With her permission, here's a re-posting of Barbara Wilson Clay's
teaching method, which has a beautiful, easy-to-remember simplicity.
When all five "fingers" of information have been stated, you can
emphasize the fifth rule, about getting help immediately, by clapping
and waving.

Margaret Wills, LLLL, IBCLC
[copied material follows]
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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