I’m Melissa, the founder of Nurtured Steps. I’m a qualified Endorsed Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, but above all, I’m a mum to three amazing children.

Motherhood completely changed the way I see early parenthood. While my professional experience gives me clinical knowledge, it was my own journey through pregnancy, birth and parenting that really taught me just how challenging those first weeks and months can be. The exhaustion, the questions, the loneliness, the frustration and the moments of self-doubt. It was not at all what I expected motherhood to be like, and a lot of the time, I really did feel broken.

That experience shaped the kind of care I wanted to offer other mothers and led me to Nurtured Steps. I wanted to create a space where new mummas could say, “I’m tired, I’m overwhelmed, I’m not sure what I’m doing, I need help,” and know that they would be met with kindness, understanding and absolutely no judgement. Somewhere they could talk openly, ask questions and have someone beside them who would genuinely listen and help in any way I could.

Nurtured Steps allows me to bring together everything I have learned throughout my years as a midwife and lactation consultant with the understanding, empathy and perspective that comes from being a mum myself. I know how vulnerable those early days can feel, and how much it can mean to have someone beside you who believes in you when you might be struggling to believe in yourself.

Whether you’re preparing for your first baby, navigating feeding challenges, finding your feet with the juggle of a new baby and a toddler, or simply looking for some reassurance that you’re on the right track, my hope is that you leave our time together feeling supported, understood and a little more confident in yourself and your journey.

It is such a privilege to be welcomed into a family’s home during such a precious time, and I never take that trust for granted. I genuinely love what I do, and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to support mums and their babies through those early days, offering not just clinical knowledge and practical guidance, but a safe space to feel heard, cared for and never alone.

Education:

2007 Bachelor of Nursing - Murdoch University
2008 Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery - Edith Cowan University
2022 International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Examination
2023 28 Hour Foundation Course in Orofacial Myology - The Australian Orofacial Myology Collaboration

2025 Graduate Diploma in Midwifery (Midwifery Endorsement) - Edith Cowan University