5 Professionals to ask about Breastfeeding

Last week, I attended the Macomb County Breastfeeding Coalition's meeting.  I am so grateful to have this group of dedicated women serving our area.  The group meets with the mission "to identify and reduce medical, social, and economic barriers to breastfeeding in Macomb County, Michigan through education, support and outreach."

In attendance at the meeting were WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), doulas and breastfeeding mothers.  Anyone who is interested in supporting the mission is encouraged to attend a meeting.  Pediatricians in Macomb, we would love to have a few of you join the coalition! 

One of breastfeeding coalition's goals is to help women use the Affordable Care Act.   The new legislation is in high demand by women in our community but there are many hoops to jump through to obtain the services it offers.  Navigating the legislation is difficult for many women and so our area professionals are hoping to ease the transition.  The Macomb County Breastfeeding Coalition is working hard to understand and help women obtain the support, supplies, and counseling the Affordable Care Act offers them.

There were several WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors at the meeting.  I learned that women who are not enrolled in the WIC program can and should still call and talk to a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.  It may take a few days to get an appointment.  But, if you need support, they offer it even if you aren't enrolled yet.  Early support is crucial because if women don't have support for breastfeeding through difficulties in the early days they often turn to formula and that can be detrimental to a mother's breastmilk supply.  Call them for help if you need it!

Denise Tononi, RN, BSN, IBCLC, from Henry Ford Hospital shared a story that underscores the importance of breastfeeding education before having a baby.  A new mother was having difficulty getting her baby to latch on, when Denise arrived in her room to offer lactation support the mother had a small spoon in the baby bassinet.  The spoon read, "Every Drop Counts."  The new mother was given the spoon at her WIC breastfeeding class and taught how to hand express colostrum (first breastmilk) from her breast into the spoon to feed her newborn.  She was literally given tools and education to help her advocate for herself and her new baby in the hospital.  

By working in partnership breast feeding advocates will be consistent in teaching, information, and support of breastfeeding families.  The experience this new mother had underscores the positive effects and continuity of care between breastfeeding professionals.  Her prenatal breastfeeding class taught by peer counselors provided the tools and education which was reinforced and put into practice after the birth of her child as they were learning to breastfeed.

We also discussed how people in the community don't always understand who to ask for help with breastfeeding.  It isn't common knowledge how much education and training different jobs require.  Here are 5 professionals to ask about breastfeeding.

• An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) does approximately 90 hours of specific breastfeeding classes and the about 1000 hours of clinical time before they can even sit for their IBCLC exam. 
• A WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor has approximately 12 hours of specific breastfeeding classes and with continuing education most likely has 20 or more hours. 
• Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) offers a Certified Lactation Educator credential which requires participants take a 20 hour training course.   
• Birth Doulas and Postpartum Doulas typically take a 3-5 hour Lactation Course as part of their training.   Many of the doulas I know personally continue to add to their knowledge by taking more training that will help their clients.
• Le Leche League Leaders can take different paths to become leaders but spend several hours/years learning how to communicate and help breastfeeding mothers.  LLL Leaders volunteer their time and are an amazing community resource.

I think it is important to ask the people who are giving you breastfeeding advice how much training they have received.  You would ask other professionals about their experience before you hire them, right?  With this information you are able to decide if it may be wise to listen to their advice, or look for someone with more experience.   Many professionals who work with new mothers have breastfed babies themselves and spent may hours around other breastfeeding mothers.  Hands-on experience is very helpful in addition to coursework but doesn't take the place of a good breastfeeding class.

The Breastfeeding Coalition is also working to help educate Macomb area business owners, and employees to be breastfeeding friendly.  There is a Breastfeeding Friendly Designation in the works to let mothers know which businesses have taken the time to educate their staff about a breastfeeding mother's needs and rights.  I am really looking forward to watching this outreach take shape. 

For more information about the Macomb Breastfeeding Coalition check out their website http://breastfeedmacomb.weebly.com/

Read my last blog post What Every Pregnant Women Should Know Before She Delivers.

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