31 July 2008

Going for gold during Breastfeeding Awareness Week

During Breastfeeding Awareness Week (1 – 8 August) South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health (SESIH) midwives and early childhood nurses will be highlighting the importance of breastfeeding.

August is also Olympic month and staff will be offering continued support for mothers in achieving the gold standard of infant feeding: breastfeeding exclusively for six months, and providing appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for up to two years, and beyond.

Southern Hospital Network Manager for Women’s and Babies’ Health, Deborah Cameron, said that staff promote, support and encourage breastfeeding of all newborn babies.

"Evidence shows that there is a greater success of breastfeeding when a baby is initiated to the mother’s breast within 30 minutes of being born," Ms Cameron said.

"At birth all women are encouraged to have ‘skin to skin’ contact with their newborn within the first half hour following birth as this helps to keep the newborn appropriately warm, less stressed and calmer which assists to achieve an optimal breastfeeding experience.

“For those mothers who have had a planned caesarean birth, a ‘breastfeed in recovery’ program has commenced whereby a midwife will be with the mother in the recovery room to assist her to attach the newborn baby within the first half hour of its life,” she said.

Breastfeeding Support Drop-In Groups have also commenced in the Illawarra and provide families with the information and support to maintain breastfeeding once they take their baby home. At the Groups child and family health nurses provide practical ideas, answer questions and assist mothers with breastfeeding issues.

There are many advantages to a breastfed infant, including the unique nature of human milk that is perfect – nutritionally, immunologically and developmentally. To the mother, it provides the obvious benefits of convenience and closeness, and decreases a woman’s fertility and risk of ovarian and breast cancer, and osteoporosis.

A mother’s need for support to breastfeed and assistance to face the challenges she may face is vital, and when support is provided to a breastfeeding mother, evidence indicates that the duration of breastfeeding is increased.

Ms Cameron said that one of the greatest challenges for women is breastfeeding their baby when out in public.

"Even though breastfeeding education has come a long way, many mothers still feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public due to a perception that it is unacceptable. New mothers can also feel self-conscious about breastfeeding in front of others and this is one of the reasons women stop breastfeeding early," Ms Cameron said.

"Women are encouraged to breastfeed at the Drop-In Groups offered to increase their confidence and obtain tips and support from other women," she said.

Breastfeeding Support Drop-In Groups are held at the Community Health Centres at Albion Park, Fairy Meadow and Horsley. For information contact your nearest Child and Family Health Clinic under Community Health Centres in the white pages.

Media photo opportunity:

Media contact: South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health