98 | Empathetic Communication

Lactation Business Coaching with Annie and Leah

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the emotional topic that is client communication, especially the kind that happens when everyone’s stressed, sleep-deprived, and possibly holding a crying baby (or crying themselves).

As a lactation consultant, it turns out, your mood matters. Shocking, right? If you're under-caffeinated, over-caffeinated, or just generally cranky, your ability to be empathetic can fly right out the window.

Good communication means actually listening (and not just waiting for your turn to talk), choosing our words carefully, and never, ever being the reason a client walks away more stressed than when they showed up.

The goal? Set realistic expectations, offer encouragement, and stop ourselves from promising the moon just to avoid awkward silence.

" You have to put as much energy into training your communication skills as you are learning all the physiological reasons people have low milk supply. "

In this episode, we will cover:

• Why empathy is important as a lactation consultant (1:50)
• How to make difficult conversations easier (8:15)
• Balancing empathy with clinical skills (9:26)
• Using body language to help you communicate (13:20)

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About Us

Leah Jolly is a private practice IBCLC with Bay Area Breastfeeding in Houston, Texas.

Annie Frisbie is a private practice IBCLC serving Queens and Brooklyn in New York City and the creator of the Lactation Consultant Private Practice Toolkit.

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