IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant — it is the gold standard qualification in lactation support, recognised around the world. To achieve IBCLC status, a practitioner must complete thousands of hours of supervised clinical experience in lactation, pass rigorous academic requirements, and sit an internationally recognised board examination. It is not a short course or a weekend workshop. It represents a serious, evidence-based level of specialist expertise in infant feeding.

When you work with an IBCLC, you’re working with someone who has been trained to a high clinical standard, keeps their knowledge current through ongoing professional development, and is accountable to an international code of ethics and professional standards.

A tongue tie practitioner is a healthcare professional who has completed specialist training to assess and, where appropriate, divide tongue ties in infants through a procedure called frenulotomy. Not all lactation consultants are trained tongue tie practitioners — holding both qualifications means I can offer a genuinely joined-up service, from assessment through to division and post-procedure feeding support, without you needing to be referred elsewhere.

Before establishing my private practice, I worked for over thirteen years as a staff nurse in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Conquest Hospital in Hastings, a role i still hold today. In that role I care for premature and medically complex newborns, support mothers establishing milk supply for babies who couldn’t yet feed at the breast, and therefore have developed a deep, hands-on understanding of infant feeding at its most complex. That clinical foundation informs everything I do in my work with families today.

I cover Polegate and the surrounding East Sussex area, including Eastbourne, Hailsham, Seaford, Lewes, Pevensey, Bexhill, Hastings, and the villages in between. If you’re unsure whether I cover your area, just drop me a message and I’ll let you know.

Yes. Zoom consultations are available for initial feeding assessments, ongoing support, antenatal preparation, and follow-up appointments. They’re available to families anywhere in the UK. Many parents are surprised by how much can be assessed and supported remotely.

Please note that tongue tie assessments and divisions need to be carried out in person and are available as home visits across East Sussex.

I try to see families as quickly as possible, particularly in the early newborn days when feeding difficulties can escalate fast. Please get in touch and I’ll let you know current availability. If things are urgent, do say so — I always do my best to prioritise families in acute difficulty.

A home visit consultation is typically around 90 minutes. Zoom consultations run for approximately 60–75 minutes. Tongue tie assessments take around 60–90 minutes depending on whether division is also carried out at the same appointment. Follow-up appointments are shorter and more focused. I never rush a session — you will have the time you need.

There’s very little preparation needed — just have your baby ready for a feed at some point during the appointment so I can observe. If you have any notes about feeding patterns, concerns you’ve already raised with other healthcare professionals, or questions you want to make sure we cover, jot them down beforehand. You won’t be expected to remember everything in the moment.

For Zoom appointments, make sure you’re in a comfortable, well-lit space and that your device is propped somewhere stable so I can see you and your baby feeding without you needing to hold the screen.

No. You can contact me directly to book an appointment without needing a referral from anyone. That said, I’m very happy to liaise with your GP, health visitor, or midwife if that would be helpful, and I provide written reports and care plans that you can share with your wider healthcare team.

Absolutely — and I’d encourage it. Having a second pair of ears in the room (or on the call) is genuinely valuable. Feeding support often involves new techniques, new information, and a lot to take in. Having someone alongside you to help remember the detail can make a real difference. Partners and supporters are very welcome.

It is never too early. In fact, the earlier feeding difficulties are identified and addressed, the easier they are to resolve — before compensatory habits have had time to develop and before your milk supply has been affected by poor transfer. If something doesn’t feel right in the first days, please reach out straight away rather than waiting to see if things improve on their own.

Yes. While much of my work involves supporting breastfeeding families, I also work with parents who are combination feeding, exclusively pumping, bottle feeding or tube feeding. Tongue tie, for example, can cause significant difficulties for bottle-fed babies too, and feeding support extends well beyond breastfeeding alone. Whatever your feeding situation, if you’re struggling, I may be able to help.

It’s rarely too late. Feeding challenges can arise at any stage — during a growth spurt, when returning to work, when introducing solids, or when something that was manageable suddenly becomes more difficult. I see babies of all ages and I’m happy to discuss your situation to work out whether and how I can help.

Yes — and I hear this from many of the families I see. Feeding support can be inconsistent, and tongue tie in particular is frequently missed or dismissed by healthcare professionals who haven’t received specialist training. If you feel your concerns haven’t been properly heard or investigated, please don’t give up. A fresh, specialist assessment can often identify things that have been overlooked.

Tongue tie is just one of many possible reasons why feeding can be difficult, and I never approach an assessment assuming I know the answer before I’ve seen the full picture. If tongue tie isn’t the issue — or isn’t the whole issue — I’ll tell you honestly, and I’ll work with you to identify what is actually going on and how best to address it.

Yes. Deciding to stop feeding — whether because it isn’t working, because it isn’t right for you, or simply because you’re ready to — is a completely valid decision, and one I’ll always support without judgement. I can help you wean safely and comfortably, manage engorgement, and navigate the emotional side of a feeding transition if that would be helpful.

The only way to know for certain is through a proper clinical assessment. Tongue ties — particularly posterior ties, which sit beneath the mucous membrane and are invisible to a simple visual check — are routinely missed without specialist examination. If you are experiencing feeding difficulties and suspect tongue tie may be involved, the right step is to book an assessment rather than relying on a quick look at home or a non-specialist opinion.

For a full list of signs and symptoms, visit the page below.

A visual check from a non-specialist will not reliably identify all tongue ties — particularly posterior ties. If you have been told there is no tongue tie but you are still experiencing significant feeding difficulties consistent with the symptoms, it is absolutely reasonable to seek a specialist assessment. Many families come to me having previously been told there was no tie, only for a posterior tie to be identified at a thorough functional assessment.

This is the question almost every parent asks me, and I completely understand why. In young babies, the frenulum tissue is thin and has very few nerve endings. The procedure takes only seconds, there is minimal bleeding, and most babies settle quickly — often at the breast almost immediately. The brief cry during the procedure is usually more from the handling and the surprise than from pain. Almost every parent I’ve worked with has told me afterwards that it was much less distressing than they expected. I’ll walk you through exactly what will happen before we begin, and I’ll be with you every step of the way.

Reattachment is uncommon but possible, which is why aftercare exercises are so important in the days following division. I’ll show you exactly how to carry these out and how often. If you have concerns about reattachment in the weeks after the procedure, I’m available to review and advise.

Yes. Incomplete division, reattachment, or ongoing compensatory feeding patterns can all mean that difficulties persist after a previous procedure. I’m happy to carry out a reassessment, review the current situation, and provide the feeding support that may not have been sufficiently in place after the first division.

My current fees are listed on the pricing page. All consultations include a written care plan, and there are no hidden charges.

Please get in touch to discuss your circumstances. I’m committed to making support as accessible as possible and I’ll always do my best to find a way to help.

I ask for at least 48 hours’ notice for cancellations or rescheduling wherever possible. Full details are available on the pricing page.