News

Midwives reunite to celebrate

By Shannon Colee

May 14, 2023

Together: At ERH workshop for the midwives are Jac Rasmussen, Linda Fisher, Wendy Moyle, Fiona Devereaux, Jenny Brown and Kim Warde. Photo by Steve Huntley

Speaker: Anita Bearzatto. Photo by Steve Huntley

Group photo: Healthcare professionals from across the Mallee attended ERH workshop for the midwives. Photo by Steve Huntley

Healthcare professionals from across the Mallee got together for the first time post- COVID-19 pandemic to celebrate International Midwives Day, where they used the time to discuss breastfeeding.

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With more than 100 people in attendance, most were either midwives or maternal health specialists.

“It’s about bringing the whole region together on a special day for us but we’ve all got similar interests,” said organiser Brooke Simmonds.

Ms Simmonds said a range of issues were discussed by the women such as new-born behavioural observations and breastfeeding, tongue ties and the benefits or issues with cutting them or not, as well as about nipple and breast pain.

“We’ve got an osteopath talking about structural things with the face that will help breastfeeding problems and someone else speaking about anti-natal expressing and gestational diabetic women,” she added.

Although they don’t usually celebrate International Midwives Day this way, Ms Simmonds said they thought it was important to get everyone together this year after spending so many years apart because of COVID-19.

She said that people travelled from as far as Mildura to attend the gathering.