Someone posted me privately to ask about my method of doing prenatal and
bedside teaching. (Bedside meaning immed. postpartum messages.)  I operate
under the philosophy that preg. women have difficulty seeing past the big
event (delivery) and you have to keep bfg. messages fairly simple or they
don't remember them.  Same for immed. postpartum.  This is all I do:

I do not use a written guide or anything to teach the "Rules".  I use my
fingers.  I start by saying there are very few rules in breastfeeding, but I
am going to teach you one hand full (holding up my hand with fingers
spread).  The I hold up one finger and say:  Rule 1 is:  Feed Early.  Then I
say:  What does that mean?  I talk briefly about how imprinting works.  The
baby needs to feel the mothers nipple as the first thing in the mouth, and
how this helps bring in the milk, gets colostrum to the baby, seems to
ensure longer more successful bfg. experience.

 Rule 2: (Holding up 2 fingers) is Feed Often.  What does that mean?  Then I
talk about baby's tiny stomach, and how baby has been used to feeding all
day and night and has never known hunger.  These freq. feeds help transition
baby to life in the world, reassures baby, helps build milk supply. I remind
them that babies who crawl and toddle do NOT want to be on anyone's lap and
that these days of almost constant feeding are short lived.

 Rule 3:  Feed thoroughly.  What does this mean?  It means sometimes baby is
on the breast (at the table) but not really eating.  Teach the diff. between
nutritive suck and non-nutritive (watch for open eyes, wide, slow, jaw
excursions, baby is settled after feeds, breasts full before, soft after.
How this affects milk supply esp. as breasts fill up.  Affect of unrelieved
engorgement on suppressing full lactation.

The I hold up 4 fingers and say:  The rule of 4 is that by Day 4 (or at
least Day 5) baby should have moved through all the dark diapers and be
making about 4 full, yellow diapers each 24 hours. (Hand them a Diaper Diary
page so they know what the colors look like and the comparative sizes of
poops and have a simple tracking log to use).

Rule 5 is that if these other things aren't happening, start making a LOT of
noise about getting yourself some help (esp. if the nipples looked cracked
and are more than just tender).

That's about it.

Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

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