The empty shop front formerly occupied by OzChild has been taken over by Warrnambool Breastfeeding Centre. 

If people look twice at the sign walking past, that’s the point. 

“That was actually part of our strategy — getting a premises to run this from,” centre chairwoman Barb Glare said. 

“We’ve got three levels here in this building so we imagine it will be used by other family organisations.” 

The city’s active breastfeeding group had considered using a house in a quiet neighbourhood to host support meetings but wants the central location to drum up interest in breastfeeding. 

“What we find is that most mothers want to breastfeed their baby and about 95 per cent of mothers start breastfeeding in hospital but quite quickly the numbers drop off and often it’s because there’s not enough support,” Ms Glare said. 

“After that initial time in hospital mothers say they feel pressured to stop breastfeeding.”

The centre will operate four days a week, with several paid staff. 

“On Thursdays we’re going to run a drop-in centre,” Ms Glare said.

The centre will host an open day for health professionals tomorrow at 5.30pm.