Mater celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

Breastfeeding mums and mums-to-be are invited to take part in a celebration and open day at Mater’s Breastfeeding Support Centre this Friday (2 August).

The open day, as part of World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) will give visitors a chance to meet Mater’s lactation consultants who will share the benefits of breastfeeding, answer questions, offer expert tips and more.

Visitors will also have the chance to win a $350 gift pack which includes a NUK Mini Electric Breast Pump.

Mater Breastfeeding Support Centre lactation consultant Alex Read said breastfeeding, like any new skill, could take time to learn.

“Our centre was created to help and support women as they develop their breastfeeding technique,” she said.

Mater Breastfeeding Support Centre’s open day schedule

9 am—Drop in and meet a lactation consultant

9.30 am—Antenatal breastfeeding session: Preparing to breastfeed your baby

10 am—Morning tea (on the terrace, Level 7, Mater Mothers’ Hospitals)

11 am—Australian Breastfeeding Association session

11.30 am— Antenatal breastfeeding session: Preparing to breastfeed your baby

12.30 pm—Postnatal breastfeeding session: Now my baby is here, what do I need to know?

1 pm—Special Care Nursery education session: Feeding special needs babies, preterm babies and multiples.  (Please note: This session to be held in Conference Room 5.3, Level 5).

Mater Mothers' experts will also be at the Browns Plains Terry White Chemists store on Thursday 1 August.  Come along between 9am to 3pm to meet our Midwife and Lactation Consultant for tips and advice with breastfeeding and baby care.

Now in its 17th year, World Breastfeeding Week aims to "raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding, increase social acceptance of breastfeeding and promote support for breastfeeding".

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Close to mothers’. Click on the video below to see Mater Mothers’ Hospital’s Parent Education and Support Manager Michelle Kelly talk about this year’s theme.

Mater's Breastfeeding Support Centre is available to women, both patients in the hospital or as a fee-for-service "drop in" centre, who are breastfeeding at home.

The centre is located on Level 7, Mater Mothers’ Hospitals.  For more information, phone 07 3163 8200.