As a certified breastfeeding counselor (CBC), you are likely passionate about lactation. In fact, some lactation professionals consider themselves “lactavists” – a term for a lactation activist. However, your actual job is to meet client breastfeeding goals, not goals you think a client should have.
We get it. We teach you all about the benefits of breastfeeding, how to overcome breastfeeding challenges, and more. It’s easy to assume everyone should want to or needs to meet certain goals such as 6 months, 12 months, etc.
However, the most important part of your job is to simply provide empathetic, evidenced-based information while supporting clients.
Here is what you need to know about helping clients meet breastfeeding goals:
Breastfeeding Benefits – Population Level vs Personal
As a CBC, you will know all about the evidence showing significant benefits to breastfeeding. We know not breastfeeding increases the risk of:
- SIDS
- Frequency, severity, and duration of common viral illnesses
- Allergies
- Breast cancer in the mother
- Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
- Type 2 diabetes
Breastfeeding is our physiological norm as humans. This means deviating from breastfeeding can increase risks. That said, these statistical differences are seen on a population level.
What does that mean? That means in a large sample size, those who do not breastfeed are statistically more likely to experience some of the above. What it does not mean is that they absolutely will experience, that they’re likely to experience, or that if they breastfeed, they won’t experience any of those things.
Actual benefits and risks can vary family to family. We know breastfeeding is safest for the vast majority of the population. However, we also know that many infants thrive just fine on formula.
It is important when discussing the risks of not breastfeeding with clients, we do not do it in a fearful way. In fact, we do not need to share this information in all sessions. It’s important to read a client’s mood and desire to make decisions.
If we’re three hours after birth and baby isn’t latching well, we are not helpful by spouting off risks. In that moment, the most important thing to do is offer reassurance that it’s typical to need time to learn to latch.
Pressure Rarely, If Ever, Is Helpful
Some lactation professionals inadvertently assume if they push all the benefits, a client is more likely to press through. However, in many cases, clients need to feel safe to vent, complain, and even question if they want to breastfeed.
I often find when the pressure to breastfeed is removed, clients are more likely to meet their personal breastfeeding goals.
It’s also important to help clients understand that breastfeeding does not need to be an all or nothing venture. Plenty of families combo feed early on as they navigate how to breastfeed. Sure, “best practice” advice is to exclusively breastfeed at the breast as much as possible. However, this does not happen in every case for a variety of reasons.
Reassuring parents that they can combo feed, get back to exclusively breastfeeding if desired, pump, and more, can help clients meet personal breastfeeding goals.
Non-Judgmental Support Is a Must
As a CBC, you may find it important to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, continue until at least 12 months, and even allow child led weaning. While these are perfectly fine personal goals and beliefs, it’s important you do not judge clients who choose otherwise.
Every family, personal desires, circumstances, etc., vary. What is important to you, may not be important to others. Or it could be extremely important to them to breastfeed, but life’s circumstances are not in their favor.
Being judgmental in tone, interactions, and especially words, will not help your clients. It can cause harm during a very vulnerable time in their lives.
Ready to provide professional lactation support? Get started today and learn how to keep your “lactivist” heart without interfering with client support.