Breastfeeding and lactation

COVID-19

Due to state safety restrictions, information on this page may be subject to change. Please see our COVID-19 information for the latest details and how you may be affected.

Our maternity teams offer professional care and guidance to help with your breastfeeding and lactation - both during your hospital stay and once you return home with your new baby.

Breastfeeding is a skill which is learned by both the mother and baby. If you choose to breastfeed, we're here to help you. That’s why you’ll find such a wide range of breastfeeding and lactation support services on offer at our hospital.

Our support services

St John of God Health Care supports the World Health Organisation’s recommendations for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.

Our caregivers support you by providing the best information and guidance available, whatever choice you make to suit you and your baby’s needs.

• Build the knowledge and skills of breastfeeding mothers
• Support you and your baby to achieve successful breastfeeding
• Aim to increase the incidence and duration of breastfeeding

During your pregnancy

Our hospital offers a range of parent education classes, including antenatal (pre-birth) classes that focus on building your confidence in what to expect from breastfeeding.

While in hospital

Our midwives and nurses are experienced in supporting new mums with breastfeeding and lactation. We can also provide highly qualified lactation consultants where needed.

Once at home

Many of our breastfeeding and lactation support services are available for patients when they are back home too. These may include home visits by midwives, telephone support, and breastfeeding clinic (where extra assistance is required).

What we can help you with

• Difficulty attaching your baby to the breast
• Sore, cracked or inverted nipples
• Too much or too little milk
• Mastitis
• Engorgement and/or breast pain
• Unsettled/unhappy baby
• Baby not gaining weight
• Refusal of breast by your baby
• Difficulty expressing milk
• Breastfeeding twins
• Breastfeeding a premature baby

Some benefits in breastfeeding your baby

• Breast milk is specifically formulated to meet all your baby’s nutritional needs for the first six months
• Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from gastroenteritis, respiratory illness and middle ear infection
• Breastfed babies have a decreased risk of allergies and an increased resistance to infections, along with many other health benefits
• It can help with positive mother-baby bonding

Some benefits for breastfeeding mothers

• Breastfeeding hormones will help you relax and give you a feeling of wellbeing
• It promotes a faster recovery from childbirth in mothers
• Breastfeeding reduces the health risks of osteoporosis and bone fractures, and the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers in later life
• It can help with positive mother-baby bonding

For more information on breastfeeding

• Australian Breastfeeding Association