By Melissa Meehan
Colourful author Pinky McKay demands attention when she walks into a room.
Her bright pink hair might stand out from miles away but she’s Australia’s most recognised breastfeeding expert and best-selling author of four books.
Her gentle approach and quick wit make for great reading – but her real passion is to see mums happy.
“There’s a lot of noise out there – but I take more of a holistic approach and if mums want support I am happy to provide it,” says the lactation consultant.
“What we do know is that mums are doing their best, and I want to let them know that breast is normal and I want to support people that want to breastfeed.”
And that doesn’t mean that mums with little supply or other issues that affect their ability to breastfeed are failing their babies – it just means that there may be another approach.
Pinky said she recently assisted a mum who had glandular tissue and was never going to have a full supply of breast milk and helped her use donor milk.
“I’m here to help the people who want to do it,” she said.
“I see all the hard stuff and I think it would be fabulous if lactation consultants were on Medicare because often other medical professions are working with outdated information.
“It’s not life or death if the baby has one bottle of formula – but often the mum just needs to have something to eat and drink and have a lie down.”
Pinky said stress often limits the hormones that produce milk and mums often need gentle support without being “bulldozed”.
“If the mum wants to do it (breastfeed) she doesn’t need to be told not to do it,” she said.
“Every woman is different, every baby is different and every birth is different – it takes a while for things to work out.”
You may also know Pinky as the producer of the famous ‘Booby Bikkies’, a brand that supports breastfeeding mothers.
After seeing far too many exhausted and stressed mothers who don’t have time to have a shower let alone bake some lactation cookies, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
“A friend said to me that I should make them – new mums don’t have the chance to,” she said.
“I was in Sydney at the time and came back to Melbourne and the rest is history.”
Go to www.pinkymckay.com.com.au for more information on breastfeeding or to find where you can buy one of Pinky’s books.
GIVEAWAY:
Pinky McKay is giving five lucky readers to win a copy of her book and some Boobie Bikkies.
Register online to WIN your very own copy – click here and click on Pinky McKay.
