Managing Director
Cranial Sacral Therapist Level 2
Lead Lactation Consultant
E: liz.gunn@healthy-babies-uk.org
Liz has worked as a midwife in NHS Maternity services for more than 20 years and for 12 years until March 2023 led the Unicef ‘Baby Friendly’ accreditation and managed the Infant Feeding Team in her hospital trust.
Following the birth of her first child in 2005, Liz found the support of the local breastfeeding group invaluable as she struggled with positioning and baby’s faltering growth. Therefore in 2006 began training with the NCT (National Childbirth Trust), became a La Leche League Peer Support trainer which led to offering support at the Children’s Centre by training new mums in the local town. Liz then continued to run the breastfeeding support group for the next 10 years.
In 2006 completed a Foundation degree as a Breastfeeding Counsellor with the NCT then led to working as a volunteer on the Breastfeeding helpline and ran antenatal classes for around 10 years and in 2013 completed Birth and Beyond Practitioner training.
As a result of her work at the local Children’s Centres she was asked by other local towns to run Peer Support courses and this began her journey as a self -employed trainer which later was to become Healthy Babies UK.
In 2011 after more practical and academic study, Liz passed the examination which enabled her to become an IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant). Since then, she has renewed this qualification, passing the exam again most recently in 2021.
In 2011 Healthy Babies UK CIC (Community Interest Company) was created to streamline the self-employed work Liz and her colleagues had been undertaking and Healthy Babies become a Training Centre with the Open College Network. A number of courses, including those for Peer Support and Breastfeeding Leads were written and accredited.
In 2013 Healthy Babies UK CIC moved into The Old Forge in Barrington Street, Tiverton and there began setting up support groups, training courses, one to one clinics as well as group sessions for antenatal, baby massage and yoga and holistic therapies. Then six years ago the depot donor milk bank was launched and now provides much needed breast milk to neonatal units in the south-west of the country.
Also in 2013 Liz undertook further training in ‘oral assessments’ and ‘tongue tie division’ and set up the Acute Frenotomy service for Somerset. Since then she has trained infant feeding teams with theory days for oral assessments and practical training sessions for dividing frenulums.
In 2014 completed Level 1 Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST) training and in 2021 added the Level 2 Diploma qualification, specialising in mother and baby. Subsequently helping to facilitate Level 1 training with Turning Point Training.
During her work as the Infant Feeding Lead Liz completed several Unicef Baby Friendly training courses and in 2021 qualified as a Unicef Baby Friendly Lead completing their qualifications framework.
Working as a Breastfeeding Counsellor and Lactation Consultant Liz continues her professional development. She has completed the Possums Gestalt Breastfeeding course and the Microbiome training in 2019, Holistic Sleep Coach training in 2021 and is currently working on a level 4 course on Reflux and Allergies.
To date,(2024) Liz currently works as a bank Midwife for the NHS and as a Union representative for the Royal College of Midwives alongside her work as Managing Director of Healthy Babies UK. She is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and HBUK is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) having completed and maintained the mandatory training courses. Liz is a member of Lactation Consultants of Great Britain (LCGB), The Association of Tongue Tie Practitioners (ATTP) and Human Milk Banking Association and member of the Milk Bank Board for the Southwest.
HBUK Infant Feeding Specialist/Volunteer Co-ordinator/Trainer
E: louise.cooke@healthy-babies-uk.org
After a career in marketing and after having her own children, Louise re-trained in the area of supporting parents.
In 2008 completed a level 4 qualification in Antenatal Education and delivered NCT antenatal classes across Devon whilst working with Homestart, a charity supporting families, managing volunteers and running training courses for parents and staff.
In 2012 completed a BA (Hons) in Antenatal Education at Worcester University then started delivering Antenatal courses for the local Children’s Centres working with diverse families and supporting families to achieve their parenting goals. During her time as an NCT Antenatal Educator there was much continued professional development including courses in teaching, supporting parents, counselling and research, as well as achieving a level 4 course in Pregnancy Yoga.
During this time Louise trained as a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter with Le Leche league offering breastfeeding support at the local Children’s centre. In 2014 she completed the Level 3 Breastfeeding Practitioner course and ever since has been training local Peer Supporters to achieve the Level 2 Peer Support Breastfeeding course through Healthy Babies UK.
In 2019 joined the Infant Feeding Team at Somerset Foundation Trust, supporting new parents and worked to achieve the UNICEF Baby Friendly Gold award whilst completing a Level 5 Nursing qualification. Up until 2022 she worked in the Maternity Unit and Infant Feeding Team at Musgrove hospital in Taunton as well as working as a self-employed Practitioner for Healthy Babies UK, supporting families and delivering courses.
Louise has regular professional development including completing the Possums Gestalt Breastfeeding course in 2019 and Holistic Sleep Coach training in 2021. Louise’s most recent training has enabled her to deliver Baby Massage courses which she now runs at HBUK.
HBUK BF Practitioner/Marketing/Administration
E: jodie.mortimore@healthy-babies-uk.org
Coming from a background in Training, Assessing, Education and Management and moving into the next phase of life and after the birth of her two children, Jodie was directed to see Liz Gunn for breastfeeding support after experiencing difficulties. From the experience Jodie knew immediately she wanted to help other mums who find themselves in the similar situations.
In 2013 Jodie joined the team at HBUK and in 2015 trained as a Breastfeeding Practitioner. Jodie offers support and guidance to women who come for help, either on the phone or in person at the regular support groups held at HBUK, as well as keeping everything in administrative order.
With a developing interest in health and wellbeing, in 2017 trained as an Holistic Health Practitioner helping others heal symptoms through, food, herbs and quality supplementation. Then in 2018 began the journey of study with the School of Homeopathy to become a Homeopath, achieving Level 3 in Anatomy and Physiology and Level 4 Pathology and Disease with a clear view of graduating to a fully-fledged Homeopath in June of 2024.