My Breastfeeding Approach & Qualifications
I’m Pip Wynn Owen, a registered midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), certified childbirth and early parenting educator, and mum of four.
I bring more than 20 years of experience in childbirth and early parenting education to my work with families in Perth. My breastfeeding approach combines clinical knowledge, practical support and time to understand what matters to you.
Whether you’re preparing to breastfeed, working through difficulties or ready to make a change, I want you to feel heard, informed and supported.
My qualifications and experience
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
IBCLCs provide specialist breastfeeding and lactation care. My qualification supports my work assessing feeding difficulties and helping families with concerns such as nipple pain, milk supply, expressing and milk transfer.
Registered Midwife
My midwifery background helps me consider how pregnancy, birth and postnatal recovery may be influencing feeding. Your health and your baby’s health both belong in that assessment.
NDC (Possums) Accredited Health Professional
Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC), also known as the Possums approach, brings together breastfeeding, infant sleep and behaviour, and parental wellbeing. This training helps me consider how feeding fits into your baby’s whole day and your family’s life.
Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) Assessor
My work as a BFHI assessor involves assessing services against recognised standards for protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. It reflects my commitment to improving the care families receive, including in the important early hours and days after birth.
Certified Childbirth & Early Parenting Educator
I completed my childbirth and early parenting certification in 2004 and established Birth Savvy in 2013. Teaching is a central part of my work: I explain what we’re seeing, why it matters and how the options might help, so you can make informed decisions.
Parental Brain Educator
My parental brain training adds to my understanding of the transition into parenthood. I make space for the emotional demands of feeding and caring for a baby, alongside the practical questions.
Further lactology study at UWA
I have also completed lactology units at the University of Western Australia. Continuing education, research and professional development help me keep questioning, learning and refining the support I offer.
My approach starts with listening
I want to hear your story: what feeding has been like, what advice you’ve received, what is worrying you and what you would like to happen next.
We’ll consider your comfort, your baby’s feeding and growth, your birth and recovery, and the support available to you. Together, we’ll identify priorities and develop a plan you can use in everyday life.
Gestalt breastfeeding: finding a comfortable fit
An important part of my approach is Gestalt breastfeeding, developed by Dr Pamela Douglas within the NDC/Possums work.
Gestalt focuses on how you and your baby fit together during a feed. We explore your baby’s stability, how their body is supported and whether positioning is creating pulling or dragging on your nipple and breast tissue.
We can experiment with small adjustments, guided by your comfort and how your baby feeds. The aim is to find a fit and hold that works for your individual bodies and feels practical for you to use at home.
Your feeding goals guide our work
You might want to breastfeed exclusively, combine breastfeeding with bottles, express milk, return to work or gently reduce feeds. Your goals may also change as your baby grows or your circumstances shift.
I’ll help you understand your options and their implications, with respect for the decisions you make. Any feeding plan needs to consider your baby’s intake and growth, your comfort and your capacity to keep going.
Care that supports connection and wellbeing
My approach values responsive care and the relationship you’re building with your baby. I help you make sense of feeding cues and behaviour while also considering your need for rest, practical help and emotional support.
Recommendations should have a clear purpose. I’ll explain what I’m suggesting and why, and discuss further assessment or referral when it would be helpful.
My aim is for you to leave with a clearer understanding of what is happening, useful things to try and greater confidence in your own decisions.
Let’s work through it together
If you would like support with breastfeeding, I offer consultations at The Village Wellness Centre in West Perth and home visits across the Perth metropolitan area.
Pip Wynn Owen
Midwife | IBCLC | Certified Childbirth & Early Parenting Educator | NDC (Possums) Accredited Health Professional | Parental Brain Educator