Kendall Green / milk sharing, donor milk top ups, SNS, extended breastfeeding, challenging transition from 1 to 2

07/08/20 • 71 min

Today’s episode is one of the more thought-provoking ones and intentionally so. I speak with Christchurch mother-of-two, Kendall Green about her complex but beautiful feeding journeys with her daughters.

Kendall was one of the first listeners to message me about Motherness and told me from the outset about her passion for advocating for milk sharing. I immediately knew she was someone I had to have on the podcast.

Kendall’s experience covers a lot – a homebirth birth turned hospital birth, supply issues, lactation consultants, donor milk top-ups, feeding via an SNS tube, and weaning off top-ups to exclusive breastfeeding. She then went on to donate milk herself, set up a milk sharing service, and do extended breastfeeding. I know, it’s a lot. But feeding is a lot. And as Kendall says, it’s a fraught topic. In my experience, there is nothing more controversial, questioned, or debated more in motherhood than the way that you choose to feed your baby.

I want to be clear that we’re not at all anti-formula, but what we are calling into question is mothers knowing that donor milk is an option.
My hope is that this episode brings to light the amazing benefits of it, and allows you to consider the sacredness of human milk from Kendall’s perspective. Because an informed feeding decision is the best one, whichever path you choose to take. So, here’s Kendall on hers...
Products mentioned:

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Previous Episode

Expert: Postpartum Doula, Ashleigh Borrie of Sacred Beginnings / the fourth trimester, nourishment, supporting mothers

This episode is proudly sponsored by HolisticBaby, a positive support service for mothers and families that is holistic in its approach. They offer antenatal classes, lactation consultancy, coffee groups, free early pregnancy sessions, postnatal wellbeing support, baby sleep consultancy, and an infant first aid & CPR course. Visit holisticbaby.co.nz to book.
In this episode, I speak with Auckland-based postpartum doula, Ashleigh Borrie of Sacred Beginnings. Ashleigh's work is all about supporting mothers to have a calm, nurtured and respected fourth trimester whether they are entering motherhood for the first time, or with subsequent babies.
Today, we discuss her postpartum philosophy, the services she offers as a postpartum doula, the importance of nutrition for healing during this time, as well as her tips and advice for this sacred time in a mother's life.
The key message from Ashleigh’s work is that we all need and have the right to support as we transition into this new season of our life – whether that’s with a professional like Ashleigh or with the love from family or friends.
I hope you enjoy this episode and feel empowered to ask for the gentle, soul-fulfilling support that you deserve when your fourth trimester comes.
Resources mentioned:

Thank you so much again to HolisticBaby for supporting this episode of Motherness.
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Next Episode

Tehani Buchanan / decolonising māmāhood, home birth after cesarean, wet nursing

This week's episode of Motherness is proudly sponsored by Edwards & Co. Edwards & Co is a Kiwi owned and operated family business. They've recently expanded their nursery range with the launch of the SnuzKot Skandi Collection, alongside the already popular SnuzPod Bedside Bassinet.
Today’s guest is Tehani Buchanan, a beautiful māmā who was the catalyst for sparking my awareness of decolonising mamahood.

To say Tehani’s journey is varied would be quite the understatement but ‘journey’ really is the perfect word – her entry into motherhood began with a traumatic c-section birth at 33 weeks which left her with a mental injury that she says was raw, her daughter had a long NICU stay, and she exclusively pumped for a while as well. Then, with her second, a home birth after cesarean, exclusive breastfeeding to extended breastfeeding, wet nursing, feeding to sleep, immersing her tamariki in Te Reo Māori, and becoming a single mama.

Thank you, Tehani for trusting me with the gift of sharing your experience, there is so much power in these words...
Thank you again to Edwards & Co for sponsoring this week's episode. Visit the Motherness Instagram account to enter our giveaway for a SnuzKot from Edwards & Co.
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