The counselling needs of breastfeeding women.

The aim of this study was to identify the needs of a sample of 1520 people who contacted Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia (NMAA) Breastfeeding Counsellors for help during the week 19 to 25 October 1998. The majority (98.8%) of those who made contact with NMAA Counsellors were mothers or expectant mothers. Mothers of babies in the birth-to-three-month age bracket accounted for more than half (51.1%) of all counselling contacts. The five greatest areas of need for those who sought help from NMAA Counsellors were reassurance (58.6%), feed frequency (26.5%), positioning and attachment (18.1%), looking after yourself (16.3%) and fatigue/tiredness (15.3%).