EXPERT CARE
Feeding Support
Picture the moment you realise feeding doesn’t have to feel like this. Maybe it’s 3am and you’re bracing yourself before every latch. Maybe you’ve been told everything looks fine, but your instinct is telling you something isn’t quite right.
Maybe you’ve had so much conflicting advice that you no longer know who to believe.
“Finally, someone who’s actually listening,” you think, as you talk me through everything that’s happened so far.
No rushing. No being made to feel you’re overreacting.
No leaving with more questions than you arrived with.
Instead, imagine sitting in your own home, or in clinic, with someone who has the time, knowledge and experience to look at the whole picture, and who will still be there in the days afterwards as things start to fall into place.
I support families with breastfeeding, bottle feeding and combination feeding, including painful or damaged nipples, latching difficulties, milk supply worries, slow weight gain, mastitis, unsettled babies, long or frequent feeds, and clicking, dribbling or noisy feeding.
FEEDING SUPPORT APPOINTMENT
What It Includes
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Time to tell your story – a detailed conversation about your birth, your feeding journey so far and how you’re feeling, because every family’s experience is different and yours matters
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A full oral assessment for your baby – a careful look at how your baby’s tongue, lips and jaw move, so nothing is overlooked and you can feel confident in the answers
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Watching a feed together – breast or bottle, looking at positioning, attachment, milk transfer and comfort, so the support I give is based on what’s really happening for you both
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Hands-on support that works for you – finding positions and techniques that fit your body, your baby and your life, not a one-size-fits-all approach
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A personalised feeding plan – clear, practical next steps, so you know exactly where to go from here
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Two weeks of WhatsApp support – someone to message when a new question comes up or you just need reassurance that you’re on the right track
WHY THIS IS INCLUDED
The Oral Assessment
Your baby feeds using their mouth, so understanding how their tongue, lips, jaw and palate work is an essential part of understanding the feed. That’s why every feeding support appointment includes a full oral assessment, whatever the reason you’ve got in touch.
This doesn’t mean I’m expecting to find a tongue tie.
Many feeding difficulties have nothing to do with tongue function, and most babies I see for feeding support don’t need a division. But a thorough assessment means nothing is overlooked, and ruling things out can be just as reassuring as finding an answer.
It’s all about function rather than just what can be seen under the tongue. A baby’s tongue can look perfectly normal but not move as freely as it should, while another baby can have a visible frenulum that causes no problems at all. My assessment looks at how your baby’s mouth actually works during a feed, alongside everything else that’s going on for you both.
If I do find a restriction, I’ll explain what I’ve found, how it may be affecting feeding, and what your options are.
There is never any pressure, and many families choose to take some time to think things over.
THE HIGHEST QUALIFICATION
Why An IBCLC
IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, the highest internationally recognised qualification in lactation support.
IBCLCs complete extensive specialist education and clinical hours, pass a rigorous international exam and recertify regularly to keep their knowledge up to date.
As both a midwife and an IBCLC, I bring a deep understanding of your and your baby’s health together with specialist feeding knowledge. Whether you’re facing a complex feeding challenge or simply want reassurance that you’re doing the right things, you’ll be in experienced hands.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Appointments & Fees
Appointments are unhurried and take place in the comfort of your own home or in clinic.
An infant feeding support appointment is £175, including two weeks of WhatsApp support. If anything can’t be resolved through WhatsApp, a follow-up appointment is £95.
Getting started is simple - you can contact me directly to arrange an appointment. No referral from a healthcare professional is required.