Keeping abreast of baby feeds

By Kelly Yates
CASEY mothers and their babies gathered this week in support of World Breastfeeding Week.
The Berwick/Pakenham Group of the Australian Breastfeeding Association is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from 1 to 7 August, and encouraging mothers to join the group.
Breastfeeding counsellor a group leader Roanna Gray said she understood the help and support new mothers needed.
The mother of three said she too needed the support after the birth of her first child.
“The first few weeks can make or break when it comes to breastfeeding,” she said. “Our group offers that support to women. We can get anywhere from four to 14 women attend the meetings.”
Ms Gray, 29, and the group meet four times a month in Berwick and Pakenham.
“We have a discussion session and the children get the chance to play with each other. Counselling is also available,” she said.
Ms Gray has been a breastfeeding counsellor since May this year.
The theme for World Breastfeeding Week this year is “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.”
“In Australia, over 80 per cent of new mothers choose to breastfeed their babies so we need to support them in that choice as much as we can,” Ms Gray said.
The group is holding two breastfeeding education classes on 21 August and 27 November at the Gwendoline Children’s Centre in Berwick from 1.30pm to 5pm.
For bookings, call 9791 4644 and for more information about the Berwick/Pakenham Group of the Australian Breastfeeding Association, call Roanna Gray on 0457 800 092 or email berwickpak@solcraft.com.au