Where to find help
There are lots of helpful people out there so ask for support to make breastfeeding work. It takes a while to gain confidence as breastfeeding may be a completely new skill. It takes time for both mothers and babies to learn, but asking for advice will help to start breastfeeding well.
Ongoing advice and support
You can expect ongoing advice and support for breastfeeding from your lead maternity carer, Well Child health provider, community health worker (at the local health service) and family doctor.
Help to overcome minor challenges or difficulties
For further information, or help to overcome any minor challenges or difficulties, mother-to-mother support through La Leche League is free and available in many regions and various other agencies are out there in the community to offer advice when needed.
- Read more about the Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor Programme.
- Visit the La Leche League website.
More specialised help
-
For more specialised help there are experts called lactation consultants.
Find a lactation consultant in your region.
More information on these and other providers/organisations
Midwives
0800 MUM 2 BE is a free-phone service that gives info on local midwives. Go to Mum2Be for more information.
You can also find a midwife on the New Zealand College of Midwives website.
La Leche League
The La Leche League offers support, encouragement and information, with local groups holding regular meetings and useful resources such as a lending library.
Women’s Health Action Trust
Women’s Health Action offers breastfeeding advice, support and education – particularly in areas of breastfeeding-friendly workplaces and community development activities nationwide (such as the annual ‘Big Latch On’).
Breastfeeding resources, including employer and employee breastfeeding information packs, can be ordered from the WHA website.
Phone: (09) 502 5295 or email breastfeeding@womens-health.org.nz
Well Child/Tamariki Ora providers including Plunket
Well Child/Tamariki Ora is a service aimed at keeping under-fives well, growing and developing to their fullest potential.
Your lead maternity carer or GP can help you find a provider locally. For more information visit the Well Child/Tamariki Ora section.
Plunket
Plunket Well Child Assessments include clinic visits, family centres, home visits and mobile clinics. Call PlunketLine on 0800 933 922
Lactation consultants
You can find a lactation consultant on the New Zealand Lactation Consultants Association website.
New Zealand Multiple Birth Association
Mothers of multiples can contact the New Zealand Multiple Birth Association for help.
Parents Centres New Zealand Inc
Parents Centres has 52 centres across the country and provides one of the largest parenting networks and associated infrastructure to support parents and their children aged 0–6.
Canterbury Breastfeeding Network
Canterbury Breastfeeding Network provides information for both breastfeeding women and health professionals.
Māori organisations
- Māori Women’s Welfare League – 04 473 6451
- Tipu Ora Trust – 07 348 2400
Visit the Ministry of Women’s Affairs website for a more complete list of Māori women’s organisations.
Raising Children in New Zealand
Raising Children in New Zealand is a website providing information on parenting under-threes to get children off to a great start.
Page last updated: 22 May 2012
Twitter
Facebook