How to Teach Great Breastfeeding Classes

Coach Smith

· Less is more. Plan to use only 2/3 of the allotted time for the body of your class, because most people underestimate the time needed for each item.

· Teach the most important material FIRST, and the second most important material last. Put the least important content in the middle.

· Quit while you're ahead. Leave the audience wanting more.

· Use the Rule of 3's - cluster outline points in 3's because it's easier to remember 3 things than any other number. For example:

· Protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

· Look, listen, and feel for a pulse in CPR.

· Three trimesters of pregnancy; three stages of labor

· Survival skills for breastfeeding: teach "How" before "Why." "Why" doesn't matter if she doesn't know how.

· How to Make milk: "Use it or lose it" - frequent and thorough milk removal is the key to maintaining a good milk supply.

· How to breastfeed comfortably: Baby should take a mouthful of breast

· Where to get help: Names and phone numbers of LLL, LCs, etc.

· Use a variety of active learning methods - don't just lecture.

· Use dolls to teach positioning - the kinesthetic approach

· Use live babies or good videos - the visual approach

· Use careful explanations or mothers talking - the auditory approach

And finally - do your homework. Allow at least 3-5 hours preparation for each hour of class time to prepare the first class, and 1-3 hours to review your material the next few times you teach this class. The better you know your material, the better your students will learn it. Review all outlines and objectives once a year, and update all references. Check your dolls and models - they should be clean, in good repair, and attractive. Handle the dolls with care, as you would a real baby - this models appropriate behavior. And evaluate every class you teach.