UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Risks of Not breastfeeding

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. List 3 risks of not breastfeeding to Mom
2. List 3 risks of not breastfeeding to Baby
3. List 1-2 risks of not breastfeeding to partner
4. List 1-2 risks of not breastfeeding to Society
RATIONALE:
When a client knows about the risks of not breastfeeding, she is able to make an
informed choice, has an increased motivation to breastfeed, she tries harder to
breastfeed, and has the ability to defend her choice.
Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Lead discussion as different groups explain their ideas of what the risks
are. Mostly let students come up with risks, but add information when
useful
o Lead a game where a volunteer has to drink orange fresh squeezed
orange juice vs a fake flavored orange drink and discuss the differences.

 Learner Activities:
o Have students divide up and brainstorm different risks of not
breastfeeding to Mom, Baby, partner, society
o Questions and Discussion

Materials Needed:
 Orange Juice and Fake substitute
 Big Paper and pens

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 UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Anatomy and Physiology of Breastfeeding

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. Describe the size of the human tummy
2. State milk breast volume DOL 0-3
3. Describe 1 infant reason and 1 maternal reason for sucking so much DOL 0-3
4. State when milk production begins

5. Describe one function of how colostrum benefits newborns

RATIONALE: When a client understands the anatomy and physiology of breastfeeding

it will increase her confidence, decrease overfeeding, increase baby’s time at the
breast, and encourage breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity.
Learning Strategies:
 Teacher
o Lead discussion on breastfeeding anatomy and write down any
questions, concerns, or myths that students have.
o Demonstrate anatomy using broccoli and discuss
o Bring in posters with pictures of breast anatomy on it
o Handouts with information following discussion
 Learner Activities:
o Draw the breast on balloons
o Questions and discussion

Materials Needed:
 Posters with pictures
 Broccoli
 Small balloons
 Markers

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 UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Positioning and Latch

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:

1. List 3-4 different positions to hold baby in

2. Demonstrate 3-4 different positions to hold the baby in.

3. Demonstrate the proper latch with hands
4. Describe the things that can go wrong with a bad latch
RATIONALE: When a client knows about positioning and latch, it increases her
chances of breastfeeding for longer, prevents potential nipple soreness, help her to
feel more comfortable and confident, and increases efficiency of feeding.
Learning Strategies:
 Teacher
o Demonstrate different positions on a doll
o Use the hand demonstration of getting a good latch to guide the class in
understanding its importance
o Pass out handout with pictures of the different holds

 Learner Activities:
o Use dolls to practice different holds
o Questions and discussion

Materials Needed:
o Dolls
o Handout

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 UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Getting Enough Milk

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. Describe why milk begins at low volume and increases around DOL 3-4
2. State what a healthy feeding schedule might look like - and how it will be
different baby to baby
3. Describe colostrum and why it is important during DOL 0-3
4. State the different signs of proper milk transfer.
RATIONALE: When a client knows about the baby getting enough milk, then she will
be more confident that her breast milk is enough for baby, she will be less likely to
use formula, and she will less worried about her baby’s hunger.
Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Demonstrate tummy size with different fruits
o Explain that tummy is always size of hand
o Talk about signs of proper milk transfer

 Learner Activities:
o Write down what they think is the correct feeding schedule, then discuss
what is correct and myth

Materials Needed:
 Fruits
 Paper
 pens

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 UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Breastfeeding Plan

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. State the importance of skin to skin
2. State the importance of breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth
3. Demonstrate harmful effects of formula with hand
4. Describe their plan to set their home up for an optimal breastfeeding
experience
RATIONALE: When a client knows about having a breastfeeding plan it increases her
likelihood to stick with breastfeeding after leaving the hospital, it encourages her that
she is able to breastfeed her child well, and the chance of her introducing formula is
decreased.

Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Demonstrate the harm of formula on an infants gut with hand example
o Discuss the hospitals policy for encouraging breastfeeding as the best
way to feed a baby
o Give a hand out with important things to include on your breastfeeding
plan
 Learner Activities:
o Follow the hand example to understanding the harm of formula
o Write out their breastfeeding plan and discuss with partner (if there)
o Discussion and Questions

Materials Needed:
 Paper
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 UCSD Lactation Educator Program
 Pens
 Handout

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Common Concerns

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. Describe how Jaundice is caused and how to treat it
2. Describe sore nipples and prevention tactics
3. Describe causes of engorgement and treatment

4. Describe the mom’s personal concern and potential prevention/treatment.

RATIONALE: When a client knows about common concerns about breastfeeding, she
will be more likely to breastfeed, she will feel less intimidated about breastfeeding
and more empowered, and her breastfeeding experience will be over all better.

Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Lead a discussion based on what the most common concerns are for
mamas IN the class
o Bring in posters with pictures of common concerns to discuss with class

 Learner Activities:
o Write down common concern on note card anonymously and give to
teacher
o Discussion/Questions

Materials Needed:
 Note cards
 Pens
 Posters with pictures

09/18
 UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Pumps and Equipment

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. Describe advantages and disadvantages of using pumps and other equipment.
2. List contraindications to breastfeeding (real and myths).
3. Demonstrate how to pump with a machine and hand express
4. State how and where to get a good pump.
RATIONALE: When a client knows about pumps and equipment, the pumps and
equipment will be less likely to interfere with her breastfeeding, she will prioritize
breastfeeding over pumping, they will be more likely to continue breastfeeding
despite challenges, and there will likely be less formula used.

Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Demonstrate how a pump works on a water balloon
o Give a handout on the real vs not real contraindications to breastfeeding
o Watch video on hand expression:
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/hand-expression/
 Learner Activities:
o Try using a pump on a water balloon to see how it works
o Discussion/Questions

Materials Needed:
 Pump
 Water balloon
 Handout
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 UCSD Lactation Educator Program
 Projector and computer for showing the video

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Going back to school and work

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. Describe long-term plan for breastfeeding and if she decides to return to school
or work and when.
2. List 2-3 reasons why to continue breastfeeding
3. List benefits of breastfeeding long term and how that could impact work or
school in the future
4. Describe how to save and store milk
RATIONALE: When a client knows about going back to school or work, she is more
likely to continue breastfeeding when she does return, she is less likely to use
formula, she feels more confident that breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby!

Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Lead a discussion talking about why breastfeeding doesn’t have to end
once work or school starts again!
o Address certain uncomfortable situations and start a discussion about
what a mom can do in them
o Give a hand out about the best way to save and store milk

 Learner Activities:
o Write out a plan for how long she wants to breastfeed and when she
wants to return to work or school
o Discussion/ Questions

Materials Needed:

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 UCSD Lactation Educator Program
 Hand out

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Maternal Nutrition

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. Describe what a healthy entails for a breastfeeding woman
2. Define the effects of alcohol use on breastmilk and how to store or dispose of
it.
3. State 1-2 strategies of how to smoke while breastfeeding with as little impact to
baby as possible
4. Define effects of drugs on breastmilk.
5. State ways that hormonal birth control can effect milk supply
RATIONALE: When a client has knowledge about maternal nutrition she will be able to
make better informed decisions about the use of substances while breastfeeding, she
will be more likely to eat a diet that is healthy with adequate calories, and she will be
more likely to continue breastfeeding while not necessarily giving up any habits from
before.

Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Use fake or real food to “arrange” different plates for mom to show what
a balanced meal with adequate calories might look like
o Bring in a smoking jacket (with smoke on it) so moms can smell it and
grasp the concept.
 Learner Activities:
o Try to pour what they think is a standard drink amount of beer wine and
hard liquor
o Discussion and questions

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 UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Materials Needed:
 Standard drink substitutes
 Real or fake food
 Smoking jacket

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Common Myths

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. Debunk any myths that the student might have.
RATIONALE: When a client has knowledge about common breastfeeding myths, she
will be less afraid of breastfeeding, she is more likely to initiate breastfeeding, and
continue breastfeeding despite challenges that might arise.

Learning Strategies:
 Teacher
o Divide students up into groups and have them write down myths that
they know of
o Discuss myths and why they might be thought to be true
 Learner Activities:
o Write down myths that they have thought of on paper
o Discussion and questions

Materials Needed:
 Paper
 Pens

09/18
 UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Support System

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. State what you might need from a partner
2. State what you might need from family.
3. Describe how to build and find a support system.
RATIONALE: When a client has knowledge about a breastfeeding support system, she
is more likely to breastfeed for longer, she is more likely to enjoy breastfeeding, and
she is less likely to use formula.

Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Lead discussion on what a healthy support system means.
o Lead discussion about visiting hours before the baby is born to setting
boundaries
 Learner Activities:
o Write down one thing they think would be helpful and discuss
o Build a tower out of legos with multiple legs then knock one of them
down and discuss how it needed all the legs to be propped up.

Materials Needed:
 Paper
 Pens
 Legos
09/18
 UCSD Lactation Educator Program

Lesson Plan
TOPIC: Resources

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the session the student will be able to:
1. List 2-3 resources for common questions or concerns about breastfeeding
2. List 1-2 classes or support groups post-partum
RATIONALE: When a client knows about resources, she is less likely to give up on
breastfeeding, less likely to feel alone, and less likely to use formula.
Learning Strategies:
 Teacher:
o Give handout with common websites and books and their individual
benefits.
o Give handout with classes or support groups in the area and encourage
moms to find one that they like/will work with their schedule.
 Learner Activities:
o Split into groups and have everyone discuss what they would want a
resource to have.
o Have moms google some of their breastfeeding questions and see what
comes up, then discuss.
o Last questions/discussion

Materials Needed:
 Handouts!

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