What do you think is the biggest barrier to breastfeeding In Australia?

[Clearbrite]

I love the suggestion of all mothers being given a free 12 month subscription to ABA!
I have had to go to the FMAU a couple of times already(and have to go again tomorrow!)
FMAU=Fetal Monitoring Assessment Unit. Over 4 hours they take your blood pressure average,take some blood and get out on the baby monitor for their heartbeat/movements just to make sure everything is AOK

Anyhow,the ABA is offering a breastfeeding class over a weekend for 1st time mums(well,i guess any mum really)to learn about breastfeeding,what to expect etc..all for $95!

Of course that includes a years membership.

That's all fine and well,anything to promote and help out with mums breastfeeding is only a great thing..but to be 'suckered in' to paying for something that somes free and naturally..i dont know..kinda runs me the wrong way.

I think ABA should give(or offer)a years membership to all mums(no matter what number child)for free,then only if you decide to stay for longer then that year do you pay a membership fee(im sure they need financial help too to keep things going)

We,as Australians can get most medical things(and especially when having a baby)for free on Medicare..so why not also have membership to ABA on Medicare too if a mother chooses too?

Sounds great to me!

[Steph]

I love the suggestion of all mothers being given a free 12 month subscription to ABA!
I have had to go to the FMAU a couple of times already(and have to go again tomorrow!)
FMAU=Fetal Monitoring Assessment Unit. Over 4 hours they take your blood pressure average,take some blood and get out on the baby monitor for their heartbeat/movements just to make sure everything is AOK

Anyhow,the ABA is offering a breastfeeding class over a weekend for 1st time mums(well,i guess any mum really)to learn about breastfeeding,what to expect etc..all for $95!

Of course that includes a years membership.

That's all fine and well,anything to promote and help out with mums breastfeeding is only a great thing..but to be 'suckered in' to paying for something that somes free and naturally..i dont know..kinda runs me the wrong way.

I think ABA should give(or offer)a years membership to all mums(no matter what number child)for free,then only if you decide to stay for longer then that year do you pay a membership fee(im sure they need financial help too to keep things going)

We,as Australians can get most medical things(and especially when having a baby)for free on Medicare..so why not also have membership to ABA on Medicare too if a mother chooses too?

Sounds great to me!

Hi Clearbrite, just wanted to re-iterate what IK mentioned - ABA is a not for profit organisation that receives no subsidies (that I am currently aware of). All Breastfeeding counsellors and Community Educators are volunteers, we give up our own weekends for training, nights for meeting planning, time off from paid work to make hospital visits (luckily I have a very understanding boss!), but our organisation desperately needs these funds. When planning a seminar - be it breastfeeding education, or mother's returning to work, we do carefully plan costs of hall hire, tea and coffee and nibblies and the literature handed out as well as hoping to be able to contribute a small amount back to the organisation for advertising etc. It is a difficult balance to strike - but the more people who support ABA, donate, join membership and come to our seminars, the more we are able to moderate pricing! So please talk to your local group if pricing is an issue, but promote as many people as possible to join the organisation or even better - promote government subsidies for ABA!!!