When William was four weeks old, I was experiencing my second bout of mastitis and needed some breastfeeding tips. Caroline was great in talking me through the different breastfeeding positions and the importance of stimulating milk production 8-12 times daily. She helped me build up my confidence, which made me more relaxed and which eventually alleviated the mastitis and milk production problem for me.

A couple of days later my little boy was still very unsettled. He cried a lot when trying to get to sleep and experienced colic. I had no other supports at this time, as my husband was at work and my parents live interstate. The FCC allowed me to return for the day, to enable me to get some well needed rest and discuss the different sleep settling techniques I could introduce.

As a result of my involvement with FCC, I have met other wonderful mums and babies and am able to share my experiences with them weekly at the mothers’ group run by Judith on Tuesday mornings. This has enabled me to feel less isolated and much more supported in the daily challenges of motherhood.

The Northern Rivers Familiy Care Centre is a valuable community resource.

Living in a rural community can lead to isolation and we need services like the FCC to assist us with the early problems that arise. I would even go so far as to say that post natal depression would be more prevalent if such a service were to disappear. There really aren’t any other services in Lismore that provide such a well centred family service, with professional support from those who seem to care and enjoy what they do.

Matilda Edwards & William, Lismore