Expert Parenting Support for Every Step of Your Journey

Associate Practitioners

A Network of Specialist Practitioners Across the UK

Local Infant Feeding & Tongue-Tie Support Near You

We also collaborate with practitioners across the UK to provide support that is accessible and local to you. The infant feeding and tongue-tie practitioners listed below can assist you and, if clinically appropriate, refer you to The Natal Network for a tongue-tie division under our clinical governance and oversight.

Please book an appointment directly with the practitioner using the contact details provided. If suitable, they can discuss the option of referring your little one to The Natal Network for a tongue-tie division (frenulotomy). This procedure will be carried out by the same practitioner, who will perform it on behalf of The Natal Network, ensuring it meets our clinical standards and governance

Kellie Kean

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate to The Natal Network

Qualifications

Hello, I’m Kellie, mum of two. I’ve worked as a Neonatal and Infant Feeding Nurse for over 15 years, supporting families through the early days of bonding, feeding, and growing together. My passion for infant feeding began with the challenges I faced feeding my first baby, challenges caused by an undiagnosed tongue tie. That experience inspired me to learn more and ultimately qualify as a Tongue Tie Practitioner in 2022.

As I supported more families, I became increasingly aware of how oral dysfunction—such as poor latch, feeding fatigue, reflux symptoms, and unsettled feeding—can impact not just feeding, but overall development and family wellbeing. This deepened my commitment to understanding the full spectrum of infant oral function.

Through Pitter-Patter Tots, I support families as a seconded practitioner supporting the Natal Network, reaching more parents and babies in the wider community. I offer compassionate, evidence-based care, with a focus on tongue tie assessment and the treatment of underlying oral dysfunction.

Candy Elsbeth Natal Network

Candy Elsbeth

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate to The Natal Network

Location covered:
Within a 15 mile radius of PO20 3US

Qualifications

I’m incredibly passionate about equitable breast and chest feeding support so  volunteer with LLL Collective as well as at my local feeding drop in.

Qualifying as a registered nurse in 2007 and working in a variety of areas across the NHS has given me a wealth of insight and skills. Adding to that in 2022 when I began tongue tie practitioner training with Carmelle Gentle from the Tongue Tie Centre. I was drawn to the holistic approach this training offered, because no body part works in isolation, including the tongue. 

I specialise in tongue tie and oral dysfunction with expertise on supporting those more challenging cases, through a holistic approach, seeing babies up to 12 months old. 

Jenny Harmer Natal Network

Jenny Harmer

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate to The Natal Network

Location covered:
Home visits only: up to an hour from CO7 9LD

Qualifications

I support families facing feeding challenges, whether due to tongue dysfunction, tension, or physical restriction. I work closely with parents to understand their unique situation, offering evidence-based guidance to help them make informed choices.

My goal is to make breast/chest feeding feel more manageable, supported, and empowering, wherever you are on your feeding journey.

Emily Clayton Natal Network

Emily Clayton

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate to The Natal Network

Location covered:
Home visits: Central, South West and South East London
Clinic: Seven Lions Yard, Trenadoc Rd, SW4 7NQ

Qualifications

I specialise in assessing and treating tongue ties and oral dysfunction, assisting with breast and bottle feeding challenges, and share my expertise in supporting babies suffering from colic and reflux symptoms up to 12 months of age.

My holistic approach is based around clinical evidence, research, compassion and a deep understanding of how it all feels, and I love being able to offer a unique blend of continuity from bump, to birth, to breast/bottle and beyond!

Heather Berry Natal Network

Heather Berry

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate to The Natal Network

Location covered:
Home visits: Central, South West and South East London Willing to travel further a field depending on location and other commitments.

Qualifications

Heather Berry Independent Private Midwife Oral Assessment and Tongue Tie Practitioner

Experienced provider of Individualised Holistic Assessments when any feeding choice  is challenging.

Care provide aims to support families to achieve feeding goals after full discussion of assessment findings.

Ruth Ta

Ruth Taylor-Anderson

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate with The Natal Network
Location covered:
Home visits: Suffolk, Cambridge, Essex and Norfolk.

Qualifications

Hi, my name is Ruth. I am based in Bury-St-Edmunds, offering in home lactation support and other services including tongue tie assessment, management and release. I cover a huge area including large parts of  Suffolk, Cambridge, Essex and Norfolk.

I have 4 beautiful children, one grandbaby and 4 dogs and love nothing more than time with the family and walks in the local countryside.

I have spent my whole career working with Mothers and babies. My move into an NHS role began in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with premature and unwell babies before training in Midwifery I specialised within postnatal care and my love for offering breastfeeding support continued and I became an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant and then trained further to add in Tongue Tie assessment and release in the private sector.

I love being able to support families to achieve their feeding goals. Being invited into that newborn bubble of both excitement and uncertainty in those early days is such a privilege and one I never take for granted.  If you are looking for support with breastfeeding, expressing or other feeding challenges including Tongue Tie Assessment and release I would love to be able to support you.

