Patient Care: Breastfeeding Techniques

Learners will be able to educate families about breastfeeding.

Learner Objectives

The learner should be able to counsel families about:

Setting personal breastfeeding goals, stages of lactogenesis, patterns of breastfeeding, introduction of complementary solids, and weaning
Parental nutrition during lactation (including the role of vitamin D or other nutritional supplements, as clinically indicated)
Maintaining breastfeeding during separation, milk expression, safe storage of human milk, feeding multiples
Infant growth patterns using WHO growth standards during well child visits
Parental medication use during lactation
Family planning and the potential impact on breastfeeding
Safe sleep practices

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Essential Activities

Objective #1 Setting personal breastfeeding goals:
- Faculty can print out or present the following PowerPoint slides focused on how to discuss breastfeeding goals with families.
- Watch the video - Breastfeeding Importance and Recommendation to Learners (3:45-4:10).
Objective #1 Stages of Lactogenesis: Watch the 4 min video - Breastmilk Production (0:00-2:00).
Objective #1 Patterns of Breastfeeding:
- Watch the video - Breastmilk Production ( 1:49-2:13) to understand normal feeding patterns that promote milk production.
- View the video FirstDroplets - Breastfeeding in the First Hour, It’s in Your Hands (9:28 - 9:34) to learn the best way to know that a baby is getting milk at the breast.
- Teach learners about how much and how often to breastfeed by reviewing and discussing this CDC webpage.
Objective #1 Introduction of Complementary Foods: Read this 1-page provider handout and corresponding patient handout. Consider having them role play talking to families about baby led weaning.
Objective #1 Weaning: Read the CDC page on weaning and discuss it in class.
Objective #2 Nutrition During Breastfeeding: Review this short case with interactive answers.
Objective #3 Safe Milk Storage: Read and become familiar with the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #8 Human Milk Storage Information for Home Use for Full-Term Infants (2017).
Objective #4 Infant Growth Patterns: Complete the CDC online training course, Using the WHO Growth Charts to Assess Growth in the United States Among Children Ages Birth to 2 Years, including the “Test Your Knowledge” Quiz and the “Case Examples” This course takes approximately one hour to complete.
Objective #5 Medication During Breastfeeding: Read the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report Transfer of Drugs and Therapeutics Into Human Breast Milk: An Update on Select Topics (2013).
Objective #6 Family Planning and Potential Impact on Breastfeeding: Show learners these interactive slides to review the safety and effectiveness of contraceptive options for the postpartum breastfeeding woman including the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
Objective #7 Safe Sleep Practices: Show this recorded PowerPoint to identify the safe sleep guidelines.

Continue to Goal B

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Medical Knowledge

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

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.

Interpersonal Communication Skills

Learners will communicate effectively with patients, families and other medical providers regarding breastfeeding as well as understand the concept of cultural humility and how to provide culturally effective breastfeeding care.