E-CERPs for Lactation Consultants Bundle: Elevating Ethics as IBCLCs

As food and goods become more expensive, some infant feeding options are increasingly difficult for families to afford. Inflation, the pandemic, infant formula shortages, and supply chain issues create added formidable challenges. The costs of formula are considerable for families, for the health care system, and for the environment, yet breastfeeding is not routinely a part of food security conversations.

The purpose of this presentation is to clearly understand the issues of food security in the context of breastfeeding, the risks and expenses of not breastfeeding, and discuss measures to help increase food security.

People suffering from hunger has slowly been increasing since 2014, and worsening still with the pandemic (FAO et al., 2020). For infants, growth failure can start before birth. Suboptimal growth may start or continue because of breastfeeding or formula feeding practices as well as inadequate complementary foods. Those who can least afford infant formula, tend to be those more likely use it (Kopp et al., 2023). To understand the nature of the issue, we examine food security in the context of breastfeeding globally and with data from select countries. We will explore the impacts of suboptimal or no breastfeeding, list measures to improve breastfeeding rates, and thereby improve food security for infants and their families.

The words that we use with families can be critical to their initiation and duration of their lactation journey. Often as lactation care providers we fixate on having the most updated, evidence-based information to support our clients, but what good is having the ‘right’ words if other parts of language and communication are missing or preventing those words from being received? This presentation will highlight the value of continuously updating our language skills to better serve families.

Many parents in Global North countries identify breastfeeding outside of the home as a particular challenge, and this can lead to stopping breastfeeding earlier than intended. However, there are often legal protections available. In order to better understand this complicated landscape, I will present a summary of the 71 research studies published on this between 2007-2021. Current barriers to mothers being able to breastfeed in public spaces will be described in relation to the legal system, structural inequality and intersectionality, knowledge leading to incorrect beliefs among the public, and a hostile social environment. Within this context it is completely rational for parents to feel a range of negative responses, which lead to them feeling unsafe to breastfeed. Building on this evidence, I present a range of ways in which you may be able to have a positive impact on the environment around the mothers you support.

Writing policy is a skillset needed throughout the lactation profession as the lactation care provider often serves as both clinician and advocate. As an author of 2 breastfeeding policies, including a promotion policy for the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health in 1992 and 10 Steps to a Breastfeeding-friendly Shelter in 2019, Nikki will give some historical background for breastfeeding policy and offer guidance about how to formulate a policy, what is important in writing policy, and make the process easier to work through and less intimidating.

This presentation examines the impending integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in lactation and breastfeeding services, shedding light on bioethical considerations both in a hospital setting and private practice. Delve into fundamental principles shaping ethical frameworks in AI, anticipate potential dilemmas in future technology integration, and prepare for responsible data management. Zainab explores the development of ethical responsibilities for healthcare practices in the evolving landscape of lactation support. Join us for insights at the intersection of ethics and technology, shaping the compassionate future of breastfeeding services.