COMMUNITY BREASTFEEDING
SPECIALIST SUPPORT SERVICE
Contact Our Team: Coordinator
Families/whānau in Central Otago and Upper Clutha experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding can get free specialist support from the Community Breastfeeding Specialist Support Service.
The service, staffed by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, provides specialist help to mothers with complex breastfeeding issues. Help to resolve breastfeeding concerns may be via phone/text/email/ video support or face to face, at home, in a clinic or at the Wanaka Well.
Reasons you may use the service
· Damaged nipples
· Persistent latching difficulties
· Painful breastfeeding
· Low weight gain
· Milk supply issues
· Sleepy babies
· Medications/illness affecting breastfeeding
· Breastfeeding challenges that are not resolved by strategies suggested by your LMC/Plunket Nurse/GP
· During your pregnancy for previous breast surgery or anatomical problems
· Difficulties with breastfeeding a previous child
How do you access the service?
Women in the Central Otago areas of Wanaka, Cromwell, Alexandra, Clyde, Omakau, the wider Maniototo and Teviot Valley.
Your LMC Midwife, Plunket Nurse or GP might refer you or you can refer yourself.
Contact the service on 027 349 5473 or email lactationservice@gmail.com
The service is available from Monday to Friday, between 9am-5pm.
If you have an urgent breastfeeding problem, please call your Midwife (if your baby is less than 6 weeks), your GP or Plunketline 0800 933 922
The Lactation Consultant will protect your privacy as required by the Code of Ethics of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and the Standards of Practice of the International Lactation Consultant Association.
REAL
EXPERIENCES
“I came up against many breastfeeding hurdles and as a new Mum I was very nervous leaving the house. Having the LC come to visit us made me feel more confident. The home visiting service was so helpful as we could get the help we needed and the LC could witness us feeding and help with feeding positions and latch problems in our own living room.”
Charlie Palmer, Wanaka.
REAL
EXPERIENCES
The services that Community Lactation Consultants offer have been game changing for me as a new mother. Through the stages, changes, and struggles of my breastfeeding journey I have been aware of how lucky our community is to have this resource. From the newborn stage, to teething, to starting solids and the baby’s first cold, there is so much to learn about breastfeeding, with new challenges arising all the time. The value of knowing that the Community Lactation Consultants’ kind, expert, and timely support is just a phone call or a text away cannot be understated. The care they offer is gentle, warm, and backed by knowledge and collective years of experience. It has been so important to me to have their assurance and care through this life-changing experience, and I am hugely grateful.
Amelia Crofut-Brittingham, Hawea
REAL
EXPERIENCES
“If it were not for the LC service that I received I would have been forced to give up breastfeeding in the early days for both of my sons. I was given so much fantastic support, I was taught how to overcome every hurdle that was thrown at me (there were many!) along the way. I had no grand plans on how long I wanted to breastfeed for but went on to breastfeed my first son for over 2 years and I will be forever grateful to those that helped me achieve this. Thank you ladies, you provide the most invaluable support when a Mum is most vulnerable.”
Kate Young, Wanaka
Our Lactation
Consultants
The team of lactation consultants have years of experience and have helped hundreds of new mothers.
Jo Guest
Jo has worked in Maternal and Child health for 30 years. A Registered Midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Jo is a member of staff at the Charlotte Jean Maternity Hospital where she is also the Clinical Educator. She has been providing Community Lactation support and help since 2013. Jo meets many parents before their babies are born in her role as Plunket’s Pregnancy and Parenting Educator for Upper Clutha.
Maggie Morgan
Maggie is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, ex midwife, neonatal nurse and Plunket Nurse. She has been involved in maternal and child health for many years both in hospitals and the community and has experience working with not only complex breastfeeding issues but with maternal mental health as well.
Wendy Byrne
Wendy worked in Well Child Health for 25 years with Plunket. In this time she qualified and worked as a Community Karitane, Childbirth Educator and a Community Lactation Consultant. She is a registered International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.