Hallo, I’m Katinka!
Welcome to my private practice in Harare. I offer services to support families with babies in breastfeeding, including healing laser treatments for sore nipples and wound healing, parenting and baby massage, rental services for home based jaundice treatment and breastpumps.
Supporting you to support your baby.
As a Lactation Consultant IBCLC, I accompany you on your breastfeeding journey from pregnancy to weaning.
Whether you want to get breastfeeding off to a good start, you want to make sure everything is going well, you have a concrete breastfeeding challenge or just find breastfeeding hard, I am here for you.
I have experience with breastfeeding preterm babies, babies with challenges to latch, painful breastfeeding, induced lactation for adoption/surrogacy, pumping and expressing, low milk supply and many more.
Baby massage is an amazing experience for both parents and baby. The massage techniques are very easy to learn and its benefits go far beyond the immediate physiologic gains.
Interaction: Promotes bonding and secure attachment, feeling loved, respected and valued.
Stimulation: Stimulates all bodily functions, including digestion, increased awareness.
Relief: Helps relieve gas and colic, constipation and elimination, growing pains and muscular tension, teething discomfort and cramps.
Relaxation: Improved sleep patterns, improves muscle tone, increased calmness, reduced crying.
Classes are for 0-12 months, including preemies, special needs babies up to 7 years. Classes take place in small groups up to 6 babies, online or one-on one.
A class consists of 5 sessions once a week. This allows you to learn all the strokes, and allows your baby to get used to the massage. You will learn massage stokes for legs, feet, stomach, chest, arms, hands, face and back, a colic routine, gentle movements and touch relaxation. Strokes are demonstrated using a doll, a little at a time to ensure that babies are not overstimulated and respected. Only parents massage their own baby.
Our classes are baby led, so do not be concerned about the class coinciding with sleep or feed times. Spare dolls are available to practice on if your baby is sleeping. As our classes are all about communication it really is fine if your baby cries as this is naturally one of the ways they express their needs. Do not hesitate to join because you have a “difficult” baby.
I am a wife, a mother of three, a carer, a professional and a business woman.
I have been a La Leche League Leader since 2014 and a Lactation Consultant IBCLC since 2017.
Katinka Breastfeeding Private Practice opened in March 2016. I have a consultation room at my house for families from out of town but prefer to do home or hospital visits. I charge for my services because I have to, but I do pro-bono work here and there for families in need and donate my time and expertise to different support groups.
I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. IBCLC’s are healthcare professionals who specialise in the clinical management of breastfeeding.
I am training to become a Certified Infant Massage Instructor CIMI through the International Association of Infant Massage IAIM.
I am trained in Low Level Laser Therapy and the Possums Sleep Programme .
I am registered with the Traditional Medical Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe TMPCZ and the Zimbabwe Association of Natural Health Practitioners ZANHP.
I am a member of International Lactation Consultant Association ILCA and serve on the board of the Lactation Consultants of Southern-& Africa LACSA.
