Re: Pump info at bf classes
Jan writes:
>
> Why on earth are we spending time at prenatal breastfeeding classes
teaching
> about pumping? ? This is not to bash pump rental stations, but
IM(not so > humble)O, prenatal breastfeeding classes are to teach moms
about
> breastfeeding, and how to survive the first few days after birth.
Jan,
In our breastfeeding classes, we do spend 90% of the time teaching
moms about breastfeeding, because after all, if they don't get the
hang of breastfeeding, what to do with a pump won't matter. However,
at my first ever breastfeeding class, the first question I asked was,
"What do I do when I return to work?". The instructor said. "When
you're ready to return to work, call me.". Okay, realistically, how
many women are going to call back? In fact, I did call her and she
was largely unavailable. Very discouraging, to say the least.
We don't talk a whole lot about pumps in the class, except to say that
the drug store variety won't maintain a milk supply for long. I think
this is an important thing to convey in a breastfeeding class. Most
women who come to our classes think if they are breastfeeding, they
automatically need a pump. We try to steer them in the right
direction for the pump that will do them the best good, whether that
is no pump at all, or a hospital-grade pump for moms returning to
work. We also teach hand expression, and emphasize that their hand is
the best pump.
Finally, we try to convey a few important points so that women can
plan ahead for their maternity leave. We emphasize things like
returning to work on a Thursday instead of a Monday, simple ways to
obtain and store milk prior to a return to work (hand expression on
one breast while nursing baby on the other, for instance), how long to
pump for, where to (and not to!) pump, and how sleeping with their
baby (safely, of course) will minimize the sleep deprivation in the
early days of returning to work and give their baby extra feedings
during the night.
We have offered a separate "Working and Breastfeeding" class, but no
one has signed up for it for months.
Dena Bernhard
Member, Space Coast Breastfeeding Coalition
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