The Gentle Village

21/12/2025

If you’re hearing loud gulping during feeds, it’s easy to assume it’s your letdown or that your baby is “just feeding fast”.

But gulping usually isn’t about too much milk!

A comfortable swallow is usually quiet and rhythmic. Gulping often happens when a baby is struggling to manage flow because their oral function isn’t doing what it should.

In my clinic, I often describe this to parents as their baby sounding like they’re being waterboarded during feeds. And they instantly get it…because it sounds insane but also makes sense, right?

That sensation most often doesn’t come from your milk flow though. It comes from your baby’s reduced tongue control, poor seal, weak suction, or your baby having trouble coordinating their suck-swallow-breathing pattern.

The extra air that comes when your baby gulps during their feed can show up later as trapped wind pain, unsettled behaviour, frequent waking, spitting up or refluxy or colic like symptoms. This can then follow on with other feeds that feel stressful for you both rather than feeling calm and connected.

If this sounds familiar to you, mama, you’re not imagining it.

I’ve created a free Feeding Red Flags mini guide that explains what I look for as an IBCLC and when it’s worth exploring oral function further, rather than been told it’s your forceful letdowns or your oversupply!

Comment GULP and I’ll send it to you 💜



©️ . 2025

11/12/2025

If your baby sounds like this when feeding, there’s usually a reason behind it.

It’s not always about a “poor latch” or “a fussy baby.” It’s air swallowing, forceful letdowns or oversupply, tongue mobility, body tension…all the things you’re never actually told to look at.

Air swallowing can trigger reflux-like symptoms, discomfort, bloating, clicking, fussing, and those long unsettled evenings that make you question everything.

👉🏻 If you’re wondering whether your baby’s symptoms are reflux related, comment TRACKER and I’ll send you my Infant Reflux Symptom Tracker and mini guide.

⭐️ BUT, if you want to dig deeper into why your baby is swallowing so much air, comment MINI and I’ll send you the free mini tongue tie guide (and yes, it includes a special discount code for the full guide at the end 🙌🏼).



©️ 2025

07/12/2025

A little January update! ✈️

I’ll be heading overseas from 8th-22nd of JAN to attend the international in Switzerland. This trip has been on my professional bucket list since starting to learn about tongue ties over 5 years ago. Why? Because I’ll be meeting (in real life 😱😍), the professionals in the tongue tie field who have been (in my eyes) leaders who’ve helped shape the tongue tie care we provide at The Gentle Village. Yes, I’ll totally be fangirling! 💃🏻

I’m beyond excited to learn from the best of the best, soak up the latest research, come home refreshed, upskilled, and ready to support our TGV families with even more depth and confidence.

If you’ve tried to book in lately, you’ll know my December is already almost full and there’s only a couple of spots left for January before I leave. So this is your gentle reminder to grab an appointment before I fly out.

✨ Cheryl and Renee will be holding down the fort for me while I’m away!

When you’re passionate about the care you provide, this is what it takes. You invest. You study. You excitedly keep growing and learning so the families you support get the very best, every time! I can’t wait to bring everything I learn back to you all and our Perth families! 🙌🏼

The Gentle Village is always growing right alongside you!

❤️ Brenda

03/12/2025

I won’t lie, it’s been so beautiful waking up to messages from mamas all over the world saying things like this. Honestly, it makes my heart melt 🥹💕

Mama, you need to know that feeding challenges aren’t in your head, your pain and heart ache isn’t something you just have to push through because your baby will “grow out of it”.

If your gut has been screaming that something isn’t right…it probably isn’t! You know your baby better than anyone. It’s the most powerful medical degree you will ever have!

We should be here to help you and not say stupid sh*t that only makes things worse when you’re exhausted, emotional, and trying to feed and raise a little human, who’s working twice as hard as they should!

This post is for every mama who has ever felt dismissed.
I see you. You’re not imagining it. And you deserve answers.

It’s also a nice little reminder to keep doing what we’re doing here at The Gentle Village! 🥹

If you want a clearer picture of what’s really going on with your tongue tied baby or you suspect your baby may have a tongue tie because it feels so damn hard right now, I’ve put together a FREE Mini Tongue Tie Guide that breaks it all down for you in a way that finally makes sense.

Comment or message “Mini” and I’ll send it straight to your DMs 🥰

30/11/2025

We’ve had so many mamas have their concerns dismissed recently because their baby’s tongue tie was “mild” and “it’s fine because they’re gaining weight ok.”

My heart shatters every time I hear this. I see you exhausted. I see you sleep deprived. I see you on the brink of tears. I see you doing everything you can to comfort your unsettled refluxy baby. Your baby’s tongue tie was never just “mild.”

Here are some of the gaslighting and dismissive comments we hear mamas are told while feeding their tongue tied baby:

💔 “Your baby is just lazy.”
No newborn is lazy. Babies who slip off the breast or fall asleep mid-feed aren’t lazy…they’re working so hard to feed they’d rather shut down!

💔 “Your ni***es are flat/short, that’s why they can’t latch.”
Babies don’t ni**le feed. They breastfeed. A shallow latch is usually a symptom, not the cause!

💔 “They can poke their tongue out, so there’s no tie.”
Oral function matters more than appearance. How your baby’s tongue is elevating, cupping, moving side to side and fatiguing tells the real story.

💔 “It’s your latch, not a tongue tie.”
Too many mamas are blamed without anyone even watching a feed. Not all health professionals are trained in oral ties ESPECIALLY in lactation, unfortunately!

