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Subject:
From:
Ginger Carney <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:32:59 -0600
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Can anyone share some ideas of what is important to tell dietetic
interns in a brief inservice? The current outline is used for student
nurses, med students and RD students but I'd like to do something
creative and specific to each discipline. 
Thanks in advance for any help,
Mary Kay Smith, RN, IBCLC
Canton MI USA
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I work with dietetic interns all the time.  It is extremely important
to impress upon them their role in promoting breastfeeding.  The
American Dietetic Association has a very strong position statement on
Promoting & Supporting Breastfeeding in the May 2005 issue of the
Journal of the American Dietietic Association (Vol 106, No. 5), so we do
have support from our professional organization.  

There are different ways the dietitian can support breastfeeding,
depending on where they are.  They need to understand the process of
lactation, and the mechanics of breastfeeding, so that they can spot
problems and refer to lactation consultants.  They relate to how the
nutritional content of breastmilk changes throughout lactation and even
during a specific feeding.  They should realize that breastfeeding and
breastmilk feeding is not an exact science.  Dietitians are "numbers"
people and it bothers them when they cannot report the exact nutritional
intake a baby receives when at the breast, so keep that in mind.  The
big thing is to have them understand that the process is at least as
important as the product.  If they work in prenatal settings or birthing
hospitals vs. children's hospitals or pediatric settings, their approach
to breastfeeding will be different.  I think we need to impress upon
them that breastfeeding is certainly more than "feeding" and have them
think of the breastfeeding couplet as a whole rather than trying to look
at just the mother or just the baby.  We need to teach them how to
encourage mothers to begin breastfeeding and ways to overcome obstacles
to exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life (and avoiding
ABM for the full first year).  Also, it may be wise to make dietetic
interns aware of how ABM companies influence mothers so that they can be
prepared to know how to handle that.  The "Ten Steps to Successful
Breastfeeding" has been helpful to me working with dietetic interns too.
 

I am so happy you asked this question.  I am very passionate about
getting the dietetic profession educated about breastfeeding and
lactation, and more RDs in the perinatal and pediatric fields must help
in our efforts to reach the current breastfeeding goals.  I urge all of
you in education to please include dietitians and dietetic interns in
your lactation education classes!!  Ask the internship director to
include breastfeeding in their interns' rotations.  Invite the staff
dietitians (or at least the one that works in the perinatal/pediatric
areas) to attend your breastfeeding classes.  With education, dietitians
can really help us in our mission.

Good Luck!
Ginger

Ginger Carney, RD, LDN, IBCLC
Clinical Nutriiton Mgr./Lactation Consultant
Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center
Memphis, TN  
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