Facilitating Successful Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding in Lactating Patients Through Embodiment Focused Methodologies

Facilitating Successful Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding in Lactating Patients Through Embodiment Focused Methodologies

The notion that women’s bodies are inadequate and likely to fail are communicated directly as well as through medical policies and procedures and symbolic actions. Meanwhile, lactating patients continue to struggle to get the breastfeeding/chestfeeding support that they need. My ethnographic research examined how lactation consultants in Hawai‘i confronted dominant concepts that negatively impact breastfeeding/chestfeeding, and helped clients who were having difficulties. Data was collected over 2.5 years through participant observation at La Leche League meetings, with 7 lactation consultants and their clients, IBCLC training with 4 of the lactation consultants, and in-depth interviews of 8 lactation consultants and 15 clients. The research uncovers the concepts of lactating parents and how those influenced how they made decisions and attempted to learn how to breastfeed. It provides insights into how lactation consultants can help lactating parents form new concepts for positive embodied experiences and facilitate successful breastfeeding/chestfeeding.

Credit: 1 L-CERP

Source: ILCA Virtual Conference August, 2022 - Raleigh, North Carolina, US

Presented by: Crystal Cooper, PhD, IBCLC

Upon completion, the learner will be able to:

1. State what influences the concepts of breastfeeding/chestfeeding
2. Describe what embodiment focused methodologies are.
3. Describe the advantages of embodiment focused methodologies for facilitating breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
4. Transfer information about embodiment focused methodologies to assisting patients.

Disclosures: ILCA accepts no commercial support for continuing education activities. The activity planners have no conflicts of interest to declare. 

Disclosures: The presenter does not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

CERPs: ILCA is an approved provider of Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). (CLT-108-7).