Please briefly describe your clinical/medical experience to date?
My career as a nurse started when I moved to the UK and started working in an adult acute medical unit in Maidstone Hospital.
Neonates was always my real passion when training in my home country (Portugal), so when the opportunity to work with Neonates arose 4 years later, I took it. NICU at Medway Hospital was my work place for 8 years where I progressed as a nurse and as a person, it showed me the importance of parents’ interaction and bonding with their baby and how breastfeeding plays a huge role in parents experience and overall hospital stay.
During those 8 years I was an active part in achieving the BFI stage 2 and 3 giving the NICU the UNICEF BFI accreditation. After retuning from maternity leave, I was offered the opportunity in taking a lead role in order to help EKHUFT to achieve their UNICEF BFI stage 2 and 3 and increase the breastfeeding rates by giving specialist support.
What motivated you to enter paediatric care in the first place?
Babies are extremely vulnerable, but resilient, and it’s the quick change and recovery that is so rewarding. The fact that we can support the parents and their babies at their most vulnerable and seeing them thrive and strengthen their relationship is what motivates me to do this job.
How will the funding from The Evie Dove Foundation help you to advance your career and your impact/services to children?
At EKHUFT we are currently working towards achieving UNICEF BFI stage 2 and 3 accreditation.
Attending a BFI conference will provide the most up to date research and practice shared by speakers from all over the world. This will allow me to share my knowledge with my colleagues and also improve my practice as an infant feeding and BFI lead for the unit, providing overall better family centred care.
Breastfeeding rates are lower than the national average in Kent, so UNICEF – BFI Neonatal accreditation’s aim is to increase these rates and improve skin to skin, bonding and encourage parents to care for their own babies and participate in the decision making process.
How did you find out about The Evie Dove Foundation?
The AHP team I’m currently part of, have been supported by Evie Dove Foundation in the past and have said nothing but praise about the events they organise and support.
Tell us about yourself!
I’m a mum of two littles (7 and 2 years old) so a lot of my free time is spent with them. I do have a love for baking and reading.
I have recently found the love going out on bike rides with the children so weekends are spent outside while the weather allows.
Anything else you would like to tell us about your experience, future aspirations and motivations?
From July 2026 until June 2027 I’ll be undertaking the IBCLC course to hopefully undertake the board exam later 2027 to provide better support as a Neonatal infant feeding lead.
