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New parents need more support
25 November 2010.
The next Victorian Government must improve breastfeeding and healthy lifestyle support for new and expectant parents to give babies the best start in life, AMA Victoria President Dr Harry Hemley said today.
"Breast feeding provides infants with all the nutrients they need , as well as protection from infections, juvenile diabetes, asthma and childhood diabetes," he said. " It is also a great way to bond with your baby and shed extra weight gained during pregnancy.
"Not all new mothers can successfully breastfeed, or will choose to breastfeed, but a lack of support should not be the deciding factor.
"Our public hospital maternity wards are under so much pressure that new mothers don’t always get the help they need to begin breast feeding successfully," Dr Hemley said. "And due to bed constraints, new mothers don’t always have the option to stay in hospital until breastfeeding is established.
"Our midwives and nurses do a great job but need more time with new mothers to assist them overcome the many barriers to breastfeeding. We need to increase support for nursing mothers, both in the hospital setting and in the community."
Dr Hemley said maternal and child health services were at risk of being disconnected from the health system since infants’ health had moved from the responsibilities of the Department of Health to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
"It makes sense for early childhood health to form part of our overarching health policies, and for this to happen, it needs to be managed by the Department of Health," he said.
"This would allow for a greater focus on nutrition and healthy lifestyles, from preconception – when a couple is thinking of becoming pregnant – right through to adulthood."
Dr Hemley said those planning a family should not underestimate the importance of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
"Two thirds of Australian men and half of Australian women are overweight or obese and this can cause a raft of problems to a family’s health," he said. "Recent studies have shown that overweight parents can lead to overweight babies.
"On the other hand, women of a healthy weight have fewer difficulties conceiving and have less risk of adverse outcomes during childbirth."
There are no quick fixes for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, Dr Hemley said. "It comes down to regular exercise and a portion-controlled, nutritious diet."
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