How I Can Help

Every family's feeding journey is different. Some parents come to me in the early days with a niggling concern that something isn't quite right. Others arrive weeks into a struggle, exhausted and close to giving up.

Wherever you are in your journey, I offer a range of services designed to meet you there with clinical expertise, genuine compassion, and a practical, no-judgement approach.

All of my services begin with a conversation. I listen first, always.

My Key Services

Home Visit Consultation

Available across East Sussex and surrounding areas Sometimes the best place to understand how feeding is going is in your own home, where you're comfortable, where your baby is settled, and where I can observe a full, natural feed in real time. 

During a home visit, I'll take a detailed feeding history, watch your baby feed, carry out a full oral assessment, and work with you to identify exactly what's happening and why.

I'll then put together a clear, written care plan that you can refer back to, with practical steps tailored to your specific situation.

Home visits are ideal for:

-Establishing breastfeeding in early days

-Persistent latch difficulties or nipple pain

-Concerns about milk supply (too much or too little)

-Babies who are unsettled, windy, or not gaining weight well

-Returning to work and managing feeding changes

-Combination feeding and introducing a bottle

-Weaning from breast or bottle

-General feeding concerns where you want hands-on, face-to-face support

Duration: Approximately 90 minutes, plus a written care plan

Area covered: Polegate, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Seaford, Lewes, Pevensey, Bexhill, Hastings, and surrounding East Sussex villages (please get in touch if you're unsure whether I cover your area)
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Zoom Consultation

Available UK-wide

Can't access in-person support, or simply prefer to connect from the comfort of your sofa? A Zoom consultation offers everything a home visit does — the listening, the assessment, the personalised care plan — via a secure video call.

You might be surprised how much I can observe remotely. I'll ask you to show me your baby feeding, check positioning and latch on screen, and go through a thorough history of your feeding experience. Many families find virtual consultations just as valuable as in-person visits, with the added benefit of complete flexibility around nap times and your schedule.

Zoom consultations are ideal for:

-Families outside East Sussex who need specialist IBCLC support

-Parents who struggle to have visitors at home

-Postnatal support and feeding reviews as your baby grows

-Second or subsequent babies where you want specialist input early

-Emotional support and feeding confidence when things feel overwhelming

-Quick reassurance that feeding is going well

Duration: Approximately 60–75 minutes, plus a written care plan

Availability: Flexible appointment times including evenings

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Tongue Tie Assessment

Tongue tie is one of the most frequently missed causes of feeding difficulties in newborns, and one of the most misunderstood. A proper assessment requires much more than a quick visual check.

It requires watching a feed, assessing the function of the tongue in detail, and considering the full clinical picture alongside feeding symptoms.

As a qualified tongue tie practitioner and IBCLC, I'm trained to carry out comprehensive oral assessments in infants. I look at both the structure and function of the tongue, assess the impact on feeding, and discuss your options with you clearly and honestly.

A tongue tie assessment includes:

-Full feeding history and symptom review

-Observation of a complete feed

-Detailed oral and tongue function assessment

-Discussion of findings and what they mean for your baby

-Clear explanation of your options, including whether division is recommended

-Written report of findings

This assessment is the right first step if you're experiencing symptoms such as nipple pain or damage, a baby who clicks during feeding, poor weight gain, a very long or very inefficient feed, or a baby who seems constantly hungry despite regular feeding.

Duration: Approximately 60–90 minutes

Available: Home visits across East Sussex

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Antenatal Breastfeeding Preparation

Available as a home visit or Zoom consultation

Breastfeeding is a skill and like any skill, a little preparation goes a long way.

An antenatal consultation is an opportunity to get your questions answered before your baby arrives, so you feel informed, confident, and ready.

This session covers:

-How breastfeeding works: milk production, supply and demand, what to expect in the early days

-Positioning and attachment: what a good latch looks and feels like

-Common early challenges and how to navigate them

-How to tell if your baby is feeding well

-When and how to seek help quickly if things aren't going to plan

-Your questions, whatever they are, no matter how small. Ideal for first-time parents, parents who struggled with feeding a previous baby, or anyone who simply wants to feel prepared.

Duration: Approximately 60 minutes

Available: Home visits across East Sussex or via Zoom from anywhere in the UK

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Hi, I'm Louise and I'm here to help you find your way through feeding

ABOUT me

I'm Louise Bicknell, an IBCLC-certified lactation consultant and tongue tie practitioner based in Polegate, East Sussex. I offer home visits across East Sussex and Zoom consultations for families further afield.

Whether you're struggling with latch, supply, pain, or something you simply can't put your finger on, I bring calm, clinical expertise and genuine warmth to every family I work with.

Contact me