FREE pick up in Perth. Flat rate standard and express postage Australia wide. Shipping to New Zealand also available. (Excl pumps)
Spectra breast pumps Perth, Spectra breast pump stockist, breast pump hire Perth, Spectra S2, Spectra S1, flanges, lactation consultant Perth, Spectra valves, breast pump flange, Pumpin Pal Australia
Est. 2016
Lactation Consultant | Perth
An International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is an expert in breastfeeding assistance. This is the only officially recognised qualification for a 'lactation consultant'. I have been an IBCLC since 2018. And as an endorsed midwife I can offer my clients Medicare rebates up to 6 weeks post birth.
Poor attachment, tongue ties, low supply, over supply, mastitis, bad advice....any issue that may disrupt the breastfeeding relationship you want to have, I want to help you make an individual and positive plan to make sure you and your baby are happy and healthy.
Or if you are having a baby, do a Breastfeeding and Newborn Preparation Class - information based on the basics of breastfeeding and understanding your newborn's needs - to reduce worrying about the unknown.
Medicare rebates are available if you are 6 weeks or less post birth - click here for more information
Video consults are also available
Before birth
Set yourself up for a confident start with the Newborn and Breastfeeding Preparation Class—a 2-hour session designed for parents-to-be, covering everything from milk production, latching, and understanding your newborn's behaviour.
Or perhaps your first experience didn’t go as hoped, and you’re looking for a more tailored plan this time around. I’d love to help you feel prepared, supported, and ready for a more positive journey.
After birth
I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed - holding a hungry baby that you can't get to latch, grappling with conflicting information, and searching for answers that just aren’t clear.
It’s not only heartbreaking, it is incredibly frustrating!
Whether you're facing challenges or simply seeking reassurance, I want to help.
Every family deserves a breastfeeding journey that feels supported, informed, and hopeful.
Why Do Mothers Stop Breastfeeding?
The three most common reasons are:
-
Painful or damaged nipples that make breastfeeding feel impossible
-
Perceived low milk supply
-
Lack of support or conflicting information
Pain and damage are often preventable. Good positioning and attachment are key - but many health professionals aren’t trained to teach these techniques effectively (even midwives in the hospitals unfortunately - I have lost track of how many people say 'but this is how they showed me to do it in the hospital' and it is the reason for their issues). Oral motor functions issues are possible, yet assessment methods are often misunderstood or overlooked, and the answer is usually to just stop breastfeeding...
Around 90% of mothers can produce enough milk. What is often labeled as “low supply” is usually due to other factors - and when true low production occurs, it can often be improved with the right support and information.
According to Dr. Amy Brown (in her book Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter), up to 80% of mothers who stop breastfeeding in the first six weeks do so before they’re truly ready - often because they lacked support or received conflicting advice.
These challenges are often treatable - or at least explainable - with accurate information and compassionate guidance from an experienced professional. I would like to help assess your breastfeeding journey and get you back on a track (or at least explain what has happened to lead you here).
Reasons to have a breastfeeding support appointment
-
Poor attachment causing sore/damaged nipples
-
Low supply
-
Exclusively expressing or expressing to increase supply
-
Mastitis* or breast pain (*please see your GP asap if you have a fever)
-
When and/or how to start solids
-
Issues with 'colic' and/or 'reflux'
-
Information on allergies or intolerances
-
You want to know if something is 'normal'
-
Information on returning to work
-
You are pregnant and want more information, or you had a previous bad experience and want advice on what you can do next time
-
Information on weaning at any age and for any reason
-
Any other information/issue related to breastfeeding, regardless of the age of the child
Consultation fees
These fees are for those over 6 weeks post birth or without Medicare. If you are less than 6 weeks post birth and have Medicare please see 'Postnatal Care fees' here
Initial consultation up to 90mins
Includes 2 weeks of follow-up emails/texts (initiated by you)
(phone calls can be arranged if needed)
$170
Follow-up visit up to 60mins
Includes another 2 weeks of follow-up emails/texts
$120
Reduced prices are available for overseas visitors and Health Care Card holders
Private health fund rebates might be available - please contact me for more information
Reduce stress and increase your confidence before baby is born...
Do a Breastfeeding and Newborn Class before your baby is born. A 2 hour class with all the information I think new parents need to know about breastfeeding and their new baby - based on the most common issues and questions I see my clients have
Why I became an IBCLC
As a midwife and nurse working in neonatal ICU I thought I knew everything I needed to about breastfeeding before I had my daughter. Then she came along with a tongue and lip tie, and I developed low supply, and realised I actually knew very little!
I couldn't afford to see a private lactation consultant, so I went through the public system and ended up seeing a total of 5 different lactation consultants (all IBCLCs). I was given different information by each of them. The conflicting information, coupled with incorrect advice from other health professionals, saw me exclusively expressing for 10 months for a baby who developed a breast aversion. To read my full story go to 'My Story' under 'About'.
My journey led me to become an IBCLC. For the exam, applicants with my qualifications are required to have done 90hrs of lactation specific education and 1000hrs of practical experience. Note - there is no formal registration process for lactation consultants, anyone can call themselves one. The IBLCE is the highest recognisable certification available and only those who have passed can call themselves an 'IBCLC'.
Qualifications & Experience
I am a nurse who has worked in Neonatal ICU since March 2007 and I graduated as a midwife in December 2012 (having worked for the year as a student midwife). Despite my work experience, I struggled with breastfeeding my daughter in 2014, going through low supply, ties, and exclusively expressing - you can read my story here.
In early October 2017 I sat the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiner's Exam and passed (my certification period goes from the 1st January 2018) - meaning I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. In May 2019 I became an Endorsed Midwife which means I can pass on Medicare rebates for those less than 6 weeks post birth.
In July 2020 I started my Master of Midwifery (by Research), and passed in October 2024. My thesis was titled Western Australian mothers' experiences of breastfeeding support in hospital - a mixed methods study (hint, the results were not that positive, the biggest issues were conflicting information, not receiving enough information, and the midwives not having enough time to give breastfeeding support)
