Welcome to my Breast Feeding Website
A Private Professional Breast Feeding Support Service
covering Kent & parts of East Sussex
I studied psychology at the University of Maryland and graduated with a BA. My special interest was child psychology. I worked in various child health areas for several years in the US, Germany & the UK.
After getting married I returned to the UK in the early 80’s. I trained as a registered nurse at the S.W. Hertfordshire College of Nursing. I’d intended to specialize in paediatric nursing but midwifery won the day. After a gap year, mostly spent in India, I came back to study midwifery at the E. Berkshire College of Midwifery in 1989. I had a special interest in natural birth & breastfeeding from my own life experiences so attended the entire 2 months parent craft classes offered by the NCT as a guest midwife. They inspired me to engage in further breastfeeding training which I have done at every opportunity since the late 1980’s.
After completing my midwifery training I returned to India where I did voluntary work in numerous health care settings in Kashmir. Both in the capital city of Srinagar & out in the Himalayan villages. I often worked with lay midwives & local doctors. I visited both private & state run maternity units & their neonatal units. I learned far more from these experiences than I was ever able to give to them in return.
After my Indian sojourn, I returned to the States. For a time, working in various settings, private & state run maternity units & birth centers. The US nurse-
I returned to UK midwifery practice in the mid 90‘s. Since 2002 I have worked in neonatal high dependency & the special care baby units in S. Kent. I undertook further training in the care of the sick neonate in 2005. I qualified as a lactation consultant in 2012.
From my time in India & the US I’m used to clients using various herbal & homeopathic remedies. I’m always happy to discuss the use of safe, natural therapies if it’s deemed appropriate. At times, I’ve worked closely with medical herbalists, chinese acupuncturists & cranial osteopaths. All clients would have to decide for themselves if that’s what they wish to do in challenging circumstances.
I liaise with GP’s, midwives & health visitors when necessary but I always discuss the need for this with my clients before hand. A copy of any report I send to another professional, usually a GP, will always be given to the parents.
And finally, I trained as an aromatherapist, in London with Micheline Arcier before nursing. This included baby massage, acupressure, lymph drainage & other advanced massage techniques. In the 90’s I qualified as a reflexologist. These practices are also covered by my professional indemnity & public liability insurance. I am always happy to teach any massage technique to parents when asked.
A Bit About Me.....