Good communication is a central skill for all healthcare professionals to master. We must be well-versed in communicating with all types of families, including those in the LGBTQIA community. (And, LGBTQIA communication is a topic that could for sure be fair game for the IBLCE exam! ) I am not Read more…
I often hear that one of the big obstacles to “going Baby-Friendly” is getting the boss to agree! This doesn’t surprise me. The truth is few, if any of us, have good information on how to get the boss to say YES to any proposed change in clinical practice. But Read more…
In nursing school, I didn’t understand why we were required to read a whole chapter on communication. I felt confident in my ability to talk to people. Later, I realized that few of us needed to learn much about talking. We needed to learn plenty about listening in healthcare communications. Read more…
Remember that old song? “Love and marriage … go together like a horse and carriage.” You might have heard “teaching and counseling” in the same sentence, too. We tend to clump words or activities or events together as if they were the same or at least similar. You might say, Read more…
If you haven’t already endured criticism about breastfeeding, brace yourself. At one point or another, nearly every breastfeeding mother is attacked for her decisions or actions. My guest, psychotherapist Sandra Reich, confirmed what I’ve seen over and over. First, holiday time seems to be a prime time for family members Read more…
For over two decades, we’ve had good evidence that cue-based feedings are best for breastfed infants born at term. Until recently, the evidence for cue-based feeding for late preterm infants has been less convincing. Anyone listening to my interview with Dr. Tena Fry will gain some great insights that they might not Read more…
Breastfeeding mothers who are going back to work have a lot on their minds. You might have already started worrying about keeping up your milk supply and expressing milk in the workplace. But have you thought about how your childcare provider could make or break your breastfeeding experience? Here are Read more…
Wouldn’t it be grand if you could successfully influence mothers, bosses, friends, and everyone you know to promote, support, and protect breastfeeding? What if I told you that you and other healthcare professionals can influence others in this way—and more—by adhering to six simple principles from an 80-year old book? Read more…
Last week, a woman who was having her second baby (by repeat cesarean surgery) asked if I would come to the hospital with her. I did. She was hoping I could help her to optimize that first hour or so when breastfeeding is so important as she had been only Read more…
Whether you are breastfeeding or not, gaining child custody is always a painful ordeal. However, if you are breastfeeding, you should be prepared for another layer of complexity. During my recent interview with Shannon Shubert, it occurred to me that mothers should consider at least 6 factors when considering breastfeeding Read more…