Ellie May Maternity

Ellie May Maternity Maternity Nurse services to support you in the early days, weeks and months of having a newborn �

26/08/2026

Back again asking for a volunteer wanting FREE infant feeding support to help a gal (me!) renew her Infant Feeding Certificate with the before 15th September (I am NOT normally this last minute, I just now work full time with 1 family as a Maternity Nanny so haven't been doing as many 1:1's) 🫣⭐👀

Do you, or someone you know, need some support with feeding your little one? First baby? 5th baby? Breastfeeding? Bottle? Both? 👶

I can help - In-person (I'm based in North London, N8 but can travel) or virtually if needed! 🙋

Talking through your birth and feeding history and any struggles, reassuring you about biologically and developmentally appropriate infant feeding behaviour, observing a feed and any red flags, signposting to alternative professionals if needed and supporting you to move towards your goals (whatever they may be!) 🙌

Get in touch if you're interested in getting help and helping me out in return! (Comment, message, fill in a form via my website, email)! ✉️💬

Sleep is biological and developmental - it is complex and changes constantly between babies and within individuals based...
19/08/2026

Sleep is biological and developmental - it is complex and changes constantly between babies and within individuals based on environment, health, temperament, routine, diet etc. there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to struggling with sleep with a baby (or anyone) 💤

Lots of generic advice is handed out when you Google, ask AI "how can I get my baby to sleep longer" or buy a generic book promising you 12hrs of sleep by 12 weeks of age or something through 3,5 or 32 magic steps 🫣

🤔 They need to learn to "self-soothe" when the part of the brain responsible for this skill isn't fully developed until closer to 30-years old
🤔 "Drowsy but awake" methods when the success of this is entirely dependent on your baby's unique temperament
🤔 "They're hungry" - put baby rice in your young baby's bottle or start solids early (neither safe for your underdeveloped babies digestive system)

BUT

🤔 Stop feeding them to sleep and overnight as this is a "bad habit" even though breastmilk has sleep-inducing qualities for mum and baby on purpose and stopping night feeds before 1yr isn't recommended
🤔 They need to sleep 7-7, their bedtime is too late, sleep breeds sleep when we know there's a limit to how much anyone can sleep in 24hrs and not all babies do 12hrs overnight

As a certified holistic and gentle sleep and Infant Feeding Coach I know what is biologically and developmentally normal for a baby and can support you to identify where small changes may improve sleep for your family, where red flags need further specialised signposted support and where you may benefit from other support and skills in your toolbox while you're managing less sleep (from Babywearing to more relaxed feeding positions etc.) 🥳

If you are happy with your situation and so is baby, you don't need to do anything. If you or baby are not happy, there are supportive people to talk to 🙋💬

18/08/2026

Very unlike me (normally a Friday Evening Homework gal not a Monday Morning Homework gal) I have less than a month to find a 5th and final parent and baby feeding duo to support and write up about to renew my registration as an Infant Feeding Coach 🫢🤱👀

Do you, or someone you know, need some support with feeding your little one? First baby? 5th baby? Breastfeeding? Bottle? Both? 👶

I can help - In-person (I'm based in North London, N8 but can travel) or virtually if needed! 🙋

Talking through your birth and feeding history and any struggles, reassuring you about biologically and developmentally appropriate infant feeding behaviour, observing a feed and any red flags, signposting to alternative professionals if needed and supporting you to move towards your goals (whatever they may be!) 🙌

Get in touch if you're interested in getting help and helping me out in return! (Comment, message, fill in a form via my website, email)! ✉️💬

13/08/2026

Just preparing for my documentary on how human babies (just like us adults) are Carry Mammals and what this means for caring for and parenting them 👶🎥

Lead narrator: Ellie of Ellie May Maternity - Newborn Care Specialist, Infant Feeding Coach, Holistic/Gentle Sleep Coach and Babywearing Peer Supporter 🙋

A deep dive into.......

🌟 Biologically and developmentally normal carry mammal behaviour
🌟 Why your baby doesn't like being put down
🌟 Why your baby probably settles and sleeps better in contact with you - In a sling, on your chest while you watch this documentary, in your bed - compared to in their cot
🌟 Why myths like "teaching your baby to self-soothe" and "feeding/rocking/supporting your baby to sleep is a bad habit" exist and how to ignore them
🌟 Why your baby wants to feed all the time (and when it is actually a problem rather than just biology overriding a babies ability to read the book on 3hrly schedules that you were recommended)
🌟 Why responding to your baby's needs is not "spoiling them"
🌟 How you weren't designed to parent alone and it's ok to ask for help - from friends, family and professionals

The baby at work turned 1 this past weekend 🎉 Suddenly, it can feel like there are all these changes you can/should make...
11/08/2026

