3/27/2017

When Tears Flow and

Milk Doesnt
Supporting Through Breastfeeding Grief

A
Amy B
Barron S
Smolinski,
li ki MAMA, ALC
ALC, CLC

Disclosures
There are no conflict of interests for this activity for
planners, presenters, faculty, authors, nor content reviewers

This continuing education activity was approved by ANA-Massachusetts, an

accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Centers
Center s
Commission on Accreditation

This continuing education activity was also approved by:

2 PESI, Inc, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical
Education
The Midwifery Education Accreditation Council
GOLD is a long-term provider with the International Board of Certified
Lactation Consultants.

Upon completion of this acti

activity,
it GOLD delegates willill be able to do
download
nload an
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1
 3/27/2017

When Tears Flow and

Milk Doesnt
Supporting Through Breastfeeding Grief

A
Amy B
Barron S
Smolinski,
li ki MAMA, ALC
ALC, CLC

Objectives

a)) Describe the impact of the role lactation supporters play in the narrative of
breastfeeding grief

b) Identify bereavement counseling techniques to offer comfort and reassurance

4 to a parent experiencing breastfeeding grief

c) Identify techniques for self-awareness and self-care for the lactation supporter

This content will be available on GOLD Learning Lecture Library until April 3, 2019

2


Techniques for Grief WorkFeelings

Questionsfocus on clients feelings and experience
How does that make you feel?
Can you name that feeling?
Has your goal changed?
What is your goal now?
What do you think?
What do you want right now?
What feels right to you?
What do you need?

Validationholding the space
Name her grief and mourning
Mirror language: I hear youre feeling _____.
Empathy: Im so sorry this hasnt worked out the way you wanted. This
isnt fair.
Acknowledge ambivalence, ALL feelings are real
Its ok to feel sad/guilty/angry/afraid/done/relieved.
Im here for you/Im listening.

Techniques for Grief WorkSupport

Reframing: telling her story in a positive light, making her the hero of her
own story
Reassurance: It will be ok. You and your baby will be ok.
Reality: This is sad/disappointing/frustrating/heartbreaking. Its ok to feel
what you feel.
Empowerment: Look what you DID. Look what you CAN do now. Help mom
find her own strategies for the new reality.
Introspection: What are the lessons learned?
Affirmation: Youre a great mom. Youre doing a great job. Im proud of you.

Copyright 2017 Amy Barron Smolinski

 3/27/2017

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Works Cited

Beachy, Sarah K. "Blaze a Trail Through Your Tears: When Henderson, Jennifer J., Sharon F. Evans, Judith A. Straton,
Breastfeeding Doesnt Go As Planned." MOBI Motherhood Susan R. Priest, and Ronald Hagan. "Impact of Postnatal
International. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 June 2016. Depression on Breastfeeding Duration." Birth 30.3 (2003): 175-
180. Wiley Online Library. Web. 16 June 2016.

Borra, Cristina, Maria Iacovou, and Almudena Sevilla. "New

New
Evidence on Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression: The Humphrey, Keren M. Counseling Strategies for Loss and Grief.
Importance of Understanding Womens Intentions." Maternal and Alexandria: American Counseling Assn., 2009. Web.
Child Health Journal 19.4 (2014): 897-907. Web. 16 June 2016. 15 June 2016.

Casemore, Stephanie. ""Breastfeeding Failure" is an Oxymoron - Isenstadt, Lori J. "The Good News about delivering bad news:
Best for BabesBest for Babes." Best for Babes -Best for Babes. How to present difficult information to parents." GOLD Lactation
N.p., n.d. Web. 15 June 2016. Conference. 2 May 2016. Presentation.

Dennis, C.-L., and K. McQueen. "The Relationship Between Jacobson, Hilary. Healing Breastfeeding Grief: How mothers feel
Infant-Feeding Outcomes and Postpartum Depression: A and heal when breastfeeding does not go as hoped. Ashland,
Qualitative Systematic Review." PEDIATRICS 123.4 (2009): OR: Rosalind Press, 2016. Kindle file.
e736-e751. Web. 16 June 2016.

Retter, Nyssa. "Diary of a Lactation Failure (Or a Tale of Two

Doka, Kenneth J. Disenfranchised Grief: Recognizing Hidden Titties): Breastfeeding Grief and Redefining Success." Diary of a
Sorrow. Lexington: Lexington Books, 1989. Web. 16 June 2016. Lactation Failure (Or a Tale of Two Titties). N.p., n.d. Web.
15 June 2016.

Gallup Gordon G.,

Gallup, G R.
R Nathan Pipitone,
Pipitone Kelly J.
J Carrone,
Carrone and
Kevin L. Leadholm. "Bottle feeding simulates child loss: Wellard, S. J., and J. F. Hailes. "Support for breastfeeding in the
Postpartum depression and evolutionary medicine." Medical first postpartum month: perceptions of breastfeeding women."
Hypotheses 74.1 (2010): 174-176. Elsevier. Web. 16 June 2016. Breastfeeding Review 8.3 (2009): online. informit.com.au. Web.
15 June 2016.

Good Mojab, Cynthia. "Regarding the emerging field of lactational

psychology." Journal of Human Lactation (2006): online.
Academic OneFile. Web. 15 June 2016.