Lactation & Breastfeeding Online Course(s) & Continuing Education
Access the latest clinical skills and research for Lactation & Breastfeeding for professional training. These Lactation & Breastfeeding online courses provide practice-changing skills and valuable perspectives from leading global experts. This Lactation & Breastfeeding education has been accredited for a variety of CEUs / CERPs and can be accessed on-demand, at your own pace.
Catherine Watson Genna BS, IBCLC is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in private practice in New York City. Certified in 1992, Catherine is particularly interested in helping moms and babies breastfeed when they have medical challenges and is an active clinical mentor. She speaks to healthcare professionals around the world on assisting breastfeeding babies with anatomical, genetic or neurological problems. Her presentations and her writing are enriched by her clinical photographs and videos. Catherine collaborates with Columbia University and Tel Aviv University Departments of Biomedical Engineering on research projects investigating the biomechanics of the lactating nipple and various aspects of sucking and swallowing in breastfeeding infants. She is the author of Selecting and Using Breastfeeding Tools: Improving Care and Outcomes (Praeclarus Press 2009) and Supporting Sucking Skills in Breastfeeding Infants (Jones and Bartlett Learning 2008, 2013, 2017) as well as professional journal articles and chapters in the Core Curriculum for Lactation Consultant Practice and Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Catherine served as Associate Editor of the United States Lactation Consultant Association’s official journal Clinical Lactation for its first seven years.
Topic: Breastfeeding Strategies for Tongue-tied Infants - [View Abstract]
Topic: Critical Assessment of Apparent Tongue-Tie - [View Abstract]
Topic: Introduction to Cervical Auscultation - [View Abstract]
Topic: Lactation Support for Infant Biomedical Challenges - [View Abstract]
Topic: Organization of tongue movements before and after frenotomy for posterior tongue-tie: an Ultrasound analysis - [View Abstract]
Topic: Positioning and Latch for Breastfeeding - [View Abstract]
Topic: Ultrasound Analysis of Sucking: Tongue-Tie and Confounders - [View Abstract]
Topic: Using Breastfeeding Supplementers - [View Abstract]
The comfort and effectiveness of breastfeeding depend largely on how deeply the baby is attached to the breast and how stable the body positions of mother and baby are. This presentation reviews infant requirements and capabilities for breastfeeding and best practices to facilitate optimal latch.
Diana West is an IBCLC in private practice. She is the co-author of “Sweet Sleep: Naptime and Nighttime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family,” the 8th edition of La Leche League International’s “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding,” “The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk,” the clinical monograph “Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Procedures,” and ILCA’s popular “Clinician’s Breastfeeding Triage Tool.” She is the author of the “Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery.” She is on the Editorial Review Board for the “Journal of Clinical Lactation,” a La Leche League Leader and the Director of Media Relations for La Leche League International. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is the administrator of the popular BFAR.org, LowMilkSupply.org, and LactSpeak.com websites. She lives with her three sons and one husband in the picturesque mountains of western New Jersey in the United States.
Topic: Mothers Speak Out: Top Five Traits of a Great Lactation Consultant - [View Abstract]
Topic: Mothers Speak Out: Top Five Traits of a Great Lactation Consultant - [View Abstract]
Topic: Postpartum Nipple Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Empathy - [View Abstract]
Topic: Sleep Training: History, Research, and Outcomes - [View Abstract]
Topic: Sweet Sleep: Bedsharing for Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies - [View Abstract]
In a vivid (and sometimes graphic!) presentation of photos contributed by lactation colleagues around the world, a wide variety of nipple pain causes, treatments, and counseling strategies are explored and discussed.
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Preventing the Plunge: Why the First 2 Weeks are Crucial for Breastfeeding Duration.
Cindy Leclerc and Jana Stockham are Registered Nurses and IBCLCs with over 20 years experience helping families get started with breastfeeding. In addition to hands on care, Cindy and Jana use technology to support families through their website (cindyandjana.com), online prenatal breastfeeding classes (simplybreastfeeding.ca) and iPhone app, NuuNest. Cindy is a strong believer in mother-to-mother support, helping to facilitate breastfeeding and postpartum depression support groups. She is intrigued by all things online and actively uses social media to promote breastfeeding. Jana has been trained as a Baby Friendly assessor and helped to coordinate the first Baby Friendly designation in Saskatchewan. She has a passion to help families with new babies and facilitates a group for breastfeeding moms.
