When Roisin gave birth to her first baby, this service became a lifesaver. Now there are concerns it might be closed

When Roisin McNaney gave birth to her first baby seven weeks ago, she would love to have a mother of her own. But Ms McNaney’s mother, and the rest of her family, returned to Ireland.

Key points:

• The City of Melbourne intends to sell the building where the Australian Midwife and Mother operates
• The clinic offers services including breastfeeding support, counselling, physiotherapy and child care
• Council says there is a free maternal and child health center nearby

“I think you have a romantic view of what it’s like to have your first baby and then when reality hits, it’s a very different experience,” she said.

She has support near Kensington, in northern Melbourne, from Australian Midwives and Mothers (MAMA).

But Melbourne City Council, which owns the building where MAMA operates, has announced its intention to sell the building as it does not fit into its strategic plan.

MAMA, which started 11 years ago as Melbourne’s first private midwifery service, offers a wide range of services including breastfeeding support, counselling, physiotherapy and child care.

MAMA offers a variety of services for new mothers including baby yoga.(ABC News: Mahnaz Angury)

This has been a lifesaver for Ms McNaney in caring for her baby, Meala.

“There’s something wrong with breastfeeding. I just stopped by and talked to someone, there’s no responsibility like this to make an appointment.

“It’s a space where you can come in and everyone knows your name and smiles and waves at you.

“It’s like getting a warm hug from your mother, coming here.”

The council acknowledged MAMA’s “important work and valuable service”, but said there was a free maternal and child health center nearby.

“Community consultations are currently underway on proposals to sell the four Council-owned properties, and we are actively encouraging community feedback,” the council said in a statement.

MAMA director Jan Ireland said this service was very different from government-run maternal and child health services.

“I don’t think the city council knows what we’re doing here,” he said.

“People can come in and out without making an appointment – they can come with the baby, they can come and sit and cry”.

Kelly Langford (left) and Jan Ireland (right) say the nearby government-run maternal health service cannot replace MAMA.(ABC News: Mahnaz Angury)

She said the clinic was set up in response to rising rates of postpartum depression and was needed now more than ever.

“When COVID comes, it’s important that we stay open. We are first-line workers and we work 24/7,” he said.

The Royal Melbourne Women’s Hospital referred 151 patients to MAMA in the first six months of 2022, and that made more than 300 home visits that the hospital could not provide.

Clinic closures will be ‘sad for many’

Sarah Thijs has three children and has relied on MAMA for help and advice from the moment they were born.

“I’m from Holland, I don’t have family here but I have a lot of friends through here,” he said.

“It feels like they really care about you – it’s so holistic, everyone works together and everyone just wants to help you make the most of it.”

“You can still have service everywhere but it’s no longer a societal feeling which I think would be sad for a lot of people.”

Sarah Thijs said it would be a shame to lose the community that MAMA has to offer.(ABC News: Mahnaz Angury)

MAMA co-founder Kelly Langford said she doubted they would be able to set up a business again if they had to move.

“It’s always a balance of making enough to pay the bill but not burdening it so much that women can’t access our services,” she said.

“We came into this business as midwives, not as business women, and to this day we are still midwives and we haven’t done enough of this.”

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