Breastfeeding Interpersonal Communication

Learners will communicate effectively with patients, families and other health care professionals regarding breastfeeding.

Learner Objectives

Apply shared decision-making principles to counsel parents and families about optimal infant feeding decisions for improved health outcomes, child spacing and nutrition.
Learn to collaborate effectively with all of the different types of physicians that families may interact with for breastfeeding support.
Demonstrate sensitivity to the spectrum of family configurations and the impact on breastfeeding. (NOTE: This will overlap with the activities for the Patient Care Module.)

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Essential Activities

Objective #1 Counsel Families:
- Read ACOG’s Optimizing Postpartum Care article for information on how to counsel lactating patients during the 2-week postpartum visit to catch problems early (for OB/GYN and/or FM providers (mood, contraception, infant feeding blood pressure, wound evaluation, fatigue, etc)).
Objective #2 Collaborate Effectively:
- Conduct a role play activity involving a physician providing peripartum support to a lactating parent with learners. Continue the role play by adding a scenario where the pediatrician or family physician discusses the case with the lactating patient's obstetrician and/or vice versa. The purpose of this activity is to exemplify the importance of communication among different types of physicians when providing breastfeeding support.
Objective #1 Counsel Families and Objective #3 Demonstrate Sensitivity:

If you are not completing the AAP Breastfeeding Curriculum in consecutive order, it is recommended that you review the following materials before completing the activities related to this objective.

- Maternal/Infant Breastfeeding Encounter Script
- Inclusive Communication Surrounding Childbirth, Lactation, and Infant Feeding

Listen to this example conversation about breastfeeding a baby with jaundice, Motivational Interviewing - Breastfeeding. Discuss how motivational interviewing can be helpful in addressing patients’ breastfeeding questions or concerns. Additional resources on motivational interviewing are included in the resource section below.

Additional Activities (Optional)

Have learners pick a geographic area to research and give presentations to highlight the differences in breastfeeding practices and acceptance around the world.
Assign learners different groups to research and present how culture impacts breastfeeding rates of that subgroup (for example: trans men or trans women, African Americans, people of lower socioeconomic status, new immigrants with limited English language ability).
Show the mini-documentary "The African American Breastfeeding Project" or organize a community viewing of "Chocolate Milk: The Documentary" that explores the racial divide in breastfeeding.
Connect with local, regional, and national cultural coalitions including Mocha Moms, NMA Breastfeeding Alliance, Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, and Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE).

Continue to Goal B

See More Curriculum

Medical Knowledge

Your learners will understand the anatomy of the breast, the physiology of lactogenesis and the challenges of breastfeeding.

Patient Care

Learners will be able to educate families about breastfeeding, provide peripartum breastfeeding support for routine care and common problems, recognize and be able to address breastfeeding challenges and special situations after discharge and throughout infancy and understand the unique needs of LGBTQ+ families as it relates to infant feeding.

System Based Practice

Learners will be able to coordinate services with other professionals, laypersons and community groups, consistent with an interprofessional and team-based approach to care.

Practice Based Learning

Learners will educate themselves and others about breastfeeding.