The Friend, The Client, and The Lactation Consultant - E18
Years ago, Katie stopped attending births for friends. The boundaries felt clear. But one simple conversation sparked an uncomfortable realisation: Why was she still providing lactation support for them?
In this honest and surprisingly personal episode, Katie and Joh explore the complicated space where friendship, professional expertise and breastfeeding support collide.
Episode Summary
As lactation consultants, midwives and birth professionals, many of us become the unofficial breastfeeding hotline for friends, family members and colleagues.
But what happens when those relationships become blurred?
In this episode, Katie and Joh unpack the emotional realities of supporting friends through breastfeeding challenges. They discuss the pressure of feeling responsible for outcomes, the difficulty of setting boundaries, and the unexpected emotions that can arise when friends seek support elsewhere or make different feeding decisions than we hoped.
Together they explore how their thinking has changed over the years, why some professional boundaries are easier to recognise than others, and how friendship can quietly become entangled with clinical responsibility.
Along the way they share personal stories, professional reflections and a few moments of humour that many birth professionals will recognise immediately.
In This Episode We Cover
- Why supporting friends often feels very different from supporting clients
- The emotional responsibility many professionals carry
- Why friendship and clinical care can become blurred
- The challenge of giving unsolicited advice
- Managing expectations when support is offered informally
- What happens when friends seek support from someone else
- Why helping someone and being responsible for their outcome are not the same thing
- Feelings of disappointment, guilt and professional self-doubt
- The importance of clear boundaries in protecting relationships
- How both Katie and Joh have changed their approach over time
- Why there is no single right answer when it comes to supporting friends
Want More From Katie and Joh?
Check out our courses for professionals:
Decoding the Suck: Gentle support for babies with sucking difficulties
Breastfeeding & Lactation: The Fundamentals
Pregnant or a new mum? Find more support from Katie:
The Feeding Couch – Breastfeeding SOS – for new mums
Newsletter
Join our newsletter for evidence-based education, podcast updates and practical insights from Katie and Joh.
Katie: @katiejameslactation
Johanna: @milkandmotherhood
We’d Love To Hear From You
- Have you ever supported a friend, colleague or family member through breastfeeding?
- How did you navigate the boundaries?
- Did it strengthen the relationship or make things more complicated?
Send us a message on Instagram or email us [email protected] We’d genuinely love to hear your story.
Medical Disclaimer
Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should always seek the guidance of their own healthcare provider, midwife, or lactation consultant with any questions they may have regarding their own situation or that of their clients. Katie James and Johanna Sargeant do not accept responsibility for any decisions made based on this content.
Keywords
lactation consultant boundaries, breastfeeding support, supporting friends, IBCLC, midwife boundaries, doula boundaries, professional boundaries in healthcare, friendship and professional relationships, breastfeeding professionals, lactation consultant burnout, postpartum support, reflective practice, client relationships, birth professional boundaries, breastfeeding counselling, maternal health professionals
