Breastfeeding Workshop Plan

Running head: BREASTFEEDING WORKSHOP

© 2016, Carolyn Mask-Oats

Workshop Plan— Breastfeeding: The Baby, the Benefits, and You

Carolyn Mask-Oats

Texas Woman’s University

04 August 2016

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Workshop Plan— Breastfeeding: The Baby, the Benefits, and You

Population Addressed

Chronologically speaking, ideal parenting practices change as medical, social, and

psychological research becomes more prevalent and available. In saying so, one dynamic of

parenting that has changed over the past 60 years (Feldman, 2012) is the provision of breastmilk

(over formula) to infants by the biological mother. Alternatively, and more recently indorsed, is

the use of breastmilk by medically screened donors. Having said so, ideals about public

breastfeeding are widening and for this reason, mothers are becoming more open to doing so

(Berns, 2016). New mothers are often met with many concerns with breastfeeding as it relates to

how do so successfully, benefits to themselves and the child, reasons one should not breastfeed,

and whether exclusivity is obligatory. In saying so, breastfeeding can be exceptionally difficult

when either the mother and/or infant feels distressed (Siegler, DeLoache,Eisenberg, & Saffran,

2014) .

It should then be recognized that the aforementioned concerns can be applied to both the

mother and child where stress is cross-communicated. Continued stress over the infant and/or

mother can transpire to the rest of the family which could lead to crises in the overall family

system; this can be best understood under Hanson and Hill’s (1964) ABCx model of family crisis

which explains that the family suffers as a whole when stressors are negatively perceived.

Because so many new mothers are at risk for such stressors, it is best to educate them on what to

expect when breastfeeding which includes understanding the nutritional needs of the infant and

herself. It is also necessary to provide information on lactation consultation if negative stress is

underway. Nevertheless, parents should be educated on both the short and long term physical,

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psychological, and emotional benefits posed for the themselves, the infant, and the overall

parent-child relationship.

Goals of the Workshop

Another facet of the ABCx model, the “b” are the resources available to the family.

Resources and other protective factors have the ability to act as buffers to the impact of stressors

(Binger and Gerhardt, 2015). In saying so, this course is intended to provide parents with

necessary information to successfully breastfeed while promoting the value and advantages of

doing so, address the need for support by a partner and the family overall, help parents to

understand the needs of the infant, and to help create realistic expectations for themselves and

the infant. Having said so, parents should primarily recognize that parenting infants can be

stressful when needs are not responded to effectively and efficiently. This course will help

parents and other family members to understand how to best approach breastfeeding in ways that

promote efficiency and effectiveness which will in turn promote healthy infant and familial

development.

Content

To begin the course, the infant’s innate motor abilities such as rooting and sucking will

be mentioned, which are two reflexes that are assistive in the breastfeeding process. It will then

be explained what these unlearned impulses are and how they help the infant with food intake,

by way of the breast or bottle. Rooting will then be identified as the turning of the check toward

the food source (breast or bottle), followed by an open mouth to find nipple (Sieglman & Rider,

2015). Once the nipple is found successfully, the infant will latch and begin sucking from the

milk source. Following this explanation, parents will be met with the benefits that exclusive or

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alternated breastfeeding can pose to the infant. These benefits include secure attachment and

trust from the infant as well the nutritional and health values that breastfed infants typically

experience.

Nursing offers the infant a natural turbine of short and long-term advantageous properties

for which the they will carry with them. In saying so, providing the infant with skin-to-skin

contact can successfully promote secure attachments with the parent. This contact allows infants

to be more calm and responsive the touch and gaze of their mother (Feldman, 2012).

Subsequently, fathers can work to form similar bonds by using similar contact which also help

the infant securely trust both parents in the same way which can later assist in healthy social

development (Feldman, 2012). In addition to these psychological benefits, parents will also

learn that a number of health benefits are related to breastmilk consumption for the infant. For

example, the nutrient rich milk is specific to the child’s needs provides the antibodies needed in

building and maintaining a strong immune system within the first year of life (Bigner &

Gerhardt, 2015). Other health doles that will be addressed are that breastfeeding can reduce

chances of the child being obese or having diabetes in later life (Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 2016).

