Breastfeeding Medicine

This elective is an introduction to breastfeeding medicine. Students spend the majority of their time in outpatient and inpatient lactation clinics in the DC Metropolitan area. Additional education is provided through didactic sessions and independent study.

As many of the clinics and experiences will be off of the Children's National Hospital campus, personal transportation is required. There may be a limited exposure to resident conferences. Approximately 25% of the clinical experiences may provide exposure to pediatric residents participating in their continuity clinic or NICU/well-baby nursery rotation.

Topics that will be covered include:

• Basic breastfeeding management
• Counseling skills
• Management of common breastfeeding situations
• Management of common breastfeeding challenges
• Lactogenesis problems
• Initiating and maintaining milk supply during separation
• Medications and mother’s milk
• Maternal issues impacting lactation
• Infant issues impacting lactation
• Addressing breastfeeding disparities
• Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding
• Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
• Peer support

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Discuss basic breastfeeding management and ways to approach common situations and challenges that may arise.
2. Practice direct patient care with an emphasis on history taking, examination and providing support for breastfeeding dyads.
3. Describe actions healthcare professionals, families and communities can take to support a woman’s decision to breastfeed.