About Rachel Priestley Breastfeeding and Lactation Consultant Birmingham

About

“No one even mentioned it. In 9 whole months, not one person said, you’re about to meet someone entirely new. And it’s not your baby, it’s going to be you.”

In 2006 following my own feeding journeys I took a bold step and decided on a change in career path. I left my job interpreting British Sign Language and retrained to enter the field of infant feeding. I have since enjoyed some of the most fulfilling work I can imagine taking in the charitable sector, community work, a busy maternity unit, and a level 3 Neonatal Unit.

In 2016 I ventured into private practice. I felt it was incredibly important for families to have the option for feeding support from an IBCLC throughout their journey – starting before their babies arrived and extending until they felt comfortable.

We live in a culture that has inhibited our natural instincts and ways of learning and has left us bereft of other humans modelling our natural feeding behaviours. It’s essential that new parents understand that we are not designed to learn to feed alone. If they are doing this alone and finding it difficult it’s not a lack ability on their part – it’s that they lack the key ingredients of support and connection which should exist all around us but often don’t.

I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I have been working in the field since 2006 and have supported thousands of families along their journeys. My broad practice includes over a decade of working in the NHS and additionally working for a breastfeeding charity, and for a human milk bank as a Breastfeeding Specialist, as well as in private practice. My special interests are LGBTQI+ and surrogacy journeys.

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What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant?

An IBCLC (also referred to as a Lactation Consultant) has achieved the highest professional qualification in the field of infant feeding. The IBCLC credential is a Masters level professional qualification in the clinical management of breastfeeding and infant feeding, and requires candidates to complete education in 14 health science subjects, 1000 hours of extensive clinical practice and at least 90 hours of lactation education. After initially passing a rigorous 4 hour exam an IBCLC will have to recertify every 5 years to ensure that their practice is safe and up to date.

Common Questions

Will you come to visit me at home?

Yes, based in the Midlands I am happy to travel up to 2 hours for a visit so around 100 from my base in Stourbridge, but please do feel free to contact me if you are further away I can always help via Zoom etc.

Is feeding meant to be painful?

Feeding shouldn't be painful, but it's not uncommon to feel discomfort or pain while learning especially if we are learning alone. A lot like learning to walk - we fall over as we learn but the process is much easier and there is less chance of injury if there are people around who know how to steady us and show us how to progress.

What if my baby does not latch on?

There are times when a baby might find it difficult to latch. Impacts on latch range from early interruption of natural instincts to the impact of medications or congenital issues. With good support and an understanding of newborn behaviours most issues can be overcome, and even babies who require specialist intervention can be supported to latch and feed.

Can I learn to feed my baby if I didn’t give birth to them?

Yes! There are various methods and approaches we can take whether you have fed a baby before or not. What your journey will look like will very much depend on your individual situation, but with a good plan it is certainly possible.