Real support for breastfeeding, from before your baby arrives to those hard early weeks at home, from an IBCLC certified midwife. Bulk billing available for up to 6 weeks and 6 days post birth.
If breastfeeding isn’t going the way you hoped, you don’t have to figure it out alone. I’m Catherine, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and endorsed midwife based in Perth, with over 35 years of experience supporting new mothers and their families.
I work with women through pregnancy and into the postnatal period. Helping with everything from colostrum harvesting and antenatal education before birth, to latch problems, tongue tie assessment, and low milk supply in those early weeks. My approach is straightforward and evidence-based.
I offer bulk-billed home visits up to 6 weeks and 6 days from the date of your baby’s birth. I can still see you after that, but the bulk billing is no longer applicable. I see clients within a 30km radius of Perth and offer telehealth consultations for those further afield.
Midwifery care and breastfeeding preparation before your baby arrives. Includes colostrum harvesting guidance, antenatal education, checks, and birth planning, all in the comfort of your home.
IBCLC-level support for the full range of breastfeeding challenges: latch and attachment, weight gain issues, milk supply, tongue tie assessment and referral, nipple pain, and more. Home visits and telehealth available.
The IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) qualification is the gold standard in lactation care. Not everyone who calls themselves a lactation consultant holds this certification. It requires thousands of hours of supervised clinical experience and a rigorous international examination.
When you work with me, you’re getting someone who has spent 35 years in midwifery, holds current IBCLC certification, and is a member of Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ).
Whether you’re still pregnant and want to prepare, or you’re in the thick of it and need help now, please call me. I’ll listen to what’s happening, ask the right questions, and we’ll figure out the best next step. I offer Medicare bulk billing for up to 6 weeks and 6 days post birth.
Breast milk is specifically designed for babies. Colostrom – the first form of naturally produced breastmilk by humans – is low in volume and fat, but high in carbohydrates and proteins.
This makes colostrum the perfect food for your baby’s immature digestive system, providing nourishment, nutrition, and protection from infection. It also has a mild laxative effect, encouraging the passing of your baby’s first stool.
In the first few weeks after birth, your breastmilk will gradually increase in volume, and the ratio of antibodies, carbs, proteins, enzymes and other constituents alter to meet the needs of your growing child while remaining perfectly balanced to be easily and fully digested.
Your milk supply is regulated by the frequency of feeds and the degree to which the breast is drained. Following your baby’s cues usually produces a good supply of milk.
Your baby is perfectly nourished if they:
If your baby feeds less than 8-12 times in 24 hours, check the number of nappies and weight gain. So long as they are still wetting and stooling regularly in 24 hours and gaining weight, then usually all is well.
Please note in the first few days expect to have less wet and stooled nappies – at least until your milk supply increases.
Feed According to Need refers to following the needs of your body and your baby to set your feeding schedule, as opposed to using an app or calendar to set specific feeding times. It is also sometimes called “demand feeding”.
At times you may have to feed your baby more often:
If you breastfeed more often, by following the baby’s lead, then your baby will normally become less unsettled and baby will settle back to a more normal pattern.
During a growth spurt, your baby may seem more hungry and unsatisfied for a few days and you may doubt your milk supply. This behaviour can precede a baby’s illness but your milk will provide your baby with many protective factors so don’t stop breastfeeding, follow your baby’s cues and seek medical advice if you are concerned.
As an endorsed midwife, I can provide Medicare bulk-billing for eligible antenatal and postnatal visits up to 6 weeks and 6 days after birth. This means you can access expert midwifery care at home without paying full out-of-pocket costs. I still see you after this period, however fees do apply.
