Instructors: Britt Sando & Rebecca Stein
Breast milk is the food made specifically for human babies, not only containing the proper ratio of nutrients for growth, but also immune factors that help ensure a healthy person long after breastfeeding has ended. The benefits of breastfeeding are also immediate and long-term for the nursing parent, the family and society at large.
Although breast milk is the natural choice, breastfeeding does not come naturally to many moms. An era of bottle feeding and aggressive marketing has broken women’s confidence in their bodies to adequately nourish their children. Medical experts are often suspect of the unmeasured and uncontrolled nature of breastfeeding. Readily available artificial substitute for breast milk, and an infinite number of products marketed to new parent have undermined many well-intentioned parents who had a difficult start to their nursing relationship. Our breastfeeding class will help families who desire to breastfeed and ensure that they get a strong start.
Our breastfeeding class is a two hour class taught by our IBCLCs and CLC, who bring professional and personal knowledge to the class. Prenatal lactation education can help encourage and instruct expectant parents so that they will have a successful and enjoyable start into nursing. Our breastfeeding class includes a copy of Ina May Gaskin’s Breastfeeding Book.
This class focuses on equipping parents with the key points of information and resources that can keep lactation on the right track.
We will discuss:
- Before the baby preparation
- Benefits of breastfeeding
- Physiology of breastfeeding
- The biological specificity of breastmilk
- The birth and its effects on the success of breastfeeding
- Specific instructions and mechanics of a correct latch
- How to choose a breast pump
- Making milk
- Avoiding common pitfalls
- What to do when things go awry
- How to build a sufficient milk supply
- Video instructions
When: Offered every several weeks
Who: Expectant parents
Where: At our Flanders, Madison, and Guttenberg offices
We also offer lactation counseling after the birth of for any specific nursing concerns that a new mother may be experiencing.
Partners are welcome at breastfeeding classes. A woman’s success at nursing her baby is largely dependent upon the support system around her. She is greatly influenced by the attitudes of the hospital staff, her pediatrician, her own care provider, her family and friends but her partner will be the best influence and encouragement when difficulties, fatigue or the “blues” set in (source).
Our Breastfeeding Class Instructors
Britt Sando, CD(DONA), LCCE, IBCLC has been supporting childbearing families since 2002, and teaching childbirth classes for The Midwives of NJ since 2012. Working with people while they have their babies has made it clear that many families are unable to achieve their breastfeeding goals. Sometimes this is due to serious issues, but can be due to a lack of information and support. Teaching breastfeeding classes and facilitating our weekly Lactation Circle has been one of the most enjoyable parts of Britt’s work, because people are so amazing as they work to feed and nurture their children.
Rebecca Stein, MPA, LCCE, CD (DONA) taught childbirth education at a large hospital in NYC for about 8 years, which included the Lamaze childbirth series, the Birth Center Class, the Hypnobirthing Intensive Class and the Sibling Preparation Class. Now working for the Midwives of New Jersey, Rebecca is so happy to teach breastfeeding classes. Rebecca strongly believes that all families should be educated so they can make informed decisions and that they should receive support during labor, birth and postpartum.
Contact Information
To register, call (908) 509-1801 or email us at [email protected]
