Southern DHB Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August

Southern DHB Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August

It’s World Breastfeeding Week next week and the theme this year is “Breastfeeding and Work: Making it work.”

Southern DHB supports breastfeeding through its breastfeeding friendly policies and the work of our lactation consultants, maternity staff and health promoters.

Southern DHB Public Health Physician Naomi Gough, who is mum to six month old Elowen, says that the theme for World Breastfeeding Week this year is really close to her heart as it emphasises the importance of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding at work.

Naomi has been working for Southern DHB in Public Health for the past three months. She was pregnant when she applied for the job, and when she was offered the position she discussed breastfeeding her baby at work.

Photo above: Public Health Physician Naomi Gough feeding baby Elowen whilst having a meeting with Paediatric Nurse, Steve Gill and Health Promotion Advisor, Christine Quested

“I had so much support from the start,” said Naomi.

Naomi’s baby Elowen is breastfed at work twice a day. Naomi’s husband Tony brings Elowen in for Naomi to feed her and she even carries on with meetings if they are at the same time as when Elowen needs feeding.

“I started off trying to feed Elowen at set times but that didn’t really work. I now feed Elowen on demand which is still twice during my working day but the times do vary.”

Naomi says that being able to breastfeed at work has made her return to work much easier and she probably would have looked for employment elsewhere if the DHB had not supported her.

“Being able to feed my baby at work has made my return to work much less stressful, I’m happier, Elowen is happier and I have been able to return to work earlier through the support of the DHB.”

Naomi also says that taking less time off work has enabled her to keep up to date with her practise as a doctor and has helped her confidence which is something that new mothers often struggle with after having time off work.

“All in all it’s a win win situation. I’m fully supported in breastfeeding at work and I have a contented baby who has all the health benefits of being breastfed,” said Naomi.

“I think it’s really important to get the message out there that breastfeeding at work is normal so it is accepted by employees, colleagues and mothers. Previous generations haven’t had this opportunity and although things are changing it will only become normal if women are supported to be able to breastfeed at work.”

Naomi will continue to breastfeed for a least another 12 months because of the health benefits.

The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding until the age of two years or beyond.

World Breastfeeding Week begins with the Big Latch On events around the Southern district giving breastfeeding mothers, their partners, and whanau the chance to meet and share information.

Big Latch On events will be happening at the following locations around the Southern district:

Friday 31 July

Dunedin:
Where: Lower Level of Meridian Mall (outside Cotton On Kids)
Registrations from 9.45
Fruit provided. Coffee and muffin deal

Invercargill:

Where: Lindisfarne Community Centre, 22 Lindisfarne St
Registrations from 10am
Morning tea provided

Wanaka:
Where: Amigos Mexican Grill, 71 Ardmore St
From 10 am
Morning tea provided

Queenstown:

Where: Graze Restaurant, 1 Onslow Road, Lake Hayes Estate
From 10 am
Morning tea provided

Alexandra:

Where: Central Otago Midwives
1 Thomson Way
(Stone building in carpark behind ANZ and Alexandra Library)
From 10am with morning tea provided

Oamaru:

Where: North Otago Plunket, Severn St (opposite Police Station)

From 9.30am

Morning tea provided

Gore:

Where: Public Library, 8 Norfolk St

From 10am

Morning tea provided

Saturday 1 August

Balclutha:

Where: Parents Centre, 6 John St

From 10am

Morning tea provided

Can’t make it, but still want to be part of the Big Latch On? Take a ‘selfie’- check it out on https://www.facebook.com/BigLatchOnNZ

For more information about breastfeeding: www.southerndhb.govt.nz/phsbreastfeeding.

ENDS

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