40. The Truth About “Fed Is Best”: What No One’s Saying Out Loud - Emily Swann, IBCLC

What if the reason breastfeeding feels so hard isn’t your body but the system that’s failing you?In this episode, we sit down with Emily Swann, a nurse-turned-IBCLC, to have the kind of unfiltered conversation about breastfeeding that every mom wishes someone had before the baby arrived. From birth trauma to the “fed is best” narrative, we talk openly about how our system sets moms up to fail and why it’s time to reclaim responsibility, education, and intuition in motherhood.Tune in to hear:• Why the “fed is best” movement is failing moms and babies• How the system profits from mothers staying in survival mode• The emotional and spiritual power of breastfeeding (beyond nutrition)• What no one tells you about hospital lactation support• How to set yourself up for success before baby arrives• The truth about formula marketing and why guilt isn’t the issue• Why “mom-shaming” accusations are silencing honest education• How bodywork, energetics, and connection can transform feeding struggles• Why tongue ties are often overdiagnosed (and what to do instead)• How this generation of moms can raise the next to see natural birth and breastfeeding as normalTimestamps:[00:00] Emily’s story: from nurse to lactation consultant after postpartum trauma[01:45] How our culture teaches moms to play the victim[03:30] When everything changes: injury, intuition, and the wake-up call[05:50] Why the system sets moms up to fail from day one[06:25] “Fed is best” vs. biological truth: what we’re not being told[09:10] The real cost of replacing instinct with convenience[12:15] Postpartum anxiety, separation, and how our biology interprets danger[14:35] The victim mindset vs. personal responsibility in motherhood[16:20] Why empowering women threatens profit-driven industries[18:05] Prenatal preparation: the missing piece in breastfeeding success[21:00] Why partners and support systems matter more than baby gadgets[23:20] Formula “just in case”? Why that mindset sabotages breastfeeding[25:45] Understanding biological norms for newborn feeding[27:20] Why most women can breastfeed and how to get real support[29:10] How generations lost their breastfeeding intuition (and how to rebuild it)[32:00] Raising kids who see natural parenting as normal[36:45] The connection between bodywork, tightness, and latch issues[39:40] Are tongue ties overdiagnosed? The truth from an IBCLC[43:10] Why quick fixes rarely solve deeper issues[46:00] Final thoughts and where to find EmilyConnect with Emily:Instagram: @theloveofbreastfeedingWebsite: theloveofbreastfeeding.comConnect with us:Kate @thatcrunchymomkateJordan @themoderncrunchymumShop my favorite clean products & get 10% off here with code CRUNCHYMOMThe air purifier I trust at home - get $100 off hereOur go-to for pure, clean water - get $100 off here