Topic: Meeting your breastfeeding goals - [View Abstract]
Topic: Preventing the Plunge: Why the First 2 Weeks are Crucial for Breastfeeding Duration. - [View Abstract]
The majority of women begin breastfeeding at birth. Within the first 6 weeks, however, breastfeeding rates fall dramatically. To help women hang in with breastfeeding beyond the first weeks, we must first understand why they struggle. Learn what the research is saying and what you can do in your practice to help women meet their breastfeeding goals. IBCLC’s who specialize in the early weeks of breastfeeding will share case examples based on over 20 years of working with breastfeeding families.
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Promoting Self-Management of Breast and Nipple Pain for Women During Breastfeeding
Ruth Lucas, PhD, RNC, CLS, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from George Mason University (1986) and her Doctor of Philosophy of Science (2011) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Based on 20 years of supporting women and infants to initiate breastfeeding, her research focuses on the biobehavioral mechanisms of breastfeeding, such as breast and nipple pain. Dr. Lucas and her team conducted a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) as part of the Center for Accelerating Precision Pain Self- Management (CAPPS-M) (P20NR016605). The pilot RCT tested the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a breastfeeding self-management (BSM) intervention for breast and nipple pain during breastfeeding and found the BSM intervention significantly reduced breast and nipple pain and is associated with pain sensitivity polymorphisms. Her published work describes management of pain during breastfeeding, a clinical indictor of infant breastfeeding behaviors, and a biomedical device to measure breastfeeding in real time.
Topic: Promoting Self-Management of Breast and Nipple Pain for Women During Breastfeeding - [View Abstract]
Despite 90% of women experiencing breast and nipple pain during breastfeeding, mothers rarely receive adequate knowledge and skills for breastfeeding pain self-management and cease breastfeeding. Our randomized control trial (RCT) pilot study tested the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a breastfeeding self-management intervention (BSM) on breast and nipple pain and breastfeeding outcomes. Sixty women were recruited after delivery and completed survey measures of pain and breastfeeding outcomes, pain sensitivity testing and a biological sample to assess genetic risk for pain at baseline. Both groups completed pain and breastfeeding outcomes surveys via texting links using REDCap 7.4. Women in the intervention group received biweekly nurse-lead texting and cloud-based educational modules addressing breast and nipple pain and breastfeeding challenges. The BSM intervention was acceptable and sustainable for 94% of the women who continued to breastfed to 6 weeks. Acute breast and nipple pain at 1 and 2 weeks were significantly reduced and was associated with pain sensitivity polymorphisms, suggesting a genetic risk profile of pain-associated breastfeeding cessation.
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Protocol for Successful Induced Lactation and the Importance of Mahram for Muslim Families
Dr. Anisa has been working as a Consultant Pediatrician for 11 years & an IBCLC for 12 years. Dr. Anisa has a strong belief that breastfeeding saves lives of infants & young children. In order to ensure improvement of the practice of exclusive breastfeeding rate in Malaysia, she established an ambulatory care center with breastfeeding consultation services for the residents in Johor (state) & founded a networking platform for home visit counselling session by trained lactation counsellors that is BCNP (Breastfeeding Counselors Networking Program) since January 2016. Apart from above mentioned, Dr. Anisa is a mother of 4 sons with various breastfeeding experiences, blending with knowledge gained from managing cases in clinic, conferences & readings, she is confident to give lectures related to children health & lactation at national level and internationally. As fractional pediatric lecturer in Monash University Malaysia, she teaches medical students the importance and benefits of breastfeeding to our children & maternal health with hope that future young doctors will support, protect & promote breastfeeding in their services. Since 2009, Dr. Anisa has been a National BFHI Auditor, National lactation center fascilitator, trainer & speaker, and has published 2 books on breastfeeding - Induced lactation guideline & breastfeeding comic (Dr Super Pot Pet). Her deep interest in induce lactation program leads her to present this topic for GOLD Lactation.