Anika Riesen

Anika Riesen

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate with The Natal Network
Location covered:
Home Visits: 100 mile radius from Dorset and within London

Qualifications

My name is Anika, I’m a registered midwife, tongue-tie practitioner, and on my way to becoming a lactation consultant (IBCLC) in 2026. I qualified from the University of Brighton in 2020 with a BSc (hons) Midwifery.
I have worked as a private midwife for the past 3 years supporting clients to have their care at home, including many homebirths. Prior to that I worked in the NHS, primarily in an alongside birth centre and the community.
I want to support you on your feeding journey. I value giving you a holistic feeding assessment so you’ll know if a tongue tie division is right for your baby or if other lactation support or services are needed. I offer help and support to all parents regardless of feeding method including those who are breastfeeding, combination feeding, exclusively pumping or fully formula feeding and regardless of whether they identify as ‘breastfeeding’, ‘chest feeding’ or ‘bottle feeding.’

My goal is to help you enjoy your feeding experience as well as your journey into motherhood!

Marguerite Williams

Marguerite Williams

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate with The Natal Network
Location covered:
Home Visits: North East London

Qualifications

I’m Marguerite Williams a Registered Midwife, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, and Tongue Tie Practitioner with over a decade of experience supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Having worked extensively Privately and in the NHS across community and hospital settings, I’ve provided compassionate antenatal, birth, and postnatal care, including homebirth support and antenatal education, throughout the UK.

As a lactation consultant, I’m passionate about all aspects of infant feeding, helping parents achieve their goals in breastfeeding, responsive bottle feeding, and gentle weaning. My own experiences of breastfeeding my children until natural weaning have deepened my understanding of the emotional and practical aspects of feeding.

Originally from Barbados, I now live in Hackney, Northeast London, with my husband and three sons. My experiences of motherhood and positive homebirths inspire my practice and strengthen my commitment to helping families make informed, confident choices for their well-being.

I’m dedicated to providing holistic, empowering care that supports positive birth and feeding experiences for every family I work with.

Jennifer Goodwin

Jennifer Goodwin

Associate Tongue Tie Practitioner

I am regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when working as an Associate with The Natal Network
Location covered:
Home Visits throughout East Grinstead and surrounding areas across West Sussex, Surrey, Kent and East Sussex.

Qualifications

Hi, I’m Jen. I’ve spent the last 15 years working within midwifery and, alongside my own personal feeding experiences, this has given me a deep understanding of the challenges and emotions that can come with feeding and caring for their baby.

As a Lactation Consultant and Tongue-Tie Practitioner, I offer compassionate, evidence-based support in the comfort of your own home for infant feeding difficulties, oral assessments and tongue-tie division where appropriate – regardless of how you choose to feed your baby.

I take a holistic, whole-body approach to assessment, considering pregnancy, birth and early postnatal experiences, because every family’s story is unique and important.

My aim is to help families feel supported, informed and empowered, while working together to find feeding solutions that feel achievable and right for you and your baby.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Associate simply means your practitioner is employed by an external organisation but working under The Natal Network’s clinical governance. While they may usually work for another service, during your appointment with The Natal Network they operate under our regulated policies, procedures, and oversight.

It allows us to offer local, family-centred care with clinical oversight. By seconding practitioners into The Natal Network, we can ensure every tongue-tie procedure is carried out under our CQC-registered clinical governance; without losing the friendly, familiar faces parents value.

Tongue tie divisions (frenulotomy) are a regulated activity according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), therefore all practitioner delivering this service are fully regulated by the CQC under The Natal Network registration; regardless of if they are directly employed practitioners or employed by an external organisation as an Associate practitioner. 

This ensures your baby’s procedure is carried out in line with our robust clinical governance framework, including:

  • Clear policies and procedures
  • Complaints and reporting processes
  • Ongoing peer support
  • Regular auditing
  • Clinical supervision
  • Safe recruitment protocols

You can feel confident knowing that every aspect of care is held to the same standards for safety, accountability, and quality no matter which practitioner is providing it.

Yes. Our associate practitioners come from external organisations who provide care to families in your area. That means you benefit from continuity of care with the added confidence that your practitioner is working within a robust clinical framework.

We’re committed to providing safe, respectful, and professional care and we take all feedback seriously, using it to continuously improve the services we provide.

If you have a concern or complaint about any practitioner delivering care under The Natal Network whether employed directly or working as an associate from another organisation our full Complaints Policy outlines the steps you can take.

You are welcome to:

  • Speak directly to the practitioner or team involved, if you feel comfortable doing so
  • Contact The Natal Network’s governance lead (emily@natal.network) to raise your concerns formally
  • Escalate your complaint to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) if you feel your concern relates to safety, standards of care, or regulatory issues

Absolutely. You can click here to learn more about The Natal Network’s governance structure, and commitment to safe, high-quality care. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch we’re always happy to help.

Interested in becoming an Associate Practitioner?

We accept a very limited number of practitioners who work with babies, infant feeding, and tongue tie. If you’d like to learn more about our service and how care is delivered under our clinical governance framework, you can apply to request more information.