Lamaze Toolkit - (Page IV-9)

Preparing Parents for Breastfeeding Many more women plan to breastfeed exclusively than end up doing so. In a 2012 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found that, of the 85% of women who planned to exclusively nurse their babies, less than a third achieved their intended exclusive breastfeeding duration. We need to do a better job of preparing women for breastfeeding, but time left at the end of a class series is often too short to cover all the material we would like. How much information you include about breastfeeding may be determined by whether or not you or your organization offer separate breastfeeding classes. However, it is helpful to include some breastfeeding education in your series, in order to emphasize that breastfeeding is the natural progression of the nurturing relationship begun in pregnancy between mother and child. Spiraling information about breastfeeding throughout your series ensures that you cover important information and helps prevent "tune-out" by students focusing solely on getting through labor and birth. Class 1 - When talking about the physical changes which occur with pregnancy and which help prepare the body for birth, discuss the ways that the breasts change to prepare for nursing. Mention the importance of a supportive partner to breastfeeding success. Class 2 - When discussing nutrition, mention that a healthy diet is recommended for nursing mothers, but that even for mothers with "junk-food" diets, breastfeeding is highly recommended. Discuss briefly the weight-loss benefits of extended breastfeeding. Class 3 - Try the Breastfeeding Grab Bag as an icebreaker (see pages 11-12) to discuss the hazards of infant formula. Class 4 - Discuss the importance of skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, keeping mother and baby together, and rooming-in, in order to get breastfeeding off to a good start. Swedish researcher Ann Marie Widstrom recommends that the newborn baby be placed on his mother's chest immediately after birth and allowed to move through the nine instinctive phases at his own pace in order to get breastfeeding off to the best possible start. Class 5 - When discussing interventions and medications, mention possible effects on early breastfeeding. Emphasize that breastfeeding is easier for cesarean mothers than artificial feeding. 9 Section IV: Parenting 

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lamaze Toolkit

Table of Contents

Lamaze Toolkit

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