24 hour Helpline: (03) 3388 447
(La Leche League Canterbury)
Help when you need it
Ēnei ngā kaitautoko hei awhi I a koe
Breastfeeding Advocacy – what is it?
Breastfeeding advocacy is about helping to remove the barriers to breastfeeding that women may experience. This can involve support groups where women can find information and spend time with other mothers; mother-to-mother breastfeeding peer support networks; Breastfeeding friendly early childhood education centres; Breastfeeding and family-friendly workplaces; Breastfeeding friendly cafes, libraries, swimming pools, shopping malls – anywhere that mothers, babies and children spend time and have a right to be.
Canterbury Breastfeeding Support Services Flyer – for download
La Leche League – Breastfeeding groups..
All pregnant women & mothers are invited to the facilitated discussions on breastfeeding. All whānau, children and support people warmly welcome. Call for free information or go along to a group.
Breast Start La Leche League Christchurch
Breast Start @ Riccarton (Mondays)
First Monday of every second month at
10:00am 2019 dates – March 4, May 6, July 1, Sep 2, Nov 4.
Plunket Rooms, 26 Piko Crescent, Riccarton
Contact Leaders – Rukmini (03) 337 0841 Julia (03) 341 8041 Abigail 0212144565 or Pania 0210657401
Phone for updates during school holidays.
email breaststartchristchurch@gmail.com
If you can, bring a gold coin donation and a plate to share for morning tea
Breast Start @ Beckenham (Mondays)
Second Monday of the month
10:00am. 2019 dates – Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 1, May 13, Jun 10, Jul 8, Aug 12, Sept 9, Oct 14, Nov 11, Dec 2. South Library Learning Centre, Sydenham Room, 66 Colombo Street
Contact Leaders – Rukmini (03) 3370841, Julia (03) 3418041, Abigail 0212144565 or Pania 0210657401
Phone for updates during school holidays.
email breaststartchristchurch@gmail.com
If you can, bring a gold coin donation and a plate to share for morning tea
Breast Start @ Mt Pleasant (Mondays)
Third Monday of the month. 10am.
2019 dates: Mar 18, Apr 8, May 20, Jun 17, Jul 22, Aug 19, Sep 16, Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 9.
Mt Pleasant Community Centre,
3 McCormacks Bay Road
Breast Start @ Prebbleton (Mondays)
Fourth Monday of the month. 10am.
2019 dates: Mar 25, Apr 29, May 27, Jun 24, Jul 22, Aug 26, Sep 23, Oct 28, Nov 25.
Prebbleton Plunket Rooms,
3 Williams Street, Prebbleton.
Breast Start @ Linwood (Wednesdays)
First Wednesday of the month. 10am.
2019 dates: Mar 6, Apr 3, May 1, Jun 5, Jul , Aug 7, Sep 4, Nov 6, Dec 4.
