Nicole Bando 

Dietitian & Lactation Consultant B.Nutr.Diet., APD, IBCLC, Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education (Counselling), Certificate of Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics

 

Clinical Interests:

Nicole is a specialist Paediatric and Women’s Health Dietitian and Lactation Consultant, with a range of clinical interests. In infants through to early adolescence, this includes growth and breast/mixed feeding, fussy eating, food allergies and intolerances, progression onto solids, obesity, gastrointestinal issues (e.g. low FODMAP diets), vegetarian and vegan diets. In Women’s Health, Nicole’s interests include nutrition for fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding nutrition, hormonal changes (e.g. PCOS, endometriosis and menopause), gestational diabetes, weight management and gastrointestinal issues (e.g. low FODMAP diets).

 

Nicole provides support with a range of breastfeeding concerns including: antenatal breastfeeding education, sore nipples/breasts, low and over supply, positioning and attachment, mastitis, thrush, vasospasm, white spot, breast refusal, fussy babies, sleep and settling.

 

Background and Experience:

A personal understanding of the nutrition and feeding difficulties many women experience led Nicole to change career direction, to family nutrition and feeding. Nicole worked as a clinical dietitian at The Alfred Hospital for 15 years and has a wealth of acute clinical experience across many areas; most recently in critical care. After having her two children, she qualified as a Breastfeeding Counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association, and continues to support women on the National Breastfeeding Helpline. Desire to know more led her to qualify as a Lactation Consultant and complete paediatric nutrition training.

 

Nicole delivers nutrition education to various demographics, including primary schools, kindergartens, the fitness industry, community groups and professional colleagues. She is engaged in enhancing school nutrition policy towards best practice and designs menus for childcare organisations.

 

Practice Philosophy:

Nicole understands the challenges involved with feeding a growing family, in a busy world of often conflicting nutrition information. Nicole’s approach is holistic and evidence-based, with a strong focus on sustainable nutrition and feeding advice to support optimal health and growth which can be integrated into a family’s lifestyle, to nurture them throughout the spectrum of life, always with warmth and empathy.