By Laura Michell
New mums who give birth at the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital can now access breastfeeding support in their own language.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association’s western Melbourne group recently donated education booklets about breastfeeding to the new hospital.
The booklets are available in Chinese, Karen/Burmese, Korean, Punjabi, Turkish and Vietnamese and will be available on the postnatal wards, special care nurseries and from the lactation clinic.
Australian Breastfeeding Association member Sharon Phillips said the booklets would help support women in their breastfeeding while at the hospital.
“We want to support women across the west and help them to access all the information they will need,” she said.
“The booklets are based on the feedback we get from the national helpline and cover what parents commonly want to know.
“The books cover a whole range of topics including feeding babies who are in the special care nursery and multiple births. They are also an educational resource for midwives.”
The association also runs peer support groups and antenatal classes, as well as hosting drop-in and information sessions.
Details: www.facebook.com/ABAwesternmelbourne
