Molly Rippe, BSN, from Durham NC shares her research using HUG Your Baby.
I really enjoyed teaching breastfeeding using the HUG curriculum and resources. The couples in the class came up to me afterwards and were so excited to start their breastfeeding journeys! All were expecting their first baby, and took the HUG DVD home with them. The partners were also eager to help and support them in the breastfeeding journey. Because I collected data on this class, through my pilot study, I know that the participatns increased their knowledge and self-efficacy about breastfeeding during this course, and I truly feel they will be more prepared to continue through any challenges that they may face. The video content was a great way to engage the class as well.
I taught a 30-minute segment of a longer childbirth preparation course that focused on breastfeeding. I used HUG curriculum to support this teaching in a pilot study to test whether the curriculum could increase prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding knowledge, and intention to breastfeed. I specifically used the Roadmap to Breastfeeding Success, and teaching about newborn behavior to create a more well-rounded understanding of breastfeeding.
The outline of my class was as follows:
- Start with a discussion about the myths and challenges that participants have heard about breastfeeding. I led the discussion and guided it so that it covered several key topics
- Pain: what a proper latch looks and feels like, and who to call if you are experiencing pain, as this is not normal. Demonstration using breast and video was used to understand latch
- Lack of milk supply: understanding when a woman’s milk supply comes in, the size of the newborn’s stomach, colostrum, counting diapers for numbers of pees and poos
- Challenges with breastfeeding and going back to work: overall babies who are breastfed are healthier, have stronger immune systems, and cause moms to miss less days of work because they are not sick as often as formula fed babies.
- Introducing the baby-friendly concept and how giving birth at UNC is different in the support received for breastfeeding by this hospital designation
- Watching first HUG video clip about newborn behaviors and signs that your baby is hungry
- After video, we discussed the common signals a newborn uses to communicate with us and let us know they are hungry: wiggle and squirm, lip smacking, bringing hands to mouth, and the last one is crying
- Watched second HUG video
- Practiced breastfeeding holding positions with baby-dolls
- Emphasize that they need to be comfortable to have success
- Ways partner can help
- Positions to practice: cross cradle, football hold, side lying and reclining
- Close with the health benefits to both mom and baby when breastfeeding
- Ask yourself—who are your friends and family members who are going to be supportive of your breastfeeding journey, and similarly, who do youknow that is not going to be supportive?
- Surround yourself with support!
- Provide lactation hotline number at UNC- available for help for first 12 months postpartum