BREASTFEEDING PROMOTION
Breastmilk is a complete food: it contains everything a baby needs to grow strong and healthy.
Only breastmilk contains all the nutrients, antibodies, hormones, immune factors and antioxidants baby needs to thrive. Colostrum immediately following birth, and the breastmilk that follows, protects babies from illness and infection.
Research has established that breastmilk provides protection from chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
Breastfeeding also assists mother’s recovery following birth and has long-term health benefits for mothers such as reduced risks of heart disease, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Basic facts about breastmilk
Breastmilk is:
- natural, fresh and the best nutrient for all babies
- perfectly suited to each baby
- always safe and free from microbes and other contaminants
- ready at all times, without cost or any special spending
- perfectly suited and easily digested by baby’s small stomach
- strengthens the immune system and contributes to the development of muscle and bone
- meets the water requirements of baby - there is no need for extra water
- aids the development of babies eyesight, speech and intelligence
- For more information visit the UNICEF website http://www.unicef.org/
The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding with the introduction of suitable family foods for up to two years - and beyond.
How Ballarat compares
Did you know that Ballarat's breastfeeding rates are consistently lower than the state, metropolitan, regional and Grampians averages.
Current figures show there were only three in ten Ballarat babies still breastfed at six months.
What can I do?
There are many ways you, your business or community group can support breastfeeding in our community.
Would you like to display a Breastfeeding Welcome Here sticker on the door of your shop or office? If you have a welcoming attitude to breastfeeding, are smoke free and accessible for prams, you can.
Perhaps you can set up a baby care room where families can feed and change a baby or toddler when out and about?
Would your business like to become breastfeeding-friendly by developing policy around employee breaks for breastfeeding or expressing breastmilk and, eventually, seeking Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Accreditation?
Breastfeeding Charter
The City of Ballarat’s Breastfeeding Charter provides a simple three-step guide to the options available.
1. Adopt Charter
- Put window sticker up
- Brief staff
- Seek accreditation
2. Ongoing Support
- Tell us what works
- Ask for more info
- Attend a workshop
3. Register
Why not take the first step by registering your support. It is free to register.
To register click here.
Council's Breastfeeding facilitor can provide more information and discuss other ways that might suit your business, organisation or group.
For more information contact Council's Promoting Breastfeeding Facilitator Lisa Thorneycroft on 5320 5676 or email breastfeeding@ballarat.vic.gov.au or click here.
Breastfeeding Charter Signatories
- APROTCH
- Australian Catholic University
- Babyworld
- BADAC
- Ballarat Books
- Ballarat Home Educatoin
- Ballarat Maternity Coalition
- Ballarat Medical Centre
- Ballarat Turf Club
- Best Start
- Body Wise Birth
- Body Wise Massage Therapy
- BREAZE
- Buninyong Medical Centre
- Cafe Best
- Cafe Phoenix
- Canadian Lead Primary School
- Centacare Catholic Diocese Ballarat
- Central Highlands Regional Library
- Central Square
- Child & Family Services
- Cooinda Centre
- Delacombe Community House
- Delacombe Renewal
- Hire for Baby
- Elysium Day Spa
- Hog's Breath Cafe
- Kiro Kids
- Little Graduates Children's Centre
- Little Monkeys
- Mason Brown IT
- Meridian Lines Complimentary Therapies
- Occasional Child Care Centre
- Office of Catherine King
- PACT community support
- PINARC
- Quargo Pty Ltd
- Sebastopol Community Health Centre
- SMB Children's Cnetre
- SMB School of Humanities
- Stockland Wendouree
- Sturt Street Community Health Centre
- The Bean Barn
- The Games Cove
- Three Little Words
- UFS Dispensaries
- Women's Health Grampians
- YHQ - Youth Head Quarters
Project evaluation
The goal of the Promoting Breastfeeding Project is to:
- Increase breastfeeding rates in line with national targets
- Raise awareness in the wider Ballarat community about the importance of breastfeeding
- Strengthen the capacity and commitment of the professional and business sector in Ballarat to support and protect breastfeeding
- Improve awareness, knowledge and skills amongst parents by providing up to date, accurate and local information
- Develop supportive environments: schools, hospitals, workplaces, shopping centres etc
On completion if the Action Plan (2005 - 2010) an independent evaluation of the Best Start Promoting Breastfeeding Project actions and initiatives was undertaken and is now complete and the new Action Plan (2011 - 2014) has been developed. The evaluation can be viewed by clicking here. To view the Action Plan 2011 - 2014 click here.
Best Start Breastfeeding Project Partners
- Ballarat Community Health Centre (BCHC)
- Child & Family Services (CAFS)
- Ballarat & District Division of General Practice Inc.
- Ballarat Health Services
- St John of God
- Maternal & Child Health
- Australian Breastfeeding Association
- Maternity Coalition
- Centacare Catholic Diocese Ballarat
Local Breastfeeding Support Services
- Ballarat Health Services Breastfeeding Support – 5320 4977
- St John of God Breastfeeding Clinic – 5320 2110
- Australian Breastfeeding Association Local Group – 0435 034 277
- 24 hour helpline – 1800 mum 2 mum / 1800 686 2 686
- CAFS Early Childhood Parenting Centre – 5331 7556
- Maternal & Child Health Centre – 5320 5744
Local Baby Care Rooms
- City of Ballarat – Phoenix Building, 25 Armstrong Street South
- Myer Ballarat
- Central Square Shopping Centre
- Stocklands Wendouree
- Ballarat Library – Doveton Street
- UFS Dispensary – Bridge Mall (for members)
- Kiro Kids - Sovereign Hill
Australian Breastfeeding Association
For information on the local Australian Breastfeeding Association group contact 0435 034 277 or email ballarataba@netspace.net.au
To speak to a breastfeeding counsellor, phone the Australian Breastfeeding Association's 24 hour hotline on 1800 mum to mum (1800 686 2 686).
Useful Links
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
www.lrc.asn.au/lrc.html
www.thewomens.org.au/BreastfeedingSupport
www.pregnancy.com.au/breastfeeding/breastfeeding_support/index.shtml
www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding
www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-brfeed-index.htm
Useful documents:
Fact sheet for parents:
Breastfeeding is a learned skill and very few mothers find it easy from day one. One of the most common issues raised by mothers was the difficulty in obtaining consistent advice and information on breastfeeding.
In producing the fact sheet for parents we are hoping to provide mothers with practical, accurate information about breastfeeding, particularly during the establishment of breastfeeding.
Click here to download a copy.
Fact sheet for Service Providers:
To increase our breastfeeding rates we need the support of the whole community. Any service providers working within the Health, Family, Children’s and Welfare sectors should have accurate, current breastfeeding information and clear referral pathways.
By providing the breastfeeding fact sheet to service providers and offering breastfeeding information sessions we hope to improve breastfeeding knowledge for services working with families and children throughout the Grampians Region.
Click here to download a copy.