Diane asked "What are some of your tenets?"
What a fabulous question! I hope to hear many responses, because I think
this could be very educational.
Other than Diane's own tenets which I also follow, I would add that I
endeavor to TEACH a mother the skills she needs so that she can breastfeed
her baby successfully once she goes home, or once I leave her home.
For me, that means "hands off!" I rarely touch a mother's breasts in my
consultations with her. If I feel I must touch her (I will help to get baby's
hands out of the way and will teach her how to ask for help from a third party
for just such a thing), I ask permission first, and then I explain exactly what I
am doing and why.
Though this may be unconventional, and to some even questionable, I prefer
to touch my own breasts (clothed) when demonstrating common techniques
such as breast compression, hand expression, latch and positioning. I find,
hands down (pun intended!!), demonstrating on my body so that the mother
can SEE what I do and then mimick it, is the best tool and the most helpful.
I have used knitted breasts, balloons, dolls, etc. I find NOTHING more
effective than simply *modelling* the behaviour or technique.
This tenet was borne out the countless times I have heard "But, the nurse got
her latched on!", or "it worked at the clinic!"
And, I will be honest. Sometimes, it's HARD to avoid "rushing" in and "helping"
the mom get the baby on. Sometimes I have to sit on my hands and talk her
through the process two, three, four times. But in the end, it works, and I
know that she has *learned*.
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