Parent & Baby Awards 2026 | 11 Breastfeeding medicine is an emerging area of medical practice that brings together expertise in maternal health, infant health, lactation, perinatal mental health, and family-centred care. Leading the charge in this growing field is Breastfeeding & Beyond, an Australianbased practice providing highly individualised, evidence-based care that combines clinical excellence with genuine compassion. We spoke with Clinical Director Dr Melody Jackson below, as Breastfeeding & Beyond is named in the Parent and Baby Awards 2026. Infant Feeding & Perinatal Health Champions of the Year 2026 – Australia In the current landscape of breastfeeding medicine, Breastfeeding & Beyond has observed an emerging trend in the growing complexity of the families seeking support. Parents today are navigating enormous amounts of information, often receiving conflicting advice from social media, online forums, healthcare providers, and even well-meaning family members. Many come to Breastfeeding & Beyond feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure whom to trust. There is also rising awareness of perinatal mental health, neurodiversity, birth trauma, and the ways these factors can influence infant feeding and parenting experiences. Families are now increasingly seeking care that looks beyond a single feeding issue and considers their broader wellbeing. The team has adapted by broadening its focus from breastfeeding support alone to a more holistic model of family-centred care, integrating breastfeeding medicine, maternal health, perinatal health, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and trauma-informed care to better meet the needs of modern families. “Breastfeeding and infant feeding support is about so much more than feeding alone,” Melody told us. “Families often come to us seeking help with a practical concern, but beneath that may be questions about confidence, identity, mental health, relationships, returning to work, birth experiences, or adjusting to parenthood. Supporting families during this period is a privilege, and it is a responsibility we take seriously.” The future is incredibly exciting for Breastfeeding & Beyond. The practice’s vision has always been to improve access to high-quality, evidence-based breastfeeding and perinatal care, and the team will continue to expand the ways in which it can support families and healthcare professionals alike. One of the projects Melody is most proud of is the recent release of her poetry book, ‘Tender Thresholds: Reflections on Motherhood and Medicine’, which is a reflection of her own experience as both a doctor and a mother. Melody’s recent book of insightful poetry is currently available via Amazon for purchase. For the remainder of 2026, Breastfeeding & Beyond’s focus is on continuing to provide exceptional care to families whilst expanding its educational and advocacy work. The team remains committed to advancing breastfeeding medicine as a recognised area of expertise, whilst upholding its unwavering focus on supporting the families who have placed their unwavering trust in Australia’s Infant Feeding and Perinatal Health Champions of the Year 2026. “Every new initiative, resource, and service is guided by the same goal that inspired Breastfeeding & Beyond from the very beginning: helping parents feel supported, informed, and confident during one of the most important journeys of their lives,” Melody concluded. “Every day, we are inspired by the resilience, dedication, and love that parents show their children. This award is a reflection not only of our team, but also of the families who allow us to be part of their journey.” She continued: “It is a tremendous honour to be recognised as Infant Feeding and Perinatal Health Champions of the Year 2026, and we remain committed to improving care, education, and support for families throughout Australia and beyond.” Contact: Dr Melody Jackson Company: Breastfeeding & Beyond Web Address: www.breastfeedingandbeyond.com.au Based in Sydney, Australia, Breastfeeding & Beyond is a specialist medical practice dedicated to supporting parents, babies, and families throughout the perinatal period. The practice provides evidence-based, compassionate care for a wide range of breastfeeding, infant feeding, maternal health, and early parenting concerns. Breastfeeding & Beyond serves a specific clientele, encompassing pregnant women, breastfeeding parents, infants, children, and families seeking support with feeding challenges, infant growth, maternal wellbeing, neurodivergence, and the transition to parenthood. Its team also works closely with GPs, paediatricians, obstetricians, midwives, child and family health nurses, psychologists, and allied health professionals to provide integrated care. In this field, Breastfeeding & Beyond’s area of specialisation lies in breastfeeding and lactation medicine. The practice manages complex breastfeeding and infant feeding concerns, spanning low milk supply, nipple pain, tongue-tie assessment, breast refusal, feeding aversion, infant growth concerns, relactation, induced lactation, breastfeeding after trauma, and breast feeding in the context of maternal or infant medical conditions. “Our philosophy is that successful care is not simply about helping a baby feed; it is about helping families feel informed, supported, confident, and connected.” B Creating Healthy and Happy Beginnings
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