This week, May 5-11 is National Mothering Week – a perfect time to shed some light on services available to parents and families living in the Hawkesbury.

‘Meet and Greet’, a group for new mums run by Hawkesbury Community Health Centre, offers both information and support.

Every Tuesday mothers meet for a chat and a chance to get feedback from the professional team of nurses.

The Hawkesbury Gazette dropped in to visit the ‘Meet and Greet’ group last Tuesday, and spoke with child and family health nurse Vicki Patterson.

Ms Patterson described ‘Meet and Greet’ as an informal group where first time mums could socialise.

She said while many women have a mother or aunty who can offer advice, it is more likely these days that family members are working and are not always available to answer questions and concerns.

“We’ve also become a very isolated society, we don’t talk to our neighbours like we used to, it’s the reality of how life is now,” Ms Patterson said.

The length of hospital stays following the birth have also reduced. Although it depends on the circumstances, Ms Patterson said a woman who gives birth via a vaginal delivery without complications can be discharged from hospital in as little as four hours.

That is why nurses from Hawkesbury Community Health Centre visit every new mum in the Hawkesbury district, whether they had their baby at Hawkesbury Hospital or not, to offer information about their services and provide social support.

Ms Patterson said every mother gets one home visit, when they are introduced to the centre’s services and they are invited to attend the friendly ‘Meet and Greet’

parenting group.

Whether it is during the initial home visit or at one of the groups, Ms Patterson said sleep, feeding and developmental milestones are the three issues mums are always keen to talk about.

Sometimes mums who attend the group simply want to know what is ‘normal’ and what to expect.

“For example eight to 12 feeds in 24 hours is quite normal, but many mothers worry that something is wrong if they are feeding their baby as often as every two hours,” Ms Patterson said.

Ms Patterson, who is also a lactation consultant, said the nurses do not force mums to breastfeed, instead they support them in whatever choice they make.

All of the new mums present at the Meet and Greet last Tuesday said that it had offered them friendship, advice and support.

The Meet and Greet group is held every Tuesday from 1-3.30pm at Hawkesbury Community Health Child Care Centre, corner of Day and Macquarie Streets, Windsor.

It is for new parents of 0-3 month olds. For more information phone 4560 5714.