The Doula Element - Nikki Mather IBCLC

The Doula Element - Nikki Mather IBCLC Lactation Consultant and Doula in Cheshire, Greater Manchester & Merseyside

The Baby Element Clinic in Wilmslow is home of Nikki Mather IBCLC.

Nikki provides education, support and training to new parents in pregnancy and beyond. Nikki Mather IBCLC
Cheshire & Manchester Infant Feeding and Doula Service at The Doula Element

Women have been supported by other women, usually aunts, neighbours, friends, mothers or grandmothers during childbirth and postnatal period for centuries and differing trends throughout the decades saw this type of support wane as a more medicalised birth was introduced as hospital clinics and maternity units increased. I believe women should continue to have access to that one to one support, whether she is a family member, a friend or a professional doula. Birth can be an amazing, transitional experience. As a doula across the North West I am available for emotional support, guidance and can also provide educational tools to help you with your transition from womanhood to motherhood and also support your partner or older siblings. I have supported women who would like a natural birth as well as women who opt for elective caesareans. My role is flexible and your support package can be tailored to suit your families needs.

Supporting this lovely family and witnessing this mum birth her baby was one of the highlights of my "work life" in 2025...
16/01/2026

Supporting this lovely family and witnessing this mum birth her baby was one of the highlights of my "work life" in 2025. Midwives working their magic, leaning into their knowing and listening to a mum who knew exactly what to do when putting trust into birth and into herself. Thankful for my doula buddy .markham_bythemoondoula for the best shared care team 🤩

What a beautiful day to witness

Should we pay for breastfeeding with pain?💔You can't put a price on pain free ni***es. 🌟"They're gaining weight!"🌟"It lo...
02/01/2026

Should we pay for breastfeeding with pain?
💔You can't put a price on pain free ni***es.

🌟"They're gaining weight!"
🌟"It looks like a great latch."
🌟"Just give it time, it gets better."
🌟"They will toughen up"

We hear these phrases in clinic, full of opinion instead of support, constantly. They are often well-meaning, but when your toes are curling every time your baby latches, those words can feel incredibly isolating, especially when you're ok doing all the things you've been told to do.

💜Pain is a biological alarm system - we wouldn't accept it for other biological functions.

💜Painful feeds tell is something isn't functioning quite right.

Yet, so often in postnatal care, if your baby is growing, your ni**le pain is treated as the "norm" for breastfeeding.

We don't accept that here. You shouldn't have to wait for a magical day where it "just gets better" while your mental health and ni***es suffer.

The difference between "powering through" and getting true clinical answers looks exactly like this:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Nikki was there for us when we needed her the most on our feeding journey at 5 weeks PP. She made me feel seen, understood and validated after unacceptable support for others (NHS and private). We are still successfully EBF at 6.5 months, and this would not have been possible without her help and support."

6.5 months of successful feeding. That is the result of being seen, heard, and having a full exploration of why it doesn't feel good.

🌟If you are stuck in the cycle of pain vs. weight gain, let’s break it.

Link in bio to book your consultation at The Baby Element Clinic.

A question that comes up commonly at this time of year, do you need to pump and dump?"Proof" (no pun intended!) that Chr...
24/12/2025

A question that comes up commonly at this time of year, do you need to pump and dump?

"Proof" (no pun intended!) that Christmas miracles do exist...

🧑‍🎄The miracle that you don't have to pour your milk down the drain just because you had a festive drink!

🧑‍🎄​Unless you are feeling significantly affected by alcohol, or need to pump for comfort because you’re away from the baby, store your milk safely for use later or just feed as usual.

🧑‍🎄​If you’re worried about timing drinks and feeding, try nursing right before you have your drink to give your body the most time to process it before the next feed!

​
🧑‍🎄​Whilst breastmilk itself is usually fine, the biggest safety concern with alcohol and parenting is caring for baby's whilst you all have a fab time.

