Hello!

I am the Peer Support Programme Administrator for the Dunedin, Clutha and Waitaki areas.  I have two grown children and a granddaughter, and live with my family and our dogs in Macandrew Bay.

I qualified with a Diploma in Breastfeeding Counselling from the University of Bedfordshire in the UK and have been working with breastfeeding families in the UK and NZ for over 20 years, and am also a Certified Healing Birth Practitioner.  I created The Breast Room in Dunedin which is a registered charity back in 2011, write articles for Kiwiparent magazine and published the book Mamas in Lockdown. 

Aside from my passion to help families with their feeding questions and concerns, I enjoy learning, trying to play saxophone, reading, knitting and attempting crochet!

I'd love for all parents to feel happy about their decisions on how to feed their baby (whatever that choice may look like), and would love them to have the help they need right when they need it, so if you have questions or concerns, before or after your baby is born, then drop me a text or email, or pop in to The Breast Room on a Thursday morning, 10.30am to 12.30pm.  My email is denise.ives@thebreastroom.org