The Nursling – Breastfeeding + Bonding
Many parents are given strong messages about the importance of breastfeeding for baby’s health. They hear about breastmilk as the “perfect nutrition.” Some expect it to be natural + easy. Others have heard it can be terribly challenging. Still others feel pressured to try, but uncomfortable + uneasy about the thought.
Not many of us are told that it is a joint effort between us, our body and our baby — a partner dance. Like any new skill, it can take time + effort to learn and often takes support from the whole family!
Join us for a class exploring the benefits of breastfeeding for both baby and feeding parent. Learn how to get breastfeeding off to a good start in the early days + months, and discover tools + resources for adapting to challenges + rough patches along the way. Be reminded that each infant feeding journey is different, and that supports exist for nourishing our baby when breastfeeding needs time or isn’t possible.
Plan to exclusively pump? Formula feed? Ask us for referrals to resources + local lactation supports.
©Lisa Gendron | Agroterra Birth
SYLLABUS
Breastfeeding is a Partner Dance
(movement exercise)
The Early Primary Supports
- The Magical Hour(s) After Birth
- Skin to Skin is Everything
- The Breast Crawl
- Healing + Rest
- Family + Friend Support
- Accessing Professional Support
The Benefits of Breastfeeding
Understanding Milk Production
- Structure + Flow
- Lactation Hormones
- You and Baby: the Perfect Team
Latching at the Breast: the Magic Key
Breastfeeding Positions (practice)
Baby’s Hunger Cues + Feeding Patterns (video)
How to Tell if Baby is Getting Enough
- diapers/output
- infant behaviors
- cycles + timing
- weight gain
Magical Breast Massage for Comfort + Supply
Addressing Common Challenges
- Nipple Pain
- Engorgement
- Blocked Ducts
- Mastitis
The Importance of Community + Professional Feeding Supports (explore resources)
©Lisa Gendron | Agroterra Birth
Classes helpd my husband + I felt expertly prepared, despite having little knowledge of babies or birth beforehand. . . These in-depth sessions gave us a head start on everything from managing labor, to figuring out how our household would function in the newborn weeks, to a super enlightening breastfeeding primer. When we questioned the time commitment — busy work schedules, made it tricky — we quickly agreed that each class gave us so much new knowledge, it was important to see them through. It was an incredible resource!
Thoughts from a Nurse Midwife + a Guided Meditation
Additional Workshops
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
My husband and I both found the birthing class extremely helpful. Kaeli has a wonderful gift of gently delivering empowering information that helped us feel more connected in our own unique pregnancy, birth and post birth experience. Birth may unfold in many different ways. My husband and I felt prepared emotionally as well as through gaining valuable information.
The class covered important detailed information about what to expect during the birthing process that was not covered by our healthcare providers. The information also helped us identify and communicate what each of our needs were throughout the birthing process and post birth.
–D + T, Barrington