THIS, I knew, was what I wanted to do.

Originally from Britain and now based in Bangkok, I am a certified breastfeeding specialist (CBS). I am also currently studying for my natal hypnotherapy license.

I have lived in Asia since 2011, mostly in Nepal, Myanmar and Thailand. Having worked in international development and then run a yoga retreat business, nursing my own kids was a world-changer for me.

I was astounded by just how difficult this natural process had become in the modern day, with so many factors conspiring against women to fulfil their nursing goals. Conflicting information, misinformation, and information that makes women doubt their instincts and abilities – to doubt even the benefits of breastmilk – derail what should be one of the most rewarding and nurturing experiences a mother and baby can share.

Beyond my own experiences, I watched outstanding women battling circumstances and systems to nurse their babies – slogging night and day to make more milk, crying through the pain of a poor latch or mastitis, breastfeeding their NICU babies, their twins, their babies with medical conditions, mums with medical conditions. After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal I saw the impacts of nursing infants separated from parents and women trying to feed in impossible circumstances. After the coup in Myanmar, I saw formula-feeding families unable to source formula and no support to relactate, clinics shut down so women couldn’t access help, and the only lactation consultant in the country forced to flee. There are simply too few lactation consultants in the world.

THIS, I knew, was what I wanted to do.

I spent a year studying lactation under gold-standard lactation education providers LER. This accredited me as a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. I am now under clinical supervision as an IBCLC candidate to become Board Certified - the highest accreditation for healthcare professionals specializing in lactation. As one of 20 global participants selected for a pilot IBCLC pathway programme, I have access to world class IBCLC supervisors, helping my goal to ensure my practice is evidence based and informed by the very latest research.

My training in natal hypnotherapy complements my breastfeeding work. One of the greatest risk factors for early breastfeeding challenges is a difficult labour. Following the beautiful natal hypnotherapy natural births of my two children, I became committed to sharing these techniques with others. I believe that a positive birth has a deeply affirming benefit for families and it is one of the best services I can offer, both to help families get off to a good start with their new baby and to optimise their circumstances for smooth breastfeeding.