A “very successful” celebration of parents and World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) held on Wednesday (August 3) highlighted the range of support services available for new parents in Wānaka.

“Good things take time and the future looks bright for new parents in Upper Clutha,” WellSouth health promotion specialist Jo O’Connor said.

She said the arrival of a primary birthing unit (scheduled to open early next year) was perfectly timed, and there are a multitude of other supports available to families bringing new babies into this part of the world.

“Parenting is not a journey to embark on alone and it really does take a village of support,” she said.

“Social connections are really important but with so many families without the traditional family support it’s even more important in Wānaka.”

Jo said a small number of supporters available to Upper Clutha parents attended Wednesday’s Wānaka Community Hub get-together. They were Catkin Bartlett, Well South peer support programme coordinator and advocate for families; Ebony Marsh, volunteer peer supporter and community services coordinator for Plunket; Tish Telford, Community Network’s family support programme volunteer; and Maggie Morgan, breastfeeding specialist for Central Lakes Breastfeeding Charitable Trust.

“Wānaka Well is a great example of community collaboration WellSouth is part of,” Jo said. 

From left: WellSouth peer support programme coordinator Catkin Bartlett, Plunket volunteer peer supporter and community services coordinator Ebony Marsh, WellSouth health promoter Jo O’Connor, Community Network family support programme volunteer Tish Telford, and Central Lakes Breastfeeding Charitable Trust breastfeeding specialist Maggie Morgan.

“Central Lakes Breastfeeding Charitable Trust provides free specialist breastfeeding support at the Wānaka Well and out in the community in people’s own homes. WellSouth trains and supports volunteer peer supporters who provide non-judgemental support and a listening ear while Plunket provides the space on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Upper Clutha Plunket rooms.”

In addition, Precious Beginnings runs each school term and provides social support and connection for new parents; the Family Support Programme, coordinated by Community Networks, matches volunteers with families to help fill the gap when family support might be far away; and Plunket support kicks in ahead of midwife support finishing when babies are six weeks old.

Jo added that GPs are integral to support for families, and WellSouth encourages people to seek help when they need it for their physical or mental wellbeing. 

“Free health improvement practitioners and brief intervention clinicians are available.

Some of these services may be available at the new primary birthing unit, Jo said.

“How lucky we are that we have these services, we have people in the community who care and offer their time to build our communities and support.”

Jo said stress from the Covid-19 pandemic was one of a number of things contributing to stress in new parents.

“We need to help people get back to basics. We have to normalise babies are babies - they don’t come with a manual and they’re all different. They don’t necessarily sleep.”

It’s important that new parents are empowered to follow their instincts, and that new parents who want advice can access it, she said.

The aim of Breastfeeding Week is to highlight the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to both the health and welfare of babies, as well as a wider impact on maternal health, focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction, sustainability and food security.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App