THE MILK

Three weeks postpartum and I’m finally back on the mic with the honest update I wish existed when I was a first-time mom. I’m sharing what recovery really feels like after baby number three, including the biggest surprise: how much better my body feels this time around. We talk postpartum bleeding, why a vaginal birth recovery can be wildly different from a C-section, and the tug-of-war between feeling “so good” and still needing to heal.

We get into the day-to-day reality of going from two kids to three. I unpack the mom guilt I carried into this transition, what’s actually working in our routine, and why support systems matter more than any perfect plan. Childcare help, a temporary night nurse, school schedules, and tag-team bedtime are not just logistics, they’re currently how we are surviving. I share my breastfeeding journey across all three babies, why triple feeding burned me out, how formula supplementation became part of our plan early, and what it’s like navigating possible cow’s milk protein allergy and switching to a hydrolyzed formula. I also talk about D-MER (dysphoric milk ejection reflex), that sudden wave of dread during letdown, plus postpartum anxiety and why staying on a low dose of Lexapro helps me keep a steadier baseline.
More On What’s Discussed:
• what feels surprisingly easier this time and what still catches us off guard
• recovery differences across vaginal birth and C-section healing 
• postpartum bleeding timelines and what felt unexpected 
• the transition from two kids to three and why it feels smoother 
• how support systems change everything, from childcare to a night nurse 
• breastfeeding history, low supply, exclusive pumping, and letting go of pressure 
• formula choices, cow’s milk protein allergy concerns, and switching formulas 
• D-MER symptoms during nursing or pumping and why it feels so intense 
• postpartum anxiety signals and why staying on Lexapro helps our baseline 
• VBAC prep tips like stretching, walking, acupuncture, and pelvic alignment 
• epidural fears, what it actually feels like, and why we choose it 
• postpartum vs first trimester and why both can be brutal in different ways 
• staying calm while waiting for spontaneous labor and considering a membrane sweep 
• baby name ideas and handling nasty social media comments 
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
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This week on The Milk, we’re getting into the breastfeeding conversation so many moms wish they had before baby arrives.
I’m joined by Shelly Jacobs, a Newport Beach–based board certified lactation consultant, founder of Lolo Baby, and creator of online programs for moms. Shelly breaks down what a lactation consultant actually does, when to reach out for support, and how they can help make breastfeeding feel less overwhelming and more doable.
We talk through the basics of breastfeeding, common challenges moms face in those early days, tips for building and protecting your milk supply, what to know about pumping, and the simple things that can make a big difference when you’re trying to feed your baby and keep your sanity.
Whether you’re currently breastfeeding, planning to, exclusively pumping, combo feeding, or just trying to understand what support is available, this episode is full of practical, reassuring advice for every mom navigating feeding.

In this episode, we cover:
• What a lactation consultant actually does and when to call one
•  How to set yourself up for breastfeeding success before baby arrives
• Common breastfeeding challenges in the early days
• Tips for increasing and protecting milk supply
• Pumping, latching, and feeding support basics
• How to feel more confident and less alone in your feeding journey

You can find Shelly on Instagram at @shellyjacobs_iblc and learn more about her online course Early Milk Matters and breastfeeding sling Lolo Baby
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

Scarlette is here!! It truly still all feels so surreal. This week, Scotty is back on the mic with me as we finally share Scarlette’s birth story — from my water breaking in the middle of the night, to me somehow still showering and doing skincare before leaving for the hospital, to one very fast, very healing delivery that still feels a little surreal. I'm not sure how but I feel like I manifested the birth I so desperately wanted and somehow got it this time around- they do say 3rd times a charm?!
In this episode, we talk about what went into my decision to try for a VBAC after a previous C-section, how we navigated the risks with my doctor, and everything I did to prepare in hopes of going into labor naturally. We also share the full labor and delivery story — getting to the hospital, realizing things were moving very fast, getting the epidural just in time, and the completely surreal moment Scotty actually got to help deliver Scarlette.
We also get into the real-life aftermath: bringing her home, introducing her to Aspen and Bash, the sibling prep that actually helped, some big feelings that have come up, and what this transition to three kids has really been like so far. And let me just say… the newborn is not the one keeping us on our toes as we thought.
If you love birth stories, postpartum talk, sibling transitions, and hearing the honest, unfiltered version of what this season has looked like for us, this episode is for you.
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

If you’ve ever been acupuncture-curious but had no idea what it’s actually doing in the body, this episode is for you. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Christine San Miquel, a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a medical qigong practitioner, and a research professor. Together we break down how acupuncture can support women through so many major phases of life — from trying to conceive, to pregnancy, labor prep, and postpartum recovery.
We talk about why so many women turn to acupuncture for fertility support, what it may help regulate in the body, and the most common reasons women seek it out during early pregnancy (hint hint it works wonders for 1st trimester symptoms). We also get into what “labor prep” acupuncture really means, whether acupuncture can actually induce labor, and what it can realistically support in those final weeks before birth and into the postpartum phase.
Whether you’re trying to conceive, currently pregnant, newly postpartum, or simply curious about holistic support for women’s health, this episode is full of grounded, helpful insight.
What We Discuss:
• How acupuncture supports balance through individualized patterns and point combinations 
• Why you can feel calmer after a session and how benefits can last 
• What to look for when choosing an acupuncturist for fertility, pregnancy, or postpartum 
• Fertility support for irregular cycles, ovulation, PCOS patterns, and IVF protocols 
• First trimester help for nausea, fatigue, sleep, and miscarriage prevention support 
• The difference between labor induction and an invitational labor prep series 
• Simple labor acupressure points partners can use for pain and progression 
• Postpartum support for healing, mood, digestion, capacity, and long-term hormone health 
• Milk supply regulation and why acupuncture research is hard to standardize 
• When you can start acupuncture after birth and how baby support can work for colic

More from Dr. Christine San Miquel:
Website: www.whitephoenixwellness.com
Instagram: @drchristine.sanmiquel
Podcast: The Dao Of Humaning
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

I’m in the final few weeks of pregnancy, and I still find myself trying to process the fact that I’m about to have a teeny tiny newborn in my arms so soon. This week, I thought it would be fun to prep together with one last little pregnancy Q&A. You submitted the questions, and I’m answering them.
And let me tell you… you all sent in such thoughtful, good questions. A few of them even made me pause and reflect on what I want for birth and postpartum, so truly, thank you for your service.
In this episode, we talk through VBAC fears, labor prep routines, sibling transitions, postpartum mental health, and the real-life logistics that make this whole season possible.

Questions We Cover:
Deciding on a VBAC/TOLAC after a prior C-section and processing birth trauma
Birth prep strategies, including walking, acupuncture, raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose, curb walking, the Miles Circuit, and colostrum collection
Whether siblings should meet baby at the hospital or at home
Anything I want to do differently this birth and postpartum
Who will be watching the kids while we’re at the hospital
How I’m mentally and physically preparing for birth in the final two weeks
What vaccines or medications I’m delaying after birth
Thoughts on placenta encapsulation
How to prep older kids for a new baby
Ways I’m preparing for postpartum
How we plan to divide kids and responsibilities with my husband
And more!

Thanks for hanging out with me this week- I'm so grateful you're here 
xo - Tayla

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke