Teaching a BF class

[amandaleigh37]

So I am a brand new (woo!) WIC peer counselor, and I'll be teaching my first prenatal breastfeeding class next week.

I'm a little nervous.

I guess I'm just looking for all and any advice or encouragement. I have materials to use, but I am trying to get myself psyched up about it. I had such an easy time BFing.. didn't have to go back to work, or any of the challenges that I know a lot of these moms will face. So I just really want to do a good job and help them.

Any and all input is welcome. Thanks

[hedgehogs4]

Good luck! I LOVE this article: http://www.motherchronicle.com/watchyourlanguage.html

[Bookworm?]

I'm a new peer counselor too! Try to leave lots of time to address any conerns they have and try to get them to talk about what thier personal barriers are. That way you can address exactly what is needed the most. Good luck!

[Turkish Kate]

Good for you! It's so hard to be a new teacher, in any setting. Remember that you don't have to have the answers to absolutely everything, it's okay to ask for input from your "class," there may be mamas there who have already breastfed a baby. Anything you don't have an ready answer for and no one else in the group knows, admit that you're at a loss, but will find out what you can and offer to get back to the mama. Class involvement makes a huge difference, and I agree with Bookworm?--engage the mamas in your class and have them talk about what kind of support *they* need and where they can go to get it (LLL, WIC, KellyMom, ProMom, Sears books, friends who have breastfed successfully, etc.). Good luck to you and please let us know how it goes!

[columbusmomma]

I think it would be helpful to share the postives for both mom and baby.
I would address the issues that could arise and give good resources if they would need help! I would also explain it can be normal to face difficulties, but help is out there. They can successfully breastfeed their babies!
Do you have a feel for what the participants will be "like" and can teach according to what will probably benefit them with the most information?
And, yes it will be fun and you'll just get right into good discussion and have fun with the teaching! How great that your class is available!

[mama2annabelle]

Question about WIC

I am a CLC and teach BF classes at a birth center. I have a question for those of you peer counselors teaching at WIC...is this a paid postition or volunteer? I would love to earn some extra income with my experience!


As for the classes...in my experience every class I teach is different depending on the women there. At all classes I think it is very important to talk about the multitude of benefits of breastfeeding to both mom and baby. Helping them to identify any misconceptions they have about breastfeeding and discussing them is a great exercise. I have found that showing a short video of positioning and latch on is more effective than trying to explain it with words or posters alone. Lots of people are visual learners and need to "see" it in real life addition to what you are explaining. Definitely help them come up with a support plan for after baby arrives, so that if issues do arise they already know where to go for help. I give out a list of local resources (LLL, LC's), great BF books, great websites that has always been appreciated by class attendants.
I always love the classes where the participants are involved and the discussion flows well. I hate the classes where everyone is silent and I am the only one talking. Class participation is key for me.

[beru]

Perhaps this suggestion will not go over well but one thing I think you should do is present a realistic view of problems many women face. Let them know it can be difficult for some women. I think some women give up because they think it's supposed to be easy and if it's not they don't understand that it will getr easier if they persist and/or get help. Or even if it their are difficult aspects of their nursing relationship, it is absolutely worth it to persist. There are many difficulties to being a new mom and feeding your baby is just one of them.

There is a breastfeeding class at my hospital (I did not take it) that other moms have told me they did not like because it painted this rosy picture of breastfeeding and that didn't match their experience. They were not prepared for what they had to do to establish breastfeeding and they were resentful of the class.

I know I am going on and on but here's another thought. I had an easy time breastfeeding and I find it hard to help my friends who are having problems. They come to me because they know I am a breastfeeding "fanatic". But really, the only thing I feel like I truly am helpful with is plugged ducts and pumping issues (I had those problems.) So beware of your own limitations. It does seem you are, I think, because you did mention it...I have learned that some of the things I have read do not match the reality of my friends-If it hurts there is a problem with latch (not always). That babies don't wean themselves before 12 months (in my friends situation she treated the situation like a nursing strike and tried to get her baby back on the breast but could never get her son to nurse again), etc.

Finally, I have to share this link. Sometimes people's unreasonable expectations of breastfeeding really stem from unreasonable expectations of mothering a newborn It is good to try to give them perspective on this.
http://www.breastfeed.com/articles/n...l-babies-2694/

[amandaleigh37]

:

Thank you so much for the replies. You've been most helpful! My first class is Tuesday so I will let you know how it goes.

I think my nerves are in part due to exactly what beru described. Because I had it so easy, I feel unsure of myself in helping those who will have struggles I never had to deal with. But I am eager to help and committed to this...

