ABOUT US

LUCI LISHMAN  IBCLC RGN RM  

Lactation Consultant and Tongue-tie Practitioner

Specialist infant feeding support and tongue-tie division

I find it a joy and privilege to support families, empowering them to have a fulfilling and enjoyable feeding experience.

• Registered Nurse and Midwife

• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for 14 years

• Tongue-tie Practitioner for almost 12 years providing private tongue-tie division for babies under six months with feeding difficulties

• Founding member and current Chair of Association of Tongue-tie Practitioners

• Member of Lactation Consultants of Great Britain

• Professional Indemnity Insurance with Hiscox

• Registered with the Care Quality Commission for surgical procedures

• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)checked

MY BACKGROUND

I started working for the NHS in 1986 and began my general nurse training at the Middlesex Hospital in London. I worked as a staff nurse at Wycombe General Hospital for ten months and then trained as a midwife and worked at Stoke Mandeville Hospital over a 17year period during which time I had my three children. The latter 7½ years were as a breastfeeding coordinator midwife. During that time, I helped set up and run the Aylesbury Breastfeeding Clinic. I also provided breastfeeding education for staff and expectant mothers and writing breastfeeding guidelines and documentation. 

As a midwife, I found it a joy and privilege to provide breastfeeding support, making it my ambition to further my knowledge within the field. In 2006, after extensive study and clinical experience, I was able to fulfil my goal of passing the exam to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Through ongoing study, I have maintained this qualification, and in 2016 I recertified by retaking the exam. 

​

Chiltern Breastfeeding Partnership was set up in 2007 by myself and Addy Henderson. Susie Samuels joined us in 2010, enjoying a shared passion for enabling women to have a positive and enjoyable breastfeeding experience. We were able to provide a private and flexible breastfeeding support service within the community. We also provided training for health visitors, other community staff and breastfeeding peer supporters.

​

In April 2009, I trained at Southampton Hospital to perform tongue-tie division (frenulotomy) on babies under six months with feeding difficulties. Since then, I have been doing this privately in the home and within my tongue-tie clinics. This service proved necessary and extremely helpful as there was limited NHS provision in the area. I left the NHS in September 2009 to meet the increasing need for this procedure.  

Since 2015 I have been the sole practitioner supported by my freelance administrator Melissa Brown. 

From February 2017 until December 2018, I worked for Children Family Health Surrey NHS to help their community tongue-tie service and provide tongue-tie training for health visitors in the area. 

In recent years I have been working closely with Apple Tree Osteopaths to provide holistic support for mothers and babies. We have recognised that there are other biomechanical issues aside from tongue-tie that can affect infant feeding. We ran free joint clinics until the Covid 19 pandemic.

MELISSA BROWN

Administrator and Receptionist

I joined Chiltern Breastfeeding Partnership on a part-time freelance basis in January 2010 to assist Luci (my sister) with administration and reception duties. Holding a background in recruitment, customer service and administration, I am able to utilise my skills within Chiltern Breastfeeding.

Since joining, I've become a mum to two children, both of which had tongue-ties divided by Luci. I found breastfeeding quite difficult and uncomfortable, however after having the tongue-ties divided and support from Luci, I noticed a huge difference and it enabled me to breastfeed much more comfortably and efficiently. I feel that with my first-hand knowledge and experience, I am able to provide support and empathy to the parents we help.