I like props that get people thinking and talking, rather than  
handouts that they may never read.

(1) For example (from Linda's Smith's Coach's Notebook), get "jelly  
belly" brand jelly beans and put a little sign up saying "ask me what  
these jelly beans have to do with breastfeeding."  Then have people  
hold their noses and pop one into their mouth.  After the tongue  
registers the sensation of "sweet" have them unplug their noses and  
experience intense flavor wafting through their mouth and nose.  This  
can lead into a discussion about how breastmilk takes on different  
flavors allowing the baby to enjoy many delicious flavors from mom's  
diet.  You could also have a dish of different colors of M&Ms or  
other candy and a sign showing that each color represents something  
important about breastmilk -- such as green = environmentally  
friendly, no cleaning or shopping or trash, red = breastmilk contains  
white blood cells and other immunities, allowing baby to share mom's  
immune system; yellow = special properties of colostrum, for which  
there is no substitute.  You could also have a dish of fresh fruit  
and a jar of baby fruit, and allow people to smell  (and if they are  
brave, taste) both of them -- this demonstrates powerfully the  
difference between canned, processed food and fresh, natural food.

(2) Maybe have a bin of different items that people can pick up, and  
attach little labels to them.  For example, a little bottle of  
Pedialyte can represent how breastfed babies are much less likely to  
get sick from diarrhea and if they do, they do not suffer from  
dehydration because breastmilk is so well absorbed.  A thermometer  
could represent how babies held skin to skin while breastfeeding are  
able to maintain their temperature much better than in an incubator  
because the breasts heat and cool the baby.  A box of tissues or baby  
tylenol -- breastfed babies get sick less often and less severely.  A  
bag of pork rinds could represent less obesity... the possibilities  
are endless!

(3) Ok, maybe some handouts!  Make or find online "Gee Whiz Lactation  
Facts" and include things that may really surprise people -- such as  
breastmilk kills cancer cells; breastmilk sitting at room temperature  
for 10 hours has less bacteria than when initially collected (because  
the milk kills bacteria it picks up from mom's skin), whereas formula  
is unsafe after an hour at room temperature, etc.; the AAP recommends  
that even if a mother smokes, she still should breastfeed (but  
obviously try to cut down or quit).
Here is an example: http://www.naturalbeginningsonline.com/ 
breastfeeding.html#Facts
Another idea is to have a series of questions on one side of a  
handout, and the answers on the other side.  Anything that gets  
people actively thinking, rather than passively listening to lists of  
facts.  You could also have a list of famous people who have  
breastfed and quotes from them.

Definitely check the Lactnet archives, I bet there are great ideas  
there.

Lynnette Hafken, MA, LLLL, IBCLC

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