13/11/2025
Spending the last two days in Telford at the UNICEF BFI Conference has felt like a deep breath out. It’s genuinely one of my favourite moments in the year, a space filled with passion, dedication and the kind of inspiration that reminds me exactly why I do this work.
I learnt so much. The human microbiome… wow. So incredibly complex, yet so delicate, and human milk plays such a powerful role in shaping long-term health right from those first hours of life. I was also reminded that breast and ni**le pain is so rarely about thrush, and how important it is that we pause, explore the real cause, and avoid unnecessary or incorrect treatment. Our bodies deserve that level of care and curiosity.
A real highlight was hearing speak. Her words invited deep reflection. She spoke about choosing to love ourselves, recognising that advocacy is a partnership, and that change within maternity care is needed now more than ever. What really resonated was her reminder that advocacy isn’t always about saying no. We focus so much on teaching people to hold boundaries and decline what doesn’t feel right, but saying yes can also be a powerful form of advocacy when it’s aligned with what we truly want.
And of course, the joy… the conversations, the shared wisdom, the freebies, a new mug (naturally), and a few more books for my already well-loved bedside stack. I’m coming home with a full heart, a full brain, and so much to bring back to the families I support. 🤎
