Health and Wellbeing

Breastfeeding Victoria

Breastmilk is convenient, free and environmentally friendly. Mothers can breastfeed in public whenever and wherever her baby needs and it is illegal to discriminate against a woman for breastfeeding.

The Victorian Government is committed to improving the health and development of children. Breastfeeding plays an important role in achieving this outcome. The research information contained here will assist professionals in indentifying evidenced based interventions to improve breastfeeding rates.

Why breastfeeding is important

Established evidence that shows significant immediate and long-term positive health benefits associated with breastfeeding for both mothers and babies. Breastmilk contains unique properties which cannot be duplicated in infant formula.

Research shows babies that are breastfed have fewer episodes of gastroenteritis, respiratory infections and ear infections. Breastmilk has been shown to decrease the incidence of chronic disease in later life such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, childhood asthma and some leukaemias. A baby’s development, positive mental health and attachment to his mother is promoted through breastfeeding,

Women that breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner and are less likely to develop pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes.

The National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines recommend that babies are breastfed exclusively for six months; once solids are introduced breastfeeding continues along with those solids for 12 months or beyond.

For more information, see:

  • Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy 2010 - 2015 - recognises the importance of breastfeeding and provides a framework for priorities and action for Australian governments at all levels  (http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr09-dept-dept131109.htm)
  • Breastfeeding in Victoria: Report 2010 (PDF - 1.4Mb) - part of the Victorian Breastfeeding Research Project (http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/stuman/wellbeing/breastfeeding_vic_report.pdf)
  • Increased Rate of Breastfeeding - the Catalogue of Evidence 2008 on breastfeeding (http://www.education.vic.gov.au/healthwellbeing/childyouth/catalogue/sections/breastfeeding-ind1.htm)
  • Giving Breastfeeding a Boost 2005 - community-based approaches to improving breastfeeding rates literature review (http://www.health.vic.gov.au/nutrition/downloads/breastfeeding_boost.pdf)

Supporting families

The following information will assist early childhood professionals who may be asked to recommend information and web links for families.

Telephone support

  • Maternal and Child Health Line - available 24 hours a day on 13baby or 132229 . Parents can talk to a maternal and child health nurse about breastfeeding or other concerns when the local maternal and child health nurse is not available.
  • Mum to Mum - a 24 hour breastfeeding helpline, available on 1800 mum 2 mum or 1800 686 2 686, where parents can talk to an Australian Association Breastfeeding counsellor who can help encourage and support breastfeeding.

Web links

Information designed to specifically support Indigenous families:

Maternal and child health nurses and midwives have the skills and knowledge to support women to breastfeed.