Women and their families are encouraged to attend free education and support services being held throughout the week at John Hunter Hospital and other venues in Waratah, Armidale, and Tamworth.
HNELHD Clinical Midwifery Consultant Alison Beverley said the events will give women and their families information about breastfeeding and where they can seek local support and assistance.
“Breastfeeding provides all the essential needs for a baby’s growth and development, while also offering enhanced protection from illness and disease. It also has benefits for mum too,” Ms Beverley said.
The 2024 World Breastfeeding Week theme is ‘Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all’.
“It is recommended mothers exclusively breastfeed with no other milks, food or drinks, until their child is around six months old, followed by continued breastfeeding with solid foods until 12 months or longer.
“We understand that breastfeeding can be challenging for some women, especially in the early days. We want to work with parents to ensure they feel supported in making informed feeding choices which are right for them, so they can confidently feed their baby regardless of what feeding method they choose.
“It is essential that no-one is left behind, including mothers in regional and rural communities who may need additional support to breastfeed.”
HNELHD Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Elizabeth Grist said the number of babies being breastfed at birth is increasing across the Hunter and New England regions.
“Across the District, it is pleasing to see that 77 per cent of babies who were born at term are being exclusively breastfed at mother’s discharge from hospital, compared to 65 per cent in 2020,” Ms Grist said.
“We are here to support mothers who would like to breastfeed, as well as women who may not be able to or may choose not to breastfeed.”
