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When Tears Flow and Milk Doesn’t: Support Through Breastfeeding Grief
Some women who initiate breastfeeding will not meet their duration goals. There are a number of factors that contribute to undesired weaning. For a woman who ceases breastfeeding before she desires to do so, it can be devastating. For the lactation professional or peer supporter, this can also feel like failure. Grief counseling and ethical principles are applicable to supporting a mother grieving the loss of the breastfeeding relationship she desired. This presentation uses case studies to address the questions of how breastfeeding supporters ethically and compassionately support mothers who end their breastfeeding journey before they wish to, how lactation professionals and peer supporters can manage our own feelings in these situations, and what are the ramifications of these cases as we continue to share accurate breastfeeding information in the face of media-driven culture in which infant feeding is loaded with guilt, shame, and fear.
This lecture was originally offered at our 2017 GOLD Lactation Conference.
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Amy Barron Smolinski holds an MA from Union Institute and University, where her thesis explored re-emerging Sacred Feminine manifestations in the lives of contemporary women. She is the Executive Director of Mom2Mom Global, a network of breastfeeding peer support, education, and advocacy for military families. She works with breastfeeding dyads in a variety of settings, from inpatient postpartum and NICU to home visits, telephone, and online consulting as an Advanced Lactation Consultant and Certified Lactation Counselor. Supporting breastfeeding families has shown her how each parent’s breastfeeding journey with each of her children is a reclamation of her connection to her inner wisdom and power. Amy is an actress, director, and professional voice artist in Germany, where she resides with her husband and four sons, all of whom breastfed to self-weaning.
Topic: When Tears Flow and Milk Doesn’t: Support Through Breastfeeding Grief - [View Abstract]
Objective 1: Describe the impact of the role lactation supporters play in the narrative of breastfeeding grief
Objective 2: Identify bereavement counseling techniques to offer comfort and reassurance to a parent experiencing breastfeeding grief
Objective 3: Identify techniques for self-awareness and self-care for the lactation supporter
Some women who initiate breastfeeding will not meet their duration goals. There are a number of factors that contribute to undesired weaning. For a woman who ceases breastfeeding before she desires to do so, it can be devastating. For the lactation professional or peer supporter, this can also feel like failure. Grief counseling and ethical principles are applicable to supporting a mother grieving the loss of the breastfeeding relationship she desired. This presentation uses case studies to address the questions of how breastfeeding supporters ethically and compassionately support mothers who end their breastfeeding journey before they wish to, how lactation professionals and peer supporters can manage our own feelings in these situations, and what are the ramifications of these cases as we continue to share accurate breastfeeding information in the face of media-driven culture in which infant feeding is loaded with guilt, shame, and fear.
Accreditation
CERPs - Continuing Education Recognition Points GOLD Conferences has been designated as a Long Term Provider of CERPs by the IBLCE--Approval #CLT114-07 1 CERP (1 L-CERP)
If you have already participated in this program, you are not eligible to receive additional credits for viewing it again. Please sent us an email to [email protected] if you have any questions.Additional Details
Viewing Time: 2 Weeks
Tags / Categories
(IBCLC) Education and Communication, (IBCLC) Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology, Weaning
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