Alison wants to breastfeed her new baby. Her mother in law states that her baby shouldn't be breastfeeding so frequently perhaps her milk isn't good enough, her baby should be sleeping longer. Perhaps she should get a tin of formula just in case. Alison doesn't want to feed formula, she knows it will reduce her milk supply but she is feeling confused and concerned about her baby and her ability to make milk.

Warrnambool Breastfeeding Centre (WBC) is there for mothers like Alison. We understand that most mothers want to breastfeed. We also understand that it isn't always easy. Breastfeeding is natural, but learning to breastfeed can sometimes take time and patience and mothers need ongoing support along the way. WBC provides support to mothers who wish to breastfeed, by increasing access for women and their babies to trained breastfeeding supporters, lactation consultants and peer support. Primarily set up to support breastfeeding mothers to meet their breastfeeding goals, we are inclusive and welcome all mothers regardless of how they feed their babies.

What can you do?

Your gift will help to:

• Keep WBC open by contributing to ongoing running costs (rent alone is $4200 per month)
• Promote, protect and support breastfeeding in the Warrnambool community and beyond. WBC is involved in advocacy projects and research collaborations:
  • Put a short breastfeeding TV commercial on air on WIN TV. The TV advertisement schedule for 8 weeks is $6600 and the radio advertisement schedule is $1800 for 8 weeks. If enough funds are raised, then a further $1500 will increase the reach of the commercial on other networks.
  • Run focus groups around the impact of the breastfeeding media campaign ($6000). The WBC has devised a scholarly research evaluation of the efficacy of the marketing campaign by researchers currently active in the area of Paediatric Health and Maternal and Infant Wellbeing.

Why we are collecting funds?

To increase the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies. We strive to balance the media messages from formula companies, who have large marketing budgets to advertise formula which further decreases the confidence of Australia's breastfeeding mothers. There is no money in supporting breastfeeding. We are a not-for-profit organisation with no governmental or council funding and rely on fundraising to keep the centre afloat.

The cost of not supporting breastfeeding is the future health of our nation.