About

Becoming a parent is breathtaking, miraculous and exhilarating. BUT – yes, there’s a but – it’s only human to acknowledge that it can also be overwhelming, exhausting, downright scary and unquestionably the greatest of all life’s challenges.

My mission is not to mould fictionally perfect parents. We all just want to do the best we can. So I support my clients without judgement and with an honest, holistic, individualised, accurate, mindful and compassionate approach, to enable them to meet whatever their personal goals may be.

Seeing the smiles, tears of relief and growing confidence as this happens for my clients, has me jumping out of bed in the mornings.

I have worked directly with around 10,000 families over the past two decades.

As a certified lactation consultant, birth & peri-natal trauma practitioner, health visitor, children’s nurse and infant massage instructor, you can be assured that I have more than likely seen it and done it.

I have also held the position of Specialist Breastfeeding Lead for a London NHS Trust, developing and delivering breastfeeding training to other health professionals. In 2015, I wrote an OCN-accredited training programme for Maternity Nurses and continue to deliver the course through the London-based agency, Babyem. I contributed to The Happy Birth Book by Beverley Turner and Your No Guilt Pregnancy Plan by Rebecca Schiller, regularly write for parenting websites and magazines and speak at well-known parenting events such as The Baby Show.

My love affair for travelling, working and meeting people all over the world is still burning strong. I have worked with children and families in rural Uganda, southern India and for an unforgettable year in South Sudan, with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). It was there, in particular, that I assisted many remarkable women in delivering their babies and gained invaluable insight into different birthing and parenting practices.

I live near Tunbridge Wells and am married with two little live-wire daughters, whom between them I breastfed for 3 years.

My first daughter (all 10lbs of her!) guzzled happily from the moment she was born. However, breastfeeding my second daughter presented some major challenges and saw me through some very dark days, before we finally got established.

You can be assured that my empathy and understanding, for all new parents, is genuine and heartfelt!

DBS checked

Fully insured

Member of associated professional bodies

Current professional registrations

My Qualifications

MSc – Master of Science (Mother and Child Health, First Class with Honours)

MN – Master of Nursing (Children’s Nursing, First Class with Honours)

IBCLC – International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

RHV – Registered Health Visitor

RNC – Registered Nurse (Children)

CIMI – Certified Infant Massage Instructor

MAM 3-Step Rewind Practitioner (Birth & Other Trauma)

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"You made what seemed like the impossible, possible! There is NO WAY I could have done it without you"
Charlie, London
"I can’t thank you enough for the advice and support and I only wish I had found you earlier"
Ely, Sussex
“Vanessa was a huge help to me with my second child….I instantly felt more positive after talking to her, and the breastfeeding has been going well ever since. Her advice was invaluable, and I am hugely thankful to her"
Alex, London
"In my moments of anxiety you were so calm, kind, genuine and a huge help. I would have almost certainly given up breastfeeding it it hadn’t been for you"
Emma, Dubai
"You have revolutionised our lives and things are so much better now"
Tannice, Kent
"Chatting to you was like having a Super Mum and best friend rolled into one, when I didn’t have either on hand to help me"
Emma, London

What is a Lactation Consultant?

An IBCLC is the ONLY internationally recognised

credential of expertise in the clinical management of breastfeeding

To be eligible to apply to sit the rigorous exam to become an IBCLC, candidates must first provide evidence they have had a minimum of 1000 hours of breastfeeding counselling experience within the previous 5 years and have accrued a minimum of 90 hours of breastfeeding-related educational hours (eg courses, conferences etc) also within the previous 5 years. Re-certification is required every five years.

It is important for parents to be aware when seeking breastfeeding help and support that at present, the term ‘Lactation Consultant’ (when not an IBCLC) and other related titles such as Breastfeeding Consultant, Breastfeeding Expert, Breastfeeding Specialist, Lactation Expert, Infant Feeding Expert and so on, DO NOT reflect any breastfeeding specific qualification, level of knowledge, or quality of experience.