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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