Beststart lactation consultancy — Local services in Applecross

Seeing a lactation consultant is vital for new mums—it can help you through the overwhelming early days of feeding, bonding and understanding your baby. However, it’s just as important to get a second opinion, especially from someone trained in oral function. Not all IBCLCs are qualified to assess, diagnose and refer for oral ties. Without proper diagnosis, oral restriction can persist and worsen over time. A thorough evaluation should go beyond latch advice and look at underlying issues, especially when ties are suspected.

I first saw Eve when my daughter was one month old. She recommended pumping twice a day and bottle-feeding expressed milk to support weight gain and maintain supply. Despite me explaining I had painful vasospasms after each feed and pump, the plan didn’t change. I spent months stuck inside, exhausted and emotionally drained. Eve noted my daughter had both a lip and tongue tie but felt her mouth had “enough flexibility” and told me to just improve her latch. So I kept going, using heat packs before every feed and pump, growing more isolated and low in mood.

Later, I went to iKids for a new assessment—not knowing Eve was also their IBCLC. This time she said my daughter had a high palate, upper lip tie and tongue tie, but doubted a procedure would help. She said her latch might improve closer to four months as her mouth widened. It did, but only because my daughter compensated with her lips, which had become stronger due to limited tongue function. When I returned for further support, Eve offered emotional reassurance and firm advice about my obsessive tracking, but again pushed pumping—even though it added stress and was hard to manage with short wake windows and my husband back at work.

My gut kept telling me something was wrong. I kept researching while my daughter and I struggled with disrupted sleep and digestive discomfort. Several specialists said it was just colic and recommended gripe water. It helped a little but didn’t resolve the real issue.

Now, at 14 months, I’ve finally learned enough about oral ties to spot misinformation. I found a trusted paediatric dentist—not affiliated with iKids—and it was the best decision. Their IBCLC gave an in-depth assessment: what oral function should look like at this age, what my daughter could actually do, her latch and her body tension. Many findings matched my own research, but this consult connected the dots. She confirmed the high palate likely formed in utero due to oral restrictions, identified blanching on the gums, noted a rare lower lip tie and let me feel how tense her cheeks were from compensating for poor tongue mobility.

She showed me how limited my daughter’s tongue function really was. We're now doing oral exercises to prepare for a laser procedure. It’s much more complex at this age and I wish she’d been properly diagnosed as an infant.

I regret staying with Eve and not getting a second opinion sooner. An IBCLC trained in oral function could’ve saved my daughter months of pain and dysfunction. Thankfully, I’ve now found one who truly understands oral anatomy and I feel confident my next child will get far better support.

My advice: be cautious with IBCLC recommendations when ties are suspected. Join a support group and seek care from both a qualified oral function therapist and an experienced paediatric dentist. Ties are not just about flexibility—they affect the whole body and need proper treatment with both release and rehab. There’s no such thing as a “mild” tie if it causes restriction. A solid oral assessment is critical.

Although Eve may offer general lactation support, she should not be consulting at iKids. Her limited training in oral function led to repeated misdiagnosis. I cannot rate her higher than...

After facing a few scares from the hospital regarding my baby being a “vulnerable” baby and some generic but well- meaning help from LCs at the public hospital where I gave birth, I saw great recommendations for Eve on a FB page. That was the start of my wonderful breastfeeding journey aided by Eve at Beststart Lactation Consultancy. The best part about meeting Eve is you can witness her passion for helping us anxious mothers with this new journey the moment you meet her. I was worried about tongue tie, latch, supply and everything under the sun with regard to breastfeeding. I was using a nipple shield for bf my three-month old. I don’t know what magic she wove, my daughter was off the shield within 2 weeks of meeting her.

More than anything I will be ever grateful for the numerous reassurances that she has had to give me every time I contacted her with a concern. I’d be anxious, worried sick about my supply and my husband would just say “why don’t you message Eve” and that’d be it. She has been a Godsend for me and my little one and I cannot recommend her and her team enough to every mother who wants to breastfeed and have a wonderful journey thereon. I am still on this journey but words fall short for the timely support I have received to persevere as I have wanted to breastfeed my little one until she decides to self-wean. Every birthing mother deserves support from someone like Eve and Best Start and the world would be a...

Eve was a lifesaver in the overwhelming immediate weeks postpartum where I was met with conflicting advice on breastfeeding, that didn’t fit with my values. It caused so much stress and anxiety. I so desperately wanted to breastfeed and was met with challenge after challenge (small, early baby unable to feed efficiently, slow weight gain, cracked nipples, low supply, vasospasm). I was anxious about breast refusal as a result of bottle top ups and didn’t want to use formula. Thankfully a friend recommended Eve and she lifted the stress and anxiety and provided practical, realistic advice. She prepared me for a long road ahead, but reassured me it was possible with her advice, support around me and determination. Whenever I got a anxious as we hit a speedbumb, Eve was always available to provide advice or reassurance along the way via email between appointments. Despite seeing other medical professionals Eve was the one who helped me heal a cracked nipple that wouldn’t close. Her advice was so wholistic, and practical which I couldn’t recommend more!! Her approach is empathetic, understanding and gentle. Here we are more than 5 months down the track exclusively breastfeeding, baby has packed on the weight and almost average size. I’m so grateful to have had the best support to be able to share the special bond that is breastfeeding...