I teach  a big breastfeeding classes at a large hospital,  a free add-on 
to the childbirth series.  So the audience is a real mix -- some seem 
passionate about the idea, others in the "well, maybe I'll try" 
category.  But that latter category needs us more.

I do play up *why,*  since the parents' other healthcare providers may 
be noncommittal on this.  The talk leans heavily on Diane Weissinger's 
approach of breastfeeding as "normal" and species-specific -- that if 
someone says, "Oh breastfed babies are. (fill in the blank)..." that 
it's just like saying "Oh, babies who were fed by placenta are...." 

My class aims at getting everyone "over the hump" of the first 2-3 weeks 
-- if someone can nurse for 6 weeks, six months is a cakewalk.  It's 
vital to convey how different the first few establishing weeks are  from 
all that follows.  So many people give up in that first week, saying "I 
can't do this for a year."  It's a transitional time -- you couldn't 
maintain the pace of a honeymoon's activity level for the years of 
marriage that plod along (that can get a laugh).

Because we tend to judge breastfeeding success by how much we can make 
it like bottle-feeding, the clustered or frequent feeding makes people 
panic that they don't have enough milk. So share ways to tell the baby 
is ok,. Help them see that their baby is sooo smart, and is trying to 
send a message and kick-start the supply-and-demand system by feeding 
frequently -- your body never wants to waste anything, and so it has to 
get this message.. And how much comfort that little overwhelmed baby 
finds in cozy sucking. That the colostrum is there in small concentrated 
amounts, and the number of feedings is important to keep the baby 
stable.  And that the more they are feeding across the early days the 
sooner and more smoothly the milk can transition to larger volumes, with 
less chance of getting uncomfortably engorged.  And why to wake a sleepy 
baby

I don't think you can say this enough.  People aren't bursting with milk 
the minute the baby is born, so they don't feel the urgency to keep this 
baby skin-to-skin and feeding frequently (especially in a busy hospital 
or just-home environment with lots of visitors and everyone telling the 
mother to "rest."). So once the weight is down or the jaundice numbers 
are up, then there's a panic.

I also try to make people feel that they have some resources for help.  
We have to combat the idea that breastfeeding either works immediately 
or that's the end of the story. ("Oh well, you tried.")    That  in our 
current healthcare system, they may have to actively seek out the help 
they need.  People must have hope that they can solve any problems that 
come up.  I also try to convey that first rule is that we "feed the 
baby" since people are afraid they will endanger their baby if they try 
to work on breastfeeding.

I used to finish the class with pumps and back-to-work issues, but found 
that to be a bad ending note.  So right after the break, I spend about 
15-20 minutes talking about pumps, storage, back to work issues, and 
give some resources for more information, including the IBCLC-moderated 
mother's group at the hospital.  I stress being in moment with the early 
weeks, because getting a great supply established and a baby who loves 
to breastfeed are great for all the transitions ahead. 

Now I finish the class with getting comfortable with positioning and 
latching, talking in more general principles, with an emphasis on the 
baby as an active dance partner.

The class includes several videos, including one without narration that 
plays while people are coming in and getting settled, since a lot of 
people have never seen this activity before.

"Breastfeeding Made Simple" by Mohrbacher and Kendall-Tackett is a great 
prenatal book to recommend or to steal from for a class.

Margaret Wills, LLLL, IBCLC
Maryland

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