Breastfeeding Myths, Tongue Ties and Joey: What We Learned at the Big MOB Mum Meet-Up

Sasha, the co-founder of children’s healthcare platform, Joey, speaking about why she built Joey to support families. Hosted by the brilliant Katie O’Malley.

Mums Who Build, also known as The MOB, is a UK-based community supporting mums and female founders through expert-led events, business opportunities, leadership development, education and career support. Our Big MOB Mum Meet-Ups take place every Friday morning at CRATE Walthamstow and are open to all mums navigating motherhood, business, career transitions and the messy in-between.

To mark the end of World Breastfeeding Week, this Friday’s session focused on those early parenting days. The ones filled with questions, feeding challenges and so much learning. Whether you're a first-time mum or juggling your second or third, our sessions are designed to give you practical insight, connection and confidence.

We were joined by two incredible women from the Joey team: Giulia, a lactation consultant and tongue tie expert, and Sasha, co-founder of Joey, a new kind of paediatric support service for parents.

Hosting the session was Katie O’Malley, award-winning editor, broadcaster and founder of @alongwaytogoclub. Katie guided the conversation with honesty, warmth and a deep understanding of what matters most to mums in those early months.

Giulia’s 5 Breastfeeding Myths (Busted)

Giulia opened the session with clarity, reassurance and real expertise. She shared five of the most common breastfeeding myths that often leave new mums feeling confused, unsure or overwhelmed.

1. “Breastfeeding will come naturally.”
 Breastfeeding is a learned skill for both mum and baby. It often takes time, support and practice to establish.

2. “Nipple pain is normal and will go away on its own.”
 Ongoing pain usually means something isn’t quite right. You don’t need to push through it alone. There is help available.

3. “You must avoid bottles for the first 6 weeks.”
 This is not true for every baby or every situation. Bottles can be introduced in a way that supports breastfeeding depending on technique, timing and your baby’s needs.

4. “Pumping is a true reflection of your milk supply.”
 A breast pump is not a baby. Pumping output isn’t a reliable measure of how much milk you're producing.

5. “Baby will happily settle in the cot after a feed.”
 Many babies want closeness and comfort after feeding. This is completely normal and not a sign you’re doing anything wrong.

If you're finding breastfeeding difficult, you're not alone. Check-out the Joey team on Instagram at @askjoeynow for information on how they can support you.

team pic - Katie O’Malley, Ex Digital Director of ELLE UK and FOunder of A Long Way To Go, Sasha the co-founder of Children’s healthcare platform Joey, Georgie Harris Co-Founder of Mums Who Build and Giulia Lactation consultant and tongue tie expert.

Sasha on Joey: A Paediatrician in Your Pocket

Following Giulia’s session, Katie turned the conversation to Sasha, co-founder of Joey, to unpack what the platform actually is, how it works and what makes it different.

Sasha described Joey as

“Like having a paediatrician in your pocket. Or a friend who happens to be a paediatrician.”

At its core, Joey helps parents make better decisions about their child’s health. Right now, that means connecting families with a dedicated clinical team through WhatsApp. Once you subscribe, either monthly or annually, you're assigned a paediatric GP and a paediatric nurse. From there, you can start messaging right away.

“The setup is quick. You sign up on the website, and your team takes it from there. They’ll ask some relevant questions to understand your child’s background, but only what’s needed in that moment. Over time, they get to know you and your family, so the advice becomes more personal and responsive.”

Joey was built to help parents feel supported, not judged.

“There’s so much information out there. But it’s not just about medical facts. It’s about what you know about your child, what you’re comfortable with and your own values as a family. Like how you feel about antibiotics or steroids. That matters too.”

Joey is not anti-antibiotics. But Sasha pointed out that 49% of children under four in the UK have had antibiotics, often for things that would have resolved on their own.

“We want parents to feel confident in those moments. Joey helps them make informed decisions and feel seen.”

Looking ahead, Sasha hopes Joey will have a bigger impact.

“I think the word ‘empowerment’ gets thrown around a lot, but in parenting and healthcare, it really matters. Parents are often told to ignore their gut. I want Joey to help people trust their instincts and get support when they need it.”

There’s also a research side to the platform. Because formal trials on children can be unethical, there are many things we still don’t fully understand in paediatrics. Sasha shared one example.

“Eczema is currently treated with a lot of trial and error. But maybe there are subtypes we haven’t identified. Through anonymised insights from Joey, we could start understanding things like this and improve treatment.”

You can learn more or sign up at www.askjoeynow.com.

Join Us Next Time

🗓 Every Friday, 9:30–11am
 📍 CRATE Walthamstow (@cratewalthamstow)
 ☕ 10% off food and drink at @perkyblenders
 🎟 Free to attend. Just RSVP via the eventbrite links on our events page here

Each Big MOB Mum Meet-Up offers space for connection, conversation and practical support. Whether you’re building a business, returning to work or figuring out what comes next, you’ll find community here.

There’s also free co-working space available after every session for those who want to stay and get things done with likeminded mums.

Looking for ongoing support?

Join MOB+, our low-cost paid membership. Get 24/7 access to our WhatsApp community, digital resources, peer networks and expert-led support for mums building businesses, growing careers or working toward financial independence.

Whether you're navigating maternity leave, launching a side hustle or stepping into leadership for the first time, MOB+ is your space to take action and grow with confidence.

A relaxed Friday morning at CRATE Walthamstow, where mums filled the amazing CRATE Walthamstow with pushchairs, laptops, and warm conversation. The buzz of connection was real as everyone leaned in to learn, share, and support one another.