2 minute read
Breaking breastfeeding barriers
BREAKING BREASTFEEDING
In recent months a breastfeeding mother was asked to leave Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Queensland after staff deemed it inappropriate. Pacific Fair Shopping Centre maintains the incident was a “misinterpretation”, and was apologetic and vowed to re-educate its staff on its policies, this behaviour still shows that society still has a long way to go to normalise breastfeeding and break these barriers.
Together with Philips Avent, TV star and new mum, Tara Pavlovic is helping to drive change and normalise breastfeeding by sharing what some may say, is a controversial photo of herself nursing her 10-month old baby boy, Paddy. She’s doing this to support the 54% of breastfeeding mums that say they don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in public and to hopefully encourage society to rethink why this important part of motherhood is still widely considered to be controversial. I once heard a quote, “A hungry man is an angry one”… Let me tell you, this also strongly applies to babies (and breastfeeding mothers I might add). I’ve always admired mums who have the courage to post unapologetic photos of themselves while nursing their babies as they share the realities of this important part of motherhood. Breastfeeding or pumping milk, our bodies do amazing things. Before becoming a mum, I never fully understood how the innocent act of breastfeeding in public could be considered so inappropriate by society. And now, as a first time mum, it blew my mind when I heard that 54% of breastfeeding mums don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in public! This World Breast Feeding Week I’ve partnered with Philips Avent to help drive change and be part of a campaign that supports mothers and their breastfeeding journeys. I share this photo of Paddy so that we, along with all of the courageous mums before me, can be a part of the movement that helps to normalise breastfeeding.
With millions of Australian’s locked down due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is calling for dads, partners and loved-ones to champion supporting the needs of mothers this World Breastfeeding Week (1 to 7 August 2021).
For infants, mothers and the community at large to enjoy the health benefits associated with breastfeeding, including the immunity against respiratory illnesses via breastmilk, support from ‘the village’ is essential. Even prior to the pandemic, the support of dads and partners has consistently been shown to significantly improve breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates. More than 60% of mothers seeking breastfeeding support from ABA reported being challenged, fearful or unable to access traditional face-to-face supports during Australia’s first outbreak of COVID-19. In response to this, 64% of mothers sought support to protect their infants by restarting breastfeeding, continuing breastfeeding or increasing milk supply. As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its 18th month, ABA is calling on expectant parents and, especially, dads and partners to build the foundations for a ‘virtual village’ ahead of their newest arrival.
It’s as simple as booking yourself and your partner into an ABA breastfeeding education class (online or in person) and saving the Breastfeeding Helpline number into your phone.
To book an online or in-person breastfeeding education class go to: www.breastfeeding.asn. au/breastfeeding-education-classes and for information about local World Breastfeeding Week events see here: www.breastfeeding.asn. au/calendar-of-member-events.
