Guest guest Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 linda smith's "coach's games and strategies for lactation education" (or something like that) is really helpful... BF class curriculum any tips on creating a BF class curriculum?I want to offer a prenatal class and a 0-4 mos "class". I am an LLL Leader and it is hard to break out of the LLL model, which is good but not a class that people are paying for.thanks for any and all resources, ideas, words of encouragement...Eve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 Good day Eve, Although I pull my evidence based info from many sources, when I first started teaching Breastfeeding classes at a local hospital, I used the flipcharts and curriculum guide offered for sale by Childbirth Graphics. The pictures can be very mom-friendly and the lesson plans can be flipped around in a book to meet your classes needs. I always add to these but they are a great springboard for new teachers. I think there is a powerpoint presentation for sale now as well. I hope that this can help, Caruso BS, IBCLC, RLC A Mother's Friend Company Lake Worth, FL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 I've taught perinatal, breastfeeding and newborn classes for over 15 years. I use 2-4 types of curriculum and it is very related to the length of your class, and your audience of course. You can begin by creating your learner objectives, or in other words just brainstorming what it is you believe your clients would like to know or will benefit from knowing. Organize the objectives by topic, place them into a sensible sequence, meaning teaching how milk is made or information about the value of skin to skin would typically come before you offer material about returning to work. Then flesh out the content for each topic. In order to make your classes most realistic I recommend that you encourage your students to not sleep for 36-48 hours before class, drink a 64 oz. Big Gulp and not use the restroom, sit on a pin cushion while you facilitate, request housekeeping to clean the classroom while your class is in session, and be sure to provide them with a wet, brand new puppy to practice with. > > any tips on creating a BF class curriculum? > > I want to offer a prenatal class and a 0-4 mos " class " . > > I am an LLL Leader and it is hard to break out of the LLL model, which is good but not a class that people are paying for. > > > thanks for any and all resources, ideas, words of encouragement... > > Eve > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2010 Report Share Posted February 13, 2010 In seriousness this is a good, albeit dated, resource. This site has an outline and some fleshed out notes but purposefully read the content as I have found errors. The author is local to my area, she just hasn't had the opportunity to update the material. http://transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/foreducators/outlines/outlinehome.htm > > any tips on creating a BF class curriculum? > > I want to offer a prenatal class and a 0-4 mos " class " . > > I am an LLL Leader and it is hard to break out of the LLL model, which is good but not a class that people are paying for. > > > thanks for any and all resources, ideas, words of encouragement... > > Eve > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Dear Colleagues: Who is taking the breastfeeding class? Usually it is women in the last trimester of pregnancy. What are they thinking most about at that time? Labor and delivery: " How will I know I am in labor? " " How will I make it through? " " How much will it hurt? " " Can I deal with all that pain? " " How will I deal with all that pain? " " Will my baby be alright? " " Will I have to have a cesarean section? " There are about 3 brain cells left open for any other information. What does she really need to know? That her baby can breastfeed if put skin to skin and left alone.(Lots of great DVDs to show this.) That she and her baby will fall in love. That a good start is possible and easy. That watching other women breastfeeding is the best way to learn. That help is available, and here are the telephone numbers. That she has newborn milk in her breasts and can hand express to take it out, and can try that, now if she wants, in the shower after 32 weeks {based on the recommendations in this article: Sue AM RN RM IBCLC Br Rev 2006; Vol 14 (3)}. That is a skill to teach so that moms have the knowledge to combat the rising percentage of breastfed babies getting formula in the hospital by 2 days of age. (www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding. This percentage is going up, was around 25%, now is around 26%) The classes that I loved the best were in the A Better Start program. Nursing moms were encouraged to come back (the incentive at the time was a free polaroid snapshot of the new mother and baby) and they talked freely with all the pregnant moms. Everyone was from the same community and neighborhoods, so it was a true peer group. They talked non-stop with each other. The moms nursed their babies during the class and the pregnant moms all soaked it up. All I had to do was find a room with enough chairs and a bathroom nearby, and provide some snack. Once in a while there was some egregious myth or misconception that needed reframing. Water and bananas were cheap, easy and a model of how easy it is to eat and drink in a healthy fashion. Breastfeeding initiation rates were 86% in that program....this class was only one part of the reason. Another way to get the class involved is to ask each person what they heard about breastfeeding that they didn't like or that scared them. Write down verbatim what each person says...address all those points and there's the class, fresh and vibrant each time you do it. Breast is best is a useless phrase. It's on the cans of our competitor's product, so you know it is useless!! I love the story that Mohrbacher tells of the gorilla in a zoo that killed her first baby. She had no clue what to do with it, having never grown up in a gorilla village and lacking a mother or sisters or aunts to help her. The second time she birthed, human nursing mothers came and sat outside her cage, nursing their babies. And she nursed her own!! Hartmann said at the GOLD09 conference that humans learn by osmosis, by being around the behavior. He