Feeding difficulties rarely exist in isolation. In my experience, what appears on the surface to be a feeding problem is often rooted in something deeper — a gut that is inflamed or unsettled, an immune response to something in the diet, a nervous system that hasn’t yet found its rhythm, or reflexes that are affecting how a baby moves, feeds and settles.
This is where my background in nutritional therapy, reflex integration and nervous system support becomes integral to the care I provide — and where The Milk Practice goes beyond what a standard lactation consultation can offer.
Gut Health, Intolerances & Allergies
An unsettled, uncomfortable baby is an exhausting and distressing experience for the whole family. Reflux, colic, wind, skin reactions, frequent waking and feeding difficulties can all have their roots in gut health — and in my clinical experience, identifying and addressing these factors can be transformative.
I take a thorough and detailed case history with every family, looking carefully at the factors that may be contributing to your baby’s symptoms. I have extensive experience supporting families through elimination diets — one of my particular areas of expertise — as well as gut healing protocols, targeted supplementation and appropriate testing.
For breastfeeding mothers, what you eat matters — and understanding how maternal diet may be affecting your baby is often a crucial piece of the puzzle. But maternal nutrition matters beyond breastfeeding too. Postnatal nutritional depletion is extremely common and frequently overlooked — affecting energy, mood, recovery and overall wellbeing regardless of how your baby is being fed. Whether you are breastfeeding, combination feeding or exclusively bottle feeding, your own nutritional
health deserves attention.
This work sits at the intersection of lactation and nutritional therapy — and it is one of the things that makes The Milk Practice genuinely different.
Primitive Reflex Assessment & Integration
Babies are born with a set of primitive reflexes — automatic responses designed to support feeding, movement, breathing and early development. When these reflexes are retained beyond the point at which they should naturally integrate, or when they haven’t fully emerged, they can affect how a baby feeds, moves, sleeps and settles.
I assess for the presence and integration of primitive reflexes as part of my holistic approach to infant feeding and development. Where reflexes are playing a role, I work with families on gentle, practical strategies to support their expression and integration — alongside referrals to trusted osteopaths and bodywork specialists where needed.
Nervous System Support
A dysregulated nervous system — in a baby, a mother, or both — can profoundly affect feeding. A baby who is frequently stressed, overstimulated or struggling to feel safe will find it harder to feed well. A mother whose own nervous system is depleted and overwhelmed will find it harder to support her baby.
I am always assessing how nervous system regulation may be impacting feeding, and I draw on several different modalities — including my training as a yoga instructor with a focus on breathwork — to support both baby and mother in finding greater calm, connection and regulation.
This is not something that is often talked about in the context of infant feeding. But in my experience, it matters enormously.
A Note on Maternal Health
The health of a breastfeeding mother is inextricably linked to the health of her baby. Through my work as a Registered Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, I also support mothers with their own nutrition, gut health and wellbeing — work that frequently begins at The Milk Practice and continues through my wider practice, Heidi Nowalany. You can find out more at heidinowalany.com.
Getting Started
If any of this resonates — if you have a feeling that something is being missed, that the picture is more complex than you’ve been told, or that your baby deserves a more thorough look — I’d love to hear from you.