http://www.thriveinfantfeeding.co.uk/, https://buymeacoffee.com/shamishafi

Thrive Infant Feeding, Stafford Health and Wellbeing Centre, Stafford (2026)

Q: What is the address?

Stafford Health And Wellbeing Centre

29/03/2026

Comment: LIST, and I will DM you an easy to follow, list of foods to try when starting solids, perfect reference point when you are stuck for what to try next!

❓️ How do I portion a balanced meal when starting solids?

💡 Well...you don't have to worry about balancing anything to begin with because it is best to try one food at a time, especially allergens so that you can monitor for any reactions

❓️Should I reduce their milk?

💡 Focus on keeping the portion sizes small and building gradually so that your little one doesn't drop breast or bottle feeds too soon as then they could miss out out on nutrients while they are learning. By around 10 months most babies will start taking more solids and drop feeds themselves

❓️ What of my baby won't eat?

💡 Some babies just are less interested in starting solids, with these little people, we need to focus on exposure and positive reinforcement, taking a responsive approach. If we focus too much on portion sizing, mealtimes bevome stressful for us as parents and that then can affect their experience too

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

This reel is for educational purposes and not a substitute for face to face assessment and care planning with a trained professional

27/03/2026

💚 If you are a parent looking for reliable, practical and professional feeding tips, hit follow!

Do I NEED to buy a breastmilk collector or pump like the one in the video? ...it's not a necessity for successful breastfeeding and so important to know it's uses and impact. Part 2 will look at why these 'pumps' work for some 💚

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

26/03/2026

👩‍🍼 New and expectant parents! Give this one a SAVE for later!

So!...here are some ways to SPOT THE SIGNS of tongue tie:

👀 Observe feeding, is there any spilling of milk, gulping, slipping off the breast or losing the latch on the bottle? Unresolved pain when breastfeeding?

👂Listen to feeding, are there any sounds that indicate a loss of suction or poor latch? Slurping, clicking, gulping?

👶 Behaviour during feeds, is your little one content during feeds or are they unsettled? Do they end feeds comfortably? Is feeding "hard work" for them?

👅 Visual inspection of the tongue, does it move? Lift, poke out? Is the frenulum (strip of tissue) underneath the tongue short or appear restrictive?

📋 History, has there been any mention of a "slight/small" tongue tie in the past? Do you have a family history of tongue tie?

Sometimes you don't know what you don't know. Often I see parents in clinic who come in asking for frenulotomy but reporting no feeding issues, yet when I ask further questions, in fact feeding IS impacted.

It is easy to think what is normal for your baby is just how they feed but sadly, this is how feeding issues remain undetected but then snowball as your baby grows and adapts their oral function to a restriction.

And finally, ALWAYS ask for a second opinion if you are not entirely satisfied.

👩‍🎓 My name is Shami and I am a mum of 3, Tongue Tie Practitioner and IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) working in the Midlands, UK. This is my little corner of Instagram where I share expert tips and information

tonguetiespecialist

25/03/2026

I'm going to put my hands up and say I knew nothing about block feeding as a mum (x3) or a Health Visitor. It took advanced training before I truly understood what, why, when and how...

So I don't expect this short mini guide to provide much more than awareness for those reading

There is so much more to block feeding than what I could possibly squeeze into this post so do take time to research and expand your knowledge from other trusted sources

If you are seeing my post for the first time, get following to binge my other FREE quick guides! My name is Shami and I am a mum of 3, an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and Tongue Tie Specialist working in the Midlands, UK...this is my corner of the internet where I share my expertise with you 💚

This post is not intended to replace individual assessment and care planning, it is designed to raise awareness, understanding and to educate

24/03/2026

Planning an evening away? Worried about how much milk to leave your breastfed baby and how they will take it?

❓️Here are some options:

How to offer milk feeds: Bottle, cup, beaker, straw cup, mix in foods after 6m

How much to offer: depends on age and individual stomach capacity but roughly 2-4 ounces 2-3 hourly

🤔 Considerations:

1. If you are leaving for 2-3 hours and your baby usually feeds 2-4 hourly.... do they need to take any milk while you are away if you feed before leaving and feed upon return?
2. If your baby cluster feeds in the evenings before a longer stretch, can you tweak times so that you are home for as much of the cluster feeding before you leave?

💡 Planning tips:

1. Express and store in small quantities to reduce waste
2. If you are away, express at the times that your baby would usually feed
3. Take equipment for expressing/storing with you just in case
4. Explore with different temperatures if your baby refuses the milk

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and mum of 3 working as a tongue tie specialist in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

If you are struggling with milk output/volume in preparation for leaving your baby for the evening, try to express one side while feeding from the other.

23/03/2026

🥚 EGGS!

Firstly, give this reel a save for the caption..

💪🏽 Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse!

They are packed with protein, choline, vitamin B12 and healthy fats which are all essential for your baby’s brain development and growth

🍽 How to serve

Serve eggs from 6 months, scrambled, mashed, or mixed into purees. Once your baby is ready for finger foods, small pieces work well too

🌡 Cooking

Your baby can have soft-boiled egg if in the UK and eggs have the British Lion mark which means the risk of salmonella is reduced, otherwise cook fully. Your baby can also have poached, fried, or scrambled egg. No salt or seasoning needed

🤱 Introducing eggs safely

Unless medically indicated otherwise, introducing eggs around 6 months is safe and may even reduce allergy risk long term. Observe for any reactions and seek medical review. If your baby has any history of allergy or there is a strong family history of egg allergy, speak to your HV/GP before introducing eggs

❓ Nutritional benefits

Protein= Complete protein with all essential amino acids, crucial for building and repairing tissues

Vitamins= Rich in B Vitamins (B12, B2, B5, Folate, Biotin, B6), Vitamin D, A, E and K

Minerals= Good source of Selenium, Phosphorus, Iodine, Iron, Zinc, Calcium, and Potassium

Choline= Vital for brain development and function

Antioxidants= Lutein and zeaxanthin, which support eye health

Fats= Contain healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats

🐄 If your baby resists

Get creative! Mix eggs into veggie purées, pancakes, muffins, or omelettes. Eggy bread as a finger food is great too.. You don’t have to serve them plain!

