A Mum's Breast Friend

A Mum's Breast Friend

First-time Aussie mums are going to get an online helping hand when it comes to all things 'boob and bottle', with the launch of breastmates Australia in September. A cyber saviour for new mums with questions about what is still often a grey area of motherhood, breastmates was started by mother Frances McInnes who found a gap in the market through her own experience with motherhood.

"My light bulb moment came when my son was six months old," she explains. "I went to a local baby shop to inquire about breastpumps, but left even more confused than when I went in. I realised there was lack of information available for mothers with questions, and so breastmates was born."

Breastmates.com.au has a simple core focus on feeding, whether that's breastfeeding or bottle, including providing product profiles, expertise and support for mothers. Also offering a lactation consultant who provides free advice, and a community of thousands of real mothers, the Breastmates site sits apart from others through a genuine concern for mothers first, and product sales viewed as a distant second.

"A mother asking questions needs answers," says Frances. "She's tried everything else, she needs a solution and to know that she's not alone. We've also seen mothers put under a lot of pressure, so we want to provide a clear balance of boob and bottle."

After six years of growing the business via a New Zealand URL, Frances is launching the Australian site due to customer demand.

"The concept for supporting mothers and being more than just a retail store has meant that Australian customers were always approaching the NZ site with simple concerns and product queries," she says. "breastmates started from listening to what mothers needed, and that's now what has prompted the expansion into Australia."

And with 24 hour online advice and shopping available, three-day tracked delivery, GST free prices and the favourable exchange rate, it's no wonder Aussie mums will continue to embrace their very own online breast mate.

www.breastmates.com.au