There’s nothing better than a hot cuppa, home baking and a chat with your village if you’re a new mum. 

WellSouth health promotion specialist Jo O’Connor coordinates a welcoming group of new mums and babies twice a month in the Alexandra Baptist church lounge on Gregg St.

This week was a special one for Mums 4 Mums Alexandra as it is World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7).

The aim 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.

The group of around 15 women have babies in the range of three-weeks-old up to three-years-old.

There are toys for older children on offer along with pikelets, a fruit platter, lolly cake, scones and other treats. For mums there are free breast pads from WellSouth and some gorgeous knitting for babies. 

Jo said supporting young families is a key aspect of her role.

“It's about connectedness… and knowing it’s okay to ask for help.”

She said new families are having a tough time at the moment, with rising living costs and the Covid-19 pandemic contributing to challenges around budgeting and making meaningful community connections.

“Rural communities will find a way to fill that gap.”

This week there are five volunteers keeping the informal session running smoothly. Three of these are other young mothers - peer supporters who know well that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’.

Jo said the grandmothers who give up their time, keep the cups of tea flowing, and take the babies for a cuddle, or the toddlers for a play deserve recognition too.

The Mums 4 Mums group can help young women access specialist lactation advice, other information for mums and pepi including sleeping and development.

Jo said some attendees are not from Central, they might have moved here from elsewhere or from overseas. 

Attendance is different every week, she said, but new friendships are forged over chats about bottles, toilet training and daycare drop off.

Sometimes the talk is about the challenges of pumping in a workplace, or where the most breastfeeding friendly cafes and restaurants are. 

Volunteer Gin Hurst from Clyde said she really missed the sessions when the group couldn’t meet in person due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

Six of her grandchildren live in Australia and she said she loved the morning tea get-togethers and supporting new mums.

Gin Hurst enjoyed a play and a giggle with one of the children at Mums 4 Mums. 

Paediatric Society neonatal specialist Nicola Austin said new mothers need a supportive environment, particularly support from fathers/partners, to ensure breastfeeding is successful. 

“Early health professional advice, as well as whānau and workplace support, are important factors in how long a mother will breastfeed.

"In Aotearoa New Zealand around 80 per cent of babies are exclusively breastfed on discharge from baby-friendly services. However, this percentage drops significantly by six weeks after birth, and at six months. We’d like to see more babies being exclusively and fully breastfed for longer,” Nicola said.

Two's company… ‘play’ cup of tea time for the children while Central’s new mums have a welcome break too

The group is in need of more peer supporters and would welcome new members too. Contact Jo O’Connor (027 210 4716) to find out more.