About – The Milk Hub

Who We Are

Welcome to The Milk Hub!

The Milk Hub was started by Libby IBCLC (pronouns she/her) as a safe and inclusive space for parents to access support throughout their parenting journey. The main services we offer are:

Infant feeding support – however you choose to feed your baby. This may be exclusive formula feeding, combi-feeding, breast/chest feeding or exclusive pumping.
Support for birth & feeding trauma using the Three Step Rewind technique.
Antenatal Preparation, including antenatal feeding classes and postnatal planning with our Preparing for the Fourth Trimester workshop.

All of the support we offer is evidence-based, current and up to date. We are proud to offer inclusive and zero judgement support. The Milk Hub will always be a safe place for all families.

Libby Barnes

Libby (she/her) is the Founding Director of The Milk Hub. Following the birth of her first child, Libby found her true passion in supporting parents on their early parenting journey. Since then, she has undertaken numerous training courses and qualifications to be able to provide evidence based support.

In terms of infant feeding support, Libby is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). As an IBCLC, this means Libby has achieved the gold standard in feeding support qualifications – and holds an internationally recognised qualification. She works with families to achieve their feeding goals, whatever those might be and however they choose to feed their babies.

As a Three Step Rewind Practitioner, Libby supports parents who have experienced a traumatic event, specialising in birth and feeding trauma. Unfortunately we know that birth and feeding trauma has a significant impact in the likelihood of perinatal mental health issues, making this work vital.

Libby is also passionate about supporting parental mental wellbeing in the perinatal period, and holds a variety of mindfulness and wellbeing qualifications as a Mindful Parenting Coach. Watch this space for a return of Beyond Birth and Relaxation Club classes soon.

Libby lives in South Essex near the beach with her hubby and their two daughters, who are the inspiration behind The Milk Hub.

Libby is available for feeding consultations or 3 Step Rewind by request. If you would like to book with Libby, please contact us.

Georgia Cooper-Daniel

Georgia (she/her) is a trained Infant Feeding Practitioner and qualified Mindful Breastfeeding Practitioner, as well as being a qualified Antenatal and Postnatal Doula and Babywearing Peer Supporter.

Georgia has a degree in Psychology with a focus on infant and child development, and has worked within family support services for over a decade. She takes a person-centred, holistic approach to working with families in a non-judgemental way.

Georgia trained as a Peer Supporter after overcoming her own breastfeeding difficulties including painful feeds, mastitis, vasospasm and reflux. Georgia continues to breastfeed beyond toddlerhood and feels passionately about supporting parents with their challenges at any stage of their journey, however they choose to feed their baby.

As a Mindful Breastfeeding Practitioner, Georgia’s approach focuses on practical suggestions, as well as support for your emotional wellbeing and building your confidence. Georgia uses evidence-based mindful feeding tools such as guided relaxations, positive affirmations and breath work to equip you with the skills to reach your feeding goals whilst enhancing your postnatal wellbeing and parenting journey.

As an accredited Doula, Georgia offers an individualised package of support to the pregnant person and their family. This can include preparation for birth, self-care during pregnancy and parenthood, exploring feeding choices, normal infant behaviour, what to expect in the fourth trimester and how to plan for the postnatal period. Check out Georgia’s Preparing for the Fourth Trimester sessions.

Georgia is a Maternity Patient Partner for the South and Mid Essex Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) and plays a crucial role in instigating positive change in Maternity Services and advocating for families across the local NHS Trust.

She is currently undertaking further studies in homeopathy, and loves a chat about cloth nappies and anything reusable and sustainable.

Please note, Georgia is currently on maternity leave and unavailable for appointments. Preparing for Fourth Trimester sessions will be available for booking from January 2024, please contact us to discuss.

Jemma (she/her) is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). That means that, like Libby, she holds the gold standard qualification in infant feeding support. Jemma is passionate about supporting families to reach their feeding goals and educating those who form part of the wider support circle for families.

Originally, Jemma trained as an infant feeding peer supporter after realising that local support around the UK can be hit and miss for families, and she is keen to make sure that all families are able to access the support they deserve when they need it. Shortly after embarking on her training journey, Jemma realised that her ultimate goal was to become an IBCLC, and she achieved that qualification within 5 years.

Jemma is also a certified Newborn Behaviour Observation (NBO) Practitioner, which means that she can help you to understand the communication that your baby is able to demonstrate from birth up to 3 months. Babies are born so eager to communicate, but our tiny humans sometimes need help translating their own special language.

Monday to Thursday, Jemma manages a successful team of Infant Feeding Practitioners within a busy London NHS Trust, and has trained as a UNICEF BFI auditor and trainer within that role.

Jemma is a mum of two whirlwind boys of 7 and 5, and lives with them in Basildon along with her cats, dog and husband. She covers a radius of 10 miles from the SS14 postcode, but additional areas may be covered with a travel surcharge

Jemma is available for Feeding Consultations.

Jemma Percy

Laura Kitchin

Laura (she/her) is an Infant Feeding Practitioner who began her studies in the midst of lockdown, after her first daughter had arrived. Fast forward to the present day and Laura has 3 children under 5!

In that time, Laura has completed further training in infant feeding and regularly volunteers her time supporting other parents with feeding their children, both in person and online. She is also a Know Your Lemons Global Breast Health Educator. Laura joins the Milk Hub team whilst progressing her studies towards becoming an IBCLC.

Laura lives with her partner and her 3 children in Rayleigh alongside a menagerie of pets!

You will find Laura supporting on home visits and helping with follow-up support for families after a consultation. She is also available for Feeding Consultations.

Kaya Thorpe (she/her) is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and The Milk Hub Allergy Specialist.

Kaya has been involved in feeding support as a Peer Supporter since 2014, inspired by the journey she experienced with feeding her first baby who was born with a cleft lip. Kaya’s journey with her second baby also included another experience of faltering growth, which led Kaya to complete additional training at Breastfeeding Counsellor level. Kaya’s third baby Charlotte, taught her the value of specialist support as she battled through 14 allergies including three causing anaphylaxis.

Kaya has made it her mission to support families as much as possible. She inspirationally was part of the founding team who formed Lowestoft and Waveney Breastfeeding Support in January 2020, which is now a registered charity. Kaya is both the Chief Executive Office and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant delivering home visits across in her local area.

Allergy support has always been a huge part of Kaya’s life and she delivered a session on breastfeeding with allergies at the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers conference in September 2022. Kaya’s desire to reach more allergy families has led her to join the Milk Hub to launch this specialist service with them.

Kaya is available for Virtual Allergy Specialist consultations.

Kaya Thorpe

Bias Awareness & LGBTQ+ Competency in Birth and Beyond Trained

The Milk Hub team are proud to offer inclusive support for all families.

Amongst the training various members of the team have completed includes:

Bias Awareness Workshop offered by Vanisha Virgo (The OBS)
LGBTQ+ Competency in Birth and Beyond; and LGBTQ+ Competency in Lactation training, both delivered by The Queer Birth Club.