With Australian Breastfeeding Associations World Breastfeeding Week campaign coming to an end mother Stacey Walker is urging other mothers, new and old, to seek support and stay informed.
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ABA World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign to raise awareness and encourage action on issues related to breastfeeding.
"Like many others, after the birth of my now fifteen-month-old boy, Aldo, I didn't realise, despite breastfeeding being natural, that it doesn't necessarily come naturally," Mrs Walker said.
"I had that expectation of just picking it up. I thought, it might be a little difficult, but it won't be too hard, and it was a lot harder than I had expected.
"I started going to ABA meetings when Aldo was six-weeks-old and found them to be really supportive and an all round good sounding board."
Mrs Walker said she had since gone to ABA for other breastfeeding issues, like oral and nipple thrush and mitosis.
"They have always been really helpful, non-judgemental and not pushy," she said.
"One of ABA's mottos is 'inform is best', which means, they aim to give people all of the information in order for them to make an informed choice."
Mrs Walker has since also begun a 12 to 18 month course on breastfeeding education, and said although she is still in the early days, one of the biggest things she has learnt is that as a mother, you are enough.
"Back yourself in the knowledge that you are providing everything for your baby," she said.
"One day, when Aldo was about six-months-old, I was shattered, because we had oral and nipple thrush again. I was bleeding, it looked like red milk and I had to stop and express for 24 hours so my body could have a rest.
"I felt like I completely failed him- but I didn't. He was getting everything he needed."
ABA gave suggestions on what to try, and advice on whether Ms Walker should see a doctor. They also suggested ways to improve attachment.
Mrs Walker said she joined 'pretty much every group there is', but found mothers group and ABA to be the most helpful.
"It makes all the difference to just even be able to say 'I had a bad night' and for another mother to say 'I did too'," she said.
World Breastfeeding Weeks theme this year is 'support breastfeeding for a healthier planet', and invites mothers to consider the cons of using baby formulas.
ABA services include a National Breastfeeding Helpline and LiveChat services, online breastfeeding education classes, and a Facebook page called Australian Breastfeeding Association Dubbo Group.