I am passionate about my work, and those who know me well describe me as super kind and warm. I believe that caring for parents and pēpi is a fantastic place to start when aiming to positively affect people’s lives. From the many health benefits for mother and baby, the opportunity to support whakapapa, empower parents and whānau, and by supporting and deepening the mother and baby’s bond and hau ora.

I am an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Registered Midwife. I balance The Nurture Nook with my Lactation Consultant role with Christchurch Women’s Hospital Maternity Services. Previously I was working as the Wellington Region Plunket Community Lactation Consultant, providing complex breastfeeding support and advice in clinics, people’s homes, or virtually. I created and ran the Wellington Plunket Breastfeeding Team. I have worked as a Core Midwife in Hospitals in both Wellington and Christchurch, where I was known as an asset during breastfeeding challenges. I was part of a Hutt Valley Community Midwifery Team, providing Antenatal and Postnatal care to women in their homes. I was a part of the Maternity Assessment Unit service, running Secondary Care Clinic, Maternity Assessment, and Antenatal Diabetic Clinic. I have worked as an Antenatal Educator for BirthEd, and provided the Specialist Breastfeeding Antenatal Session. Additionally I practiced as a Lead Maternity Care (LMC) Midwife, with a focus on Home Birth, with Midwives on Barrington in Christchurch.

       Practicing in the fields of lactation and midwifery over the last 15 years have highlighted for me the importance of supporting parents as they give life and nourish the next generation. I enjoy living in a diverse community and I respect that every parent and their whānau come with different beliefs, ideals and needs. I feel privileged to support parents and their whānau through this amazing and challenging journey.

       I am committed to providing tailored, thorough and compassionate care. I enjoy working in our community, utilising the resources of the people, services and knowledge around me. I respect and understand the physiology of lactation, infancy and the maternity period. I work to support the normal and to provide complex, expert lactation care. No matter what a parent and their pēpi’s needs may be I aim to offer safe, supportive and evidence based care, utilising other specialists and services when required.

       A big part of my care is sharing information with parents and their whānau to positively affect their lives and that of their pēpi. I acknowledge, and aim to utilise, the importance of the whānau and support network surrounding the parents and their pēpi. The relationships I establish support a safe and trusting environment. I aim to support and empower parents to take the lead in theirs and their baby’s care, and to provide access to the unbiased information sharing needed for individuals to make well-informed personal choices.