We support you to make an informed choice on how to feed your baby through pregnancy and postpartum. Breastfeeding provides all your baby’s essential needs for growth, development and protection from illness and disease. Your choice to breastfeed can also provide numerous maternal health benefits for many years to come including reduced rates for breast and ovarian cancers.
We're here to support you through your feeding journey, both in hospital and after you go home. Many women benefit from attending one of our free breastfeeding classes in their pregnancy.
For more support and resources visit the Australian Breastfeeding Association - How breastfeeding works and Breastfeeding your baby.
John Hunter Hospital is a proudly accredited as a Baby Friendly Health Initiative facility since 2007. All our maternity facilities are committed to following the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding. These are global standards for providing the best clinical care for you and your baby. You can learn more.
The midwives caring for you can give assistance, support and advice with breastfeeding. If additional help is required, the midwife caring for you can arrange a lactation consultant to see you, if this is available at your birthing hospital.
If you have made an informed choice not to breastfeed, please bring your tin of formula with you. While in the postnatal ward you will be educated on how to prepare this to feed your baby.
Support services for breastfeeding your baby when you go home:
- If you go home from hospital early our home maternity service midwives will provide breastfeeding assistance during the first few days.
- You can also contact your local birthing hospital for advice.
- A range of breastfeeding support services may be available in your area depending on our local resources.
- Our child and family health nursing service provides long-term ongoing feeding and parenting support. You will be linked to this free service before discharge from our maternity service.
- Look for Who Can I Call? in your postnatal pack for useful phone numbers.
- The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) provides breastfeeding support in the community.
- 24-hour phone number: 1800 686 268 (1800 MUM 2 MUM).
Resources
- Newborns: breastfeeding and bottle feeding.
- Watch the video series: Attaching your baby at the breast.
- Learn about how to prevent and manage engorgement.
- Learn about nipple shields
- Expressing and storing breastmilk
- Breastfeeding for rainbow families
- Breastfeeding and dummies
- Using a breast pump
- When breastfeeding doesn't work out.
Multicultural resources
- The Australian Breastfeeding Association's How breastfeeding works booklet has been translated into 14 languages.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources
For more information and support, contact a breastfeeding support service near you:
| Area | Breastfeeding support contact |
|---|---|
| Armidale | (02) 6776 9642 |
| Glen Innes | (02) 6739 0226 |
| Gunnedah | (02) 6741 8037 |
| Inverell | (02) 6721 9532 |
| John Hunter Hospital | (02) 4921 3970 (02) 4016 4595 (Lactation clinic) |
| Narrabri | (02) 6721 9532 |
| Maitland | 0427 248 858 (Lactation Midwife) |
| Manning | (02) 6592 9273 0488 307 691 (Lactation clinic) |
| Moree | (02) 6757 0051 |
| Muswellbrook | (02) 6542 2023 |
| Singleton | 0436 454 515 |
| Scone | (02) 6540 2152 |
| Tamworth | (02) 6767 7315 0447 759 891 (Lactation clinic) |
Find a pregnancy, birth and baby service
Use our Service Directory to find a health service near you.