In response to Julie Brill's query, I teach a couple's class that runs 3
sessions (up to 2 hours/session).  This is taught in the couple's home or
my home/or office and is a private class. I may start doing the same series
in conjunciton with a local childbirth educator at a school, but for now am
keeping them private and four couples (any def. of same applies) only.

I find that most couples need 3 sessions: basically, the first class deals
with knoweldge (accurate or not) they already have/knkow, what others have
told them and where they can get accurate information. I have found that
some of the worst misunderstandings emanate from couples who have read
(cover to cover before baby's birth) What to expect when your are expecting
and What to expect in the first year. The second is FULL of misinformation
about breastfeeding. When I warn them about books that are unhelpful, I try
to mention the key offenders and when that book comes up, every couple this
year has smiled and said, that was what they read.  Ack!

The second session focuses on positioning and practice breastfeeding--mom
and dad are BOTH taught. This generates lots of laughs and makes the point
about the importance of breastfeeding as a learned behavior and helps when
Dad has to demonstrate how to do so--including cupping the breast (which
they always forget).

Third session focuses on the reality of infant sleep patterns and also
talks about things like weaning (gasp! but when I mention it before baby's
birth, the moms tend to relax) and how to go back to work and keep
breastfeeding, and equipment some mothers like (pillows) and other mothers
might need (pumps), etc.

They leave feeling well-informed and nearly always ask me to come see them
after baby's birth to go over things we have talked about in class (and to
show off baby). These moms have (so far) all breastfed well and happily in
spite of negaitve families and other stressors.

It works for me. Might not for others...




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC - [log in to unmask]