I’m, founder of Nature’s Way IBCLC. I’m also an Infant Feeding Lead Midwife at a local NHS Trust, an experienced tongue-tie practitioner with over five years’ clinical experience, an author of breastfeeding education articles for midwives, and a certified Birth Trauma Rewind Therapist.

My work focuses on the early newborn period, where birth experiences, feeding and emotional wellbeing intersect. I support parents across Warwickshire to understand how birth can affect feeding — and how the right preparation and early support can help feeding get off to the best possible start.

If you’re pregnant or newly postpartum in Warwickshire, Coventry, Rugby or the surrounding areas, here are five practical, evidence-based ways to protect your feeding journey

1. Reflect on What Breastfeeding Means to You

Before your baby arrives, take a moment to think about why breastfeeding matters to you.

Is it about your baby’s immune protection? Supporting brain development? Building a close, secure bond? Or simply wanting to follow your baby’s biological cues? Did you watch your mother breastfeed your siblings?

Breastmilk is a living, dynamic substance changing from feed to feed to meet your baby’s needs. It supports immune development, gut health, neurological growth, and emotional security well beyond infancy. Understanding your personal “why” can help you stay grounded and confident if feeding feels challenging in the early days.

This reflection isn’t about pressure it’s about clarity.

2. Prepare in Pregnancy: Knowledge Builds Confidence

One of the biggest myths around feeding is that it should come naturally. In reality, parents benefit enormously from preparation.

Attending an antenatal infant feeding class helps you understand:

• What normal newborn feeding looks like
• How milk production works in the early days
• How to recognise feeding cues
• When support is helpful  ad when reassurance is enough

I offer a Pregnancy Feeding Masterclass designed for expectant parents, and I strongly encourage birth partners to attend too. Partners play a key role in protecting feeding from supporting skin-to-skin to advocating for rest, nourishment, and calm. You can attend online or I can offer this bespoke session in the comfort of your home where I answer questions that matter to your feeding journey or provide practical support with antenatal hand expression. 

Preparation doesn’t make feeding perfect but it makes it far less overwhelming. To book visit www.natureswayibclc.co.uk

3. Protect the Golden Hours After Birth

The hours immediately after birth are unique and you never get them back.

Healthy newborns are born with a series of instinctive behaviours often referred to as the nine stages of newborn behaviour. They are truly magical. When babies are kept in uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, they are biologically primed to:

• Regulate breathing, temperature, and blood sugars
• Begin feeding behaviours in their own time
• Trigger oxytocin release, supporting bonding and milk production

I’ve seen this happen in action time and time again and boy is it beautiful… Aim to keep your baby skin-to-skin until after the first feed and return to skin-to-skin frequently in the early weeks. This closeness supports feeding, emotional regulation, and recovery for both parent and baby.

4. Understand What “Normal” Feeding Really Looks Like

Many parents lose confidence because newborn feeding doesn’t match expectations.

In the early days, it’s normal for babies to:

• Feed frequently (often 8–12+ times in 24 hours)
• Cluster feed, especially in the evenings
• Take small volumes while milk supply is establishing

This pattern is intentional. Early breastmilk volumes are perfectly matched to a newborn’s stomach size and changing needs. Breastmilk continues to adapt supporting immune protection, brain development, and optimal growth in ways that cannot be replicated.

Knowing what’s normal helps parents trust their baby and avoid unnecessary interventions.

5. Line Up Skilled, Local Support Early

The best time to think about support is before you feel you need it.

Many feeding challenges can be resolved quickly with timely, skilled input whether that’s pain, latch concerns, tongue-tie questions, or the emotional impact of a difficult birth.

Reliable, evidence-based resources include:

• The Breastfeeding Network – clear, research-based information and local support
• La Leche League – peer and professional breastfeeding support
• Your local NHS infant feeding team, accessed via your midwife or health visitor
• Your local Lactation Consultant visit Find an IBCLC -International Board Certified Lactation Consultant - LCGB to find one near you. I cover Coventry, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and surrounding areas

As an IBCLC Lactation Consultant, I support families holistically recognising that feeding is shaped by birth experiences, physical recovery, mental health, and emotional safety. I support you with fitting together all these jigsaw pieces to make you feel whole. Seeking support is not a sign of failure; it’s a way of protecting your goals.

A Final Thought For Warwickshire Parents

Breastfeeding is the biological norm uniquely designed to support your baby’s immune system, brain development, emotional security, and long-term health. It is also free, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

Parents deserve accurate information, compassionate care, and protected space to feed their babies without pressure or commercial influence.

With the right preparation and support, feeding can become a positive, confidence-building part of your parenting journey.