Specialised infant feeding support
As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) — the gold standard qualification in lactation care — I'm able to support families in Caerphilly and the surrounding area with more complex feeding challenges.
This includes slow weight gain, ongoing pain or discomfort, reflux symptoms, mastitis, pumping, and more.
IBCLCs are the most highly trained feeding specialists available, and there aren't many of us in South Wales — so if you've been struggling and feel like you're not getting the answers you need, please do reach out.
My consultations are thorough and genuinely unhurried. I carry out a full oral assessment of function — not just appearance — which is particularly important when tongue tie or oral restriction may be a factor.
I can offer consultations in my Caerphilly Office (CF83 1BE) or, depending on area, at your home address. Areas covered include Cardiff, Newport, Abergavenny, Pontypridd, Pontypool, Cwmbran, Risca & beyond.
Ongoing support between appointments is available via email or WhatsApp, because I know that feeding challenges don't always wait for office hours.
Tongue Tie & Oral Restrictions
It's worth starting with this: a lingual frenulum — the fold of membrane and connective tissue under the tongue — is a completely normal part of our anatomy. Having a visible frenulum does not automatically mean tongue tie.
Where the frenulum is very short or inflexible, it can restrict how the tongue moves and functions — and this is what we call a tongue tie. In babies, a restrictive frenulum can cause feeding difficulties whether at the breast or bottle, and it's one of the most common reasons families come to me.
Around 10% of babies may have some degree of restriction, but not all will experience feeding difficulties. There are also other causes for feeding issues that can lead to similar symptoms - which is why a thorough assessment matters so much more than a quick visual check.
As a Tongue Tie Practitioner, trained by Carmel Gentle, I take a holistic approach to oral restrictions and work with families to ensure frenulotomy (division) is only undertaken when necessary.
More info here
Antenatal Support & Classes
Pregnancy and birth are powerful, transformative experiences — and while they're normal physiological events for most people, it's completely understandable to want expert support along the way. Whether you're facing a difficult decision, processing unexpected news, or just want some unhurried time with a professional who gets it, I'm here.
I'm a Registered Midwife, based in Caerphilly, and offer 1:1 consultations in my office, at your home, or via Zoom.
While I'm not currently offering full clinical services or intrapartum care privately, I can offer a knowledgeable, compassionate space to explore your options, guide you to reliable information, and complement the clinical care you're already receiving. I'm also able to issue a MAT B1 form during consultations where appropriate.
I offer 1:1 antenatal classes on preparing to breastfeed, and the full KGH Hypnobirthing course (10–12 hours) — either in my Caerphilly office or in your own home. Occasional group classes are available too.
Not sure if this is what you need?
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation, 10-minute chat.
Postnatal Support
However you're feeding your baby, the early days are a time of enormous adjustment and transformation. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, it's usually exhausting — and feeling overwhelmed is completely normal.
I offer postnatal home visits across the Caerphilly area, as well as consultations in my office or via Zoom, to complement the care you're receiving from your community midwives.
Appointments are genuinely unhurried — there's space to talk through your concerns, ask all the questions you didn't get to ask, and receive gentle, expert support with feeding your baby.
My aim is always to leave you feeling calm and confident in your own ability to meet your baby's needs.
A little expert support in those early days can make a real difference to how breastfeeding or chest feeding gets established — reducing pain, supporting weight gain, and helping you find your rhythm.
And, if you've chosen to formula feed, responsive paced feeding matters just as much — we can talk through that too.
Rewind
If you — or your partner — are burdened with difficult feelings from a previous pregnancy, birth, or postnatal experience, you don't have to keep carrying them.
The Three Step Rewind is a gentle but remarkably effective method for releasing the unhelpful emotions attached to a difficult memory, and building a calmer, more optimistic sense of the future. You don't need to tell me all the details of what happened (unless you want to) — the process works without you having to relive it all.
Sessions are available via Zoom or in the privacy of your own home. This approach can support the birthing person or their partner, and it doesn't matter whether you're pregnant again, planning a future pregnancy, or have completed your family.
Typically, two 90-minute sessions — with relaxation audios to use in between — plus a third follow-up session, are enough to see a real shift in how the past is affecting your present. Occasionally further sessions are needed, and these are available at a reduced rate.
If you'd like to know more, get in touch for a chat — there's no obligation.