Linwood Playcentre,
528 Worcester Street, Linwood.
Other breastfeeding groups
Te Māhuri - Shirley (Wednesdays)
Wednesdays
10:30am – 12pm
For young parents 24 years and under
Early Start Project
69b Briggs Road
Contact Emma 027-648-7098 or emma.jeffery@earlystart.co.nz
Aranui (Mondays)
Mondays
10:00am – 12:00pm
Aranui Library, 109 Aldershot St, Aranui
Contact Janine (03) 357 4970 (ext 212) or 027 588 1007 or janine.pinkham@waitaha.health.nz
Ashburton (Mondays)
Mondays
10:00am – 12:00pm
Ashburton Plunket Centre, 222, Cameron St
Contact Ellie (03) 308 7894 or 021 807 762
Lyttelton (Mondays)
Mondays
10:00am – 12:00pm
25 Winchester St, Lyttelton, Plunket Rooms at the Recreation Centre
Contact Andrea 021 071 2901
Papanui (Tuesdays)
Tuesdays
10:00am – 12:00pm
Village Community Centre, Corner of Papanui Road and Frank Street
Contact Janine (03) 357 4970 (ext 212) or 027 588 1007 or janine.pinkham@waitaha.health.nz
Richmond Community Cottage (Wednesdays)
Wednesdays
10:00am – 12:00pm
Corner of London & Pavitt Streets – off Stanmore Road, Richmond
Contact Olivia 0274559747 or 0800669957 or Facebook message
New Brighton (Wednesdays)
Wednesdays
10:00am – 12:00pm
Grace Vineyard Campus, 111 Seaview Road, New Brighton
Contact Cherie 027 871 1145
Shirley (Thursdays)
Thursdays
10:00am – 12:00pm
Te Puna Oraka, Shirley Hub, 69B Briggs Road, Shirley
Contact Janine (03) 357 4970 (ext 212) or 027 588 1007 or janine.pinkham@waitaha.health.nz
Halswell (Thursdays)
Thursdays
10:00am – 12:00pm
Halswell Plunket Rooms, 16 Fern Drive, Halswell
Lactation Consultant Clinic runs at the same time (no appointment necessary)
Contact Janine (03) 357 4970 (ext 212) or 027 588 1007 or Janine_Pinkham@rcpho.org.nz
Te Māhuri - Barrington (Fridays)
Fridays
10:30am – 12:00pm
For young parents 24 years and under
Barrington Plunket Rooms, Conway Street, Barrington
Contact Azalia 027 898 4803
Rolleston (Fridays)
Fridays 10am -12pm.
Rolleston Plunket Rooms, 1, John Street.
Contact Claire, 0210689428
Burnham (First Monday of the month)
First Monday of the month.
“Akaroa (one-to-one)”]
Contact Jenna 03 3048876 or 0211706106
Rangiora (1st and 3rd Fridays of the month)
Rangiora Maternity,161 Ashley Street, Rangiora. (Rangiora Hospital Whānau Room)
Fridays 10am-12pm
Contact Coralie 027 850 4912
Facebook – Rangiora Mother4Mother Breastfeeding Support
Mandarin Speaking Playgroup (2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month)
Hornby Plunket, 29 Tower Street, Hornby
Tuesdays 10am-12pm
Contact Jenny Siato jenny.saito@plunket.org.nz or 027 281 5918
Facebook – ChineseBreastfeedingSupport
Lactation Consultant Services
(International Board Certified Lactation Consultants – IBCLC)
Free Services
Rural Canterbury Primary Health Organisation - Baby Feeding Service
Consultations at home, at a mutually agreed venue or at breastfeeding group clinics (by appointment at the Bishopdale and Shirley venues)
Referrals from Midwives, La Leche League, Tamariki Ora Well Child Services, GPs, practice nurses or other health providers is necessary
Contact (03) 357 4970 or 0800 800 743 (ext 213) for enquiries and/or referral forms
Form is available at www.rcpho.org.nz and can be submitted online
St George's Maternity Breastfeeding Clinic
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
10-12pm (by appointment only)
Maternity Unit, Heaton Street, Merivale
Phone (03) 375 6020 for an appointment
Plunket Online Lactation Consultant Service
A service offering digital appointments with a qualified lactation consultant.
Referrals to be made through Plunketline – 0800 933 922
Available throughout Aotearoa, wherever there is a reliable internet connection.
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Private Services
(fees apply)
Counselling Service
Supportive community when breastfeeding doesn’t work out
Contact Karen – phone or text 027 479 0625 or karenholmes@orcon.net.nz
(fees apply)
Breastfeeding Peer Support
Mother to Mother Volunteer Breastfeeding Peer Counsellors / Peer Supporters
Available to support pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. They can supply information and support by phone, talk to women at breastfeeding groups, or in one-to-one situations.
Find a Peer Counsellor / Peer Supporter through:
Te Puawaitanga ki Otautahi Trust
Contact Kelly – (03) 344 5062 or 0800 66 9957
Kelly.Dorgan@omwwl.maori.nz
Rural Canterbury PHO
Contact Janine – Janine.Pinkham@rcpho.org.nz or phone 0800 800 743 (ext 212)
Contact Janine about the Ashburton breastfeeding peer support programme also
Akaroa
Jenna Walker – Jenna will advise which breastfeeding peer supporter is best to help with your specific queries/concerns
Contact Jenna at 0211706106 or jenna-rox@hotmail.com
FREE breastfeeding education sessions during pregnancy
Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust
One 3-hour session monthly.