The meaning of mahram in Islam is a person with whom marriage is not permissible (haram) and the adopted baby will be able to achieve this mahram status by breastfeeding on her/his adopted mother for at least 5 times (satisfied feeding) before 2 years old according to the Muslim calendar. Subsequently, the baby status is similar to biological child of the adopted parents. Effective consultation is required to ensure the successful process of induced lactation for the aforementioned purpose.
During consultation, breastfeeding benefits are crucial information to be explained to the adopted parents, however achieving mahram status is an additional motivational factor. According to research done by Che Abdul Rahim,N. et.al (2020) there were 6 factors that impacted successful induction of lactation: 1) appropriate protocol, 2) support system, 3) knowledge on breastfeeding technique & use of equipment, 4) time management, 5) mother's nutrition, 6) perseverance & strong motivation through follow up & additional information about expected challenges to overcome.
This presentation provides details on how to successfully induce lactation and how this knowledge can be used to support all families, including Muslim families who are breastfeeding to achieve mahram.
Providing Enhanced Lactation Care for Families Following Late Miscarriage, Stillbirth, Neonatal and Infant Death
Katherine is a Senior Lecturer at School of Sociology, Australian National University. Katherine’s particular areas of interest include the sociology of reproduction and motherhood, perinatal medicine, lactation sciences, human milk banking and donation. Her current projects include an Australian Research Council funded study on maternal experiences of lactation after infant death, and a Mayo Clinic funded research project on the communication with families regarding periviable infant resuscitation.
Every day, around the world, many mothers are faced with the complex task of managing the initial onset, or continuation, of their lactation following a late miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal or infant loss. This presentation explores findings from a multi-year, multi-site Australian study conducted with bereaved families and health professionals that confirmed the limited nature and scope of lactation care currently available to bereaved families.
This presentation will provide evidence of the need and benefit of approaching lactation after infant death using a biopsychosocial care framework, so that bereaved families are able to make informed decisions from the full array of lactation management options that may be available including: suppression, sustained expression, breastmilk donation or using milk as memento. The challenges involved in providing bereaved lactation care will be acknowledged and discussed. Health professionals will be advised on what information and support bereaved families need and want, how and when this information may be best provided and who may be best placed to offer lactation care to bereaved families.
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Briana Tillman received her undergraduate degree in International Relations from the United States Military Academy at West Point. She has been a La Leche League Leader for 9 years and is a board certified lactation consultant. After spending 10 years as a stay-at-home mom, she is currently in her third year of medical school at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado. She loves spending time with her husband and three kids—as a family they like to travel, go camping, and play string instruments in “family ensemble.”
Nick is a 3rd year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has a background in mechanical and systems engineering but found his calling in medicine after volunteering for Health4Haiti in 2011. He lives in Colorado with his wife and they enjoy hiking, camping and fishing in the great outdoors.
Topic: What a Letdown: Exploring the Physiology of the Milk Ejection Reflex - [View Abstract]
Due to the global shortage of mental health professionals, many primary care providers have become the first-line responders to a wide variety of psychiatric concerns. While lactation consultants and breastfeeding support counselors are not called upon to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, they nonetheless often become enmeshed in the topic due to the holistic nature of breastfeeding management. An understanding of the major psychiatric topics that can arise during lactation consultation is therefore a valuable asset.
In this presentation, we will describe mental health benefits and drawbacks of breastfeeding, and explore the controversy surrounding the “breast is best” campaign as it regards maternal mental health. We will also briefly explore the pharmacological and non-pharmacological options in treatment of major psychiatric disorders (e.g. generalized anxiety, major depressive disorder, bipolar mood disorder, schizophrenia) as they relate to lactation. Finally, we will review the scientific literature related to potential long-term mental health effects of breastfeeding on babies.
