Tips for Successful Breastfeeding
Courtney Floyd discusses the benefits of breastfeeding and offers tips to overcoming some of hurdles new mothers may face when breastfeeding their newborns.
Featuring:
Courtney Floyd
Courtney Floyd is a mom of three boys and a Perinatal Community Health Worker with NHRMC. Courtney provides one-on-one breastfeeding education in the home, as well as newborn support. She is also part of the Chocolate Milk of Wilmington Support Group, the Treasure of The Port City Breastfeeding Project. Courtney is currently in school to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and complete the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Program. Courtney has had more than six years of community experience assisting nursing mothers, educating the community on breastfeeding programs, aid and assistance. Transcription:
Caitlin Whyte (Host): Breastfeeding is such a touchy subject with many people having strong opinions on both sides. So, today we are talking about all the benefits of breastfeeding and getting some tips to overcome some of the hurdles new mothers may face when breastfeeding their newborns. Courtney Floyd is joining us today for this chat. She is a Perinatal Community Health Worker with New Hanover.
This is Healthy Conversations. The podcast from New Hanover Regional Medical Center. I'm Caitlin Whyte. Now to start us off Courtney, tell us a bit about yourself and your role at New Hanover.
Courtney Floyd (Guest): Sure. I'm the Perinatal Community Health Worker with New Hanover Regional Medical Center/the bot. I work with the Community Health Worker Doula Program, where we provide one-on-one support for families within the area. I provide one-on-one breastfeeding education in their home, as well as newborn support for clients.
Host: So, getting into breastfeeding, what are some of the benefits and why do we encourage mothers to breastfeed?
Courtney: Sure. So, some of the benefits include for breastfeeding, infants have a lower risk of type one and type two diabetes. It lowers the risk of childhood obesity, ear infections, SIDS, asthma, just to name a few, but it also gives infants antibodies that they don't create on their own. So, it's really, really important that we push families to give these babies the best start.
Host: And what are some of the most common issues that mothers may have that keep them from breastfeeding? And how can we overcome these hurdles?
Courtney: Many families don't really know what to expect when it comes to breastfeeding. So, I think breastfeeding education classes throughout their pregnancy, having a great support system to support them is key as well and we can overcome some of this by integrating this throughout their pregnancy care.
Host: Now let's talk about some misconceptions about breastfeeding. Can you address some of those for us?
Courtney: Research has shown that implicit bias among medical providers and the communities, there's a myth that African-Americans don't breastfeed. So, often times there is less effort being made to offer breastfeeding support. Many families aren't given the same education or support as some of the other races. They are usually offer offered formula instead of additional support or intervention when they incur these challenges of breastfeeding.
Host: And wrapping up here, what are a few resources that mothers who have questions or may be experiencing these difficulties? Where can they go?
Courtney: Yeah, sure. My local hospital does have lactation staff in-house, but many families are able to receive local support through their local WIC office. The hospital also has a lactation group as well, that usually meets there. And then another great resource in the community is Chocolate Milk of Wilmington, which is a breastfeeding support group for African American moms. And there's also Le Leche League as well.
Host: Great. Well, Courtney, anything else that we may have missed in this conversation on breastfeeding
Courtney: Do your research and the connect early with a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding counselor in your area.
Host: Well, thank you so much for your time today, Courtney in helping out our new mothers listening. That was Courtney Floyd, a Perinatal Community Health Worker with New Hanover. Learn more about breastfeeding and women's health services at nhrmc.org. This is Healthy Conversations, the podcast from New Hanover Regional Medical Center. I'm Caitlin Whyte. Stay well.
Caitlin Whyte (Host): Breastfeeding is such a touchy subject with many people having strong opinions on both sides. So, today we are talking about all the benefits of breastfeeding and getting some tips to overcome some of the hurdles new mothers may face when breastfeeding their newborns. Courtney Floyd is joining us today for this chat. She is a Perinatal Community Health Worker with New Hanover.
This is Healthy Conversations. The podcast from New Hanover Regional Medical Center. I'm Caitlin Whyte. Now to start us off Courtney, tell us a bit about yourself and your role at New Hanover.
Courtney Floyd (Guest): Sure. I'm the Perinatal Community Health Worker with New Hanover Regional Medical Center/the bot. I work with the Community Health Worker Doula Program, where we provide one-on-one support for families within the area. I provide one-on-one breastfeeding education in their home, as well as newborn support for clients.
Host: So, getting into breastfeeding, what are some of the benefits and why do we encourage mothers to breastfeed?
Courtney: Sure. So, some of the benefits include for breastfeeding, infants have a lower risk of type one and type two diabetes. It lowers the risk of childhood obesity, ear infections, SIDS, asthma, just to name a few, but it also gives infants antibodies that they don't create on their own. So, it's really, really important that we push families to give these babies the best start.
Host: And what are some of the most common issues that mothers may have that keep them from breastfeeding? And how can we overcome these hurdles?
Courtney: Many families don't really know what to expect when it comes to breastfeeding. So, I think breastfeeding education classes throughout their pregnancy, having a great support system to support them is key as well and we can overcome some of this by integrating this throughout their pregnancy care.
Host: Now let's talk about some misconceptions about breastfeeding. Can you address some of those for us?
Courtney: Research has shown that implicit bias among medical providers and the communities, there's a myth that African-Americans don't breastfeed. So, often times there is less effort being made to offer breastfeeding support. Many families aren't given the same education or support as some of the other races. They are usually offer offered formula instead of additional support or intervention when they incur these challenges of breastfeeding.
Host: And wrapping up here, what are a few resources that mothers who have questions or may be experiencing these difficulties? Where can they go?
Courtney: Yeah, sure. My local hospital does have lactation staff in-house, but many families are able to receive local support through their local WIC office. The hospital also has a lactation group as well, that usually meets there. And then another great resource in the community is Chocolate Milk of Wilmington, which is a breastfeeding support group for African American moms. And there's also Le Leche League as well.
Host: Great. Well, Courtney, anything else that we may have missed in this conversation on breastfeeding
Courtney: Do your research and the connect early with a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding counselor in your area.
Host: Well, thank you so much for your time today, Courtney in helping out our new mothers listening. That was Courtney Floyd, a Perinatal Community Health Worker with New Hanover. Learn more about breastfeeding and women's health services at nhrmc.org. This is Healthy Conversations, the podcast from New Hanover Regional Medical Center. I'm Caitlin Whyte. Stay well.