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Dear Connecticut Breastfeeding Professionals and Health Care Providers,

We are pleased to announce that the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), the Connecticut Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) & the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC) are partnering to conduct an assessment of current breastfeeding support practices available and to identify training needs across the state. We hope you will collaborate with us in this effort by completing the following survey.

You were selected to complete this survey because of your role as a breastfeeding professional. Your participation is voluntary. However, if you do choose to participate, your answers will be kept confidential and the data will be analyzed and reported only in the aggregate. We value your opinion and plan to address the gaps you help to identify in a variety of settings, using a variety of methodologies.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this survey or planned activities, please contact Marilyn Lonczak at the DPH/CT WIC Program at 860-509-8261 or by email at marilyn.lonczak@ct.gov.

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Are you a/an... (Please check all that apply)

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A2. Please list your credentials (RN, RD, MPH, MD, APRN):

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A3. If you are an IBCLC, how long have you been a lactation consultant?

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A4. Where do you currently work? (Please indicate your place of employment, and the city or town it is located in.)

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A5. What is your current title?

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A6. What kind of geographic setting do you work in?

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A7.a. Please indicate your ethnicity (optional):

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A7.b. What is your race (please check all that apply):

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A8. What language(s) do you speak, other than English? (If you don't speak another language, indicate "none".)

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A9. In your best estimate, how many breastfeeding mothers -- or mothers who intend to breastfeed -- do you work with each month?

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A10. With whom and/or in what setting(s) do you utilize your lactation consultant (LC) or lactation counselor (CLC) skills? (Please check all that apply.)

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A11. Do you receive reimbursement for your LC services?

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a. If yes, how are you reimbursed?

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A12. To what degree do the following barriers to reaching more mothers exist for you as an IBCLC / HCP / CLC?

  Not at all A little bit Neutral A lot Totally Not sure
Marketing of services
Lack of statewide resource list (available to the public)
Insurance reimbursement
Hospital/clinic support of LC
Lack of support from physicians and other maternity/clinic staff
Coordination of clinic/hospital referrals to LCs
Lack of resources for private practice
Patient out-of-pocket costs for LC
Costs to maintain LC certification
Time to obtain and maintain LC certification
Resources for staff and patient education
Lack of time and other competing demands
Difficulty in obtaining LC contact hours

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A13. Do you have any suggestions as to how you could best be supported, or helped to address any barriers you experience as a breastfeeding professional (IBCLC/CLC/HCP)?

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A14. How would you recommend increasing the reach of breastfeeding professionals in Connecticut? (Please check all that apply.)

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B. KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES & BELIEFS

B1. How confident are you:

a. ... in your knowledge of the new Affordable Care Act (ACA or "Obamacare") as it relates to breastfeeding promotion and support?

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b. ... that you can educate other staff members on the importance of the promotion and support of breastfeeding?

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c. ... that you can explain the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby?

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d. ... that you can educate a mother on the relationship between skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding initiation immediately following delivery?

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e. ... that you can educate a mother on the importance of baby-initiated first breastfeeding within the first 1-2 hours after delivery?

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f. ... that you can educate a mother on the relationship between a baby's proximity to his/her mother at all times (i.e. 24-hour/day rooming in) and breastfeeding exclusivity?

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g. ... that you can educate a mother on the importance of breastfeeding on-demand, and the duration and frequency of individual feedings?

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h. ... that you can provide appropriate reasons for NOT using breast milk substitutes (i.e. supplementation), artificial nipples and pacifiers?

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i. ... that you can help a frustrated mother with early breast problems such as sore or cracked nipples, or engorgement?

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j. ... that you can help a frustrated mother with early breastfeeding problems such as trouble latching and recognizing tongue tie?

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k. ... that you can show a mother how to hand-express breast milk?

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l. ... that you can show a mother how to use a breast pump?

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m. ... that you can educate a mother on increasing her milk supply?

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n. ... that you could provide group support?

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o ...that you can provide a mother/family with links to community breastfeeding support

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p. ... that you could educate a mother on PUBLIC breastfeeding laws?

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q. ... that you could educate a mother on WORKSITE breastfeeding laws?

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C. CONTINUING EDUCATION

C1. In your opinion, are there sufficient continuing education opportunities to maintain and advance your LC (IBCLC/CLC) certification?

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C2. Are you interested in learning new methods of helping mothers successfully breastfeed?

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C3. Are you willing and able to attend continued training on breastfeeding at least once a year?

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C4. How much time - annually - are you willing and able to commit to continued breastfeeding training?

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C5. To what degree are you interested in attending continuing education on the following topics?

  Not at all A little bit Neutral Quite a bit Totally Not sure
Maternity care practices supporting breastfeeding
Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
Available community support for breastfeeding
Breastfeeding assessment
Basic breastfeeding education for mothers
Assisting mothers with common breastfeeding problems
Skin-to-skin contact and the Sacred Hour (baby-led first breastfeeding after birth)
Milk expression (by hand and by using a breast pump)
Donor milk use
Worksite support
Working with teen mothers
Working with minority and/or refugee mothers
Leading effective group support
LC business models and reimbursement

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C6. What is your preferred method of training? (Please check all that apply.)

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C7. Are you interested in seeking LC contact hours for higher levels of certification?

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C8. If you are an IBCLC, would you be willing to be a mentor for those seeking LC contact hours? (If yes, please provide your contact information at the end of this survey.)

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D. BREASTFEEDING COMMUNITY

D1. Are you a member of the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC)?

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D2. Would you participate in and support the formation of a Connecticut Chapter of LCs, associated with a national LC organization (e.g. USLCA)?

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D3. Would you be interested in and willing to participate in a telephone interview as follow-up to this survey?

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D4. If a directory were put together, would you want to be included and identified as a lactation professional?

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D5. Are you interested in sharing your contact information (mailing or email address) for CT-specific mailings or information pertinent to breastfeeding professionals (e.g. educational offerings, legislative happenings, etc.)?

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Optional: Please share with us your contact information. Remember, your answers will be kept confidential and will not be linked to your identifying information!

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