Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week—chat live with our breastfeeding experts

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (1 to 7 August), Mater Mothers' Hospitals will host a live web chat with Mater midwives and lactation consultants Julie Germain and Lyn Ahearn.

Julie and Lyn will be online from 10 am to 11 am on Thursday 6 August to chat about basic technique, feeding patterns, milk supply and any other questions you may have about breastfeeding, pregnancy or the early days of parenthood.

The web chat is free to access for all members of our Mater's Mothers’ group. Membership is free—so if you would like to join us visit our Mater's Mothers’ group login page and sign up to become a member.

On Thursday 6 August at 10 am simply head to our Mater's Mothers’ group login page and sign in.

We look forward to chatting with you!

Our experts

Julie has been a midwife for over 25 years, including 16 years as a lactation consultant, and has previous experience as a volunteer counsellor for the Australian Breastfeeding Association. A proud mum of two, she required support with breastfeeding despite her experience, so is passionate about ensuring that women have access to support throughout their breastfeeding journey. Currently, Julie’s role as Mater Mothers’ Hospitals’ Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Coordinator sees her work closely with the centre to assist families with their feeding needs.

Lyn has been a neonatal nurse for 25 years and a lactation consultant for 13 years. Working predominately with mums and babies in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit, Lyn often sees mothers’ journeys from birth to discharge. Her work includes anything from assisting mums with milk supply issues, blocked ducts, establishing breastfeeding to preparing for discharge and continuing their breastfeeding journey at home. Birth and breastfeeding can be an emotional journey, and seeing mums and babies forming a breastfeeding bond is something that Lyn finds truly rewarding.

World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually (1 to 7 August). This year’s theme, as established by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), is "Breastfeeding and work – Let’s make it work!" which encourages women to be empowered and supported to combine work with child-rearing, particularly breastfeeding.

Research shows that babies who receive only breast milk for the first six months of life are less likely to develop a wide range of chronic and acute diseases, including ear infections, diarrheal diseases, asthma, obesity, and respiratory illnesses. Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding with a decreased risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

Mater’s Breastfeeding Support Centre

Mater’s Breastfeeding Support Centre is available to support mothers throughout their breastfeeding experience. The centre offers sessions for pregnant and postnatal women in hospital free of charge, or on a fee-for-service basis for women who are breastfeeding at home.

The centre runs classes for women during pregnancy, including breastfeeding preparation and a diabetic clinic to provide breastfeeding and expressing information for pregnant women with diabetes. All services are run by qualified lactation consultants who are experienced in caring for newborn, premature and special needs babies.

Mater’s Breastfeeding Support Centre is open from 7.30 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). For further information, phone 07 3163 8200.