About

I was born and educated in Norwich before training as a registered general nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. On qualifying in 1991 I worked on an acute medical unit as a staff nurse.In 1995, after the birth of my daughter, I moved into community nursing, working with the Fenland District Nurses on the evening service.  After studying for the ENB 928 Diabetes qualification I joined Bridge Street Surgery in Downham Market, Norfolk as a practice nurse where I developed my special interest in diabetes.

In 2002-3 I decided to change direction and trained as a health visitor, gaining BA(Hons) in Primary and Community Care with Specialist Practitioner (Public Health Nursing) at Homerton School of Health Studies, Cambridge.  I had always had an interest in working with children and families and this was fuelled by my personal experience of having a  child with autism.  I quickly realised that the training provided for heath visitors in breastfeeding was inadequate. So after securing a health visiting role in Ely in 2003, I trained as a breastfeeding counsellor with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. Frustrated by the fact that I was not able to fully utilised my breastfeeding skills within my NHS role I decided to set up in independent practice.  In 2009 I sat the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants Exam and left my NHS health visiting role and in 2010 joined the Old Exchange Surgery in St Ives as a practice nurse whilst I built up my private work. I have recently left this role to focus entirely on my lactation work.

Since establishing my private practice I have trained to do tongue-tie division in Southampton with Carolyn Westcott and Mervyn Griffiths (Consultant Paediatric Surgeon) in 2011 and went back to Southampton in 2014 for refresher training.  I have undertaken over 2000 tongue-tie division procedures. I have attended study days with internationally renowned experts in lactation and tongue-tie, including Alison Hazelbaker and Catherine Watson Genna and I have observed Mr A Minocha ( Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, Norwich) and Helen Caulfield (Consultant Paediatric ENT Surgeon, London) in their tongue-tie clinics.  I regularly have student and qualified midwives and health visitors,  lactation consultants and breastfeeding counsellors observing my practice in order to further their own knowledge and skills.   I have also undertaken the Brazelton Newborn Behavioural Observation training, done a baby massage course with Peter Walker and studied cranial sacral therapy with Jonathan Lawrence.

I provide breastfeeding peer supporter courses in conjunction with Cambridgeshire County Council and am involved in a small local charity ElyMilks which runs a weekly breastfeeding support group for mothers in Ely. I am Chair of the Association of Tongue-tie Practitioners and on the training team of The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers.

I am based near Ely, Cambridgeshire and will visit clients within post code areas CB6, CB7 and CB8 and when time allows will consider home visits in other areas up to a 30 mile travelling distance from my home. I currently see most of my clients in my private clinics in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and St Ives as this makes best use of my time and means I can see families as promptly as possible. 

My hobbies include beaded jewellery making, hen keeping,  walking our dog along the river and droves where we live and horse riding.