In a message dated 1/7/00 11:03:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< << This is one reason I started a weekly support group in the hospital in
Puerto Rico that moms could come to after discharge from the hospital. >>
tell us from your experience, what factors resulted in a good group, what
factors facilitated attendance. >>
As a former Health Dept Bfing program administrator, I would like to also
add some thoughts.
We had a series of three bfing classes for the prenatal clients: Why I should
BF my Baby, Getting Off to a Good Start with Bfing, and How to Continue with
Bfing while learning to be a parent. We also had a 3 hr evening class which
combined those topics and also going back to work or school. The key to good
attendance seemed to be the relationship the clients had with the peer
counselors and also with each other. We stressed the importance of having
friends with babies close in age so you can share the ups and downs. We also
gave transportation vouchers to help with that and encourged attendance by
key family members.
For our support group, we had topics of interest that included other topics
along with bfing. We did topics like Making Your House Child Safe, Do I
really need all this stuff? ( What are essential items for a baby?),
Regaining My Body ( diet, exercise tips which does not involve clubs or
plans), Reading Food labels and Making sense of the Food Pyramid, Ideals for
low cost Holiday gifts and celebrations. We did one entitled "Getting Rid of
the Chocolate Easter Bunny" where I got donations for baskets, grass,
celephane wrap and bows, baby sunscreen, books, balls, sunglasses, car window
shades, baby swim diapers, small disposable cameras, photo albums etc. We
discussed why each item is good for baby care and then each mom got to pick
5-6 items to put in an Easter basket and make it to take home for the baby's
first Easter. We also did clothing exchanges, toy exchanges, recipe tastings
( we had a WIC Farmers Market Cookbook which we experiemented with, etc.
Each meeting started with questions about how bfing had gone that month and
tips they could share with other moms whose baby may be at a younger age. I
think the moms really bonded together-many would ride together and sometimes
would bring a picnic to eat together after the meeting. I enjoy seeing the
moms now working together in PTAs and school groups and they often will call
me and ask about someone.
Barbara Whitehead, IBCLC
Ayden NC (Where eastern NC is just beginning to rebuild from Hurricane Floyd)
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
