Interactive methods in remote breastfeeding support for lactation consulting professionals

What is it about?

This qualitative study with Lactation Consultants (LCs) in Brazil characterized the current appropriation of technologies that help content understanding between patients and providers during remote consultations. It also brings technology limitations that affect LCs’ decision-making and the challenges and benefits of remote consultations. We showcase issues that are easy and difficult to solve remotely. Additionally, we evaluate LCs’ perceptions of components for an effective remote evaluation, the preferred elements by professionals when providing remote feedback to parents, and LCs' feelings about using technology resources for remote consultations.

Featured Image

Photo by Wren Meinberg on Unsplash

Photo by Wren Meinberg on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Lactation consultants (LCs) positively impact chestfeeding rates by providing in-person support to struggling parents. In Brazil, LCs are a scarce resource and in high demand, risking chestfeeding rates across many communities nationwide. The transition to remote consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic made LCs face several challenges in solving chestfeeding problems due to limited technical resources for management, communication, and diagnosis. Findings from this research suggest that remote support helps reduce financial, geographic, and cultural barriers in lactation care and is used as a hybrid option for parents instead of fully remote.