Emma Etheridge Email & Phone Number

Since having my son in 2013 and struggling with breastfeeding and him having a tongue tie I became passionate about wanting to support other parents to achieve the feeding goals, regardless of their feeding choices.In 2014 I trained as a Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor with La Leche League of Great Britain and volunteered in local children’s centres. In 2018 I gained employment with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust as an Infant Feeding Support Worker. Here I support families with babies born from 22 weeks gestation onwards. I support women by encouraging them to protect and maximise their milk supply with regular stimulation and expressing, especially important for very early babies to have mothers milk to support with an immature gut and very often having early antibiotic exposure that can have significant effect of the premature gut microbiome.I work with a multi-disciplinary team, supporting staff and women on SCBU and help mothers understand their baby’s pre term behaviour and the behaviour of babies transitioning from NG Tube feeds to breastfeeding.I support the CAU department, putting feeding plans in place for babies re-admitted with jaundice and support parents of babies re-admitted as ‘poor feeders’ to maximise their milk supply and help them to understand what to look for, for effective feeding and milk transfer. I regularly have positive feedback from parents I have supported as they now feel they have the knowledge, understanding and support to continue breastfeeding. I regularly support and mentor student midwives to achieve their breastfeeding competencies.I support the Infant Feeding Lead Midwife run breastfeeding clinic and support women on a one to one basis who I have built a relationship with whilst supporting them with feeding on the ward, including parent education. I offer appropriate, non-judgemental practical and emotional support.