On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 23:34:23 -0500, Linda Anderegg <[log in to unmask]> 
wrote:

>Cath,
>
>Could you share with the list what you have in your lunch box?  It's a 
great
>game to open class with.
>
>Linda Anderegg, RNC, IBCLC, RLC in Chicago
>
>
>             ***********************************************
>
>Certainly,
It actually was my older sons lunchbox - bright yellow, solid thing with a 
hinge for a bifold opening, and now with a couple of breastfeeding 
pictures attached.

The little red toy car - could be to take the baby out for a midnight 
settling drive?! or go to a Australian Breastfeeding Association meeting 
(LLL equivalent)or visit friends. Or that everybody knows that red cars 
are faster than others.( Totally irrelevant but it doesn't matter) A red 
car without petrol doesn't go fast at all in the middle of the night when 
mum is in labour and wants to move to her place of birth.

The Rubiks cube - yes baby may twist you around if attachment is poor or 
you try again until you figure out the solution to the problem. Parenting 
is a process requiring patience in the early days whilst you spend time 
figuring it out.

Sample Mini PILL packet- opens discussion about use of mini pill (beware 
of antibiotic use, timing and illness such as diarrheoa,/vomitting and 
contraceptive effect of breastfeeding (LAM).

The tape measure offers the suggestion of return to prepregnancy weight 
with breastfeeding; that the extra weight acquired is in preparation for 
breastfeeding which is then your own personal 'liposuction'. . .

The syringe is for babies first immunity protection via first 
breastfeeding and that Bf enhances the effects of infant immunisation. 
Syringe may also be useful for diabetic mums to collect colostrum 
antenatally (carefully, with guidelines)to protect baby from dropping 
blood glucose levels after birth - a security if you like.

The small Homer Simpson (Yes Homer)doll is about Dads and being involved -
interesting comments from dads keep it light.

The Mexican hat nipple shield - well it fits nicely on Homers head, like a 
sunhat but then introduces talk about use of shields and risks of dropping 
supply; not used as a routine but may turn up in baby gift baskets.

The paw paw ointment speaks of nipple ointment some of which may also turn 
up in gift baskets but are neither appropriate nor recommended. Try 
breastmilk: cheap, bacteriostatic, tastes and smells right to baby etc etc

The ping pong ball and marble as discussed previously.I must get the 
third 'shooter' size to complete the picture. Ping pong balls often bring 
chuckling with discussion about pelvic floor exercises and how these are 
used for skills in certain overseas nightclubs. Keep it light and simple.!

The old nurses fob watch informs of the timing of feeds from a previous 
era and that now we actually look for the visual cues of the baby and feed 
to need not to a schedule. This goes on to allow discussion on the merits 
of rooming in and parents learning to respond to the needs of the baby. 
Maybe they won't need to use the little red car to go for midnight drives 
to settle baby because they have already learned valuable techniques 
involving feed to need and comfort. We call it baby-led rather than demand 
feeding; conjures up less militant pictures of infants.

The plastic hamburger doesn't fit in and neither do the fake big breasts 
from the party shop: Of course size does not matter; sexuality in Western 
society is an issue compared to village type communities. The more 
inhibited the society, the greater the learning for this 'natural' process.

Basically, these things are inexpensive and easily available. Use your 
imagination and allow the class to use theirs.
The box is passed around as the clients come in " Think of how any of 
these may or may not relate to breastfeeding" is the brief. Sometimes I 
work through them all as the same time and others it comes up at intervals 
through out the breastfeeding session.

Hope this has been of interest - Just wander around your home and see 
other items which take your fancy; there are no real rights and wrongs.
These are discussion facilitators.

Cheers
Cath Williams RM IBCLC Childbirth-Parenting Educator 
:)

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