Review: Spanish for Breastfeeding Support

I recently had the pleasure of working through a review copy of Spanish for Breastfeeding Support by Tanya Lieberman, IBCLC and Diana Glick, MA. The book is a self-guided course to teach you how to support breastfeeding mothers in Spanish. It’s an extremely helpful tool for building effective communication skills. Not only does it provide the necessary grammar and vocabulary for breastfeeding support, it also provides the one thing I have often found lacking in foreign language instruction — conversation skills! All the vocabulary and grammar will not get you very far if you do not feel comfortable actually speaking the language. The written and audio exercises offer the perfect practice that will allow the lactation specialist to apply these skills in real-life breastfeeding support situations.

The workbook is divided into 12 chapters with accompanying audio portions for each provided on two CDs. The audio exercises take you through 12 different sample conversations featuring doctors, nurses, lactation consultants, WIC peer counselors, and breastfeeding support group leaders. The woman’s voice is pleasant and clear. I found the vocabulary exercises particularly helpful and was pleased to see tear-out quick reference sheets for common words and phrases. By working through the exercises, IBCLCs can earn up to 12.8 L-CERPs.

In addition to the comprehensive instruction in the Spanish language, the book provides a solid base of current and accurate breastfeeding advice. It demonstrates how to offer both informational and emotional support. It works as a self-guided course or as a textbook in a classroom setting. Spanish for Breastfeeding Support is a gorgeous book and an excellent reference guide!