described toddler and very young aboriginal children playing at throwing spears as an illustration. Women learn bottle-feeding by osmosis in the US. My first big problem in teaching was thinking that I had to tell the mothers about ALL the things I felt they needed to know. This made breastfeeding look hard. Giving lots of handouts with directions made breastfeeding look like a class in school, although I like giving out the Diaper Diary because pictures are so much louder than words. Most places don't offer bottle-feeding classes. So if you are a lay person, clueless about infant feeding (except that you've learned to bottle feed by osmosis)....what message is given by your hospital offering a breastfeeding class and no bottle-feeding class? Which one must be easier? Bottle-feeding, because breastfeeding is so hard you have to take a class for it! warmly, Nikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I am in total agreement with you. However, how do you reconcile the responses left on class evals that say, I wish I had learned more about inverted nipples, or mastitis, or plugged ducts? I, too, beleve that when we make it seem like there are alot of " things " to remember, and that it is hard, we often turn people off right from the start. That is why I love the Breastfeeding Made Simple book. > > Dear Colleagues: > > Who is taking the breastfeeding class? Usually it is women in the last trimester of pregnancy. > > What are they thinking most about at that time? Labor and delivery: " How will I know I am in labor? " " How will I make it through? " " How much will it hurt? " " Can I deal with all that pain? " " How will I deal with all that pain? " " Will my baby be alright? " " Will I have to have a cesarean section? " > > There are about 3 brain cells left open for any other information. > > What does she really need to know? That her baby can breastfeed if put skin to skin and left alone.(Lots of great DVDs to show this.) That she and her baby will fall in love. That a good start is possible and easy. That watching other women breastfeeding is the best way to learn. That help is available, and here are the telephone numbers. That she has newborn milk in her breasts and can hand express to take it out, and can try that, now if she wants, in the shower after 32 weeks {based on the recommendations in this article: Sue AM RN RM IBCLC Br Rev 2006; Vol 14 (3)}. > > That is a skill to teach so that moms have the knowledge to combat the rising percentage of breastfed babies getting formula in the hospital by 2 days of age. (www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding. This percentage is going up, was around 25%, now is around 26%) > > The classes that I loved the best were in the A Better Start program. Nursing moms were encouraged to come back (the incentive at the time was a free polaroid snapshot of the new mother and baby) and they talked freely with all the pregnant moms. Everyone was from the same community and neighborhoods, so it was a true peer group. They talked non-stop with each other. The moms nursed their babies during the class and the pregnant moms all soaked it up. All I had to do was find a room with enough chairs and a bathroom nearby, and provide some snack. Once in a while there was some egregious myth or misconception that needed reframing. Water and bananas were cheap, easy and a model of how easy it is to eat and drink in a healthy fashion. > > Breastfeeding initiation rates were 86% in that program....this class was only one part of the reason. > > Another way to get the class involved is to ask each person what they heard about breastfeeding that they didn't like or that scared them. Write down verbatim what each person says...address all those points and there's the class, fresh and vibrant each time you do it. > > Breast is best is a useless phrase. It's on the cans of our competitor's product, so you know it is useless!! > > I love the story that Mohrbacher tells of the gorilla in a zoo that killed her first baby. She had no clue what to do with it, having never grown up in a gorilla village and lacking a mother or sisters or aunts to help her. The second time she birthed, human nursing mothers came and sat outside her cage, nursing their babies. And she nursed her own!! > > Hartmann said at the GOLD09 conference that humans learn by osmosis, by being around the behavior. He described toddler and very young aboriginal children playing at throwing spears as an illustration. Women learn bottle-feeding by osmosis in the US. > > My first big problem in teaching was thinking that I had to tell the mothers about ALL the things I felt they needed to know. This made breastfeeding look hard. Giving lots of handouts with directions made breastfeeding look like a class in school, although I like giving out the Diaper Diary because pictures are so much louder than words. > > Most places don't offer bottle-feeding classes. So if you are a lay person, clueless about infant feeding (except that you've learned to bottle feed by osmosis)....what message is given by your hospital offering a breastfeeding class and no bottle-feeding class? Which one must be easier? Bottle-feeding, because breastfeeding is so hard you have to take a class for it! > > warmly, > Nikki > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Honestly, this is the challenge of teaching any type of class in a group setting. Unless you have the liberty to thoroughly interview each participant and alter your curriculum to perfectly suit their desires you face this challenge. Occasionally we do have the opportunity to teach people one to one, or have small classes where you are in a position to adapt the curriculum to meet their needs. I can have comments from participants in the very same class that read, " Wish we covered more about epidurals " ....and " Too much time spent on epidurals " . What to do? It's the nature of the beast. Take some time when people introduce themselves to inquire if they have anything specific they are hoping to learn about. Maybe someone will mention something that is very particular to their circumstance. You can try to be available at break, following class, or let them know you will provide them with some resources if they have access to the internet or refer them to some literature and if it's warranted encourage