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Pumping for Hospitalized Babies: 12 Keys to Supporting Families
Jeanette Mesite Frem, MHS, IBCLC, RLC, CCE is an experienced childbirth educator, IBCLC-lactation consultant and retired birth doula. She started her career working with families while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa in the early 90s. She loved that work so much she went on to receive a public health masters degree from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, focusing her studies on nutrition for maternal and child health. Her two children were breastfed for more than 2 years each and Jeanette has experience pumping at work for both children and has supported more than a thousand families with feeding and pumping over the last 20 years.
Jeanette provides prenatal childbirth and breastfeeding classes at her office in Northborough, Massachusetts, as well as providing virtual and office feeding consultations. She also enjoys leading workshops for perinatal health professionals and mentoring those who work with families. If you have questions, feel free to email [email protected].
Topic: Pumping for Hospitalized Babies: 12 Keys to Supporting Families - [View Abstract]
Perinatal professionals in hospitals have great influence over how much human milk a baby receives, as well as how encouraged parents feel related to pumping and initiating and maintaining their milk production and eventually meeting their infant feeding goals. When hospital staff help with pumping in the early hours, days, and weeks of a new and fragile baby’s life—especially when at breast, chest or body feeding isn’t possible—getting that professional support is likely to make a difference in the long-term health of that child as well as the health of their parent. Healthcare providers can facilitate milk collection and provision of it to babies and support parents with specific and updated guidance on pump choices, pump usage, flange fit and milk storage. Those who work in hospitals with families can make an important positive impact on long-term breastfeeding and human-milk feeding rates. This session will cover 12 simple ways (including the what, why, how, when and where of pumping) that healthcare providers can support parents who pump for their hospitalized baby.
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Karolina Ochoa is a Mother-Baby nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, speaker, and researcher. She has close to a decade of experience in serving breastfeeding families in both in-patient and outpatient settings. Karolina currently runs a successful Private Practice in the Inland Empire, California and she is a CEO of LactationHub.
Her areas of emphasis are clinical management of lactation, behavioral feeding aversions, as well as implementation and management of lactation programs in different healthcare settings. Karolina is passionate about addressing the inequality in access to lactation professionals across the US. She is a big advocate of extended maternity leave for all parents.
Karolina lives with her husband Julio and two lively toddlers in Redlands, CA
Pumping can be a choice or a necessity and the role of Lactation Professionals is to meet the parents where they are at. There are endless reasons for parents to use a breast pump, including prematurity, maternal-infant separation, low milk supply, return to work. Pumping can also be a choice for parents that do not wish to directly latch their baby, called Exclusive Pumping. Pumping parents deserve the same kind of evidence-based care as their exclusively breastfeeding counterparts but are often marginalized. During this workshop, you will learn how to best support a pumping parent: the importance of proper flange sizing, pumping schedules, exclusive pumping, the emotional toll of triple feeding, and how to help parents set realistic goals based on their own values.
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Robinson (Rob) Reed (pronouns: they/them) is a certified nurse midwife and international board certified lactation consultant providing full scope midwifery and lactation care at Swedish Midwifery First Hill in Seattle, WA. As a queer and nonbinary healthcare provider, Rob is passionate about providing sex-positive, gender-affirming, trauma-informed care to their patients. Rob draws from over a decade of mindfulness practice to integrate compassion and intentional presence with the busyness of clinical practice. In addition to precepting midwifery students, Rob offers mentorship to queer and trans future healthcare providers, and consults with hospital maternity units on issues around gender inclusivity in sexual and reproductive healthcare and lactation care.
LGBTQ families have long been made invisible in their experiences of building their families, and this extends to lactation care as well. Queer, trans, and nonbinary parents need and deserve support that centers the unique challenges they may face and celebrates their creativity and resilience. Trans men or nonbinary people who give birth may desire to chestfeed their infants. Non-gestational partners who choose to induce lactation to share in breastfeeding their infants need guidance and advice through this process. Trans women may find breastfeeding to be a strongly gender-affirming experience. Many lactation professionals have a desire to support LGBTQ patients, but lack knowledge of inclusive terminology or specific ways to provide affirming care. This session will review gender-inclusive language, hands-on skills, and clinical pearls to improve lactation care for LGBTQ patients.
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