Sunshine Coast Health Lactation Consultants Katie (left) and Nicole (right)
This World Breastfeeding Week, we would love to introduce you to two of our Lactation Consultants here at Sunshine Coast Health Katie and Nicole!
Katie has been a midwife for 22 years and became a lactation consultant 16 years ago when she moved to the Sunshine Coast from Scotland. Nicole began her journey to become a Lactation Consultant in 2020 after being a midwife for around 5 years and joined Katie in October last year.
Learn more about their important role within Sunshine Coast Health below!
Can you please explain the role of a lactation consultant at Sunshine Coast Health?
Our role at Sunshine Coast Health is predominantly midwife referrals in maternity inpatients and neonatal unit. Lactation Services also provides breastfeeding classes for families, face to face and online. Staff education is ongoing throughout the year with breastfeeding workshops available for staff to attend, always striving to give consistent, up to date information to our families.
Why are you passionate about helping mothers breastfeed?
Breastfeeding can be achieved without sore nipples and problems but unfortunately our society believes that nipple damage and pain is something we should put up with. Cultural impact has affected breastfeeding practices and society has a huge impact on families. Our passion lies with empowering women to attach their babies well to their breast, avoiding nipple damage. This is one of the main reasons people stop breastfeeding before they want to, so we believe if this part can be avoided, then with ongoing support women should be able to reach their goals.
The theme for 2024 is Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all. What does this mean to you, and what support does SCUH offer?
We offer breastfeeding support to all, and it is important to learn from our ancestry and cultures as they are the ones that breastfed successfully. “Closing the gap” is an excellent theme for this year ensuring support for all in the community.
How can loved ones best support a mother during her breastfeeding journey?
The best way to support a mother to reach her feeding goals is to offer practical help to both her and the father. If support people can focus on offering emotional and practical support such as nappy changes, settling, cooking, cleaning or making snacks for mum , then she can stay close to the baby. The mum staying close to the baby is what helps to keep her milk supply going.
What is your top piece of advice for expectant/new mothers when it comes to breastfeeding?
My top piece of advice with breastfeeding is time and patience.
What is the most common question you get asked?
A very common question is when I can express my milk to give a bottle for my partner to help with feeding? This maybe something that families would like to do but the early weeks are important for establishing milk supply and helping your baby get used to the flow of milk from the breast. Holding off with this to at least 4-6 weeks has been shown to have less impact on the breastfeeding relationship and establishing feeding.
By next year, the World Health Organisation would like to see at least 50 per cent of mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months. According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data (2022), 37.5 per cent of babies in Australia are breastfed to 6 months.