Bits and Boobs: Friends of Port Macquarie Maternity Unit

31/05/2024

Hello Friends!

It's been a long time. Our apologies.

Bits and B***s was started so we could look at how women attending our local maternity unit here in Port Macquarie could experience better continuity and women-centred care.
We also raised a few thousand dollars with the intention of donating a wonderful modern birth pool to the unit.

Then there was Covid and the meetings sadly had to end. Also, at that time, a new maternity unit, under the helipad, was rumoured and we decided to bank the money raised as we did not want to waste it by installing a pool for it to be ripped out 6 months later.

The money still sits waiting.

The new unit has not yet come to pass (new government's and new national and state budgets and other uncertainties were cited).

The good news however was that, by the time Covid restrictions were lifted, the LHD was actively pursuing better, evidence-based models of care for women and Bits and B***s did not want to upset that applecart.

MAPS (Midwifery Antenatal and Postnatal Service) is already under way, properly launching in June. This will mean every woman booking at Port Macquarie will have a named midwife offering continuity throughout her entire antenatal and post natal journey. This is such a fantastic development!

In addition to this, the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) is planned for launch on 2nd September. This small team will offer women with uncomplicated pregnancies the same antenatal and postnatal continuity AND those named midwives will also be on call for those births in the unit too.

We still have no news about a new unit.

We still have money sitting waiting to be spent.

We would like to propose that the money is now spent for other equipment within the birth and inpatient environment as a celebration of these wonderful developments.

We would like to buy birth mats, harnesses to aid alternative birth positions, educational aids and help with other expenses that will help launch these teams and be resources for the AMAZING core team who will still be giving the majority of inpatient care at Port Base.

We would like your thoughts. You helped us raise that money. You can bank on us agitating for better birth pools in the new build when it happens.

What do you think?

01/08/2023

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August), let us also acknowledge the invaluable support networks that empower mothers to breastfeed successfully, like the women in our photo supporting each other.

Partners, families, healthcare providers, and communities all play a crucial role in creating a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers, ensuring they have the resources, education, and encouragement they need to thrive.

Child and Family and Community Health Centres can provide support and information on the Mid North Coast. Read more about services available locally here 👉 https://mnclhd.health.nsw.gov.au/latest-news/world-breastfeeding-awareness-week-2023/

Further information and support for breastfeeding mothers, workplaces, businesses and communities can be found 👉 www.breastfeeding.asn.au

20/07/2023

Last year the hospital celebrated World Breastfeeding Week with a display of local Breastfeeders. This year the theme is Enabling Parents - making a difference for working parents.
The Hospital Maternity ward would love to display photos of local Breastfeeding working parents… this may include expressing in your workplace.

If you would like to share a Breastfeeding pic please attach a photo with one short sentence as advice for other breastfeeding parents.
It will be displayed outside the Antenatal Clinic from August 1.

30/07/2022

World Breastfeeding week starts Monday 1 August.

We will be promoting Breastfeeding in the Antenatal and Postnatal area of the hospital and would love to display some photos of local women breastfeeding.

Wondering if you have any photos of you breastfeeding. We would love your face in it too so others can recognise you because we know how important it is to feel supported by locals in our community.

Please post your photos in the comments or send them via messenger.

01/11/2021

Apologies for late notification friends. (Technical issues- hopefully now solved) but here are the winners of our enormous raffle. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone for your support!
Winners have been notified.

Thanks to your enormous support we have raised over $12, 000 towards (hopefully) a new proper birth pool for the maternity unit! Thank you!

10/10/2021

Check out these listings on marketplace. Proceeds to this very worthy cause. Locally handmade ceramics.

09/10/2021

Well it was close! But Sally and Ellie were closest. There were 1039 lollies in the jar. Thanks for playing.

09/10/2021

Oh our goodness us!

We are so humbled and grateful to our beautiful community for their support and donations in this last fortnight, thank you!

We have raised about $10, 000 after today's garage sale and BBQ (that's about one fifth of a state of the art fitted birth pool) and we could not have done it without you all.

Thank you all so much!

The raffle is still open of course and I will put the details for tickets in the comments. Please check out our amazing sponsors and the $5,500+ worth of prizes 😃

03/10/2021

💫 $5 each or 5 tickets for $20

💫 These will be on sale at the Garage Sale via cash purchases from 8-2pm.

💫 Online Ticket Purchases can be made in a via bank transfer (see picture above)

IMPORTANT:
💫 You must then also send an email to: friendsofpmqmaternity@gmail.com including your name, contact number, the name of the account you transferred from and the amount of tickets you paid for to ensure your tickets can be traced and forwarded onto you correctly.

💫 Your ticket numbers then will then be return emailed to you approximately 3 business days later once funds have cleared

03/10/2021

A massive Thank You to Hastings Co-op. They have donated a $50 voucher and contributed a great deal towards the BBQ. Thank you!

-Lauren

03/10/2021

Thank you Little paper co for donating a gift box to our raffle at the weekend. You’re the best 😘

-Zita

03/10/2021

JAAM and Co would love to donate a $50 voucher and a bottle of wine for the raffle. Thank you 😘

-Zita