No Milk Like Mama's

11/10/2025

Skin to skin can happen after all modes of birthing, when the circumstances allow.

Skin to skin has many benefits, including calming both parent & child. It's the perfect antedote to a stressful experience. It also helps regulate temperature, heart rate, breathing & blood sugars, along with stimulating your baby's feeding instincts & your hormones.

It's the perfect way to familiarise your baby with your breast. No intervention or faffing, allowing baby time to work it out is best.

Breastfeeding support can include preparation for your baby's arrival. Having a feeding plan in place can be a helpful way to prepare for a delivery & feeding journey that may have additional concerns.

Back in October 2020, during COVID times, I was supported by to hold my baby in skin to skin in theatre and continue this through to recovery. An emergency C-section at 35 weeks due to a high risk pregnancy.

It's no coincidence that my midwife was also an IBCLC Lactation Consultant, alongside an incredible theatre team, which helped make this possible. Despite being my 3rd emergency C-section, it was the first time that I'd been enabled to do this in theatre.

If skin to skin has not been able to happen, there is no time limit to enjoying this with your baby. I often encourage families to get back into bed and/or a bathe skin to skin with their new baby as often as possible. It is a lovely healing experience for those that have had a difficult time, & a super way to encourage a baby who is having feeding difficulties to latch calmly.
#2020

10/10/2025

Due to recent changes in CQC requirements, we are very sad to lose Flo as a No Milk Like Mama's Practitioner, but we are really happy that she will continue to practice under Sarah Oakley Lactation with a fabulous team of experienced Tongue-tie Practitioners. With Flo continuing to practice in Norwich, we will continue to work closely with Flo which is of great benefit to our mutual clients.

No Milk Like Mama's can continue to identify restricted tongue function and refer to your local NHS service for further assessment &/or liaise with private practitioners such as Flo. We continue to offer support both pre & post division. 

If you are unsure what sort of support you require,  please contact us at support@nomilklikemamas.co.uk

09/10/2025

A safe space 🫶🏼 We are seemingly still under the delusion that our children sleeping in our beds is wrong. I hear so many parents tell me about their co-sleeping in a hushed voice, or preempted with 'I know we shouldn't but...'

For many children, their parents bed is their safe space. Somewhere they feel calm and can fall and stay asleep more easily. Tonight one of my younger children was struggling to get to sleep. She climbed into my bed and within minutes was out for the count 💤!

There are gentle practices to move on from co-sleeping, but only required if you need them. If you are happy and your child is happy, then there is absolutely no need to change this, and certainly not just to fit into our society norms. Societal norms that are not actually shared by the majority of parents worldwide.

04/06/2025

We are open!

However I am now on an extended period of leave due to health reasons & not able to regularly answer emails. I will be back doing what I love & supporting families asap!

Flo is still running her clinic every Tuesday in Norwich & we have Home Visits available with our IBCLCs.

Appointments do get booked fast!
All availability & bookings can be made at www.nomilklikemamas.co.uk

03/06/2025

10/04/2025

An art exhibition telling the stories of families who’ve benefited from donated breast milk and those involved in the Human Milk Foundation charity is being held at NNUH next week.

“Connecting Hearts” features paintings with accompanying narrated audio from the subjects to explain the importance of donor human milk for families who have experienced premature birth, having a sick baby and baby loss. The artwork includes portraits of parents, babies, donors and those involved in the charity including Blood Bike volunteers. QR codes are displayed alongside the paintings for people to scan and listen to the stories behind each image.

Leanne Pearce is a unique portrait artist who celebrates early years, breastfeeding and parenthood. Her approach focuses on showcasing human kindness and emotion.

The Human Milk Foundation provides donor human milk to sick, premature babies in hospital neonatal intensive care units and families at home through the Hearts Milk Bank. Donor milk is donated by mothers with milk which is surplus to their own baby’s needs. In 2019 the charity opened a dedicated donor milk hub at Hellesdon Hospital in partnership with Norfolk Blood Bikes, which provides more efficient transport of donor milk to hospitals and families in the region. Last year, in partnership with Norfolk County Council and Start 4 Life, the charity launched a new programme of support for families, to expand milk banking services across the county and give more families access to specialist lactation support and donor human milk. As part of the project, a further donor milk hub is planned to open this year in Kings Lynn.

Local donors and families who have benefited from the work of the charity and other healthcare teams will be invited to the exhibition at 5pm on Tuesday 15 April in the East Atrium. Talks will also be given in the Benjamin Gooch Lecture Theatre by Leanne Pearce, Norfolk Blood Bikes and the Human Milk Foundation. The artwork will be on display for patients, visitors and staff to view for the next three months.

Felicity Webster from the HMF said: “We are delighted that through this exhibition, the incredible stories behind human milk banking will be told, raising awareness of the life-changing impact that donating and receiving human milk can have on families. Donor human milk is an important source of nutrition for sick and premature babies if their mother’s own milk is not available, and helps to reduce the risk of serious complications. But it can also act as a bridge, giving mum the time and support to establish her own milk supply and go on to breastfeed.”

Emma Jarvis, Environmental Arts Manager said: “Leanne is an incredibly powerful artist who has really brought these stories to life through her captivating artwork. The event will be a celebration of the wonderful work of the charity and highlight the huge impact donor milk can have on babies, families and donors.”

The N&N Hospitals Charity purchases breast milk for NNUH babies from the HMF and funds the costs of Blood Bike deliveries. £16,500 was spent on donor breast milk for NICU babies in 2024 thanks to donations made to the charity’s NICU fund.

14/02/2025

Happy Valentine's Day! ♥️