💡 Quick tip

One egg a day is usually plenty for your little one and you should try to pair this with a varied diet

💚 I’m Shami, mum of 3, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) & tongue tie practitioner in the Midlands, UK. Helping parents feed their babies safely and confidently 👶

✨ Follow for evidence-based baby feeding tips & first-food guides you can save!

22/03/2026

For a link to my mini guide on weaning your toddler from the breast, comment GUIDE and I will send you a link to the post 💚

"When should I wean?", "Should I let them self wean?", "Should I still be breastfeeding?" ...these are all questions that many mothers ask themselves when breastfeeding into toddlerhood and beyond.

My name is Shami and I am a mum of three and feeding specialist working as an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and tongue tie specialist in the Midlands, UK...welcome to my corner of the internet where I share my expertise with you 💚

As feeding specialists, we talk so much about setting the foundations for long term breastfeeding but not so much about weaning. This was definitely an area of practice as a Health Visitor that I struggled with...and so...I made myself learn about it so that I could share the knowledge!

Take a look at the whole load of other FREE guides on my Instagram page and don't forget to follow!

This post is not intended to replace individual assessment and care planning, it is designed to raise awareness, understanding and to educate

21/03/2026

Traditional south asian food gets categorised the same as a 'takeaway' (and it might well be for some)...however, for many of us, south asian cuisine is cooked in the home using fresh ingredients.

Pakoras can be made 'baby friendly' and served as part of a healthy, balanced diet when introducing solids.

Comment "PAKORA" and I will send you an easy recipe!

Tips:

💡 Pakoras are a starter for us but for our little humans they should be treated as an occasional snack

💡 Offer from 6 months and adjust the recipe to remove salt and chilli

💡 Wrap in aluminium foil after cooking to cool slowly and hold in moisture for a softer texture

💡 Mash/break up if needed

💡 Keep portions small, treat as a snack, not meal

💡 Homemade pakoras are a great finger food and can help encourage self feeding

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

18/03/2026

Often traditional south asian food gets categorised the same as a 'takeaway' (and it might well be for some)...however, for many of us, south asian cuisine is cooked in the home using fresh ingredients.

Unlike most ultra processed takeaway foods, pakoras can be made 'baby friendly' and served as part of a healthy, balanced diet when introducing solids.

Comment "PAKORA" and I will send you an easy recipe!

Tips:

💡 Pakoras are a starter for us but for our little humans they should be treated as an occasional snack

💡 Offer from 6 months and adjust the recipe to remove salt and chilli

💡 Wrap in aluminium foil after cooking to cool slowly and hold in moisture for a softer texture

💡 Mash/break up if needed

💡 Keep portions small, treat as a snack, not meal

💡 Homemade pakoras are a great finger food and can help encourage self feeding

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

17/03/2026

💚 Here to reassure you that you can pump as well as breastfeeding your baby as long as you are careful not to increase your milk supply too much!

🏆 My name is Shami, and I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and mum of 3 working as a tongue tie specialist in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

💬 Let's talk expressing!

Common reasons why mothers wish to express as well as breastfeed:

1. Perceived/actual low milk supply
2. Would like baby to take a bottle
3. Preparing for return to work/study

If you do choose to express in addition to breastfeeding, you may notice an increase in milk supply and so it is best to express small amounts and build if you need

If you are struggling with pump output, get in touch with someone who is trained to support.

16/03/2026

Sadly, many mothers doubt their milk supply and become disheartened with breastfeeding as a result 💔

But the truth is, that in many cases, low milk supply is perceived rather than actual, in these cases, skilled support and reassurance can help greatly

Aside from this, in the majority of cases where there is a true low milk supply, it is secondary. While primary low milk supply exists, it is not common. However, primary and secondary causes can both be at play at the same time...this requires specialist assessment and care planning

There is so much to secondary low milk supply than what I could possibly squeeze into this post, but that hasn't stopped me trying!

If you are seeing my post for the first time, get following to binge my other FREE quick guides! My name is Shami and I am a mum of 3, an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and Tongue Tie Specialist working in the Midlands, UK...this is my corner of the internet where I share my expertise with you 💚

This post is not intended to replace individual assessment and care planning, it is designed to raise awareness, understanding and to educate

13/03/2026

Block feeding:

❓️ Down regulates milk production
⏰️ Usually a short term intervention
👩‍⚕️ Oversight by a feeding specialist is useful
🥛 Treats oversupply if done correctly

It can, if implemented incorrectly or inappropriately:

⛔️ Reduce supply too much
⛔️ Cause mastitis
⛔️ Impact your baby's growth

If you have been advised to block feed and there is no improvement in symptoms, it is worth reviewing the care plan with your practitioner

🏆 My name is Shami, I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), tongue tie specialist and mum of 3 working in the Midlands, UK. I share daily tips and answer your feeding questions here in my little corner of the internet so come join me by giving me a follow...

This reel and caption is for educational and learning purposes and does not replace individual assessment or care planning

Thrive Infant Feeding

29/03/2026

27/03/2026

26/03/2026

25/03/2026

24/03/2026

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18/03/2026

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13/03/2026

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