I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 2016, and mum of three children aged 15, 12 and 9. I currently see clients at my office at 3 Landscape Road (above Fiacla Dental) in Churchtown.
I have just complete an MSc by research at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems in UCD. I undertook qualitative research on the experiences of women breastfeeding with primary low milk supply. I am an occasional lecturer on breastfeeding and lactation-related modules in UCD. I also teach breastfeeding/lactation seminars for GP-training schemes and other 3rd-level healthcare-related courses and I am available as a conference speaker.
I am passionate about supporting and empowering women in the early days of new motherhood, and helping them to have an experience of breastfeeding that they are happy with. Breastfeeding has been a big part of my life since I had my first baby 14 years ago – feeding him, training as a Cuidiu breastfeeding counsellor (I was a volunteer with Cuidiu for 10 years), having two more babies and then finally qualifying as an IBCLC! I am also a fully qualified yoga and pregnancy yoga teacher with 13 years teaching experience.
Here are some articles I have written:
Severe HSV-1 Mastitis in a Breastfeeding Mother Severe HSV-1 Mastitis in a Breastfeeding Mother (elacta-magazine.eu) (if you email me I can send you a PDF of this article)
Infant Feeding with Insufficient Glandular Tissue Infant Feeding With Insufficient Glandular Tissue | All4Maternity
Breastfeeding and Angelman Syndrome Case Study http://www.alcireland.ie/case-study-breastfeeding-and-angelman-syndrome/
LGBTQ+ and You http://www.alcireland.ie/lgbtq-and-you-write-up-of-lcinpp-talk-by-stephanie-wagner/
Breastfeeding and Hyperemesis https://www.hyperemesis.ie/get-help/hg-and-breastfeeding/
The First Hours After Birth http://yogadublin.com/blog/2017/03/10/the-first-hours-after-birth-and-why-they-matter
Becoming an IBCLC http://www.alcireland.ie/the-voluntary-counsellor-route-towards-ibclc-certification/
I am available to present at conferences on the following topics:
- Changing Perspectives on Breastfeeding and Lactation through the Four Waves of Feminism.
- Instagram and the IBCLC: Ethics, Sharenting, Privacy and Maternal Mental Health
- The Three Pillars of Effective Breastfeeding Support: Establishing Rapport, Supporting Breastfeeding Self-efficacy and Providing Individualised Care
- Getting Started in Private Practice
- Providing Skilled and Sensitive Lactation Support to parents who have Primary Low Milk Supply
- Breastfeeding with Insufficient Glandular Tissue: Understanding the Practical and Emotional Challenges
- Investigating Low Milk Supply: Is it Perceived, Secondary or Primary?
- Becoming a Mother in the Shadow of Primary Low Milk Supply
- The What, the Why and the How of At-the-Breast-Supplementation
- Breastfeeding Twins
- Providing skilled and sensitive support to parents with latching and positioning.