As a certified breastfeeding counselor (CBC), you provide support throughout many stages of lactation. One of the most important things you can for your clients is aid in building confidence in breastfeeding. While breastfeeding is a biological norm, it is not always easy or without complications.

The early days and weeks can be challenging. It is also a time many parents hear conflicting advice from professionals and peers. This can impact their confidence in breastfeeding, and even impact breastfeeding duration.

Here are important ways for building confidence in breastfeeding for your clients:

Begin Building Confidence in Breastfeeding Before Birth

Prenatal education is an important part of our role as CBCs. If you make contact with a client before they give birth, prenatal education about breastfeeding is vital.

When clients understand what is normal before they are in the thick of things, they are more likely to be confident. It is important clients understand the normal physiological lactation process.

For example, when clients understand that their baby’s stomach is quite small, only the size of a marble, they are less likely to be concerned about small amounts of milk. On the first couple days of life, only small amounts of colostrum are produced. If people are used to older babies, this can be concerning.

However, when clients are aware that baby only needs small frequent feeds, they will be more confident even with those frequent feeds.

Remind Clients That They Are Learning With Their Baby

Many parents wonder why their baby might struggle with latching. Afterall, breastfeeding is our biological norm, it should be easy, right? Well, many things are our biological norm but it does not mean we do not need to learn how to do things.

For example, walking on two legs is a biological norm for humans. However, we are not born being able to walk. Occasionally, assistance is needed such as physical therapy or mobility aids. And even more occasionally, one is unable to walk. This does not make walking any less of a biological norm, it is simply that the human experience is complex.

Reassuring clients that their baby is simply learning and the behavior of latching on and off is typical can help build confidence. In fact, even bottle fed babies need to learn to latch. A baby will latch on and off a bottle, get frustrated, and must learn just as they must learn with breastfeeding.

Help Clients Understand Output, Growth, etc., for Building Confidence in Breastfeeding

Some parents get concerned about breastfeeding as they feel they cannot see how much baby is eating. Unlike bottles, breasts do not come with measuring labels.

However, as a CBC, you know that output tells us what the input is. It came come out if it did not go in. Helping parents understand how output works, what to expect each day of life, and what to expect going forward can aid in building confidence in breastfeeding.

Reassuring parents how to assess intake via outtake is vital. It is also helpful to educate parents about the normalcy of newborns losing a bit of weight, up to 10% of their birth weight. The goal for returning to birth weight is within two weeks.

Reassure Parents There is Support – Lots of Encouraging Words Too!

It is important to remind parents they are not alone in their breastfeeding journey. As a CBC, you are there to help answer questions and assist with typical breastfeeding initiation. Should they encounter complications, you are there to aid in referring to additional resources.

Remind parents of the benefits of breastfeeding, whether exclusively or in part, and encourage them with positive words. While there are cases of significant breastfeeding challenges due to underlying physiology, often confidence and management is all that’s needed.