🌟​No to co-sleeping if you or your partner have been drinking.
🌟​Ensure there is a sober adult available to care for baby if you decide you've had one too many.
🌟Pumping doesn't speed up the removal of alcohol in milk
🌟Alcohol in breast milk mirrors the mother's blood alcohol, but the concentration is low, often negligible.

A little winter break for me 🤍 Thank you for bringing your little ones over to me in Wilmslow, or inviting me to your ho...
24/12/2025

A little winter break for me 🤍 Thank you for bringing your little ones over to me in Wilmslow, or inviting me to your home this year 💜

Can't wait to see all the Christmas outfits over the next few days 🤶🎅🧑‍🎄

✨ Here are a few ways to know your baby is thriving:Plenty of wet and dirty nappies 👶Baby is content and settled after f...
26/09/2025

✨ Here are a few ways to know your baby is thriving:

Plenty of wet and dirty nappies 👶

Baby is content and settled after feeds 😊

They are alert and active when awake 👀

Steady weight gain 📈

It's easy to worry, but many things you might notice are perfectly normal signs of a healthy feeding journey.

For example, frequent "cluster" feeding is common and helps to build your milk supply, especially in the early weeks and works well for babies in the evening who are bottle or breastfeeding feeding to have the pattern they need in the evening to sleep well for an initial longer stretch of sleep.

Your breasts might also feel softer after the initial period of engorgement, which is a sign that your supply has regulated to your baby's needs.

Remember that the amount of milk you can pump is not an accurate measure of your overall supply, and a baby taking a bottle after a breastfeed isn't always a sign of hunger.

By looking at the big picture—your baby's nappies, their general contentment, and their growth over time—you can feel confident that they are getting everything they need.

Thinking about breastfeeding? Not sure about combination feeding? Worried about safe formula preparation?A pregnancy vis...
13/06/2025

Thinking about breastfeeding? Not sure about combination feeding? Worried about safe formula preparation?

A pregnancy visit with a lactation consultant is a game-changer! 🤱

Here are 8 things you can avoid by getting support before baby arrives:
1️⃣ Painful feeds & ni**le trauma
2️⃣ The "is my baby getting enough?" panic
3️⃣ Unnecessary supplementation
4️⃣ Severe engorgement
5️⃣ Pumping & milk storage confusion
6️⃣ A stressful return to work
7️⃣ Undiagnosed issues like oral dysfunction or latch on breast/bottle
8️⃣ Feeling isolated & overwhelmed

Ready to feel confident and prepared? Book an antenatal lactation visit & have support from the first hours


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Let's bust the myth: "You can't pump until 6 weeks."While this advice might be useful for parents who feed their baby wi...
07/06/2025

Let's bust the myth: "You can't pump until 6 weeks."

While this advice might be useful for parents who feed their baby without a challenge, it's not always helpful for new parents and babies with feeding or health challenges. Every feeding journey is unique, and what works for one mum might not work for another.

Here's why this blanket statement can be unhelpful:

**Individual needs: Some moms might need to pump earlier due to medical reasons, babies who are in NICU for a short or longer stay, returning to work, or simply to build a milk stash for use when needed.
**Supply and demand: Pumping can help regulate milk supply, especially in the early days when your body is adjusting to breastfeeding and is especially useful if baby is finding things difficult due to low birth weight, early gestation or tongue tie.
**Breastfeeding challenges: If you're facing difficulties like engorgement, mastitis, slow weight gain, or low milk supply, pumping can be a helpful tool to manage these issues.

Important to remember: Every family is different. If you're unsure, consult with a lactation consultant who can provide personalised guidance for your personal situation.

Is feeding time more frantic than calm? 🌪️ Does your baby seem constantly unsettled?That gulping sound, the fussiness at...
04/06/2025

Is feeding time more frantic than calm? 🌪️
Does your baby seem constantly unsettled?

