From the study:

"The  lactation avatar was created with close attention to a real life 
lactation  consultant, including her body language and hand gestures.  A 15 
person  pilot study was conducted with the lactation consultant avatar.  The  
study found that use of this avatar as a learning medium significantly  
increased intent to breastfeed and knowledge surrounding breastfeeding.   A larger 
study is underway to determine if a lactation avatar can influence  
breastfeeding duration."

~~~
Hello all,
 
It seems their bar is set pretty low in terms of what a lactation  
consultant actually does. If all the LC does is increase intent to breastfeed  and 
provide general knowledge, it's just like a talking program with a  character 
(... like that little thing in Jurassic Park that gave the  talk on 
amber....). Their next goal is related to ongoing education and support  - 
increasing duration. Although those things are all important, they barely  scratch 
the surface of what an experienced, brainstorming LC does. I think one  of 
the most common phrases I hear when I am with a new family is: "why didn't  
anyone else tell me that?"
and that covers a multitude of things like tongue tie ( esp. posterior),  
effects of late pregnancy position/movement in utero, labor and delivery on  
feeding, effects of coming even a few weeks early, or being born less than 5 
lb,  8 oz, effects of being separated from baby, effects of being in 
different  positions, with different sensory cues,, reading a baby's cues for 
hunger and  satiation, what normal is....  then again if the avatar takes the 25 
minute  course, it will be totally ready to answer any and all questions 
right? The  avatar can now give lip service to support breastfeeding even 
without any real  lips!
 
Peace,
Judy




Judy LeVan  Fram, PT, IBCLC, LLLL
Brooklyn, NY,  USA
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