The baby at work turned 1 this past weekend 🎉

Suddenly, it can feel like there are all these changes you can/should make, things you can stop doing or start doing etc. because they've officially been around for that extra day or 2 more than 12 months! 📅

🍼 Infant formula isn't needed after a year (unless medically recommended,) but this doesn't mean they NEED to drink cows milk: they simply need to make sure they are eating a varied diet with plenty of calcium daily

Bottles are not recommended past a year due to the effect they have on oral development, dental hygeine and the increased amount taken from a bottle over alternative cups

🍯 The day before your baby turns 1, honey is not ok...but technically on their birthday they could eat it. Honey contains bacteria that can cause Botulism in babies so is not recommended before 1

🥤 Straw and open cups are recommended for milk and other drinks instead

⚠️💤 Safe clear sleep spaces are always optimal, especially in cots as opposed to toddler beds, but the Lullaby Trust do state that a small comforter can be introduced at this point and a light, thin blanket but still not a duvet

BUT

🤱 Breastfeeding continues to be recommended until at least 2 years and beyond alongside an increasingly varied solids diet
🌃 Night waking (and needing feeds) is still normal in many cases
❤️ Needing support to sleep, contact naps and babywearing are all normal!
🚘 Car seat safety remains the same! Rearfacing is a legal requirement until a minimum of 15 months and continues to be the safest option until at least 4years old and beyond

The reality is that your baby is still the same human they were the day before their 1st birthday and a switch doesn't automatically go off meaning things that were less safe yesterday are 100% safe or that your birthday baby will throw their bottles on the floor and take up a cup with no complaints or not need you so much 👶

All changes take time and you know your baby better than anyone to know when they're ready and at what pace to make changes! 🌟

07/08/2026

It's the end of World Breastfeeding Week 2026 so...

Here are some ways your support system can help you, or you can help a breastfeeding friend or relative, that isn't suggesting pumping, formula or stopping
breastfeeding or offering to give a bottle...❌🍼:

❤️ Look after mum so she can feed baby -ask how's she's feeling and just listen

🥤🥪Keep her fed and hydrated,

🧺🍽️ Notice what needs doing (dishes, laundry) and don't offer/ask... Just do,

🧰 Find helpful breastfeeding support resources - lactation, Babywearing professionals, groups etc. for if/when she needs help and to build her tool kit

👶 Offer to take baby after feeds for a bit (change nappies, go for a walk, babywear to settle IF mum is happy to BUT always give baby back when mum asks

🙌 Keep her company and be her confidence booster - stand up for her feeding goals when out and about, be her cheerleader when feeding in public,

📖 Make sure youre up-to-date with biologically normal baby expectations to avoid saying things like "is he sleeping through yet?", "is he a good baby?", "she can't be hungry again!?", "have you considered formula" "Why don't you do some sleep training?" Etc.,

Remind her what an amazing job she is doing and that you are there ❤️

07/08/2026

It's the end of World Breastfeeding Week 2026 so...

Here are some ways your support system can help you, or you can help a breastfeeding friend or relative, that isn't suggesting pumping, formula or stopping
breastfeeding or offering to give a bottle...🍼❌:

❤️ Look after mum so she can feed baby -ask how's she's feeling and just listen

🥤🥪Keep her fed and hydrated,

🧺🍽️ Notice what needs doing (dishes, laundry) and don't offer/ask... Just do,

🧰 Find helpful breastfeeding support resources - lactation, Babywearing professionals, groups etc. for if/when she needs help and to build her tool kit

👶 Offer to take baby after feeds for a bit (change nappies, go for a walk, babywear to settle IF mum is happy to BUT always give baby back when mum asks

🙌 Keep her company and be her confidence booster - stand up for her feeding goals when out and about, be her cheerleader when feeding in public,

📖 Make sure youre up-to-date with biologically normal baby expectations to avoid saying things like "is he sleeping through yet?", "is he a good baby?", "she can't be hungry again!?", "have you considered formula" "Why don't you do some sleep training?" Etc.,

Remind her what an amazing job she is doing and that you are there for her ❤️

Let me know what you'd add! 👇💬

05/08/2026

Here's 5 ways, as an Infant Feeding Coach/Breastfeeding counsellor, I was able to support the mum I work with to almost double her 6-month breastfeeding goal with her first baby through the first year 🤱

1. Stopped clock-watching: Reassuring her that frequent feeds are normally not a concern when there's no other red flags - she took the pressure off herself to check when baby last fed, only feed every 3 hours etc. and simply offered the b**b when baby seemed to want it. The bonus: baby cried less! ⏰❌