After parents have been educated on the benefits delivered to the infant, it will then be

discussed what benefits are posed to the mother and her partner. In this section of the course, the

importance of support for both the mother and infant will also be addressed. As the infant is

assisted with healthy attachment practices, mothers will learn that they too will develop strong

emotional bonds with the infant (Bigner & Gerhardt, 2015). Other research suggests that mothers

are likely to experience less risk for diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, and breast and

ovarian cancer prior to menopause (Stuebe & Shwartz, 2010; Feldman, 2012). Also,

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breastfeeding in the short term can help the mother to lose the weight gained during pregnancy,

reduce the likelihood of pregnancy as a result of hormonal distribution, and even help to shrink

the uterus following childbirth (Feldman, 2012). Following the mention of these benefits, parents

will also learn the recommended longevity to breastfeed and reasons that breastfeeding should be

avoided.

The primary recommendation is that a mother breastfeed exclusively for the first 4-6

months, especially so for the first month (Bigner & Gerhardt, 2015). Additionally, the child

should continue to be breastfed up to and (if possible) following the twelfth month (Feldman,

2012). It will also be mentioned that an infant should not be removed from breastfeeding or

bottle-feeding abruptly, but should be gradually weaned from doing so. Having said, there are a

number of reasons that a mother should not breastfeed at all or should switch to formula feedings

and in other cases screened, donated breastmilk. These include instances in which the mother has

used legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications (Bigner & Gerhardt, 2015). This is due to the

likelihood of the substance being present in breastmilk which can have adverse effects on the

infant. Similarly, mothers should avoid breastfeeding if they attain infectious diseases such as

HIV that can be contracted by way of bodily fluids (Bigner & Gerhardt, 2015).

It will then be addressed that though some perceived discomforts or inconveniences may

be related to breastfeeding, these are not reasons that one should quit. Parents will learn that

many medically associated personnel such as lactation consultants can be notified of and help to

resolve issues such as engorgement, latching, milk expression, and distress for either mother or

infant. In saying so it will also be mentioned that mothers must have realistic expectations for

themselves and the infant when breastfeeding. For example, mothers will learn that they will

only produce the amount of milk that is needed by the infant. This information will be of use and

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as infants will cry out to let the parent know when they are hungry and spit out or turn away from

the nipple when they have had enough (Siegler, et al., 2014). Having said so, research suggests

that on average, parents should expect an infant to eat every 2-4 hours (Feldman, 2012).

Finally, it will be lectured that these expectations can help mothers in learning to respond

to the infant in an effective manner. For this reason, the mother must have the support of a

partner in responding to the infant effectively and efficiently (Sigelman & Rider, 2015). Fathers

and other family members can best support the mother and infant by understanding the

expectations and working to avoid the possible stressors that can negatively affect either person.

Having said so, fathers would also benefit from taking breastfeeding classes and educating

themselves on what to expect, how they can help, and best ways to be supportive during this

critical time in the child’s life. Family members can be supportive by understanding the

transition to life with an infant education themselves as well. As such, support during this time,

will be identified as a key feature in successfully introducing and maintaining breastfeeding

practices.

Activities

The course will be facilitated in a face-to-face format and will include slide-show based,

narrated videos. These videos and slides will provide participants with the afore mentioned

information. The videos will be aided by the use of a workbook will contain a number of

activities such as a pre-assessment to the course information and a similar post assessment using

the online quiz format kahoot.it. Before completing the activities, the activity booklet will have a

disclaimer to participants that the views on some areas such as the psychological mentions are

associated with westernized parenting practices. This disclaimer will be included because it must

be recognized that participants of other cultures may find that this information does not pertain

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entirely or partially to their experiences or upbringing. The activity booklet will have a section

for each topic to follow along with the narrative in the course videos to allow parents to notate

where they feel necessary. The workbook will also provide additional information and a list of

resources that might prove helpful to those taking the course. Another activity that will be

included in the workbook will be a section for each parent to identify what they know about

breastfeeding followed by a discussion of facts and myths related to breastfeeding. Following the

videos about the benefits offered to parents and infants, the workbook will have a “fill in the

blank” activity for participants to complete.

