Balanced Lactation

25/08/2026

Some of the books that have influenced my practice 🩷

I also LOVE reading and analysing research and journal articles!

Turns out my nerdy habits have their benefits… bringing evidence, experience and curiosity into the way I support families. 🤓🩷

Is there a book that has influenced your life or the way you see the world? I’d love to know what it is! 📚🩷

P.s. I still love a good trashy romance or murder mystery every now and then, that's my 'Balance' 😉

05/08/2026

You may have already heard that it is World Breastfeeding Week. All I'm going to say is: I'm here if you need me 🩷 That's it x

26/07/2026

The secret is finally out… 💕

I’m so excited to share that I am now an **NDC Possums accredited practitioner**, and Balanced Lactation is now offering **responsive infant sleep support consultations**.

This has been a meaningful journey of learning, growth, and deepening my knowledge so I can continue to support families through the early years.

Throughout my career as a neonatal nurse and IBCLC, I have always been passionate about providing care that is compassionate, evidence-based, and centred around each individual baby and family.

The NDC Possums approach aligns so beautifully with this philosophy, recognising the importance of neuroprotective developmental care, responsive support, and moving away from one-size-fits-all expectations.

I believe families deserve support that is not only informed by evidence, but also honours their values, their circumstances, and their unique relationship with their baby.

I’m so grateful to be able to expand the ways I can walk alongside families, supporting feeding, sleep, connection and wellbeing during these precious early years. 🩷

Sleep support consultations are now available through the Balanced Lactation website.

21/07/2026

Something exciting has been happening behind the scenes at Balanced Lactation... 🩷

I’ve been learning, growing, and expanding the ways I can support families through those early days of parenthood.

One of the things I value most is continuing to learn, building my skills, deepening my knowledge, and ensuring the support I provide is guided by evidence while remaining responsive to each unique family.

I can’t share all the details just yet, but I’m looking forward to bringing something new to families very soon.

Stay tuned ✨

11/07/2026

I've always noticed hearts.

A heart-shaped rock on a walk. A swirl of coffee froth. Messages in the sky. I'm drawn to them wherever I go, and every time they make me smile.

Maybe that's why a heart was always going to be part of my logo!

For me, a heart isn't just a symbol of love. It represents kindness, connection, compassion, and caring for others; values that have guided me throughout my nursing career and now as an IBCLC.

Supporting families through feeding isn't just about milk or technique. It's about listening, encouraging, reassuring, and helping parents believe in themselves.

So perhaps it's no surprise that I keep finding hearts... because they remind me why I love what I do. 🤍

Do you notice hearts too, or is there another little sign that seems to find you wherever you go?

23/06/2026

I still can't get over how small their hands are.

As a lactation consultant, I meet families during some of their most vulnerable and transformative days. Feeding challenges can feel overwhelming, but every parent and baby are learning together.

One tiny hand reminds me that babies don't need perfection. They need support, responsiveness, and someone to hold on to while they grow.

For me, it's an honour to walk alongside families during these early days, and a privilege to be invited into their journey when a little extra support is needed.

30/04/2026

It’s the 1st of the month - a gentle nudge to check in with your breasts 🤍

This little teaching prop stopped me in my tracks today with its newly acquired dimples! It’s something I use to educate families… but it also reminded me how important it is to notice changes in our own bodies.

Breast checks don’t have to be complicated, just familiarise yourself with what’s normal for you. Look and feel for changes like dimpling, puckering, lumps, or anything that just doesn’t seem quite right.

Consider this your monthly reminder:
✨ Take a minute
✨ Have a look
✨ Have a feel

If something feels off, trust your instincts and get it checked.

Save this as your “1st of the month” reminder 🤍

17/02/2026

It’s been a little wild out there lately - between world news and the endless social media scroll - so I wanted to share something positive 💛

This year is going to look a little different for me. I’m intentionally creating more space to focus on what matters most: my family.

But don’t worry - I’m still here doing what I love: supporting families through their feeding journeys. I’ll just be doing it in a more balanced, sustainable way.

Because when we’re supported, we show up better for the people who need us most.

Thank you for being here and for trusting me with such an important season of your lives.

(And yes… I might even finally figure out this whole social media thing 😉)

03/08/2025

Can you ever have too much b**b merch? 🤷‍♀️
(Lucky I’m not a gynaecologist... 😉)

It’s (Aug 1–8), and while it's a wonderful time to celebrate and advocate for breastfeeding, I also want to acknowledge that this week can be really confronting for some families.

You may have:
💔 Tried your best and felt like you 'failed'
💬 Felt guilty for not breastfeeding, or pressured into doing it
😞 Been let down by those who preached "breast is best" but didn’t offer support when it mattered

Let me tell you: It was NOT your fault.

Breastfeeding success (or struggle) is shaped by:
🍼 The commercialisation of breastmilk substitutes
🏥 Minimal in-hospital support and education, plus shorter stays
💼 Political interference and profits being placed before infant health
🏘️ A lack of community support to help you continue—even when you really wanted to

👉 And that’s exactly why this year’s theme is:
Creating Sustainable Support Systems for breastfeeding parents.

If you choose to breastfeed (and yes, we really do recommend giving it a go), then it’s only fair that you get the ongoing, wraparound support you deserve—from hospital to home, and everything in between.

✨ Here are some excellent resources to support your journey:

🔹 Australian Breastfeeding Association www.breastfeeding.asn.au
🔹 Raising Children Network raisingchildren.net.au
🔹 Pregnancy, Birth & Baby www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au
🔹 LCANZ – Lactation Consultants of Aus & NZ www.lcanz.org
🔹 La Leche League International llli.org

💬 I'd love to hear from you:
What helped or hindered your breastfeeding experience?
Where do you think we need to invest more time, education or funding?

P.S. I’d love to see IBCLCs recognised by Medicare — expert support should be accessible to every family. 💪🩷

21/06/2025

The more you learn about the components of breastmilk, the more you understand our passion!

Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a group of complex sugars; the third most abundant component of human milk. Over 100 different HMOs have been identified in human milk so far.

Which ones are found, and in what concentration, is unique to each mother. Genetics, how many children the mother has had, the age of the nursling, and even the seasons, have been found to influence this unique HMO set in each woman.

Many HMOs cannot be digested by humans but instead act as food for bacteria in your baby’s tummy. These bacteria help your baby to resist infection from harmful bacteria and to develop a normal gut microbiome.

The microbiome plays an enormous role in making sure the gut and immune system develop properly. HMOs can also trick bacteria and viruses into binding to them, instead of the gut wall, preventing them from infecting your baby.

Some HMOs have the potential to reduce the risk of diarrheal diseases, one of the most common causes of infant mortality under age 5.

One HMO called DSLNT has been linked to a reduction in the risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is a potentially fatal disorder, most often affecting premature babies, in which tissues in the gut become inflamed and start to die.

Researchers say that this is likely only the beginning of our understanding of this remarkable set of breastmilk components.

Image: The Human Milk Oligosaccharides Constellation poster is back in stock. This image was imagined and designed by our Graphic Designer Lisa.

She took one look at the molecular shape of HMOs, and said “They look like constellations”. The moon is composed of the known components of human milk. And so it began.
Shop the poster: https://human-milk.com/collections/science-resources

More science, references, support and resources can be found at https://human-milk.com