Professional Education in Breastfeeding and Lactation

A Five Day Course
*Can also be taught in two 3-day sessions.

Day One Objectives & Agenda

8am - 5pm

At the end of this session you are able to:

1. List two ways to provide effective breastfeeding promotion.
2. Describe two things to look for in a prenatal breastfeeding risk assessment.
3. Describe in simple terms the internal structures of the breast.
4. List two birthing routines that may influence breastfeeding success.
5. Discuss the rationale of skin to skin care for mother and baby
6. Describe the basic elements of correct positioning and latch.
7. Discuss early breastfeeding patterns of term newborns.
8. Describe to a mother how her breasts make milk.
9. Describe the primary effects of prolactin and oxytocin on milk production

Day One Content

Commitment to Breastfeeding

• Making breastfeeding an expectation
• Communicating without a turnoff
• Honest education, expectations
• Looking at "culture"
• Respect for human biology
• Respect for women and their bodies
• Breastfeeding promotion to teen moms
• What is concerning
• Why the teenager feels good about breastfeeding

External & Internal Anatomy of the Breast

• Prenatal breast assessment
• Prenatal treatment of flat and inverted nipples
• Identifying potential problems during prenatal care
• Research on milk storage capacity
• Where and how milk is made

Getting Breastfeeding Started

• Evaluating birth practices
• Labor routines
• Medications
• Newborn recovery

Care that makes sense for good breastfeeding outcomes

• Setting the stage
• Literature review of skin to skin care and breastfeeding responses
• Postpartum practices and infant outcomes
• Making feeding a priority while ensuring infant and maternal safety
• Influence of infant biology on early feedings

Positioning and latching babies at the breast

• Basis for successful breastfeeding
• Anatomy of infant suck
• LATCH score practice

Early Breastfeeding Expectations

• Normal Patterns and predictable hurdles of early breastfeeding
• How much sleepiness is normal
• How often to feed
• One or two breasts?
• Stooling and urination in first few days

The Science Behind Milk Production

Influence of early care on maternal hormonal response

• Prolactin
• Stress reduction in pregnancy
• Relationship to milk production
• Oxytocin - the most potent of female hormones
• Maternal responses
• Cholecystokinin and other GI hormones
• Previously unknown role in milk production
• "Tend & Befriend"
• Relationship to perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms
• Lactogenesis
• When milk "comes in"
• How our care influences milk supply
• On-going milk production

Course Objectives, Agenda, & Content

The Lactation Educator Track is no longer optional. All participants will complete the entire course, including the requirements for the Lactation Educator.

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