FutureLearn

Introduction to Breastfeeding for Medical Students (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Glasgow,
Introduction to Breastfeeding for Medical Students (FutureLearn)

This short module is designed to support first year medical students to understand the importance of breastfeeding in the UK. Gain the medical training skills you need around the subject of breastfeeding. This informative course, in a collaboration between Unicef UK and the University of Glasgow, provides an introduction for medical students about breastfeeding, including what is in human milk, why breastfeeding matters and how best to support families.

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Gain the knowledge to encourage breastfeeding
You will investigate the benefits of breastfeeding, from improved health for both babies and their mothers, to the strong emotional bond that it creates between the two.

Compare the components of breastmilk and infant
You’ll see how any amount of human milk has a positive effect and be able to compare it with infant formula, with the aim to support informed decision-making for new mothers.

Recognise effective breastfeeding
Learn about how breastfeeding works and how to support mothers to breastfeed effectively.

Understand the barriers to breastfeeding in the UK and how these can be overcome
Finally, you will understand why so many women struggle to breastfeed in the UK and what is needed to overcome this.

What topics will you cover?

  • How is human milk produced and what are its components?
  • What does effective breastfeeding look like?
  • What are some of the challenges of breastfeeding in the UK?

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the main constituents of human milk and their function
  • Appreciate the importance of human milk and breastfeeding to human health
  • Understand the anatomy and physiology of lactation
  • Be able to list the key practices that facilitate the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding
  • Understand the role of the doctor in supporting and advocating for breastfeeding
  • Understand the role of the doctor in supporting parents to formula feed as safely as possible
  • Appreciate the wider social, cultural and political influences on infant feeding
  • Understand the importance of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent WHA resolutions (the Code) and how it impacts on practice
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