2. Reflux: Baby was very spitty right from the beginning, so we simply worked together to assess whether this was a problem or not - no red flags, baby was content, it was really just a laundry (sofa and carpet...) issue. We talked about ways to help baby in line with his biology and developmental needs - keeping him upright after feeds, feeding little and often, baby wearing, that kind of thing. As expected, spit up gradually reduced over time 🤮

3. Positioning: I was able to work with mum and baby from day 1, making slight adjustments to positioning to improve comfort. I introduced her to laid back feeding so that she could relax more while working with baby's natural reflexes and just sort of lie on the sofa and feed. This continued to be their go-to throughout their breastfeeding journey 🎉

4. Active feeding: During the sleepy newborn baby phase where he would feed, fall asleep on the b**b then wake, searching for his main course again we talked about how to maximise active feeding at the breast using switch feeding to make to make sure that as baby got sleepy, he was moved to the other breast for another let down and and was encouraged to continue actively feeding (no timed sides or "emptying the breast" to get the hind milk..👀)

5. Distraction management: Helped reduce distraction when baby hit that classic four month mark of being curious about everything - mom literally switched ends of the sofa whenever she switched b**bs, so that baby was never looking out the window and wasn't distracted as easily 🪟👶

Most breastfeeding positions you may have seen or been shown are parent-led: you position your baby and are responsible ...
03/08/2026

Most breastfeeding positions you may have seen or been shown are parent-led: you position your baby and are responsible for all the support needed for them to stabley and comfortabley latch and feed e.g. cradle, cross-cradle, rugby hold 🤱

But these aren't the only options and, if baby is unsettled at the breast, struggling to latch or you're in pain, changing to a more baby-led position can be a starting point to see if this improves things before looking into other solutions! 👶

But what does babyled mean? 🤔

I mean, using your baby's natural feeding reflexes to your advantage and making sure positioning is in yours and your baby's favour! 🎉

Examples of such positions are:
🤱 Laidback or Biological Nurturing position - as it sounds, you are laid back with baby on your tummy at a height where chin meats the breast so they can open wide, tip their head back and take a good mouthful of breast tissue (not just the ni**le)
🤱 Koala hold - as you can probably picture, like a koala, a little more upright but with baby straddling your leg (same side as breast or not)

In these positions, gravity is in your favour as you lean back (whether slightly reclined in a chair bum close to the edge or propped up slightly laid down on the sofa or bed), your baby tummy to tummy on top of you meaning they automatically feel safer and less likely to flail and come off the breast 😌

You're still aiming for the same things you've heard before:
🌟 In a straight line - not having to twist their neck/turn their head to access the breast
🌟 Head positioned with chin on the breast beneath the ni**le so, when they tip their head back, the ni**le points up their nose rather than straight into their mouth
🌟 Hands free and up by their head/the breast so they can help stimulate milk flow
🌟 Nothing behind their head restricting their ability to tip it back

Of course different anatomy, body and breast shapes and sizes can influence which positions work best for each individual! However, if you're struggling, and you haven't yet, try giving this a go to see if it helps! 👀

02/08/2026

World Breastfeeding Week Day 2: let's talk biologically and developmentally normal breastfeeding expectations for your (mainly early) breastfeeding journey! 🤱

1. Feeding reflexes - feeding isn't something babies learn from scratch so the more skin to skin and more babyled feeding positions you can do can help baby feel comfortable and confident to latch and feed if more parent-led positions are a struggle 🤯

2. Tiny tummies - around the size of a cherry (5-7ml per feed) at birth, increasing to around 60ml by 1 week and 120 by first month means frequent feeds when feeding responsively v. Scheduled 3-hrly feeds based on formula boxes - the mum I've been supporting since 5 weeks postpartum told me recently that taking the pressure off 3-hrly helped a lot in the early days. 🤤

3. Breastfeeding is for lots of reasons, not just hunger - thirst, comfort, regulation, to sleep.

Cluster feeding is when your baby seems to feed constantly, especially in the evenings, and is unsettled otherwise - it can make you feel like something is wrong but, if not otherwise concerned, know this is your baby's natural way of boosting supply during growth and development spurts 🌟

4. Supply and demand - Frequent removal of milk signals to your breast that more is needed. this is important when it comes to if you consider introducing other people or methods into your feeding journey. Your breasts need to be kept on the loop! Pumping and bottle feeding isn't always the answer to an easier breastfeeding journey - sometimes other ways your family and friends can help, are! 📈

5. finally: while we're here, the average (so some may be older, some younger) weaning age when babies and children are left to lead the way, is anywhere from 2-7 years old. breastfeeding is in or little ones biology so, if it works for you and for your child, there is nothing wrong with keeping it in your toolbox! 🧰

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