P9 - Breastfeeding Bootcamp Workshop

Abstract

The aim of the workshop is to expose attendants to one of the tools that are utilised in the SWSLHD Breastfeeding Bootcamp. Bootcamps were aimed at addressing basic breastfeeding management for midwives. The session will run for 45 minutes where participants will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge around Maintaining Breastfeeding and apply this knowledge to promoting breastfeeding, understanding issues that can interfere with establishing breastfeeding and problem solving breastfeeding issues using scenario based cases. The idea is that breastfeeding is supported by building blocks and the workshop will show an interactive session which demonstrates how the loss or removal of one or more of these blocks can interfere with breastfeeding. Other topics used in the boot camps include didactic sessions “ global perspectives for breastfeeding “ and “First 2000 day’s framework”, “skin to skin and the 1st feed” to topics where participants became more hands on including “How milk is made”, “meaningful Conversations around breastfeeding”, “Establishing breastfeeding” “Maintaining Breastfeeding”, and “Safe breastmilk management”. Education provided during the course is based on foundational skills that is evidence based and strives to improve knowledge and skills around breastfeeding. Increasingly more is asked of midwives in their workplace and the basics are overlooked. Breastfeeding has been identified as an intervention that can enhance a person’s health and is included in “The First 2000 days” Framework. (Feb 2019 NSW PD2019_008.) The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies Breastfeeding as one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. (WHO 2018). Midwives need to think about how their clinical practice can influence a woman’s experience when breastfeeding. Application of the knowledge acquired in the boot camps can assist in improving the breastfeeding experience and the lifelong benefits breastfeeding has on the woman and her infant.