Jessie May IBCLC

15/07/2025

https://breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk/fact-sheet/norethisterone-and-breastfeeding

20/05/2025

Back where it all began! 10 years ago I wasn’t a mum, I wasn’t even pregnant. I was working a steady career as a private nanny where bottles were my bread and butter. My boss at the time was pregnant with her 3rd baby and she’d breastfed/combi fed them all. It was only through conversations with her that I understood what breastfeeding meant and the importance of it. I looked into it more and more and couldn’t keep my mind off this thing that previously I’d barely even considered! From there it snowballed - by feeding my son just over a year later, training as a breastfeeding Peer Supporter, then as a Breastfeeding Counsellor. Working for the NHS in an infant feeding team. And now being an IBCLC :)

30/03/2025

Happy Mothers Day to all celebrating today :)

26/03/2025

Absolutely lovely to be featured in some Mothers Day gift ideas 🌷
I offer antenatal information sessions as well as support once baby is here and you can buy a session with me as a gift for someone to use when it suits them :)

🌸 Swad Pod’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide! 🌸

This Mother’s Day, let’s support our local businesses and help mums feel loved and appreciated! Here’s a list of wonderful, small businesses from our community that are offering unique gifts and services perfect for mums:

💆‍♀️ Sally Nash Therapies – Offering holistic therapies like reflexology and reiki, Sally helps busy mums switch off and nurture themselves ❤️.
👶 Jessie May IBCLC – As a lactation consultant, Jessie provides expert support to mums navigating the journey of feeding their babies.
🎁 Noble Robin – A treasure trove of beautiful giftware, homewares, jewellery, and so much more!
💆‍♀️ Eunoia – A private beauty room in Measham, offering Mother’s Day facial packages, available for online booking or as vouchers from just £10.
🌸 Swadlincote Therapy Rooms – Offering gift vouchers for special occasions and treatments like Reiki, Indian Head Massage, Thai Foot Massage, and Crystal Therapy. They also host workshops and courses from Freedom Therapies and Foot Care.
🍽️ Blissful bites – Treat mum to a delicious breakfast-in-bed box or an afternoon tea, full of tasty delights
🌸 Lollipop’s Patch – Stunning, UK-produced, pesticide-free flowers that are sure to brighten up any day.
🕯️ Scent shells – Coastal-inspired wax melts and burners, made with love in Woodville.
🎁 House_of_Hutch_ – A Swadlincote-based shop offering a fantastic range of Mother’s Day gifts with free delivery in the local area 💖.
✨ Luff Designs – Personalised items and custom designs created to suit everyone’s needs – the perfect unique gift!
🌸 Jcs rustic gift co – A little Swadlincote business offering pretty dried florals, East of India, Wrendale and other home & giftware.

Let’s shop local and show some love to these incredible small businesses! 💖

24/03/2025

I get asked this question a lot! You don’t need to take formula to your birthing place if you intend to breastfeed. Your body starts to produce colostrum (early breastmilk) from around 16 weeks of pregnancy and this colostrum is replenished until well after your baby is born whether you leak in pregnancy or not. Your newborns tummy is very small and only needs a few ml of colostrum per feed to begin with which is why you may not feel any breast changes for a few days. Don’t worry - the milk is still there! Having lots of skin to skin cuddles and giving your baby unlimited access to your breast/chest teaches your body how much more it needs to produce - the more your baby is at your breast the more milk you’ll make :) Around 3 days after birth your breasts may feel fuller and firmer and that is what’s commonly called your milk ‘coming in’ - I prefer to say ‘your milk increasing’ because your milk has been in for a while already! If your baby is struggling to latch to the breast in the first few days, you should be encouraged to hand express your milk to give to your little one, this feeds your baby and protects your supply so that there is plenty there when they are ready to latch.