follow-up postpartum. When we review evaluations we should look for themes. Meaning if you get consistent comments that the classroom is too cold, then change the temperature. But occasional comments indicating a personal area of interest are not always going to get thoroughly addressed. If it's feasible you can make yourself available following class for personal questions, but like Nikki mentioned advising people about where to get help is imperative. My classes tend to focus on 'normal' breastfeeding and I make sure that students know who to ask for help when they are in the hospital, or when they are home in the event they have any problems. > > > > Dear Colleagues: > > > > Who is taking the breastfeeding class? Usually it is women in the last trimester of pregnancy. > > > > What are they thinking most about at that time? Labor and delivery: " How will I know I am in labor? " " How will I make it through? " " How much will it hurt? " " Can I deal with all that pain? " " How will I deal with all that pain? " " Will my baby be alright? " " Will I have to have a cesarean section? " > > > > There are about 3 brain cells left open for any other information. > > > > What does she really need to know? That her baby can breastfeed if put skin to skin and left alone.(Lots of great DVDs to show this.) That she and her baby will fall in love. That a good start is possible and easy. That watching other women breastfeeding is the best way to learn. That help is available, and here are the telephone numbers. That she has newborn milk in her breasts and can hand express to take it out, and can try that, now if she wants, in the shower after 32 weeks {based on the recommendations in this article: Sue AM RN RM IBCLC Br Rev 2006; Vol 14 (3)}. > > > > That is a skill to teach so that moms have the knowledge to combat the rising percentage of breastfed babies getting formula in the hospital by 2 days of age. (www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding. This percentage is going up, was around 25%, now is around 26%) > > > > The classes that I loved the best were in the A Better Start program. Nursing moms were encouraged to come back (the incentive at the time was a free polaroid snapshot of the new mother and baby) and they talked freely with all the pregnant moms. Everyone was from the same community and neighborhoods, so it was a true peer group. They talked non-stop with each other. The moms nursed their babies during the class and the pregnant moms all soaked it up. All I had to do was find a room with enough chairs and a bathroom nearby, and provide some snack. Once in a while there was some egregious myth or misconception that needed reframing. Water and bananas were cheap, easy and a model of how easy it is to eat and drink in a healthy fashion. > > > > Breastfeeding initiation rates were 86% in that program....this class was only one part of the reason. > > > > Another way to get the class involved is to ask each person what they heard about breastfeeding that they didn't like or that scared them. Write down verbatim what each person says...address all those points and there's the class, fresh and vibrant each time you do it. > > > > Breast is best is a useless phrase. It's on the cans of our competitor's product, so you know it is useless!! > > > > I love the story that Mohrbacher tells of the gorilla in a zoo that killed her first baby. She had no clue what to do with it, having never grown up in a gorilla village and lacking a mother or sisters or aunts to help her. The second time she birthed, human nursing mothers came and sat outside her cage, nursing their babies. And she nursed her own!! > > > > Hartmann said at the GOLD09 conference that humans learn by osmosis, by being around the behavior. He described toddler and very young aboriginal children playing at throwing spears as an illustration. Women learn bottle-feeding by osmosis in the US. > > > > My first big problem in teaching was thinking that I had to tell the mothers about ALL the things I felt they needed to know. This made breastfeeding look hard. Giving lots of handouts with directions made breastfeeding look like a class in school, although I like giving out the Diaper Diary because pictures are so much louder than words. > > > > Most places don't offer bottle-feeding classes. So if you are a lay person, clueless about infant feeding (except that you've learned to bottle feed by osmosis)....what message is given by your hospital offering a breastfeeding class and no bottle-feeding class? Which one must be easier? Bottle-feeding, because breastfeeding is so hard you have to take a class for it! > > > > warmly, > > Nikki > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Dear Colleagues: Having one 2-hour class on breastfeeding is like having one 2-hour class on marriage and expecting that one class to carry you through every situation! One can bring that idea in when giving the class the telephone numbers of local support groups. One has to get started well before dealing with problems. Women are worried about problems and milk supply; this a natural sign of the importance of breastfeeding; this energy can be used in a positive way, by normalizing it. " I am so glad to hear that you have these questions as that means you want breastfeeding to be fun and easy. All new mothers worry about those things. " Can't possibly address problems in a getting started class. When you put the cart before the horse, you are doing things in the wrong order. Have to get the horse ready first. My intention in class is " It's natural to want to learn more about breastfeeding. I hope that you will have more questions. My job is to connect you to places that can answer your questions, and help you to get started right so you and your baby discover breastfeeding together. " warmly, Nikki > I am in total agreement with you. However, how do you reconcile the responses left on class evals that say, I wish I had learned more about inverted nipples, or mastitis, or plugged ducts? I, too, beleve that when we make it seem like there are alot of " things " to remember, and that it is hard, we often turn people off right from the start. That is why I love the Breastfeeding Made Simple book. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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