Venue: Burwood Hospital and Aranui/Wainoni Community Centre
9:30am – 12:30am
Sessions run on Wednesdays and Saturdays
Led by registered midwives
Contact 0800 669957 for information
St George’s Maternity Hospital
Sessions held on selected Thursdays
10am-12pm
Heaton Street, Merivale
Sessions taken by a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Please phone for dates and bookings (03) 375 6337
Useful websites for breastfeeding information
Mother to Mother Breastfeeding Peer Supporters
Mama2Mama and Mother4Mother Peer Supporters are mothers who have breastfed a baby or babies themselves, and they have graduated from a training programme all about breastfeeding. They are volunteers who know how useful support and good information is for breastfeeding women, and they are passionate about supporting mothers on their breastfeeding journeys. They also support the breastfeeding groups listed under the support section, so you can call in and see them at the groups listed on this page, arrange to meet a peer supporter there or send an email, phone or text message if you have a question or need support.
You can also ask a question on this webpage and we will answer it as soon as possible.
Christchurch Otautahi
Hi, I’m Kristy, I’m 27 years old with four living children. I started my breastfeeding journey as a young mum and breastfeeding each baby has been a different experience with different struggles, and the main thing that kept me going was good support, which is why I’m a peer counsellor now. I really enjoy supporting other mums in their breastfeeding journey.
Contact Kristy at kristy0.hobbs@gmail.com
or phone: 022 152 4654 or (03) 2601631
Hi, I’m Keila, I’m a 25 year old mum of one. Our first 6 weeks of breastfeeding were a bit tough but with support we are still going strong at 14 months, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help others 🙂
Contact Keila at kr17@mail.com
Hi, I’m Mary. I have two energetic little kids aged 5 and one. When I first started breastfeeding, I thought I knew what to expect as I had read a book on the subject. But when the time came, it was nothing like the book! It was other breastfeeding mothers that came to the rescue in helping me sort out my breastfeeding glitches, complete with a smile and a cup of tea. I would love to return the favour by helping other mothers, which is why I trained as a Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor.
Contact Mary at 0274559747
Hi everyone, my name is Lorraine. I’m a young mother, and have a one year old daughter. I believe that breastfeeding can be the one of the most beautiful, rewarding experiences in every woman’s life. All we need is a bit of help getting over some uncomfortable hurdles we might face on our journey to established breastfeeding. If you would like positivity, great information, and a tonne of laughs then I’m your girl.
Contact Lorraine at 022 069 7386
Kia ora, I am a 29 year old mum of three – two girls aged 7 and 4, and a wee lad aged 1. I became interested in breastfeeding peer counselling after the birth of my second daughter when I realised how much positive breastfeeding support I had received, while other mums struggled to access any. I trained in 2012 and since then have volunteered at many groups, facilitated for two years a young-mums specific group and I really enjoy seeing new mums blossom and start to enjoy their parenting journey. I can trouble shoot most common issues and have personal experience with oversupply and forceful milk flow. I speak Spanish and conversational-level te reo Māori and am happy to provide support in those languages. Ngā mihi maioha, Gabrielle
Contact Gabrielle at 027 315 8787
Hi, my name is Azalia, I am a young mum under 24 and I have two children, aged 7 months and 3 years. Breastfeeding was really difficult with my first son but I had minimal difficulties with my second. If it wasn’t for peer counsellors and breastfeeding groups I would have given up breastfeeding, and this is what has encouraged me to become a peer counsellor myself, to help other mums in that same situation.
Contact Azalia at 0278171865 or izzy612@hotmail.com
Akaroa
Jenna Walker – Jenna will advise which breastfeeding peer supporter is best to help with your specific queries/concerns
Contact Jenna at 0211706106 or jenna-rox@hotmail.com