'Natural and nicer' way

The more breastfeeding is seen as the natural thing to do, the better, says Palmerston North lactation consultant Barbara Wright.

She was meeting a group of mums and babies on the first day of a new drop-in, mother-to-mother support group set up at Community Birth Services in Palmerston North yesterday.

Based at the hospital three days a week, Mrs Wright welcomed the opportunity to help new mums in a community setting. "It's much nicer for mothers and babies than coming into the hospital, and much easier to get to."

Mrs Wright said the key to boosting breastfeeding rates was to support more mothers to get through the first four weeks as they were learning the art while struggling with the tiredness of managing a new baby.

"It's great as babies get older and mums can go anywhere and feed their babies when they need to."

Seeing others successfully breastfeeding gave new mums an incentive to continue, she said.

The drop-in meetings run every Monday from 1pm to 3pm at Community Birth Services rooms in Northcote Office Park, opposite UCOL on Queen St.