Where to get help There are lots of helpful people out there so ask for support to make breastfeeding work. It takes a while to gain confidence as breastfeeding may be a completely new skill which takes time for both mothers and babies to learn, but asking for advice will help to start breastfeeding well. Ongoing advice and support Help to overcome minor challenges or difficulties More specialised help More information on these and other organisations/services that can provide help Ongoing advice and support Breastfeeding women can expect ongoing advice and support for breastfeeding from their Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) midwife, well-child health provider, community health worker (at the local health service) and family doctor. Help to overcome minor challenges or difficulties For further information, or help to overcome any minor challenges or difficulties, mother to mother support through La Leche League is free and available in many regions and various other agencies are out there in the community to offer advice when needed. More information on the Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor Programme - www.pcp.org.nz. Visit the La Leche League website. More specialised help For more specialised help there are experts called lactation consultants. Find a lactation consultant in your region. More Information on these and other providers/organisations Midwives Healthline La Leche League Womens Health Action Trust Well Child/Tamaki Ora providers, including Plunket Lactation consultants New Zealand Multiple Birth Association Parents Centres New Zealand Inc Māori organisations Back to top Midwives 0800 MUM 2 BE - free-phone service that gives info on local midwives. Find a midwife on the New Zealand College of Midwives website. Healthline (including the Well Child line) Healthline - 0800 611 116 La Leche League The La Leche League offers support, encouragement and information with: Groups in centres throughout New Zealand - find a local group Monthly meetings to discuss advantages of breastfeeding childbirth and the new baby at home the art of breastfeeding and overcoming difficulties nutrition and weaning Additional meetings in some areas Telephone help - find a local group Parenting toddlers and older children Working and breastfeeding Lending library Books and leaflets for sale (LLLNZ Catalogue) Mother-to-mother support Workshops and conferences Membership in the world's leading breastfeeding support group. Womens Health Action Trust Womens Health Action offers breastfeeding advice, support and education - Particularly in areas of breastfeeding friendly workplaces and community development activities nationwide (such as the annual ‘Big Latch On” ). Breastfeeding resources including employer and employee breastfeeding information packs, can be ordered from the WHA website. Phone: (09) 502 5295 or email breastfeeding@womens-health.org.nz Well child/Tamaki Ora providers including Plunket WellChild / Tamariki Ora is about babies, infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers under five years old and keeping them well, growing and developing to their fullest potential. There are eight free visits available for all children and their families from six weeks to five years of age, which can be delivered at a clinic, family centre, in the home or through mobile clinics. Providers of Well Child services include registered nurses and community health workers/kaiawhina who have specific training in child health. WellChild/Tamariki Ora services are provided by Plunket, Māori and Pacific Well Child/Tamariki Ora providers. Contact the Lead Maternity Carer and/or GP for a list of local providers. Alternatively, contact the local District Health Board. For further information, please check out the WellChild section or email the Well Child Team at Well_Child@moh.govt.nz. Plunket Plunket Well Child Assessments include clinic visits, family centres, home visits and mobile clinics. Well Child Telephone Advice Service The Well Child Telephone Advice Service is available on the Healthline toll-free number: 0800 611 116 Lactation consultants New Zealand Lactation Consultants Association - Find a lactation consultant New Zealand Multiple Birth Association Mothers of multiples can contact the New Zealand Multiple Birth Association for help. Parents Centres New Zealand Inc Parents Centres has 52 centres across the country and provides one of the largest parenting networks and associated infrastructure to support parents and their children aged 0-6. Māori organisations Māori Women’s Welfare League - 04 473 6451 Tipu Ora Trust - 07 348 2400 Ngā Rōpū Wāhine Māori (Māori Women's Organisations) Website feedback We welcome your feedback on this page. Back to top Page last updated: 28 January 2010