Making learning about breastfeeding 
easy, fun and accessible

As a professional who works with new mothers and babies, the teaching you do, formal or informal, is one of the most important aspects of your work. Whether you realize it our not, you are teaching constantly. Make the most of each opportunity!

What you say, how you phrase it and when you say it have a big impact, a few works of encouragement, a open ended question or a timely response to a patient’s question. If you are unsure of the proper response to a question, find the answer. No one expects you to have all of the answers. Use your resources: reference books and experienced people. Are there pictures of breastfeeding mothers, brochures on breastfeeding topics in your rooms? Are there places for breastfeeding mothers, and staff, to breastfeed or use a breast pump in comfort and privacy? This says "we value breastfeeding here".

Plan a class to fit the needs of your audience. It may be a 10 minute presentation on a focused topic presented several times throughout the day. If may be a formal two hour or longer breastfeeding class. It might be a mini-series of several topics presented at consecutive classes. 

If you have a waiting room setting, use that time to educate your patients. Provide a continuous loop video, power-point presentation or slide show to help mothers choose to breastfeed or to learn breastfeeding techniques. Have brochures and booklets available.

In industry, just-in-time deliveries are the new approach. Materials arrive just as they are needed. No storage problems, no inventory. We can use this model for our teaching. Trying to teach everything needed in one class or in one setting, can be overwhelming and reduces retention of content. For parents, the stress of learning a new role, new tasks and being physically uncomfortable, can all impede learning. Parents need small bits of information, when they can absorb it and when they can put it to use right away.

Keeping the learning targeted and focused means better retention. However, it does require some coordination. Work with other professionals that will serve your mothers, to determine what they will be teaching and what aspects of teaching you need to cover. If each professional incorporates a little breastfeeding teaching in their contact with the mother, our mothers will be successful with breastfeeding!

Although too much repetition is boring and irritating, a review of previously taught information can help cement it in the learners mind. If the verbal instruction is reinforced with a handout and then the actual activity is practiced with some timely feedback, it will be re remembered.

Review your handouts or videos for accurate content. Check that illustrations match the text and are technically accurate. Is there a focus on problems? Does the text suggest that breastfeeding may not work? Are there unrealistic expectations for the mother’s diet, life style or use of medications or alcohol. Does the illustration make the mother look worried or tired? Does the piece make formula feeding the norm and breastfeeding seem like the exception? Is successful breastfeeding in conflict with the publishers business?

Click here for more details about how to evaluate handouts.  Use the back button on your browser to return to this page.

Audio-Visual Aids

You might incorporate slides, overheads, Power-Point Presentations, videos or a game in your teaching. Involve your audience: it improves retention. Using a variety of media and teaching styles to keep your class interesting and lively.

People learn in a variety of ways: seeing, hearing, doing and touching.  Incorporate several ways of learning each topic to make sure you reach all of your students.  Since visual and auditory learning accounts for about 70% of learners, be sure to use pictures or objects (dolls, breast pumps, other equipment) as you talk.  A breastfeeding class where moms bring their new babies and actually practice in class would be the "ultimate" audio-visual aid!

Bringing in a guest speaker adds variety and a personal interest.  Successful breastfeeding mothers make the information "real".

Although professionals need greater depth in the information you provide, the same principles apply. Information that can be applied to the work-setting immediately is best retained.

In addition, professionals may find it hard to squeeze class time into their busy schedules. Early morning, lunch-time or mini-sessions may be best attended. Classes that are repeated so all staff can attend, can help improve the consistency of advice given. Self learning modules provide learning opportunities with time allows.

Click here for Self Learning Modules your staff can use for individual learning.  Then you can follow up with hands-on teaching of techniques.  Several books can be shared by all of your staff members.