JUNO Magazine

07/08/2025

“The more we, as a society, see and learn about natural term breastfeeding, the more we are likely to surrender to our instinct to follow this path. We can encourage mothers to allow themselves to respond to their children’s needs, and not to be forced to end something that feels so right for them both”. – Jennifer

Celebrating ! 🧡

We’re sharing stories from .owen.foto’s Milk project, which is connecting mothers . You can read the full feature in the new Late Summer issue. Follow the links in our bio.

06/08/2025

Happy ! 🧡

We’re sharing mothers from .owen.foto’s Milk project, which is connecting mothers . You can read their stories in the new Late Summer issue. Follow the links in our bio.

Vanisha (pictured here with Munch, 8 years old at the time of the photo) says: “I didn’t actually choose to natural term wean my son, it just happened. I thought maybe we would nurse up to around 2 years old, but he was nursing quite frequently still, and it was working for us. Next thing I knew, we were nursing at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and now 9 years of age.”

If you are nursing a child of 5 years or older and would like to be part of this project, please visit milkproject.uk and complete the ‘take part’ form.

06/08/2025

Sally Rickard of shares tips and encouragement for maintaining beyond . ⁠Do you have any to add? 🧡⁠
⁠

06/08/2025

It’s World Breastfeeding Week. I’ve shared this post five years in a row now as it remains relevant. One year I hope I won’t have to. I’ll become a cat or running shoe researcher instead.

This week was designed to protect and support breastfeeding. To highlight why we need to invest in mothers, families, babies and the future. Yet for many, this week just makes them want to shout and throw things because breastfeeding certainly isn’t something to celebrate for them.

For far too many, any mention of breastfeeding reminds them of pain, anxiety & a lack of support. It reminds them of their determination to do what had been promised as simple, enjoyable and the ‘right’ way to feed their baby. Determination which slowly turned to desperation when it didn’t work for them.

It reminds mothers of the heartbreak they felt as they stopped breastfeeding before they were ready – it wasn’t just about the promised health benefits but the feeling that their body wasn’t doing what it was meant to do, and the fact they just really wanted to do it.

But this pain is the reason we continue. This week is not about telling everyone they should breastfeed... but more about insisting that those with power step up and actually do something about investing in making a better future for the next generation.

At the moment, rather than protecting breastfeeding, the government doesn’t invest properly in the services, support & expertise that would actually enable breastfeeding – despite reports finding it could save the NHS money.

Instead, cuts to services take away volunteer groups and funding of breastfeeding specialists. What should be an easily fixable issue can turn turned into months of physical pain - and a lifetime of continued emotional pain.

The simple truth is that we set women up to fail. Most breastfeeding problems are created by a society that is not breastfeeding friendly: the actions of others are responsible for poor breastfeeding rates & trauma.

This week is about recognising that hurt and calling for change. I wish we didn’t have to have it. I certainly wish that not so many women and families were hurt by it.

06/08/2025

04/08/2025

“I like breastfeeding in public (although now it only happens at bedtime, and for just a few seconds – it’s more of a ritual for him). I don’t mind the curious looks; on the contrary, I feel we’re accomplishing something when that happens. We’re challenging the belief that breastfeeding must happen a certain way, up to a specific age, in private spaces as if it’s something to hide. No! It’s something to celebrate.” – Nashira

Celebrating ! 🧡

We’re sharing stories from .owen.foto’s Milk project, which is connecting mothers . You can read the full feature in the new Late Summer issue. Follow the links in our bio.

04/08/2025

The Long and Winding Road, indeed.

Words by Mother Truths

01/08/2025

It’s ! 🧡

We’re sharing mothers from .owen.foto’s Milk project, which is connecting mothers . You can read their stories in the new Late Summer issue. Follow the links in our bio.

Triin (pictured here with Noah, 4 years and 5 months) says: “I think it’s crucial to raise awareness about natural term breastfeeding as it is not widely talked about. When breastfeeding itself is seen as somewhat of a radical choice, natural term weaning is rarely mentioned. Mostly, mothers are given guidelines of feeding for one or two years. If there isn’t much knowledge or support, most would never even know that anything between 2 and 7 is very normal and average. Perhaps it’s a generational thing, which might be changing, but that is exactly why it’s important to keep talking about it.”

If you are nursing a child of 5 years or older and would like to be part of this project, please visit milkproject.uk and complete the ‘take part’ form.

01/08/2025

The Late Summer issue is here! 🌻

Features include:
💛 Celebrating families nursing beyond babyhood
💛 Chinyelu Kunz on nurturing children to their full potential
💛 Black breastfeeding, bias and the fight for equitable care
💛 Home ed: Mythical Sea Creatures
💛 The transformative power of the drum
💛 Supporting teenage depression
💛 Self-belief in birth
💛 Natural dyeing techniques to try at home
💛 Experiences of intentional community living
💛 JUNO 100: an invitation to share your stories
💛 Parenting Q&A: thumb or dummy?
💛 How to make pizzas at home

Order your copy: junomagazine.com
Read on Substack: junomagazine.substack.com
Digital: exacteditions.com/read/juno

JUNO’s ethos is based on conscious parenting, sustainability, social justice, non-violence and a commitment to personal growth and spiritual awareness. Our Early Spring issue is packed full of supportive and informative features and columns, including: Protecting Your Safe Space for Birth World Sc...

01/08/2025

01/08/2025

I’m so happy with my choices
Yet question them daily

I’ve never felt so accomplished
Then suddenly, failing

I’m excited for the future
Yet always looking back

I’m bursting at the seams
With all the things that I lack

I’m vacant
But always so full of you

I’ve learned so much
But still don’t have a clue

I’m close to my limit
But can’t get enough

I’m put upon, I’m passive
But undeniably tough

I’m gentle
But can’t help shouting

I’m certainly
Doubting

I’m oblivious
But care, so much, what you think

I’m the steady, stable one
Always teetering on the brink

I'm unemployed
Yet have never worked so bloody hard

I’m that happy smiling soul
Who’s full of mard

I’m permanently skint
But have never felt richer

I’m mindfully looking
At the bigger picture

I need a break
But always want you close

I’m invisible
But have never felt so exposed

I give others advice
I can’t seem to follow

I find yours, especially
Hard to swallow

I complain that I’m lonely
But just want to be alone

I’m positively grateful
But love a good moan

I’m absent
Yet ever-present

I’m dull
But effervescent

I’m tired
Yet enlivened

I’m loving this
But can’t abide it

I’m strong in my beliefs
Yet lack conviction

I’m reality TV
And a work of fiction

I’m the Mother
of all contradiction

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Words: Mother Truths

Art:
https://www.instagram.com/madelinedonahue?igsh=MXJyZHlwNHhubTNqdQ==

Words taken from my book "Mother Truths: Poems on Early Motherhood"

Available to buy worldwide: https://linktr.ee/mother_truths

01/08/2025

Some of you may know that I am a firm advocate for informed, fact based care and support for parents and that I am also a big advocate for parents to be their authentic self and to do what they feel is best for their own family.

We’ll today I’m going to blow my own trumpet and say how proud I am to be a part of a photography series called the milk project showcasing nursing children outside the mainstream age of up to 1-2 yrs old.

I was super chuffed to see myself and munch on page 41 of the latest JUNO Magazine today as it arrived in the post 😍

We made the decision last week to end our nursing journey after an amazing 9.5 yrs.
It’s great to end on our own terms and on a positive note. Before we decided to stop munch was nursing maybe 1/2 times every 2/3 weeks so it wasn’t much of a transition for us.