I am a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and will support you through your breastfeeding journey. Should you decide to feed with formula, I can provide guidance for optimal bottle feeding techniques. My aim is not to persuade you to breastfeed, rather to arm you with sufficient information so you can make your own choice. I respect your decisions and support you whatever you choose. The aim is to find a solution that suits both you and your newborn baby.
Breastfeeding Support
• ​Preparation for birth, the magic hour and your hospital stay • Latching hurdles or concerns • Feeding positions • Learning your baby’s hunger cues • Assessment of tongue or lip tie • Recommendations for establishing or maintaining a healthy milk supply • Care of sore nipples • Laser therapy • Overcoming engorgement • Newborn feeding patterns • Identifying if your baby is getting enough milk • Pumping and storage • Planning for return to work • Paced bottle feeding
Formula Feeding Support
Should you decide to feed formula, I can guide you for making up feeds, paced feeding techniques, and practical tips as you learn to read your baby's feeding cues.
Oral Assessment
Sometimes breastfeeding can be challenging and it can be for a number of reasons. One such reason is some form of oral issue with your infant: • Tongue or lip tie • Disorganised suck, swallow, breathe • Muscle weakness or tension These issues can display in a number of ways: • Sore nipples (lipstick shaped after a feed) •Little/limited weight gain •Fussiness at the breast •Blisters on the lips •Frequent gagging •Gassiness If you are experiencing any of the above, please contact me for a full oral assessment.
What to expect during a consult.
Expect to spend at least 1.5 hours either at my practice or in your home.
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I will take the time to gather your health history, hear the story of your pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding experience, and explore your goals.
If needed, I will do a physical examination of you and your baby.
I will observe you breastfeeding and provide suggestions to optimise your comfort, improve milk transfer, and help you to know when your baby is swallowing and feeding.
I will aim to find solutions if there are challenges that you are facing and together we will put together a plan of action with you leading the way.
It helps to be accompanied by your partner, mother or key supporter at home. They can then provide encouragement or may hear things that you miss during the consult that can help when you are at home.
If it is possible, please do not feed your baby right before a visit. I will try to be flexible, so we can fit with your baby’s feeding needs.
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My mission is to elevate you to your full potential, helping you to reach your own personal breastfeeding goals.
What is an IBCLC?
IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. An IBCLC is a health care professional who specialises in the clinical management of breastfeeding.
This is the highest recognised standard for lactation care, requiring years of experience, education and documentation of competency. There are many other types of lactation assistants with lactation skills, (Clinical lactation specialist, or lactation advisor) but they are not substitutes for an IBCLC who is a clinical professional.
Low Level Laser Therapy.
Nipple pain is common, especially in the early days and is usually due to baby not latching well. To truly treat the issue, the reason for the pain needs to be found. To help heal, low-level laser therapy can be extremely effective in accelerating the healing process and works well with blocked ducts and mastitis.
The treatment works by the laser light passing through the tissue of the breast harmoniously. It is painless but can give a warming sensation and it does not cause any damage to the breast tissue. Some women feel pain relief by the next feed with continual progress up to three days later.
