Helpline gives breastfeeding tips

The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is touting the usefulness of its support services, with volunteers answering nearly 1,000 calls and chats from families during the 2024-25 festive season.

Almost half of these families had a newborn baby.

ABA’s National Breastfeeding Helpline (Helpline) is open 24/7 every day of the year, even during the festive season when almost all other support services are closed.

ABA has thanked its volunteers for making themselves available to help families during this time.

“We are very grateful for ABA’s incredible volunteers who gave their time during the festive season to support families with their breastfeeding journeys,” ABA executive officer Victoria Marshall-Cerins said.

“We are the only Australian service that offers free expert breastfeeding support every day and night of the year, regardless of whether it’s 3am, 3pm, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve.

“We also know that 47 per cent of families said that they would have needed to seek health professional support if it was not for the availability of our Breastfeeding Helpline services. During the festive season this would have meant waiting in busy hospital emergency departments.

“Huge thanks go to our trained volunteers who make it possible to operate this vital service and who continue each year to give their time to ensure we will be there for many more calls in the future.”

South Australian-based volunteer Kezia was happy to be available to volunteer during the festive season.

“I had a mum with a newborn who called in tears and needed someone to talk to and answer her questions,” Kezia said

“I answered her questions about feeding and settling her baby and she ended the call with much more confidence and knowledge.”

The Breastfeeding Helpline was established in 2008 and is complemented by other ABA services including LiveChat, the mum2mum app, breastfeeding education classes, local support groups and health professional education and training initiatives.

“ABA has been there to support and empower parents for over 60 years and has become a family for many mums,” Ms Marshall-Cerins said.

“From pregnancy to postpartum, returning to work, or preparing for a new pregnancy, ABA continues to empower women with education, support, and community and stands by mothers every step of the way.”

The National Breastfeeding Helpline is supported by funding from the federal government.

In the past year alone, ABA volunteers have supported almost 60,000 families through the National Breastfeeding Helpline and LiveChat services.

More than two million families have used the association’s worldclass online resource hub of breastfeeding and parenting information.

ABA’s more than 700 volunteer breastfeeding counsellors and educators also run free local support groups, Breastfeeding Education Classes and provide feeding information at community events across Australia.

To talk to someone on the Helpine, phone 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 268).

For more information on the ABA, head to breastfeeding.asn.au