Antenatal class on breastfeeding

[anchovies]

Went along this evening with my sister who is expecting her first in January and was so disappointed in the information they were giving out. Am still thinking about what I would hope for in a breastfeeding info session but I am pretty sure it wouldn't include:

1. Knitted boobs
2. Stereotyping, for example "everyone in this area breastfeeds in fact I am having trouble thinking of a single mum who hasn't chosen to do the best for her baby" or "what do you think teenage mums think about breastfeeding?"
3. Absolutely no information about where to get support from whilst breastfeeding, not even a "contact the delivery suite if you need help"
4. Comments that we should all make an effort to learn 2 benefits each as they are going for the Unicef Baby Friendly award and we might get asked about what we've learnt.
5. No mention of bonding with your baby or that you may actually enjoy breastfeeding.

So am wondering how people think breastfeeding can be promoted in this sort of session without it coming across as a lecture, whilst at the same time providing information on how people can successfully breastfeed should they choose to?

Was it at the hospital?

I'm sorry that that was all the information that she got. You could point her to hunker's blog or to MN. She'll learn loads!

Yes at the hospital. Not worried about her (she knows about mumsnet!) Just think it's a shame that hundreds of women each month are hearing the same thing.

I know. A bloody shame!

Write to the hospital and say how poor it was, anchovies....they need to know .

Nothing wrong with knitted breasts, though

ridiculous...can you report it to anyone. I bought the DVD by Clare Byan Smith on how to breastfeed and that was helpful. Makes me angry to hear about this sort of thing. Which hospital??

Training activities often require people to stereotype so that they can make people aware that we do it (although I hate that kind of exercise!) and try to challenge stereotypes but it doesn't sound like it was used in this way in your example! How annoying Knitted boobs? Seriously? How odd!!

When breastfeeding really hurt though I wished they'd told me. All we got from the NCT was how natural and lovely and pain free it would be and it bloody well hurt! Although I appreciate they don't want to put women off.

I do think it's very difficult to imagine what bf will be like when you're pregnant so classes about it are very difficult.

Are you and your sister planning to comment or make suggestions to them? I hope they find it helpful.

The breastfeeding session I went to (supplementary to NCT class) was organised round a bit of a gimmick -- she had a bag full of items and we pulled them out one at a time and then there was a bit of a discussion around each one. That worked quite well. She did also start off demonstrating verious positions and talking us through the basics of "how to".

Trying to remember what there was I can remember tube of Lasinoh (discussion around sore nipples causes and what to do), cold/hot pack, nipple shields (discussion of pros and cons), packet of condoms (discussing contraception and breastfeeding). Can't remember the others but there were a dozen or so things and it was a good way to structure the session without being too lecture-y.

We did also get cards with helpline details on at the end.

I wanted to write on the feedback form but had too much/didn;t know what to say. I am definitely going to write to them but don't know how they are supposed to pitch this sort of thing? That's why I started this thread really. Is there an ideal way of approaching one of these sessions?

Tonight it was like they were trying to get you to start breastfeeding then make sure you would feel too guilty to stop without giving you any way to get support or letting you know that you could just breastfeed because you might enjoy it.

The bizarre thing was we went straight from that onto PND and how expectations and pressure are a massive contributing factor.