Callie Burnett recently gave birth to Jock at Northeast Health Wangaratta, before transferring back to Benalla Health.
She said the assistance she has received from the lactation clinic has been wonderful.
“I used the clinic with my first baby, Lewis, and I found it to be really beneficial,” Callie said.
“It put us on the path to have a lot more success than I would have done, left on my own.”
Benalla Health lactation consultant Andrea Hogan said the maternity ward offers a lactation outpatient service one day a week, which is specific to breastfeeding.
If women are in the postnatal ward, the lactation consultant will also see them on a Wednesday, and Benalla Health is fortunate to also have a midwife who is a lactation consultant and works on the ward.
“The outpatient lactation clinic offers four outpatient postnatal appointments a day or three postnatal and two antenatal appointments,” Andrea said.
“Women are encouraged to bring themselves their baby and their partner.
“It's an hour and 45 minute appointment. Especially for new mums, we need that amount of time, and we assess weights and feeds and any breastfeeding questions.”
Andrea said when the appointment is over it doesn't end new parents' contact with the lactation clinic, the clinic can be accessed by any breastfeeding dyad at any stage of their breastfeeding journey, for weaning or returning to work, for example.
“We have email and phone correspondence with Maternal and Child Health Nurses and GPs, (to discuss) updates for babies' weights and feeding plans, to encourage the women and help them to have a positive outlook with their breastfeeding,” she said.
The clinic has been very successful, and Andrea said it’s often booked out in advance.
“Each year since we started, we've increased our numbers. When I started here, it was April 2021, and we saw 151 people that year,: she said.
“Last year, I saw 220.
“We've been able to provide a service for well over 700 people since 2021.”
Andrea said she, and the hospital, is proud of the work the lactation clinic does.
“I think we prevent mothers from stopping breastfeeding when there are challenges around it,” she said.
“We also prevent babies from needing admission to hospital for weight gains and things that we can manage.
“It's a really important service, and we take a lot on, but we'd love it to increase its hours.
“We are currently one day a week, but I think that we could do two days a week because it's a popular service, and we've had feedback through women's and bub’s forums that they would love to see an extra day here.”
Positive feedback from the parents is great motivation for Andrea, and everyone involved in the clinic.
“I'll do six-month phone calls just to see how everyone's going,” she said,
“There's some women that do stop breastfeeding for whatever reason, but a majority of women are really happy that they've managed to continue feeding for up to and over a year
“The feedback's really positive. They feel welcomed and it's a comfortable environment.
“They enjoy having their partners here. That can be lovely because there's two sets of ears listening to the same information.
“It's quite overwhelming for new mums to have a baby and then all the Information they need to learn. So it’s nice that their partners can support them.”
Andrea said she works closely with several doctors in Benalla, but new parents don’t need a GP referral to access the lactation clinic.
“It’s a self-referral service,” she said.
If you are a new parent who would like to book into Benalla Health’s Lactation Clinic, you can call Benalla Health’s Maternity Unit on 5761 4749 or email midwifery@benallahealth.org.au/
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