Maria Ryan Lactation

24/06/2026

Do you know what the early feeding cues are? Understanding and knowing the signs of these feeding cues may assist in having a better latch and feed from your baby.
Here are some of the signs:

- Turning their head from side to side, looking for the breast (‘rooting’ reflex)
- Opening their mouth and moving their tongue
- Making sucking movements and sounds
- Bringing hands to mouth
- Escalating to tense, jerky movements of arms and legs
- Crying (can be a late sign of hunger)

05/06/2026

The first 72 hours with your newborn are full of firsts ✨

Our 24/7 step-by-step guide is here to support you anytime, anywhere—before birth, in hospital, or at home.

Get trusted information when it matters most:
🔗 aba.asn.au/first72hours

#24/7support

03/06/2026

All welcome.

28/05/2026

Have your say on the future of maternity care 🩷

Researchers from the University of Canberra and Australian National University are looking for women aged 18–45 who are pregnant, planning a baby in the next 12 months, or have given birth in the past 6 months to take part in a focus group.

Your experiences can help shape future maternity care for Australian families.

Learn more via the QR code or visit: bit.ly/bfhiaus.

14/05/2026

Many new dads struggle more than people realise.

Becoming a father can bring major changes to sleep, routine, relationships, work, and emotional wellbeing. While it can be an exciting time, many fathers also experience stress, anxiety, or depression during pregnancy and early parenthood.

DadBooster is a free online program developed by the Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) to support dads experiencing depression or anxiety during this period.

The program is evidence-based, nationally available, government funded, and designed to help fathers access support privately and flexibly, at their own pace.

Partners can also access a dedicated support website with practical information and support.

DadBooster may also assist health professionals as an evidence-based referral pathway that can complement existing mental health support for fathers during the perinatal period.

If you or someone you know is struggling during early parenthood, support is available.

Learn more at https://piri.au/dadbooster

25/04/2026

Hiring a breast pump with ABA means you’re supported every step of the way, not just supplied with equipment.

Alongside reliable hospital grade pumps, you’ll have access to trusted guidance from trained breastfeeding counsellors and volunteers who truly understand the journey.

Every hire also gives back, helping local ABA groups continue supporting families in your community.

Virtual Village members receive 50% off hire fees, making it easier to access the support you need, when you need it most.

Learn more about pump hire at aba.asn.au/hire

24/04/2026

Late preterm infants are babies born born between 34 weeks and 36 weeks, 6 days of pregnancy. Close enough to term that expectations rise quickly. Far enough from term that their bodies are still finishing important work.

They don’t look like the babies people worry about. Thirty-five weeks. Thirty-six. Sometimes just shy of thirty-seven. They come out with decent size, good color, a cry that sounds strong enough. No one is rushing in. Nothing about them demands a second look.

They’re often called “the great pretenders” because they almost pass for term. They almost feed well. They almost hold their temperature. They almost keep their blood sugars steady. At first glance, it feels like they just need a little time and they’ll be fine.

But “almost” is where the gap lives.

In those last few weeks, the brain is still rapidly developing. Feeding skills are still being refined. The ability to stay awake long enough to eat, to coordinate suck, swallow, and breathe, to maintain temperature, to keep blood sugar stable… all of that is still coming together.

Late preterm infants don’t have the same reserves as a full-term baby. Their stamina runs out faster. They start a feeding with energy, then fade before they’ve taken what they need. They can maintain their temperature until something small throws them off. Their blood sugars slip. Their breathing can look steady, until it isn’t.

Nothing about it stands out all at once. And that’s how they fall through the cracks.

They don’t meet the criteria that trigger extra support, yet they don’t have the physiologic cushion to handle what’s expected of them. They live in that in-between space where they’re treated like they’re ready, even when their bodies are still working to get there.

What they need isn’t complicated, but it has to be intentional. More time to feed without pressure to perform. Support with temperature. Protection from energy loss. Someone paying close enough attention to catch the small changes before they become something bigger.

Because what they’re missing isn’t strength. It’s margin.

And without that margin, even the smallest challenges take more from them than anyone expects. They are not just a little early. They are still building the coordination, endurance, and regulation that full-term babies are born with.

They don’t declare themselves. They show you in pieces.

And if we’re not looking for it, we may miss it.

21/04/2026