Hi! I'm Lisa, a Community Educator for the Australian Breastfeeding Association. I am also a volunteer for the Mothers Milk Bank being established here on the Gold Coast, where I live with my lovely husband Rob, my active toddler Isabel and my equally active dog, Cookie. I became involved with the Association during my pregnancy when Rob and I attended a Breastfeeding Education Course. After Isabel's premature arrival into the world, I was very grateful for the education and support the Breastfeeding Association provided, so began attending group meetings and my involvement has grown from there. I have made some wonderful friends through the association, it has been a great resource, particularly as we live far from family and were new to the area when I was pregnant. I have joined the podcast team to help get the word out there to all the parents and mums-to-be that may not be able to attend a group meeting. There's so much to know and chat about in this new world of parenting!

Hi I'm Fiona, a counsellor in regional Victoria, a single mum with an 8 year old daughter. My involvement in the Australian Breastfeeding Association really started when too many people told me I should wean because I was so tired. I thought that was unlikely, and with the help of the Breastfeeding Association I wrote a review paper on postpartum fatigue, where I found plenty of researched reasons for postpartum fatigue and breastfeeding wasn't one of them! As a doctor I'm very aware of the importance of evidence based practices, yet with breastfeeding it is amazing how many people say things like this with no evidence behind them.

That's why I'm really happy to be a part of the Australian Breastfeeding Association - as I say in the introduction, they really are our leading source of up to date researched breastfeeding information, and I hope even more people can access that information through our podcasts. You'll notice I quote my sources wherever I can!

When I'm not working, counselling, mothering or podcasting, like Norida I like to knit, go bush when I can and I'm an avid reader (it was a Harry Potter podcast that got me excited about podcasting!)

Hi there. I am Lilea, a trainee counsellor at present and hoping to finish my training this year. I help out with various things on a group or regional level and in some nationally organised working groups – just one of the little spokes that help make the wheels go round.

I am married to Paul and, although I am not that much younger than Yvette, my children are 3 and 2 this year.  Tomika is a very challenging toddler and Petar is on the verge of following her lead.

My first interest in the Breastfeeding Association came via the Association’s Forum, which is well worth a look for Mum-to-Mum support and more information and to also access email counselling if you need some help.  I joined the Association when Tomika was 8mths old.  I really needed to get out the house and after Antenatal Depression and slipping into Postnatal as well, I was finding it more and more difficult to do so.  My local group fitted the bill – at least I was getting support to do the one thing that enabled me to feel I was doing something good for her!

I am a bit of a coffeeholic like Norida and quite often have to get myself set up for Podcast and have a cuppa and some chocolate to hand to keep me going.  Otherwise, if I sit down for too long after a busy day with my two – I am prone to fall asleep!  So, now you may also hear the click-clack of my crocheting or knitting during Podcast since I re-learned late last year and if I have the time to sit down……….I have to make it as useful as possible. 

Life’s all about trying to help other people as well isn’t it?

I am Yvette, a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor in the Mornington Peninsula, just outside Melbourne, Victoria.

I have been a member of the Australian Breastfeeding Association since 1984: of course, it was the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia back then! I qualified as a counsellor in 1992, so this year I celebrate 15 years! Time flies when you are doing something rewarding!

Our babies are all grown up now: Melissa is 23 and travelling in New Zealand, while Kaitlyn (19) and Kieran (16) lead pretty independent lives at home! People are often intrigued to hear I am still involved with the Australian Breastfeeding Association, but for me the interest in promoting and supporting breastfeeding was never just about my own experience, so the fact I haven't been lactating for a long time doesn't really matter! I believe in the mother to mother support that is central to all that the Australian Breastfeeding Association represents and I will always be a mother, and one day (not too soon!) I will be a grandmother and be able to doula my daughters/in law through their experiences.

I love being part of the podcast team! It is great to know that so many mothers are able to tune in whenever life allows and enjoy all the benefits of being at a discussion, even when they can't get to one in person. It is also pretty cool to be able to take part from home, in my pajamas! Oh, and if you hear a woof in the background, that is my 14yo Labrador cross Silky, who likes to have her say too!

Hi! I’m Norida. I am a breastfeeding counsellor in Sydney. I have a daughter who is 5.5 who is in kindy and a son who is 3 and is in preschool. And I’m married to Alvin who is just simply the best husband that puts up with all my idiosyncrasies and hormonal outbursts.

I joined the Australian Breastfeeding Association at the end of August 2001 just as they changed their name from Nursing Mothers Association of Australia. I attended my first ABA meeting when I was 9 months pregnant. It was a Tuesday meeting and I was due that Sunday but had number 1 on the Thursday!

My first ABA job was group librarian, then I did hospital handouts. I then started my training to become a breastfeeding counsellor and toward the end of that I volunteered to be part of the helpline coordinating team. I’ve also helped organise two state conferences and done some talks at Breastfeeding Education classes. I also attend meetings and do helpline once a month. Apart from my ABA commitments, I am also a preschool teacher. I love the beach and love going for a swim, reading, watching movies, knitting, making earrings. I need a coffee to start me off in the day; I just don’t function properly without one! And I love talking to my fellow podcasters.