A healthy start for Aboriginal Mums and Bubs
We all know how vital those first few months are for a mum and newborn baby.
Traditionally when First Nations babies were born, everything was provided by the earth and family unit, but that is rarely the case in Australia today, where traditional supports have somewhat been eroded, and new Aboriginal mums are at a serious disadvantage.
The Yaru Foundation is excited to announce its support for the Coolamon Community not-for-profit organisation, which is based in the Northern Rivers of NSW.
The Coolamon Community’s purpose is to assist Aboriginal Health Services and communities by providing ongoing support for families in need.
As they say, it takes a community to raise a child, and along with the Coolamon Community, we want to help give Aboriginal mums and babies the best start in life. The Yaru Foundation is doing this by providing funding that will help to purchase ‘Coolamon Cribs’ and other essentials, that will be delivered to mums pre-term, or just after they have given birth.
What is the Coolamon Crib?
Co-sleeping is a traditional practice in many First Nations communities. The Coolamon Crib Bassinet has been designed specifically for safe sleeping for First Nations babies. It helps keep babies protected when co-sleeping, but also allows them to see their mother through the sidewalls of the smooth-surfaced, sturdy, woven bassinet.
Designed and created by Coolamon Community, this beautiful basinet is handmade and woven from 100% natural corn husk. Natural corn husk is strong, lightweight, and eco-friendly. The mattress is Australian made and designed to conform with Red Nose safe sleeping guidelines.
The ‘Coolamon Crib’ contains all the items a mother needs to support her and her new baby in those critical early months, including the baby’s bedding and clothing, and mothers’ essentials for personal care.
Pam Brook, Co-Founder of the Coolamon Community said:
“Just today we delivered 10 Coolamon Cribs to Rekindling the Spirit Aboriginal Health Services in Lismore, plus one electric breast pump to support a new young mum who had a premature baby who needs to be in hospital for the next few months. We couldn’t do this without the generosity of individuals and organisations like The Yaru Foundation”.
Breast pumps and other essentials
The Coolamon Community also supplies Medela Swing Flex electric breast pumps, to midwives at Aboriginal Health Centres. This helps mothers in particular with premature babies, to ensure they can more easily provide their child with breast milk during their baby’s stay in hospital – which can often be up to 2 months or even more.
The rate of premature births for Indigenous mothers during covid in the Northern Rivers has at times been as high as 10%. To help these mums and babies, Medela breast pads, milk collection shells, breast pumps, and breast care creams are being provided by the wonderful Coolamon Community.
Not only this, but Coolamon, with the help of The Yaru Foundation and other donors, is also providing QV Baby skincare products to treat babies with dry skin and eczema, and to help prevent the development of food allergies.
Tessa Martin from The Yaru Foundation said:
“We are privileged to be a part of such a special journey that these mums and babies are on. Working with the Coolamon Community in our local region was an absolute must for us. Health services are often so stretched, and there is a huge gap in post-birth support for Aboriginal families. We hope that by supporting the Coolamon Community we can create a healthy and happy start for the lives of so many Aboriginal mums and babies here in the Northern Rivers.
It is via sales of Yaru Water, and vital donations to The Yaru Foundation, that enable us to support projects like this. We would like to thank our customers for their ongoing support. We couldn’t do this without you.”
To make a donation and support other vital projects like this, click here https://www.yaruwater.com/donate-now/
For more information about the Coolamon Community projects visit https://www.coolamoncommunity.org.au/
To learn more about the Yaru Foundation and the work we support visit https://www.yaruwater.com/yaru-foundation/