Helen Smith
iHV Expert Adviser: Infant Feeding
Helen Smith is a SCPHN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Qualified Leader (BFIqL).
Helen began her nursing career in Plymouth, qualifying as an adult nurse in 1998 and then working in pre-and post-operative care on various surgical wards.
She completed her BSc in public health/ SCPHN qualification in 2006 at the University of the West of England and worked in Oxford and Swindon as a health visitor. Since 2009, she has led on breastfeeding and infant feeding for public health and health visiting in Swindon, which includes the successful implementation of the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) programme, achieving full accreditation in 2016. She currently works as the Infant Feeding Coordinator for Swindon Borough Council’s 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service.
Helen is passionate about breastfeeding as a public health issue and the impact that early infant feeding experiences may have on longer-term health. She recently completed an MSc in public health and, for her dissertation, did a scoping review linked to a collaborative QI project with maternity services and the Family Nurse Partnership on feeding support for teenage mothers, with outcomes pending.
‘Parents need individualised support with infant feeding and evidence-based information, delivered with kindness and compassion.’
Helen is keen for policymakers to understand that infant feeding is a public health priority, setting the foundation for future health. It is also linked to many other key areas of work, including perinatal mental health, oral health and healthy weight.