05/03/2025

Happy IBCLC Day to my fellow colleagues and parents! It’s so lovely to be able to share this day and all the achievements that have come with it. To qualify as an IBCLC I studied; 🤱14 health sciences 🤱95 hours of lactation specific education 🤱1000 clinical hours with families 🤱And took a 4 hour long exam It’s been 6 years of hard work but my passion keeps growing and I can’t wait to support more families in their feeding goals, whatever they may be

04/03/2025

Happy Pancake Day! 🥞 Did you know that you can eat and drink pretty much anything you like while you’re breastfeeding? AVOID - anything you or your baby are allergic to. IN MODERATION - caffeine and alcohol. Large amounts of caffeine can make your baby more alert than usual, however the amount of caffeine affects everyone differently. Start small and see how you both get on. Alcohol can be had in moderation, there’s no need to pump and dump or wait to feed. If you feel sober enough to hold your baby safely, you can breastfeed. Alcohol may slow your let down. Never bed share with your baby if you’ve had any alcohol that day. KEEP ENJOYING - spicy food, citrus, legumes, broccoli, sprouts, fruits with seeds etc. it’s a myth that you can’t have these while breastfeeding :)

03/03/2025

Does breastfeeding hurt? Ideally breastfeeding (and expressing!) should always be comfortable, however some people do experience pain especially in the early days when everyone is learning how to breastfeed. There are many reasons why someone might experience painful feeds - often an adjustment to how your baby is latching is all that’s needed to make things comfortable again. Sometimes it could be a blocked duct, a milk bleb or occasionally ni**le thrush. Tongue ties and high palates can also be a factor too. And some people just naturally have more sensitive anatomy! If you’re expressing, your pump fl**ge may not be the right size for you or you may have the suction too high. Have you ever experienced a painful feed? What helped you?

22/02/2025

It’s World Breastfeeding in Public day :) Did you know that you are protected by law to breastfeed anywhere you are legally allowed to be? You cannot be asked to stop, move or cover up. Here are some tips for feeding out and about • practise feeding in the mirror at home, people can’t see as much as you think they can • take a friend or family member with you to help you feel at ease • focus on your baby, no one else matters in that moment • you can tuck a muslin into your bra strap if you’d prefer more coverage • coffee shops are lovely places to feed in • most people will smile at you • relax, you’ve got this! •

15/02/2025

Hi! I’m Jessie :) I’ve been supporting infant feeding since 2017 when I first trained as a peer supporter through the ABM. I then went on to become a breastfeeding counsellor before securing a career in an NHS infant feeding team on a postnatal ward. I qualified as an IBCLC in 2024 with the aim of reaching more people who might need more 1:1 time and support. Before feeding took over my life I worked as a private nanny :) I have an 8 year old son called Benjamin and I’m partial to a good biscuit and a nap :)

14/02/2025

Let’s talk about this. Am I against formula? Absolutely not. The vast majority of parents who come to me are using formula - whether by necessity or choice. Formula is essential when a baby is not being breastfed or partial breastfeeding is happening. All from birth infant formulas are nutritionally equal as a legal requirement, even though some brands are double the price of others! I don’t believe the answer to high formula cost is to allow parents to use loyalty points and gift cards to buy formula because this still lets parents down and still holds them responsible for the cost. Shops such as Aldi and Lidl stock own brand formulas for around £8.50 a tin however they don’t have loyalty card schemes which means that parents may end up using more expensive brands in shops that operate such schemes, therefore missing out on cheaper alternatives. I believe that government should regulate formula pricing to reduce the cost and make it fair for all. It costs around £2.50 to produce an 800g tin of formula, however one popular brand sells this to vulnerable parents for a whopping £18! Infant formula is a multi billion pound industry where profits are put before health. The formula companies need to be held responsible, not the parents. For unbiased, evidence based research on all formula, I highly recommend

12/02/2025

Did you know that I can support you with all this and more?! There is never any judgement - I’m here to support you in your goals, whatever they may be.