Succeeding this activity, participants will complete an activity that will help them to

address the benefits that they and other family members have received as a result of bottle or

breastfeeding (Svensson, 2000). The participants will then follow along in their workbooks with

a video that will discuss when and when not to breastfeed. This video will be followed by a

discussion of other facets and cases that the participants might expect to not breastfeed. This will

also allow the course leader to answer questions on other instances that may not have been

mentioned throughout the course. The next activity to be completed in the workbook is a short

journal entry where participants will write if and how they will educate their partners and family

members on what they have learned throughout the course. Finally, the course will end with a

post-assessment. Those who finish and pass the post-assessment will receive a certificate of

completion; those who do not pass will be given an option to re-take the course or go over their

workbooks and reassess shortly after studying.

Participant Evaluation

The evaluation form will be completed following the post-course-assessment. This 16

question form will survey what participants liked and disliked and how satisfied they were with

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the course overall. Subsets of this portion of the evaluation will question what section or sections

were most enjoyable, informative, and clearly understood. Another subset of this portion of the

survey will include a question asking participants to rate the presentation format. In another

section of the evaluation, participants will be asked if they learned any new or useful information

and the likelihood they would recommend the course to others. Additionally, participants will be

questioned about the effectiveness of the workbook content and activities. In this section

participants will also be asked what they would have preferred to learn and if they felt any

information was irrelevant to the topic. Finally, participants will then answer 3 demographically

based questions to include race/ethnicity, relationship to breastfeeding mother, and age. These

demographics will help classroom facilitators to keep track of the average number of participants

and who most and least often will have taken the course.

Resources for Participants

Once the course has been completed, all participants will be given a folder to take home

which will hold their workbooks to be kept for future references if needed. The folder will also

contain pamphlets and information on organizations, a list of breastfeeding-help books,

information regarding hospital programs that use board certified lactation consultants for

supports and course facilitation, and names of computer and cell phone applications that can be

downloaded to help with breastfeeding and sleep schedules, and local breastfeeding support

groups. These resources will provide participants with information that can increase their quality

of parenting and the quality of support by those who do not parent.

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Participant Evaluation Form

Please complete the following survey once you have completed the course entitled

Breastfeeding: The Baby, the Benefits, and You.

1. Please state what you liked best about the course.

2. Please state what you liked least or thought needed improvement.

3. What section(s) did you enjoy most in the course? Please check all that apply.

☐ Benefits to the baby

☐ Benefits to the mother

☐ How long to breastfeed

☐ When mother should not breastfeed

☐ Support by father and other family

4. Which section(s) do you feel were most informative? Please check all that apply.






5. Which section(s) were most clearly understood? Please check all that apply.



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6. How satisfied are you with the current presentation format? Please choose from the

droplist below.

Choose an item.

7. Did you learn any new information?

Choose an item.

8. Did you learn any useful information?

Choose an item.

9. Did you feel as if the workbook activities and content were effective? Please explain

why or why not.

Choose an item.

10. How likely would you recommend this course to other new parents or caregivers.

Choose an item.

11. Is there anything that you wanted to learn that was not in this course? If so, please

explain.

12. Is there anything that you feel should not have been a part of this course? If so, please

explain.

13. Do you have any final comments about the course or the activity workbook?

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Please answer the following 3 questions about yourself.

14. What is your race or ethnicity?

Choose an item.

15. Are you breastfeeding? If not, then what is your relationship to someone who is?

Choose an item.

Choose an item.

16. How old are you?

☐ Prefer not to answer.

