New Breastfeeding Support Centre

In August 2007, the Mater Mothers’ Hospital (MMH) Breastfeeding Support Centre officially launched its services to the community, as part of International Breastfeeding Week.

The centre is a specialist breastfeeding support service available to all women, both as an inpatient in the Mothers’ public or private hospital, or as a fee for service centre for women who are breastfeeding at home.

The service is run by Lactation Consultants who are experienced in caring for newborn, premature and special needs babies.

“Breastfeeding, like any new skill, can take time to learn and this service has been created to help and support women as they develop their breastfeeding technique,” said Katie Waters, Midwifery Unit Manager at MMH.

The centre, located on level five of MMH, comprises two large feeding support rooms where the consultations take place, a large waiting area with baby change facilities and scales, and a private area for discussing sensitive issues.

West End mother Melissa Fox, Vice President of the Queensland Branch of Maternity Coalition (Australia’s leading maternity consumer organisation) and consumer representative at the Mater welcomed the new service.

“The lack of postnatal support services was highlighted in the Re-Birthing Report. It’s great that Mater has done something to meet these needs of new mothers,” she said.