💔 “They’ll grow out of it over the next few months.”
This comment pi**es me off the most…what does that mean for you in the mean time, just persevere in agony or triple feed for months on end in hopes it’ll get better? But it doesn’t. Then mamas are overwhelmed, sore or worried their baby isn’t coping. Dismissive advice isn’t support.

Mamas deserve validation, proper assessment and clear guidance…not being medically gaslit!

🫶🏼 If you want simple, gentle clarity so you never feel dismissed again, comment MINI below and I’ll send you my free mini tongue tie guide straight to your inbox 🤍

Leave a ❤️ if any of these sound familiar.



©️ 2025

30/11/2025

Breastfeeding shouldn’t feel like a mystery you’re left to figure out on your own, yet it often is! 😩

So many mamas end up thinking their baby is “just fussy”, “just gassy”, “just noisy”, or that their ni***es “just need to toughen up”…when actually, there are clear signs something deeper is going on.

In episode 5 of The Gentle Village Podcast, we’re talking through the most common breastfeeding complications I see in clinic - the ones that get brushed off, missed, or blamed on mum.

👉🏻 And because I want you to have the support you need…I’m giving you free access to my Feeding Red Flags Guide 🙌🏼

It’s the exact framework I use to help parents understand when feeding is normal and when their baby might need support.

✨ Comment GUIDE below and I’ll DM it to you ✨

And make sure you’re following we’re live on Spotify 🎧

Your feeding journey deserves calm, confidence and actual answers.

**lepain **lethrush

28/11/2025

It’s amazing how different bodies cope…even with the same challenge!

Some little ones compensate like little champions. They feed, chew or speak well enough on the surface, but they’re using a whole lot of extra muscles and energy to get there!

Others manage just fine…until something changes (even if it’s small).

Another growth spurt, oversupply or fast letdowns, colic or reflux, fatigue, tension, teething, developmental leaps or reflexes integrating…suddenly the effort your little one has been making starts to show.

Same restriction 👉🏻 Different bodies 👉🏻 Different results.

This is why children with the “same looking tie” can have totally different journeys. Because it’s not about how it looks but how their tongue and body is actually functioning and coping.

If your baby or child feels like they’re working harder than they should, whether it’s with feeding, solids, sleep or speech - then it’s worth exploring!

👶🏻 For babies and young infants, we’ve got you covered at The Gentle Village.

👧🏻 For toddlers and older children, Kristy is your go to Speechie with OMT training!

It’s been so lovely having Kristy working out of The Gentle Village clinic and offering continuity of care from our tiniest babies right through childhood or helping their siblings and the whole family along the way! Follow as she grows her beautiful little space within The Gentle Village.

💫 Did you have two tongue tied babies who handled feeding totally differently? Comment below - these patterns are so important for other parents to feel less alone! ❤️



©️ 2025

26/11/2025

Love it when we see instant results in the one consult! 🥹

22/11/2025

Does something feel off when your baby feeds…whether that’s on the breast or bottle? but no one can tell you why?

Clicks, slips, fussing, shallow latching, noisy feeding, or colic and refluxy symptoms? These are all signs your baby might be working way too hard at the breast or bottle!

Most parents are told it’s “normal” or that it’s a “good sign” because it means your baby is getting a lot of milk.

Unfortunately, clicking is not a good sign. And you deserve the honest truth without all the confusion.

I’ve just released a free mini tongue tie guide that breaks down oral ties, early signs, digestion and sleep clues, and what’s worth paying attention to…without overwhelming you.

Comment “MINI” and I’ll send it straight to your DMs 🤍
And if you’re in the thick of feeding challenges right now, you’re not alone. An IBCLC trained in oral ties, is worth her weight in gold and can help you and your baby reach your feeding goals! 🤍



©️ 2025

20/11/2025

19/11/2025

Reposting this because we’ve been seeing so many refluxy babies lately and so many babies are showing the exact same clues I first shared over two years ago. It’s still one of the most misunderstood symptoms in infants. 💔

Remember, reflux is a symptom. Not a diagnosis! This means that there is something triggering your baby to feel pain and discomfort and they’re trying to communicate it to you, the only way they know how…by needing and calling out for you, mama!

Here are some of the most common underlying causes I see clinically every single day (not just digestive immaturity) ⬇️

👉 Overfeeding: Feeding your baby large volumes of milk too quickly means your baby’s tummy get’s full so quickly that their tiny tummies have to work harder and faster to break down the large volume of milk, which can trigger refluxy symptoms.

👉 Food allergies/intolerances: Little ones that are sensitive to certain food proteins like, dairy and soy (and sometimes eggs, wheat or coconut). These protein can cause inflammation in your baby’s tummy, which can then lead to refluxy symptoms.

👉 Air swallowing: Probably the most common reason! Your baby swallowing excess air during feeds can lead to increased pressure in their tummy. When there’s more pressure in their tummy than their oesophagus, your baby’s tummy contents will travel up (because air is travelling from high to low pressure)

👉 Antibiotics: antibiotic exposure can temporarily disrupts your baby’s gut microbiome. When the good bacteria are reduced, the gut becomes more sensitive and inflamed, leading to slower digestion, increase gas and makes reflux more noticeable (especially in babies with oral ties or mums with a fast flow/oversupply!)

This is why tracking matters! Patterns tell the real story long before symptoms explode.

If you want to understand your baby’s symptoms clearly, my Infant Reflux Mini Guide & Symptom Tracker helps you map what’s happening, spot hidden triggers and finally make sense of the full picture. 🫶🏼

Comment “tracker” below and I’ll send it straight to you 💕


©️ 2025