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Dr Hannah Prentice
General Practitioner
Lactation Consultant
About me
I am a General Practitioner and Lactation Consultant practising in Melbourne. I am a mum to three beautiful breastfed babies, and have discovered a passion for helping families to navigate the newborn journey. In my role as a GP, I have extensive experience in women's health and gynaecology, fertility and contraception, perinatal health and paediatrics, and also a passion and focus on lactation medicine.
With my personal and professional experience, my passion is to help all families to reach their breastfeeding goals.
Services
Antenatal preparation
Preparation is just so important prior to the birth of your baby. At an antenatal appointment we will cover a lot of information around breastfeeding, and the early days of parenting. Ideally taking place in your home, we will practise your breastfeeding set up, talk about ways to improve breastfeeding success, and discuss ways to smooth the transition to parenthood. Preparation is important not just for your first baby, as every breastfeeding journey is different and subsequent newborns can present their own challenges.
Lactation consulting
Once your baby is born, I offer specialised support and guidance on breastfeeding and lactation-related issues. I will visit you at home, to watch a breastfeed, examine you and your baby, including accurately weighing your baby. We will work through any concerns, and develop a comprehensive breastfeeding assessment and management plan. My goal is for you and your family to feel well supported, and empowered to enjoy your breastfeeding experience in these early days.
Follow up care
Follow up is essential in almost all scenarios, whether it be a quick text check in, a tele-health video call, or multiple follow up appointments face to face. If there are any ongoing concerns, I always prefer to watch progressive breastfeeds, regularly weigh your baby, and be there to help support your family through the challenges. Almost all concerns can be smoothed over with fine tuning your breastfeeding position and patterns.
The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for babies until around six months of age, and then for breastfeeding to continue alongside the introduction of appropriate complementary foods until two years and beyond. Read more about the benefits of breastfeeding here.
Breastfeeding rates in Australia, and much of the "developed" world are extremely low, despite almost all mothers desiring to breastfeed, and high rates (96%) of breastfeeding initiation. Unfortunately, there is a rapid drop off in breastfeeding rates over the first, often difficult weeks.
It is my belief that with the right support, almost all women who desire it will be able to breastfeed their baby to at least some degree, and very often exclusively. It is my goal to advocate and educate families to reach their breastfeeding goals, reduce obstacles, and boost warmth, nurture and joy in your new family.
