Who am I?
Hello, I'm Ashleigh, International Board Certified (IBCLC) Lactation Consultant, Midwife, Registered Nurse and NDC-accredited practitioner. I am also a wife, mother of six, and a long-term breastfeeder.
My passion lies in everything related to breastfeeding. When I first began my journey as a mother, I realised the lack of support available for breastfeeding mothers. This realisation fuelled my determination to advocate for, promote, and safeguard breastfeeding.
I have personally experienced challenges such as engorgement, mastitis, painful latches, low milk supply, feeding a baby with failure to thrive, returning to work while needing to express milk, and dealing with bottle refusal. These struggles, coupled with the lack of available support, inspired me to pursue a career in lactation and assist families in their breastfeeding journey.
I am here to offer my support and guidance to you and the women in our community as you work towards achieving your breastfeeding goals. I often hear mothers express that with the right support, their breastfeeding experience could have been different.
I aim to bridge this gap in our community and enhance the healthcare services accessible to rural women and beyond.
How I support you as a Lactation Consultant
Together, we will unpack your birth story and feeding journey so far. I will be there to listen as you share your experiences, starting from the very first feed until now. Understanding your past can help us create a plan for the future.
I will support and respect your feeding goals and choices, guiding you towards achieving them. Whether you choose exclusive breastfeeding, a combination of feeding methods, or transitioning to weaning, I am here to provide assistance and encouragement.
A comprehensive lactation assessment will be conducted, including observing a full feed, making immediate adjustments to improve positioning and latching, examining breast anatomy, assessing infant oral function, and monitoring weight. This assessment will help us develop a personalised plan for you and your baby.
We will work together to create and update realistic feeding plans that can adapt to the dynamic nature of breastfeeding. I will stay in touch with you regularly, making adjustments as needed over the next 14 days.
Your mental health and wellbeing is a priority, and I will support you in recognising and addressing any perinatal mental health concerns. Resources and options will be provided to ensure you feel supported and cared for throughout your mothering journey.
I will educate you on the intricacies of breastfeeding, helping you understand the biological processes at play. By learning about feeding habits, hormonal influences, growth spurts, and normal baby behaviour, you can navigate breastfeeding with greater ease and acceptance.
As your baby grows and feeding patterns change, I will assist you in understanding and adapting to these transitions. I will also provide guidance on returning to work, including pumping, milk storage, bottle feeding, and weaning strategies as needed.
If breastfeeding does not go as planned, I will support you through any grief or disappointment. Together, we will explore alternative feeding options and find peace in understanding the reasons behind any challenges.
I will never stop advocating for you, myself and mothers everywhere by addressing barriers that impede successful breastfeeding. I am dedicated to fostering a more nurturing and supportive environment for all women.
Ultimately, my goal is to provide you and your little ones with endless love and support. Your successes are mine as well, and I am right there with you, cheering you on every step of the way.
Book Your Consultation Today
Schedule your consultation with me today to get personalised support and guidance with your feeding journey and/ or sleep concerns.
My Services
In person and Zoom appointments are available so I can support you wherever you may be in Australia.
I am able to provide a thorough assessment of both mother and baby. I will observe a breastfeed and be able to provide you with evidence-based suggestions and guide you through to reaching your breastfeeding goals.
All consultations include an individualised Breastfeeding Management Plan.
My knowledge includes (but is not limited to)
the following areas:
- Antenatal breastfeeding education prior to your baby arriving
- Sore and/ or tender nipples or breasts
- Latching issues
- Oral restrictions
- Low or oversupply
- Breast issues such as Breast inflammation (blocked ducts)/ Mastitis/ Thrush/ Vasospasm
- Breast refusal/ fussing at the breast
- Nipple shield assistance or weaning from a nipple shield
- Gentle sleep and settling using the Neuroprotective Development Care or Possums approach
- Positioning and attachment
- Expressing and pumping
- Feeding via supplementation devices
- Mixed feeding
- Infant formula feeding
- Returning to work concerns/ plan
- Normal newborn behaviour
- Introduction of complimentary foods
- Weaning
My Background
I began my career in nursing thirteen years ago with a background in paediatrics, which saw me gain a Diploma and Bachelor's degree in Nursing. I achieved my Post Graduate Diploma of Midwifery in 2019, where I began providing women and their families with antenatal, labour and birth, and postnatal care.
I hold a Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education with five years of volunteer service with ABA. My role with ABA includes providing much-needed support and guidance on the breastfeeding helpline and through Live Chat, counselling mothers from all over Australia through their breastfeeding challenges. I continue to provide education and support to our local women and their families through ABA group meetings and our education sessions.
In 2023, I successfully earned a Diploma in Breastfeeding Management. The following year, I achieved the title of International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), regarded as the highest professional certification in the field of breastfeeding knowledge and support.
This year, I expanded my expertise by becoming an NDC-accredited practitioner, which allows me to incorporate gentle sleep advice into my services. My goal is to improve the quality of life for the families I work with and make parenting a more joyful and manageable experience.
I am an NDC Accredited Practitioner
Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) provides evidence-based methods to address feeding, crying, sleep, and maternal emotional well-being. The NDC philosophy emphasises identifying your core values as a parent and centring your parenting journey around these principles. By doing so, it can infuse more joy into your daily life.
NDC promotes a gentle approach to feeding and sleeping by advocating for cue-based care for your little one. It questions much of the conventional advice given to parents about feeding, sleeping, and calming their infant.
NDC incorporates cutting-edge lactation science, including the mechanics of infant sucking, and advances the Gestalt Breastfeeding approach. Their programs are grounded in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, gut science, sleep science, attachment psychology, and innovative psychological strategies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
At Nurture and Nourish Lactation, the care I provide is deeply rooted in the principles of NDC for both mother and infant.
As a Midwife, IBCLC, and NDC practitioner, I am equipped to offer a truly comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing infant feeding and sleep needs.
Affiliated Health Funds
Bump to Breast
A Midwifery and Breastfeeding
Education Experience
Prepare for a successful postpartum journey with my comprehensive workshop designed to guide you through the post-birth period, early days and weeks of caring for your new infant, breastfeeding, and sleep. Delve into the essentials of breastfeeding preparation and gain insights into what to expect as a new breastfeeding mother and support partner of a breastfeeding mother. This workshop is best suited for expectant mothers in their third trimester. Dads and support partners are encouraged to join to learn how to best support you.
Tamworth NSW