Cherished Parenting Services

23/12/2025

Can confirm this is true 🤭

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CMXfr2fzg/

20/12/2025

8yrs ago today I got my certificate to say I had passed the International Lactation Consultant's exam!

17/12/2025

Unfortunately, the person I was due to see tomorrow is not well, so we have had to postpone. This means I have a last-minute appointment available.

You can book via my website (click the button at the top of the website that says 'Book Appointment')

My appointments close on the website 12hrs before they start - so if you only see this overnight or in the early morning, please contact me to check availability

I also have availability on Monday the 22nd. This will be my last appointment until after Christmas - next day will be 29th

11/12/2025

Yesterday, Jaimee Amelia and I had a private tour on board Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. Why? Because next November we’ll be sailing to the South Pacific with at least 54 midwives, sharing 20 hours of education in the most extraordinary setting!

This won't just be lectures - it will be about blending evidence-based learning with practical workshops and time to nurture yourself as a midwife. From routine tests and induction, to breastfeeding 101 and infant mental health, we’ll explore the topics that matter most, together.

Being on board gave us insider knowledge we can pass on, so you’ll know exactly what to expect when you join us. Imagine learning, connecting, and recharging - all while surrounded by ocean views and tropical ports to relax and holiday in between.

There are only 6 places left, and we’d love for you to be part of this journey. Link in the comments

03/12/2025

Here's a video I've just made to address the post that has blown up quite a bit from the weekend - I recorded it so it can go on another app that has the initials TT, which is why I refer to this platform as 'The Face App'. I was going to directly address some of the comments, but decided to do something a bit more general and 'around' the subject.

A lot of 'issues' that I hear about from mothers and parents aren't actually issues, but they've been lead to believe they are by a small number of individuals who can be very persuasive and loud, but who maybe aren't as experienced or knowledgeable as they would have people believe.

It's taken me almost 10yrs of running this business and over 20yrs as a health professional to feel confident to post information like this, and I know that not everyone is going to agree with me. But maybe this will help some parents look away from the 'loud' influencers on social media and look closer at their babies 💜

28/11/2025

So I've created a Tik Tok account 🫣 Maybe I'll be better at posting there than I am on here. If you're on Tik Tok come say hi and follow to see what I'm going to get up to there

Check out Cherishedparenting’s video.

28/11/2025

This just came up on my feed from 2021 and it is still as true now as it is then! I've only added 1 extra paragraph (at the end) and updated dates, but apart from that the information is still exactly the same.

"And what is the best way to burp my baby?"

This is a question probably 50% of my clients ask me towards the end of a consult.

I usually counter with the question "if you are directly breastfeeding, where are they swallowing the air from?"

And usually a light bulb goes off - there's no air in the breast, so WHERE ARE they swallowing air?

"But what if my baby is unsettled after feeding?" Well then do the usual things - put them back on the breast, change their nappy, cuddle them, and repeat. You can put them put on your shoulder and gently rub their back, and if they do need a burp, they will usually do it.

I have worked in NICU for almost 20yrs - NEVER has 'trapped gas' been suggested as a thing - never, not once, not even as a fleeting comment. Also, 'actively burp the baby' is never a medical order.

In 2015 a RCT confirmed that actively trying to burping babies does not reduce 'colic' symptoms! In fact, it increases regurgitation (brining up milk). Yet 10yrs later parents are still being encouraged to actively burp babies.

Yes, bottle fed babies can swallow a lot of air and may need assistance to bring it up.

But if your baby does burp excessively after direct breastfeeding or seem uncomfortable then maybe questions need to be asked around the latch, transfer, or other issues that could be causing discomfort.

"But my baby farts a lot!"

Farts are different to burps - farts are caused by by-products of bacteria in the gut, not by swallowing air during feeding.

"If I don't burp my baby they wake up 1hr [or x amount of time] later"

A baby waking up some time after a feed and burping doesn't mean they didn't burp enough before. Air can build up over time. Burping is perfectly normal - it is the stomach releasing air that has built up over time. If it has been some time since the last feed, maybe they woke up because they wanted another feed (yes, even just an hour later) and burped as you picked them up because air rises through water.

The main point is that there is no need to wake a settled baby to vigorously burp them - if they wake up later then chances are it is not a burb that woke them and you should offer feeding and comfort.

27/11/2025

Nursing and pumping bras are back in stock!

Super soft, with no underwire. Available in 2 colours and 4 sizes (although I was accidentally sent pink and grey as well - so let me know if you want either of those 😅)

Fits Spectra and other 'all in one' fl**ges

Super soft, no underwire, combination nursing and pumping bra. Works with just about any fl**ge, including Spectra and other 'all in one' fl**ges. Can be worn as a 'regular' nursing bra throughout the day. Adjustable back band and arm straps. Straps can be crossed over at the back. Available in 2 co...

10/11/2025

Guess what I did last week?

I visited Maymom - in Taiwan!

My daughter and I have been on a little holiday and part of that was visiting Taiwan, and I was lucky enough to be able to arrange a visit to their warehouse.

Mr Li and his team very graciously showed me how they operate - he took me on a tour as if I was one of their products, following the path that the products take from when they arrive , to how they are put together, packaged, and then shipped out to stockists all over the world.

After almost 10yrs of selling their products I am so happy that I can finally put names to faces. And I'm so impressed with their quality control and the care they take in packaging the items.

23/10/2025

Skin to skin is not just something nice to do after baby is born for bonding. It helps both the mother and baby transition physiologically after birth

It helps baby regulate their heart rate, breathing, temperature, blood sugar levels, etc. Plus it helps the mother release oxytocin and prolactin, and the little feet pressing on the lower abdomen helps massage the uterus down - all this starts lactation and decreases bleeding for the mother

Being born is the most physiologically stressful thing we will ever experience - it is very necessary and not bad, like we would consider stress later in life, but it is a big deal for such a small body. Making a newborn baby recover after such a stressful event may be 'unethical', as they say I'm the summary of a Cochrane Review (link in comments)

The WHO recommends at least 1hr of uninterrupted skin to skin after birth and says that at least 80% of mothers and babies should be able to achieve this. Yet in my study competed in 2022 only 55% of WA mothers and babies may be getting at least 1hr...

If you don't get to have immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin it's not the end of the world though - just do it as soon and for as long as possible when you can.

And skin-to-skin can be done at any time, not just birth - it's great for breastfeeding and to help calm little nervous systems

16/10/2025

Excited to start off the LCANZ pre-conference workshops with my Setting up and striving in private practice workshop

11/10/2025

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