Breast milk provides a baby with all the nutrients they need in their first six months of life, but the number of babies exclusively breastfed throughout this time is on the decline.
To promote breastfeeding awareness and education across the region, Epworth Geelong recently hosted ‘One Big Mother’s Group’.
The gathering was a complimentary morning tea for new mums held during World Breastfeeding Week.
Fashion stylist, radio presenter and mum of three, Renee Enright joined more than 50 Geelong mums and their bubs for the event.
Enright says she wanted to support Epworth Geelong’s One Big Mother’s Group and share her story about spending a week in hospital after developing mastitis.
“I thought it was important to be here to talk about my experience with mastitis,” she said.
“I wasn’t aware of how sick you could get, so (I’m) just spreading that message on the need to act on it fast to prevent others from ending up where I ended up,” she said.
After finding out she was septic after presenting to ED with mastitis, Enright considered not continuing to breastfeed daughter Luna due to the fear of becoming so unwell again.
With the support of Epworth Geelong Lactation Consultant Donna Christison, she built up her confidence and is still breastfeeding Luna, who is five months old.
“I think it’s really important to put as much conversation out there for women …there’s so much chatter about fed is best, but it’s important to support women to make the decision,” she said.
Epworth Geelong Nurse Unit Manager Maternity Gabby Ryan says it’s important women know that support networks are available to them.
“It’s really all about promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding into the future, while also supporting women’s feeding choices.”
Epworth Geelong lactation consultant Donna Christison says women still experience judgement and bias when it comes to feeding choices.
“It’s about seeing breastfeeding as a social norm in public without women feeling ashamed and empowering women in workplaces and getting that message out there.”
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 – 7 August to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, and improve the health of babies around the world.
The annual event is a global campaign coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) that aims to inform, anchor, engage and galvanise action on breastfeeding and related issues. The #WBW2019 theme was ‘Empower parents, enable breastfeeding’.
