Lactation Consultants from our Monash Health Breastfeeding Services are providing education to help raise awareness during World Breastfeeding Week (1 – 7 August 2022).
Monash Health has a Breastfeeding Policy and employs Lactation Consultants across all three maternity sites to assist women and their families achieve their breastfeeding goals. This year, we have also launched online breastfeeding classes for women in pregnancy to improve their understanding of breastfeeding and help them achieve successful breastfeeding experiences.
Dr Marlo Roberts and Dr Kate Naylor recently joined our Breastfeeding Services team as GP Lactation Consultants. As part of their role, Marlo and Kate undertake clinics across our maternity sites to provide lactation assistance, mainly in the postnatal period. This ensures we can offer all-round care for breastfeeding women.
“Our work as Lactation Consultants is incredibly rewarding,” says Marlo. “We assist families to achieve their breastfeeding goals at an often overwhelming yet joyous time in their life, when they bring home a new baby. As we continue to discover the immense benefits of breastfeeding, it’s critical that all patients can access support to breastfeed their baby, if this is what they wish to do.”
World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign run each year by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
This year’s objectives are to Inform, Anchor, Engage and Galvanise.
According to the WABA, governments, health systems, workplaces and communities need to be informed, educated and empowered to strengthen their capacity to provide and sustain breastfeeding-friendly environments for families in the post-pandemic world.
You can find out more about World Breastfeeding Week on their website.
Approved by Andrea Rindt