Boobs, Bottles & Everything In Between
This episode’s partner is Lola & Lykke. Visit lolalykke.com to find out more.
Breastfeeding is one of the most talked-about topics in early parenthood, and somehow still one of the least well-supported. With Olivia Parker as a host, Olivia Hinge shares what really happens in those first weeks, what the conflicting advice gets wrong, and why trusting yourself might matter more than any rule you've been given. This episode covers colostrum harvesting, milk supply, oversupply, breastfeeding positions, bottles, pumping, the 3–4 month chaos, biting, weaning, and the emotional side nobody prepares you for.
Olivia Hinge is NHS midwife, lactation consultant, and mother of three. Olivia's work is shaped by both her clinical expertise and her own early struggles with breastfeeding her first daughter — an experience that gave her a deep understanding of how physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding feeding a baby can be. She is the author of A Judgment-Free Guide to Feeding Your Baby: Boobs, Bottles and All, and shares practical, evidence-based advice to her community of parents daily. Find Olivia at @olivia_lactation_consultant on Instagram.
Instagram @thetinybigjoys
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Key Takeaways
Colostrum harvesting: Your body has been producing milk since 16 weeks of pregnancy. Learning to hand express before birth is a skill worth having — not to avoid formula, but to have options and confidence when your baby arrives. Safe from 36 weeks in low-risk pregnancies. Ask your midwife or OB first.
When milk "comes in": You already have milk. What people call milk coming in is lactogenesis II — a significant increase in volume, usually around day 2–3. It can be delayed by gestational diabetes, caesarean section, blood loss, or low breast stimulation. A delayed start does not mean you won't produce enough.
Is my baby getting enough? Stop counting wet nappies — they can mislead you, especially in the early days. Watch the poo instead. By day 5, a breastfed baby should have liquid yellow poo the colour of a korma curry. Download and print the UNICEF breastfeeding checklist and put it on your fridge.
Foremilk and hindmilk: There is no moment where foremilk ends and hindmilk begins. Fat content increases gradually as the breast empties. Weight gain is about volume of milk consumed — not about getting to the "fatty milk." Empty breasts produce fattier milk; frequent feeding is the answer.
Breastfeeding positions: The cross cradle is what most midwives teach, but laid-back feeding (biological nurturing) triggers 20 instinctive feeding reflexes and leads to less mastitis and fewer cracked nipples. Most people haven't been shown it. Look it up on YouTube — the evidence for it is compelling.
Oversupply: Social media and influencer pump partnerships are creating oversupply in women who don't have one. If you're breastfeeding and using a suction bulb on the other side, you're likely increasing your supply beyond what your baby needs. Oversupply causes sore tummies, green explosive poos, and can lead to chronic mastitis. In most cases, supply naturally regulates between 6–8 weeks.
Introducing a bottle: Nipple confusion is not evidence-based. You can introduce a bottle before 6 weeks. Avoid "breast-shaped" teats — the wide dome shape forces a shallow latch. Choose a triangular teat, keep the bottle horizontal, and follow your baby's cues. Never make a baby finish a bottle.
Pumping: Don't buy an expensive wearable pump in pregnancy — you don't know yet what you'll need it for. If you need to boost supply, a double plug-in electric pump is what works. The best time to pump is about an hour after your first morning feed. In the first 6 weeks, only pump the volume you actually need — more stimulation means more milk.
The 3–4 month WTF phase: Just as you find your rhythm, your baby suddenly becomes distracted, pulls off constantly, and shortens feeds to 5 minutes. This is neurological development, not a supply problem. Don't start supplementing with formula in a panic. Get your baby weighed — if they're tracking their centile, you have nothing to worry about. This phase passes.
Biting: A baby who is actively sucking and swallowing cannot bite you — the breast sits too far back in the mouth. Biting happens when they've pulled forward and lost focus. Set a calm, consistent boundary: remove them from the breast, take three deep breaths, and try again. Screaming is the one response most likely to cause a nursing strike.
Returning to work: You do not need to wean when you go back to work. You do not need to reduce feeds in advance. Babies are adaptive — they will find a rhythm with their caregiver that is different from yours, and that is completely fine. After 12 months, most people don't need to pump at work at all. Hand express to comfortable and your supply will adjust.
Weaning blues: Even when stopping breastfeeding is your own decision, the hormonal drop can feel like a breakup. Weaning blues are real, they're short-term, and they're almost never talked about. Go slowly if you can, and make sure you have someone you can be honest with about how you're feeling.
Resources — Olivia Hinge
A Judgment-Free Guide to Feeding Your Baby: Boobs, Bottles and All
UNICEF Breastfeeding Checklist
IBCLC Register (search for a certified lactation consultant near you)
LCGB — Lactation Consultants of Great Britain
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