Cherished Parenting Services

26/05/2026

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Link to details in the post

23/05/2026

Here's what appears to be a follow on from the other Economist article (or they changed the title).

A colleague and I were discussing this the other day - there's no dedicated medical specialty for breasts... yes, you can have a breast surgeon, but they generally do implants or mastectomies, or deal with abcesses.

Officially, lactation consultants or IBCLCs are not recognised health professionals, which adds further issues.

To me, this reflects society's overall feelings towards breasts and lactation - yes, breastfeeding is good and we promote it, but it's best done behind closed doors.

Cue FB reel that came up before this article advertising a BF cover with built in fan for summer 😒

And if you need help we'll 'support you' to switch to other methods, we won't promote the support that you need to continue...

16/05/2026

A link to this article just came up on my feed (unfortunately, you need to pay to read it all), along with the question

"Why do you think so many mothers struggle?"

And I thought I would share my comment with you all

"As a midwife and IBCLC working in private practice, NICU, and tertiary academia - lack of support and correct information, not because their body is broken. And it usually all starts with the notion that their body is dangerous and we need to birth the baby as quickly as possible, in both gestation and length of labour...".

Perceived low supply is one of the top 2 reasons why mothers stop breastfeeding prematurely. Yet science tells us that 85-90% of mothers should be able to make enough milk.

This week, I saw a client who thought she had low supply because a weighed feed said the baby only transferred 25mls, and she could only express 40mls on each side in 20mins. Yet the positioning and attachment had not been corrected, and she was not using the correct size fl**ges. When we fixed the attachment, the baby fed very well, and afterwards, with better sized fl**ges, she expressed almost 50mls (from the side the baby didn't feed on) in under 10 minutes.

I'm not saying everyone will have this result, but before thinking there's something wrong with you, ask if everything that could affect the supply/output has been optimised

06/05/2026

So what did I learn at this 2 day conference in Melbourne?

Well, something I've always thought, but never had the words to fully explain.

Western concepts/ ideas on infant sleep are WEIRD!

They are made up by those living in

White/Western
English/Educated*
Industrialised
Rich
Democratic

countries

(*I've changed Educated to English, because I feel that the Scandinavian countries are quite well educated but a bit more open minded about infant sleep).

😴 Teaching your baby is self settle is a myth
😴 Needing to follow prescribed wake windows is a myth
😴 Feeding to sleep is wrong is a myth
😴 That sleep leads to more sleep is myth
😴 Your baby is crying because they're overtired is a myth

As I've been telling parents for awhile now - sleep is biologically wired even before a baby is born. If a baby needs to sleep they will. We don't have teach them how to do it.

But there is a wide range of normal when it comes to how long they will sleep. For a young baby it could anything between 9hrs to 19hrs in 24hrs.

Some babies will fall asleep by themselves, some will need to sleep very close to their caregivers. Some babies will sleep anywhere, some need the right conditions.

If what you're doing for your baby is working then great. But if you're struggling you might want to take a step back and look at what's going on - maybe you need to get out more (stimulation can help increase 'sleep pressure'), maybe you need to stop trying to 'follow the rules' so much and follow your baby...

If you want help I'm happy to discuss sleep during consultations

04/05/2026

Day 2 of the Breastfeeding Conferences Eat, Sleep, Thrive Conference, with Helen Ball as the headliner.

And Happy International Midwives Day!

I said yesterday I would let you know why I've been a bit quiet on here lately.

Well, in January I was offered a position as a Lecturer and Course Coordinator at the University Notre Dame Australia. I thought it would be relatively easy since I was taking over a unit (Maternal Health) that I had been the tutor for, for a few semesters. But oh wrong I was!

I was meant to only do 1.5 days a week, but I've been doing at least 2 full days, if not more, each week.

But I have enjoyed it so much - teaching young (and young at heart) nurses-to-be all that I could fit into 10 weeks about maternity care, from how pregnancy starts to postnatal care, perinatal mental health, and of course, breastfeeding.

The teaching weeks are over and I'm not sure what is going to happen next semester - I'll happily continue if they'll have me - but in the meantime I hope to be a bit more available for this business.

Appointments, breast pumps, and products have continued to be available, but I'll hopefully have some more time to dedicate to this side of my work life.

03/05/2026

I know it's been a while since I last posted (and I know I've said this a few times!). I've been very busy, almost too busy.

I'll let you know what I've been up to a bit later, but for now, I just wanted to share that I'm in Melbourne for the next few days, listening to some great speakers talk about infant sleep.

24/03/2026

Some of you may have noticed that I recently paused sales of the Pumpin Pal and Lacteck fl**ges while I worked through some questions about importing them into Australia.

I’m happy to share that the Pumpin Pal fl**ges are now back available for purchase, and I’m hopeful the Lacteck fl**ges will follow soon.

My whole reason for starting this business was to bring high‑quality expressing products to Australian mothers - but as a health professional, I also need to follow certain rules.

A quick reminder: fl**ge sizing really does matter. Even if your current 21mm or 24mm seems “fine” at the moment, long‑term it can cause issues, and I’ve seen a few recent cases that reinforce this. After helping size close to 2,000 mothers over almost seven years*, I can confidently say that correct sizing makes the biggest difference in most cases - far more than the material the fl**ge is made from. It’s always important to try standard fl**ges in the right size first, but if you’ve done that and you’re still struggling, these specialty options may help.

*Based on some recent tallying of mothers I've sized:
~70% of mothers need fl**ges in 15-17mm
~20% need 14mm or smaller
~8% need 18-20mm

A variation on regular fl**ges - these are angeled to aid in comfort and potentially increase output. Available in 3 sizes - X-small, Small, and Medium. Compatible with most breast pumps (connectors may be needed). Available with AfterPay and free pick up in Perth or flat rate postage anywhere in Au...

04/03/2026

Yesterday was my daughter's 12th birthday...and the day before was Cherished Parenting Services' 10th birthday!

When I started this business I never thought I would survive this long - not because I would lose interest, but because I am just a single health professional - I didn't think anyone would be interested in what I had to say! I am please to say that I have renewed my business name for another 3 years, so I don't have any plans to go away any time soon.

Just like a child, this business has grown and changed over time. One recent change I've made is to my logo - I was told that the original one was 'very 2010s' 😅 What do you think?

My aim in this business has always been providing good quality, correct information to new parents, and this has not changed.

I know I have not been as active on here as I should be - but I am still here, seeing clients, selling breast pumps, helping with fl**ge sizing. So, if you need help, please reach out.

29/12/2025

When I visited Maymom in October they told me that they would be releasing a 'Goldi Pack' of fl**ges - 3 different sizes for you to test out. As in 'Goldilocks and the 3 bears - 1 too small, 1 too big, and 1 just right, or so you hope...

Here's a reminder that I've been selling a fl**ge trial pack (the 'Fl**ge Lending Service') - which is 3 fl**ges in any sizes of your choosing - for over 5 years!

You get 3 sizes to test for $40, including free postage. PLUS you get $20 refunded if you return them.

Yes, they might be previously used fl**ges (that have been washed and sterilised, using an at home sterlising system), but they are a trial pack - so not intended for long term use. You can then by the correct size/s and not waste money on items you don't need.

Plus, you are welcome to buy 3 new fl**ges - which for Spectra (or anything other than Medela) actually works out cheaper than these new Goldi Packs, because you get the whole fl**ge (the Goldi Packs are just the 'half' fl**ges) and a valve.

Keep in mind I also offer a free fl**ge sizing service - if you are in Perth you can come see, if not you can send me a video

23/12/2025

Can confirm this is true 🤭

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CMXfr2fzg/