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  3. Breast Anatomy (in Plain Language)
Course Content
Why Breastfeeding Matters (10 minutes)
Health and developmental benefits for infants Maternal benefits (physical and mental) Economic and community-level advantages Common myths and culturally specific misconceptions
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Health & Developmental Benefits for Infants from Breastfeeding
Maternal Benefits of Breastfeeding (Physical and Mental)
Economic and Community-Level Advantages of Breastfeeding
Common Myths and Culturally Specific Misconceptions about Breastfeeding
Newborn Feeding Cues & Anatomy (20 minutes)
Early vs. late hunger cues and what they mean Normal newborn feeding patterns and stomach capacity Brief breast anatomy (lobes, ducts, nipple, areola) in plain language Signs of effective feeding (swallowing, contentment, diaper output)
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Early vs. Late Hunger Cues in Infants
Normal Newborn Feeding Patterns and Stomach Capacity
Breast Anatomy (in Plain Language)
Signs of Effective Feeding in Breastfed Babies
Positions & Achieving a Good Latch (40 minutes)
Position options: cradle, cross-cradle, football/clutch, side-lying Stepwise approach to help baby latch (prepare — attach — assess) Signs of a good vs. poor latch (comfort, nipple shape, audible swallowing) Small-person adaptations (premature, small mouth, tongue-tie considerations) Safe positioning for mothers with C-section recovery
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Position Options for Breastfeeding
Stepwise Approach to Help Baby Latch
Signs of a Good vs. Poor Latch
Small-Person Adaptations in Breastfeeding
Safe Positioning for Mothers with C-Section Recovery
Protecting & Building Milk Supply (25 minutes)
Establishing supply in the first days and weeks (frequency, skin-to-skin) Night feeds and cluster feeding explained Lifestyle and medical factors that reduce supply (e.g., certain medications, stress) Relactation and increasing milk supply safely Nutrition and hydration myths vs. evidence
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Establishing Milk Supply in the First Days and Weeks
Night Feeds and Cluster Feeding
Lifestyle and Medical Factors That Reduce Supply
Relactation and Increasing Milk Supply Safely
Nutrition and Hydration Myths vs. Evidence in Breastfeeding
Expressing & Storing Breastmilk (20 minutes)
Hand-expression steps and common mistakes Choosing and using pumps (manual vs. electric) — practical tips Safe collection, labeling, storage, thawing and warming guidelines (low-resource options included) Cleaning and hygiene for bottles and storage containers Feeding expressed milk to infant (cup, spoon, paladai, bottle considerations)
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Hand-Expression Steps and Common Mistakes
Choosing and Using Breast Pumps (Manual vs. Electric)
Safe Breast Milk Handling
Cleaning and Hygiene for Bottles and Storage Containers
Feeding Expressed Milk to Infants
Common Problems & Practical Solutions (25 minutes)
Causes of sore nipples and immediate relief techniques Managing engorgement and preventing blocked ducts Recognising mastitis vs. normal engorgement and when antibiotics may be needed Low weight gain: assessment steps and feeding plan adjustments Non-judgmental approach to supplementation and safe short-term options
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Causes of Sore Nipples and Immediate Relief
Managing Engorgement and Preventing Blocked Ducts
Recognising Mastitis vs. Normal Engorgement
Low Weight Gain — Assessment and Feeding Plan Adjustments
Non-Judgmental Approach to Supplementation
Returning to Work or School; Feeding Outside the Home (15 minutes)
Creating an express-and-feed routine (timing, containers, transport) Practical storage and transport tips for different commute types Rights and workplace basics (general guidance; encourage local legal verification) Communicating with caregivers and preparing safe feeder notes Emotional coping and practical fallback plans
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Creating an Express-and-Feed Routine
Practical Storage & Transport Tips for Expressed Breast Milk by Commute Type
Rights and Workplace Basics for Breastfeeding Mothers
Communicating with Caregivers and Preparing Safe Feeder Notes
Emotional Coping and Practical Fallback Plans
Special Situations (20 minutes)
Feeding preterm or low-birthweight infants: kangaroo care, cup or tube feeding basics Managing twins/multiples: tandem feeding tips and time-saving routines Mothers on medication or with infectious illness: how to check drug safety and local guidelines (HIV, TB, etc.) Using donor milk or milk banks (where available) — safety basics
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Feeding Preterm or Low-Birthweight Infants
Managing Twins/Multiples — Tandem Feeding Tips and Time-Saving Routines
Mothers on Medication or with Infectious Illness — Drug Safety & Guidelines
Using Donor Milk or Milk Banks — Safety Basics
When to Seek Help & Building a Support Network (15 minutes)
Red flags for baby and mother (e.g., poor weight gain, fever, severe pain) Where to seek help: clinic, CHW, lactation consultant, emergency care Building a support network: partners, family, peer counsellors, community groups Using telephone/text supports, community groups, and referral pathways
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Red Flags for Baby and Mother
Where to Seek Help for Breastfeeding Challenges
Building a Support Network for Breastfeeding Mothers
Using Telephone/Text Supports, Community Groups, and Referral Pathways
Wrap-up, Resources & Final Assessment (15 minutes)
Key takeaways and common pitfalls to avoid Next steps: seeking local support, advanced training options How to use course materials beyond the course (groups, sharing, peer support) Final 20-question multiple-choice quiz (80% pass mark)
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Key Takeaways and Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Next Steps — Seeking Local Support & Advanced Training Options
How to Use Course Materials Beyond the Course
Final 20-question multiple-choice quiz (80% pass mark)
How to Breastfeed — Self-Paced, Evidence-Based Course for African Moms

