This presentation will support the learner to view lactation support through the lens of bodily autonomy. There is so much debate about a parent’s bodily autonomy vis-a-vis baby’s rights where breastfeeding and lactation is concerned. Bodily autonomy is defined as one's right to govern what happens to their body without influence or coercion. Birth and breastfeeding are two very crucial periods in a parent's life. During these time periods parents often struggle with maintaining their bodily autonomy. If lactation support and the breastfeeding experience are empowering for the parent, they can develop self-confidence in taking care of their child’s needs and are more likely to be empowered in other spheres of their lives as well.
Conversely, if lactation support is not optimal, it can leave the parent traumatized and create long term mental and physical health consequences. Understanding bodily autonomy and ways to support a family by nurturing their autonomy, in addition to providing skilled lactation support, helps with better care plans, better self-efficacy of parents, and thus better health outcomes for the entire family.
Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the basic tenets of bodily autonomy.
2. Explain bodily autonomy in the context of lactation support.
3. Describe how lactation professionals can help support a parents bodily autonomy for better health outcomes.
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