I’ve been a midwife for over 35 years, starting with delivery in hospital. In that time, I’ve supported thousands of mothers through some of the most vulnerable and important weeks of their lives. What I know for certain is this: most breastfeeding problems have solutions. The hard part is getting the right help from someone qualified to identify what’s actually going on.
I’m Catherine Allgrove, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), endorsed midwife, and member of Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ). I’m based in Perth and I provide bulk billed home visits within a 30km radius of the CBD, for tp up 6 weeks and 6 days post birth, as well as telehealth consultations for families further away.
The IBCLC certification is not a short course. It requires thousands of hours of supervised clinical experience, 90+ hours of lactation-specific education, and a rigorous international examination sat every five years. It is the standard that hospitals and health systems around the world use to credential their most specialised lactation staff. When you see me, you’re getting that level of expertise in your own home.
When I come to see you, I take a proper clinical history, I observe a feed, I assess both you and your baby, and I tell you clearly what I find. I’ll give you a plan that makes sense for your situation, not a generic recommendation. I am passionate about helping mothers and babies thrive.
I work with an evidence-based approach. That means I stay current with the research, I don’t push, and I’ll tell you if something isn’t working. Breastfeeding matters, but so does your mental health, your sleep, and your recovery. Those things are part of the picture too.
I see mothers antenatally, because the best time to set yourself up for breastfeeding success is before your baby arrives. As well as postnatally, from the moment you’re home from the hospital right through to the early weeks. If I identify something that needs a referral, such as a tongue tie assessment by a specialist, I’ll connect you with the right person.
As an endorsed midwife, I provide Medicare bulk-billed care for 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.