That gulping sound, the fussiness at the breast or bottle, the short feeds followed by another feed an hour later... it can be exhausting!
If your baby swallows a lot of air during feeds, it can make them feel full before they are, leading to a cycle of frequent, "snacky" feeds and unpredictable sleep. 😴

Recognise any of these?
✨ Vomiting or lots of possetting?
✨ Grumbles, groans, and grunts?
✨ Green poops?
✨ Struggling with bowel movements?
✨ "Snacking" feeds rather than full ones?
✨ Feeding again... and again?
✨ Appearing "full" super quickly?
✨ Noisy or rapid "guzzling" feeds?
✨ Hearing milk hit their tummy?
✨ Unsettled when laid down flat?
✨ Pulling away from breast or bottle?
✨ General fussiness during or after feeds?
✨ Feeds that seem to last forever?
✨ Hard to "fill up" your little one?
✨ Strong need to suck post-feed (breast, dummy, finger)?
✨ A bloated, tight tummy?
✨ A very noisy sleeper?
✨ Only content with contact naps? (Lovely, but if they can't sleep otherwise, it might be discomfort!)

You're not imagining it, and you don't have to go through it alone.


Want to understand what's going on and find ways to make feeding a more peaceful experience for both of you? I'm here to help. Tap the link in my bio to book a session and let's get your windy baby feeling more comfortable! 💖

One approach doesn't "fix" all issues. Tailored support based on your family's preferences and baby's needs can be game-...
04/10/2024

One approach doesn't "fix" all issues. Tailored support based on your family's preferences and baby's needs can be game-changing. Improved sleep, improved feeding and better days when looking at things from a family-friendly viewpoint.

Getting more rest as new parents is a must have, achieving that without strict schedules and upset can be achieved with the right support.

How do you know baby is ready to sleep?Newborns often feed, then sleep for the majority of their day and night. As they ...
04/10/2024

How do you know baby is ready to sleep?

Newborns often feed, then sleep for the majority of their day and night. As they grow, things can change as their time awake gets longer.

When is baby ready to sleep?

Rubbing eyes: This is a classic sleep cue for older babies.
Searching for milk: Babies under 6 months in particular will signal for milk when a nap is due.
Yawning: A sign of tiredness and that it may be time to feed again for a nap.
Fussiness or irritability: This can happen as baby because disinterested in activity and wants to sleep.
Quieting down: They may become less interested in their surroundings, avert their gaze or become quiet.
Remember: Babies have tiny tummies and feed frequently. Biologically, it is totally normal for infants to fall asleep at the end of a feed so their tummies are full. As long as your baby is full, and well winded they'll likely nap well, too, giving you some rest as new parents in between feeds whilst they're young.

Following babies cues can be difficult in a world full of information about routines and how babies should fit in to an adult lifestyle. Parents often find getting to know their baby's natural patterns of feeding and sleep means more rest for the whole family.

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The "eat, activity, sleep, you time" routine can often go against a baby's natural instincts, particularly in the early ...
04/10/2024

The "eat, activity, sleep, you time" routine can often go against a baby's natural instincts, particularly in the early months.

Babies are biologically programmed to feed frequently and fall asleep whilst feeding. Encouraging them to stay awake and active can disrupt their natural sleep patterns and lead to overtiredness, which can make it even harder for them to sleep, for naps and night time sleep.

A more biologically aligned approach might involve:

Feeding on demand: Allowing your baby to feed whenever they're hungry, rather than adhering to a strict schedule - babies don't need to be "taught" how to sleep.
Creating a calm sleep environment: Ensuring the room is calm, quiet, and an ambient temperature, which can help your baby fall asleep more easily.
Responding to your baby's cues: Paying attention to your baby's sleep cues, such as yawning, rubbing eyes, or fussiness, and putting them to bed when they're tired.

If you're rocking, shushing, patting baby to sleep and they've fed a while ago, chances are they need a feed after burning off all those calories on activity and need a full tummy to sleep effectively for naps.

If you need some help getting into a happy, healthy sleep routine, book a 10 min free chat to see which package is suitable for you

Address

Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK95BB

Telephone

+447421991158

Website

http://thebabyelement.co.uk/

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