I sat in on another class to observe, and I left there feeling very humbled and with this great sense of... responsibility? This is really the "front lines", so to speak. Many of the women don't know if BFing is worth even trying, and I may be the one to change their mind. It's an awesome and terrifying feeling

(mama2annabelle, I don't know about other areas but my position is paid. It's not very much, and very few hours (around 5/week), but I think that all varies from program to program?)

[brookie514]

I agree with the pp as to try not to paint a rosy picture! For me the first week is torture on my nipples, and I was not warned about that! I thought was doing it wrong! I wouldn't overload them with bad things like plugged ducts, thrush, or stuff like that. But I would give them lots of places to go if that does happen. The kellymom website has lots of good info, maybe give out a website handout? GL! And I can't wait to hear how it goes!

[elizaMM]

Originally Posted by mama2annabelle

I am a CLC and teach BF classes at a birth center. I have a question for those of you peer counselors teaching at WIC...is this a paid postition or volunteer? I would love to earn some extra income with my experience!

I inquired about being a WIC peer counselor and they said I'd have to be a WIC recipient to qualify :-(

[leila1213]

Another thought if you'd like some moral support during your class...you could invite a local LLL leader to come and talk for 5 minutes. It is a valuable resource to give your class, the LLL people would love it/you, and if there were any tough questions you might be able to lean on the leader (if she is able to stay for the whole thing).

[sarahtdubb]

When I took a prenatal BF class, the most useful thing for me was the physical examples... both in watching videos and demonstrations. the lactation consultant had a big nipple (like a stuffed animal, but it was a nipple!) that she used.... and she talked about how we eat; that you open your mouth and kind of stick your lower jaw under something, rather than going straight at it with your mouth. that imaged (she talked about eating a big mac) REALLY helped me when my baby was born, because I had a better understanding of how to physically put my nipple in his mouth.

You're doing a great thing. Good luck!

[julie128]

I"m teaching my first bf class later this month, too. I have to go nurse right now, so I don't have time to write a big thing now, but check out www.ameda.com. They have printable handouts and a good and short video that you can't download, but maybe there is some way for you to show it in your class. Lansinoh will also send you free materials and samples.

I don't know if that's any better than handing out any other advertising materials, but there it is.

[MSUmama]

Originally Posted by elizaMM

I inquired about being a WIC peer counselor and they said I'd have to be a WIC recipient to qualify :-(

The agencies who run WIC peer counselors vary from state to state. I'm a Counselor for the Mother to Mother program through Michigan State University, but we serve the WIC population. I've never heard of having to be a WIC recipient! I believe it, WIC is strange, that's just a new one to me!

To the OP, it GREATLY varies from state to state. My position is paid as well, not very much, BUT my health care benefits ROCK and I LOOOVVVEEE my job, so I don't mind the under $19,000/yr salary. I work 36 hours a week, have my own office, a secretary, a paid cell and pager and do most of my work through home visits and NONE of it at the WIC clinic. I could, but most moms are stuck there for so long already, they don't want to hang out and talk to me when they are done. I am also on call 24/7, thus the pager. I wish more states had programs like ours, I think it's really beneficial to be able to have a full work week and to see moms at home when they are newly discharged and having those "OMG why did they let me take this baby home????" moments.

As for classes, I am gearing up to start classes at a local grocery store. I am planning to show a short video, use my fake stuffed boob from Noodle Soup, it has a cover that retracts and shows the inside of the breast so moms get a good understanding of why the baby needs so much of the areola in it's mouth. Noodle Soup is the best resource for materials, IMO. I use some LLL handouts and their books for reference. I make a lot of jokes, like saying "of course when you start breastfeeding it's going to be uncomfortable, unless you are used to having someone suck on your breasts for 8-10 hours in a 24 hour period." Keep it light, be yourself, don't try too hard, moms sense fear, lol! Always remember that every situation is different, every mom and baby couple are different and you might not have all the answers to every question and that's ok. Be honest with your moms about that. Be cautious about sending your moms off to LLL meetings. LLL is wonderful but in my area not a good fit for many WIC clients. Only because our LLL is mostly sahms and very natural and many WIC clients are wohms and more mainstream. Good luck and congratulations!!! Feel free to PM me for more information about resources or anything at all.

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by MSUmama

The agencies who run WIC peer counselors vary from state to state. I'm a Counselor for the Mother to Mother program through Michigan State University, but we serve the WIC population. I've never heard of having to be a WIC recipient! I believe it, WIC is strange, that's just a new one to me!

I believe that is the case here in VA as well (that you have to be a past WIC recipient to be a peer counselor).