Despite recommendations, Gold Coast mums seem to be cutting the time spent breastfeeding their children short.
Today, a free breastfeeding support group was launched, to help encourage new mums to continue the important practice.
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A great idea, but those services are already supplied by the Australian Breastfeeding Association and its local groups on the Gold Coast.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association also provides, with funding support from the Australian government, a 24 hour, 7 day a week toll-free number for breastfeeding support: 1800 686 268
That’s great for the Australian Breastfeeding Assoc,but it obviously hasn’t got the message out ,if the need was there for this group to start up.
Please, for 50 years Australian Breastfeeding Assn has had volunteers helping mothers to Breastfeed. The sad thing is why does another group think that it is needed when ABA has lead the training,fought the discriminations and battled with the media in every aspect of mothers rights to Breastfeed. Sure, the more outlets out there for mothers who need help to feed their babies is good but it just means another organisation out there trying to get the limited funding available to groups. The Lactation resource centre is a world first Drs to get info to help mums, a lot of resources have been gathered in 50 years.
My Midwives Gold Coast is starting this initiative with support from ABA NOT instead of ABA. We recognize women often prefer to learn off their peers particularly as they progress past the first 6 weeks after birth, when our “formal” care as their midwife ends. Even after our period of care is over we encourage all women and their families to remain a part of the My Midwives Community ,so we had this wonderful group of experienced breastfeeding women willing to share their experiences with those who were just beginning the BF journey.
Every fortnight we welcome all women (you do not have to be a client)to a free discussion and morning tea and it was through these meetings we observed the peer support happening. This is why we decided to formalize breastfeeding support with the introduction of ‘My Breast Friend.” We recognize and value the years of experience of ABA and see this initiative as another way to promote BF and support women to successfully BF particularly within our community. As we use ABA resources it can only increase the awareness of ABA.. This is a free service provided by women of the My Midwives Gold Coast Community and also sponsored by Medulla. We will not be competing with ABA for funding. See FB for our free morning tea/discussion group times. We look forward to seeing you all.
Australian Breastfeeding Association is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which offers Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education (Counselling) and Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education (Community). There is lots of information about breastfeeding, as well as how to train to be a counsellor or community educator. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.
Sharon, Do you refer women to ABA? I suspect that would be more sustainable for long term breastfeeding support 🙂