
Mrs Kite has referred several women to Deli Diack, of the Pregnancy and Parenting Service, where the focus is entirely on looking at parenting through the lens of the baby. Some of those ladies required assistance with breastfeeding and others with stopping smoking.
It’s good having someone else in the community who is experienced and qualified and can pop in, reassure the parents, offer advice, and assistance with latching, Mrs Kite said.
She described a recent example where a client almost gave up breastfeeding.
“She was struggling with feeding and if it wasn’t for Deli being there at a point where she was really not wanting to do it anymore, she may not have carried on breastfeeding.”
“Deli is friendly, approachable, and non-judgmental. You can have a laugh with her and women like that. It’s just someone else to reinforce (the parents) they’re doing a good job.”
“Overall the service is useful, and helpful for midwives. It’s good to have that extra support.”
The Service:
The Pregnancy and Parenting service is about enabling, encouraging, and enhancing the journey through parenting, and building resilience and confidence to be the best parents they can be.
Deli Diack, who runs the service, is a qualified child birth educator and assessor for the New Zealand Breast Feeding Authority. She works alongside midwives and supports pregnant women and dad’s, and if required the whole whanau, around practical solutions to pregnancy and parenting challenges, breastfeeding and stop smoking support, access to local pregnancy and parenting services, one-on-one support, advocacy: linkage and connection to other service and ongoing support.
She describes the service as unique because she has the time to listen. “If a mummy needs support for more than an hour a week, that’s what she’ll get.”
Deli also has wide cultural understanding, and a strong knowledge of who does what in the wider community making access to support simple.
How to refer? Individuals, health providers, and community organisations can refer by phoning 0800 925 242 or by visiting Level 2, 92 Spey Street, Invercargill.