer support available, email [email protected] to arrange.

26. Mayah's Legacy support and empower anyone who has experienced pregnancy loss to advocate for themselves. Email: [email protected] / 0300 102 1596.

27. The Motherhood Group are dedicated to sharing and supporting the black maternal experience through peer support, projects and advocacy. [email protected]

28. Motivational Mums Club offer trauma, mindfulness and meditation sessions for mothers and mums-to-be with an NHS Mental Health Specialist, who’s also a mother. [email protected]

29. Music Football Fatherhood offer open conversations around fatherhood, including blogs, peer support and podcasts. [email protected]

30. Muslim Women’s Network Helpline: 0800 999 5786, open Mon-Fri 10am–4pm with support offered in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Putwari, Hindko and Bengali. Email: [email protected] Text: 07415 206 936.

31. National Autistic Society for support and advice for parents and carers of autistic children, including support to develop a greater understanding of their child’s needs and accessing services that meet the family's needs.

32. Netmums offer peer support via their Maternal Mental Health Drop-InClinic.

33. NHS Services for Mental Health Issues Contact your local GP surgery. Call the NHS on 111 and press 2 for Mental Health Team or contact a local NHS urgent mental health helplineIf you are in crisis, visit Accident & Emergency at your nearest hospital.

34. PANDAS Helpline open from 9am-8pm every day – 0843 2898 401 [email protected]

35. Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario offer pre-natal, pregnancy and postpartum support and connection in Canada. [email protected]

36. Petals Baby Loss Charity offers free-of-charge specialist counselling to anyone who has experienced pregnancy or baby loss. Tel: 0300 688 0068 [email protected]

37. The Samaritans Tel: 116 123 (this is a free telephone number and will not appear on the phone bill) Email: [email protected]

38. Sands...