***Key Points***
Education and preparation is key to get your breastfeeding journey off to a great start.
Get empowered by understanding how breastfeeding works and what to expect early on in your pregnancy.
Support is available both privately and in the community throughout your pregnancy, during your hospital stay and well into the postnatal period
***Key Points***
***Antenatal***
Even though babies are born with the natural reflex to suck, learning how to breastfeeding is really like a dance that the two of you need to work out together. During your pregnancy is a great time to start thinking about what your breastfeeding goals are and the information and support systems you can access to get your journey off to the best start.
Most hospitals have a dedicated team of lactation consultants that run antenatal breastfeeding education sessions and have a lot of available resources. There are also a lot of community run and private organisations that run these types of classes and a quick online search will provide you with countless options both online and close to your home. Education is key to understanding what is normal especially in those first few days and what to expect over the coming weeks is really important. Try to access as many evidence-based resources as possible to inform you. Some great options include:
- The Australian Breastfeeding Association
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
***Antenatal***
***In Hospital***
The midwives in hospital are a depth of knowledge to support you in your breastfeeding journey. Most hospitals will also have a dedicated team of lactation consultants that offer both in-patient and out-patient appointments.
***In Hospital***
***At Home***
Depending on the hospital, some will provide a domiciliary service of midwives that will come and visit you at home in the first few days after going home. Most public hospitals offer this as a free service and some private hospitals will offer it at an extra charge so it’s worth checking what is available
The Maternal and Child Health Nurse is a free universal primary health service and will generally provide this first visit at your home in the first week or two after birth. All subsequent visits until you child is school age will be in their community centres. Many centres will offer breastfeeding drop in sessions or additional scheduled support sessions and access to lactation consultants. Once your baby is born, the hospital will refer you to this service and they will contact you in the first week after birth. Details of this service can be found here:
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/primary-and-community-health/maternal-and-child-health-service
There are also a number of private Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants that you are able to hire and will most often provide home visits too. It is important to note that not everyone that says they are a lactation consultant is an accredited IBCLC. To be an IBCLC means extensive theoretical and practical training and to pass certification through an international examining body.
LCANZ (Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand has a great database of IBCLC’s registered as members with them and you are able to search via postcode to find someone close to you.
https://www.lcanz.org/find-a-lactation-consultant/
The Australian Breastfeeding Association is an invaluable support that offers a range of services including a 24 hour breastfeeding hotline, local support groups, breastfeeding classes and digital resources.
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
***At Home***
References
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/primary-and-community-health/maternal-and-child-health-service
