Family help urged as mums latch on

The number of new mums breastfeeding in Wairarapa is growing and support from family makes it a lot easier.

Helping new mothers is something everyone can do, says public health advisor Clare McLennan-Kissel, and people can learn how at a special "Nurturing Baby" event today.

New mother Mia Lawrence said help from her family, with chores like cooking for example, was really important, allowing her time to concentrate on breastfeeding.

She said in the early days, mums were tired and spend lots of time breastfeeding, at all hours of the day.

But she said it was a rewarding experience for herself and her 4-month-old son Flynn, who latched on within 10 minutes.

The physical education and health teacher at Wairarapa College is on maternity leave and said she had always hoped she could breastfeed.

"He just took to it and I just took to it.

"It's just the best time ever, especially the bonding time, being that close and seeing every single feature."

Miss Lawrence said she felt very lucky Flynn latched on so quickly, as she knows from her ante-natal group not all mothers are able to.

She had only received positive responses when breastfeeding in public.

"We do lots of walks around Henley Lake, one woman stopped and said that's just beautiful."

Miss Lawrence said she wanted people to know, including her students, that it wasn't something to be embarrassed about.

Miss McLennan-Kissel said making it the norm was a goal for the Wairarapa Baby Friendly Community Initiative, which started in 2009 to help boost low breastfeeding rates in Wairarapa.

Now 83 per cent of mothers leave Wairarapa hospital breastfeeding, matching the national average.

Miss McLennan-Kissel said the increase was also due to changing attitudes and the hospital taking up a baby-friendly initiative.

"I think it's [the attitude] changed a lot over time," said Miss McLennan-Kissel.

"Part of what we do is making it more acceptable in public, making it the norm."

She said breastfeeding was not just a mum's job and today's event was about promoting what family could do to help.

"Family can help out around the house, do some cooking, take care of the other kids, make sure mum is eating right."

Miss McLennan-Kissel said if businesses want to show they are baby-friendly, they can contact her at 06 946 9814 for signage.