Thank you for completing this evaluation, it is hoped that you have had an experience that

will assist you and your loved ones in the near and late future.

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Resource Folder Content List

Organizations and agencies who provide breastfeeding information, research and tips

La Leche League International

Website: http://www.llli.org/

Office of Women’s Health, Department of Health and Human Services

Website: -http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/finding-breastfeeding-support.html

Helpline: 800-994-9962

Texas Women, Infants, and Children’s Program (W.I.C.)

Website: http://www.texaswic.org

Toll Free: 800-942-3678

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Website: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/

Breastfeeding Help Books

Breastfeeding with Confidence

by Sue Cox

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solving

Guide to Breastfeeding From the Foremost Expert in North America

by Jack Newman, M.D. and Teresa Pitman

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

by Dianne Wiessinger, Diana West, and Teresa Pitman

Work. Pump. Repeat.: The New Mom’s Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back

to Work

By Jessica Shortall

Local Hospitals That with Services by Certified Lactation Consultants/ Registered Nurses

Texas Health Resources (Denton)

Free support group: Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

“The Warm Line” (Telephone breastfeeding support): 940-898-7142

http://www.llli.org/

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/finding-breastfeeding-support.html

http://www.texaswic.org/

https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/

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Denton Regional Medical

Online support and information by M.D.s and Consultants:

http://dentonregional.com/hl/?/101230/Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding support: Texas Ten Step Program; for more information on this program please

visit http://texastenstep.org/

Downloadable Computer, Phone and Tablet Apps

latchME

This free app provides breastfeeding advice on common issues, tips for comfortable

breastfeeding practices, locations with nursing stations, help finding medically screened milk

banks, chat with lactation professionals, and help finding local support groups and is available

Apple and Android.

Total Baby

“Total Baby “provides parents with a number of timers to help set feeding and sleep schedules

for their infants with specific timers for right and left sided nursing, memory for diapers changed

and wet, a diary for memories, milestones, and doctor visits, day-by-day comparisons, and data

iCloud backup. This app does have a free version for Android users and a paid version on for

Apple product users.

Doctors on Demand

This is a free, video-chat based application. Medical professionals require payment for sessions

which vary depending on time. Customers have the option to choose what type of doctor they

want to speak with and these professionals can observe and help guide. Breastfeeding mothers

can choose to speak with certified lactation consultants to observe their practices, and ask

questions regarding any issue. Chats can be made via in-app appointment settings. It is available

for Android and Apple use.

MommyMeds

MommyMeds is a research-based app (by Texas Tech Health Sciences Center professionals) that

holds a list of over-the-counter and prescription medications that breastfeeding mothers can use.

This app also has a “scan bar-code” feature which allows customers to scan their medications

and be notified of whether the medication is tolerable for the breastfed infant. This app is

available for $0.99 for Android users and $3.99 for Apple users.

http://dentonregional.com/hl/?/101230/Breastfeeding

http://texastenstep.org/

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References

Berns, R. (2016). Child, family, school, and community: Socialization and support. (10th Ed.).

Stanford, CT: Cengage Learning.

Bigner, J.J., & Gerhardt, C. (2014). Parent-child relations: An introduction to parenting. (9th

Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Breastfeeding. Retrieved from

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/

Hansen, D. & Hill, R. (1964). Families under stress. In H. Christensen (Ed.), Handbook of

marriage and the family (pp. 355-375). Chicago: Rand-McNally.

Siegler, R., DeLoache, J., Eisenberg, N., & Saffran, J. (2014). How children develop. (4th Ed.).

Worth Publishing.

Sigelman, C. K., & Rider, E. A. (2015). Life-span Human Development (8th ed.). Stamford, CT:

Cengage Learning.

Stuebe, A., & Shwartz, E. (2010). The risks and benefits of infant feeding practices for women

and their children. Journal of Perinatology, 30(3), 155-162.

Svensson, J. (2000). Breastfeeding and you: A handbook for antenatal educators.

Commonwealth of Australia: Centre for Family Health and Midwifery.

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/

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