Grampians Health celebrates World Breastfeeding Week with enhanced support services for new mothers
This week, we are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 2023 with an aim to empower and support breastfeeding mothers while promoting health benefits for both infants and mothers.
The theme for this year, as set by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), is ‘Enabling breastfeeding: making a difference for working parents.’
“We are proud to join the worldwide effort in promoting breastfeeding and supporting the well-being of mothers and babies not just this week but every week,” said Jane Rentsch, the Maternity Services Manager at Grampians Health Horsham.
“Our Maternity Outpatient Clinic offers a full-time Lactation Service, featuring specialised lactation consultants to assist families in the Wimmera region.
“On discharge from Grampians Health Horsham, over 75% of babies are exclusively breastfed. However, this figure drops to approximately 40% by the time infants reach 6 months of age.
“Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months has many benefits for the infant and the mother. Breastfeeding has also been linked to higher IQ levels, improved school attendance, and increased income in adulthood. Additionally, early initiation of breastfeeding significantly protects newborns from infections and reduces infant mortality.”
Grampians Health’s Lactation Service at the Maternity Outpatients Clinic in Horsham offers valuable assistance to new mothers facing common breastfeeding challenges.
“Women can seek support and advice regarding painful nipples, milk supply issues, breast pumps and bottle choices, breastfeeding with a history of breast surgery, medications and breastfeeding, multiple pregnancies, and cleft lip/palate,” said Ms Rentsch.
“We also offer hospital-grade breast pumps for hire through the Maternity Outpatients Clinic to further assist new mothers.”
As part of our efforts to provide further support, we are pleased to announce the launch of newly developed postnatal breastfeeding class, designed for families approximately two weeks postpartum. Conducted by certified lactation consultants, the class runs for approximately two hours and encourages open discussion and Q&A sessions.
“This class provides a nurturing environment where parents and their babies can gather at the Maternity Outpatients Clinic to discuss various topics, including feeding frequency, baby sleep patterns, milk supply, engorgement, mastitis, and tongue ties,” said Ms Rentsch.
If you would like more information, would like to sign up for Grampians Health Horsham’s postnatal breastfeeding class or require access to other breastfeeding support services contact the Maternity Outpatients Clinic at 53819010. Self-referral is encouraged for those seeking support from a lactation consultant.