Introduction

To understand breastfeeding, it helps to know a little about how the breast is built inside. Don’t worry — we’ll keep it simple and practical.

1. Main Parts of the Breast

  • Lobes and Lobules

    • The breast is like a bunch of tiny “milk-making factories.”

    • Inside, there are 15–20 lobes, and each lobe has many smaller parts called lobules.

    • These lobules contain tiny cells that make breast milk when the baby suckles.

  • Milk Ducts

    • These are like small pipes or tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple.

    • They join together under the areola before opening at the nipple.

  • Nipple

    • The tip of the breast where milk comes out.

    • It has many small holes (not just one) where milk flows.

    • It also has nerve endings — when baby suckles, signals travel to the brain to release milk.

  • Areola

    • The darker circle of skin around the nipple.

    • It has small bumps (called Montgomery glands) that make oils to keep the skin soft and give off a smell that helps guide the baby to the breast.

    • Babies need to latch on to the areola, not just the nipple, to get enough milk.

2. How It All Works Together

  • Baby suckles → nerves in nipple/areola send signals to the brain → hormones released → milk made and pushed through ducts → milk flows out of nipple.

  • It’s a teamwork system between baby, brain, and breast.

End of Lecture Quiz

Q1. The breast makes milk in:
A. The nipple
B. The areola
C. The lobules inside the breast
D. The ducts

Answer: C. The lobules inside the breast
Rationale: Lobules are the tiny sacs where milk is produced.

Q2. Why should a baby latch onto the areola, not just the nipple?
A. Because the nipple alone has no milk
B. Because the areola looks darker
C. Because it allows better suction and milk transfer
D. Because it prevents milk from being made

Answer: C. Because it allows better suction and milk transfer
Rationale: A deep latch on the areola helps the baby press the milk ducts and get more milk.

Q3. What do Montgomery glands in the areola do?
A. Make milk
B. Keep the skin soft and release scent for the baby
C. Block the ducts
D. Store milk

Answer: B. Keep the skin soft and release scent for the baby
Rationale: They produce oils and smells that protect the skin and guide the baby.

Curated Online Resources

Key Takeaways

  • Lobules make milk, ducts carry it, areola helps baby latch, nipple releases milk.

  • A baby needs a deep latch on the areola, not just the nipple, for effective feeding.

  • The breast is designed perfectly to make, store, and deliver milk for the baby.

Call to Action

  • Mothers: Trust your body — your breast has all the structures needed to make milk.

  • Health workers: Use simple terms (“milk tubes,” “milk factories”) when teaching mothers.

  • Communities: Encourage positive messages about breastfeeding anatomy and function.

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