UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — From researching the safest baby products to navigating doctors' appointments and tests, preparing for the birth of a new child can be an overwhelming and anxious time in the life of any parent. Penn State Human Resources can help parents check one thing off their “to-do” lists through its Breastfeeding Support Program.
One of the best things expectant parents can do to prepare for breastfeeding their baby, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is to take a class and not to wait until after birth to learn about topics such as how to help the baby latch, how often to breastfeed and how to increase milk supply.
Through the Learning Resource Network (LRN), employees and students have access to two classes offered on a monthly basis. The classes, led by an international board-certified lactation consultant, are intended to empower expectant parents with information to help decrease anxiety and foster communication between partners about infant feeding.
- PSU-140: Basics of Breastfeeding, covers information needed to prepare for breastfeeding during the early weeks. This class runs for approximately 2.5 hours and covers a wide range of topics. Newly revised, the topics include the partner’s role in breastfeeding success; how to improve baby bonding; how newborns communicate; how milk supply is established; the positions that make breastfeeding more comfortable; how to tell if the baby is getting enough milk; and who to call for help.
- PSU-141: Working and Breastfeeding, covers information related to combining work/student life and breastfeeding. This class runs for approximately 1-1.5 hours and can be tailored for each participant’s specific work/school schedule. Topics include how to plan for returning to work/student life; different types of breast pumps and how they work; how to pump during work/class days; what to know about bottle feeding a breastfed baby; and understanding milk supply.
For $10 apiece, these virtual classes are open to any expectant parent who is an active employee or student and their spouses/partners. The classes are intended to be taken separately — PSU-140 before the baby is born and PSU-141 before returning to work after the baby is born — due to the amount of information covered in each.
To register for a class, visit the Learning Resource Network. The classes will be available through a Zoom invitation once registering, and the slide deck will be provided.
Penn State provides additional resources for parents returning to work after the birth of a child, including a monthly virtual support group, lactation consultant services, map of lactation stations at University Park and contacts across campuses. More information can be found on the Penn State Human Resources website.