IBCLC / Lactation Consultants Online Course(s) & Continuing Education
Access the latest clinical skills and research for IBCLC/Lactation Consultants for Tongue-tie, Lip Tie & Structure professional training. These IBCLC/Lactation Consultants online courses provide practice-changing skills and valuable perspectives from leading global experts. This IBCLC/Lactation Consultants education has been accredited for a variety of CEUs / CERPs and can be accessed on-demand, at your own pace.
#thestruggleisreal: How to Build Understanding and Empathy with Millennial Families
Amber McCann is an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) whose current interests involve connecting with new families through social media channels and teaching others in her profession to do the same. After maintaining a busy private practice in the Washington DC suburbs and working with an innovative model of care at the Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh, she now provides marketing and communications guidance for a number of birth and breastfeeding organizations. When she’s not furiously tweeting or watching terrible reality TV, you can find her eating her way through all of the fantastic restaurants in her new hometown of Pittsburgh and snuggling her three children.
Jeanette McCulloch, IBCLC, has been combining communications work and women’s health advocacy for more than 20 years. She is a co-founder of BirthSwell, which is improving infant and maternal health - and the way we talk about birth and breastfeeding - through strategic communications and social media. She is a board member of Citizens for Midwifery, and is active in local, statewide, and national birth and breastfeeding advocacy projects.
In this presentation, we will learn about the unique values, communication styles, learning preferences, and buying habits of Millennials. We’ll also address some common friction points between Millennials and other generations, with the goal of developing a self-awareness that can help us provide the best possible care.
We will also learn how to apply our knowledge of Millennial values and communications styles to understanding how we can best find Millennials as clients, teach in the way they best learn, and provide information and care in a way that reaches Millennials where they are at.
Achieving Lactation Excellence: Unleash the Power of Caring with Impact, Equity, and Evidence-Based Support
Janiya Mitnaul Williams, MA, IBCLC,CLC, is an accomplished lactation consultant, advocate, and trailblazer in the field of perinatal health equity. With over 15 years of experience, Janiya has dedicated her career to supporting nursing families and driving positive change in lactation practices.
Janiya's educational background includes degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, as well as Health & Wellness with a concentration in Human Lactation. This diverse knowledge base equips her with a holistic approach to lactation support, recognizing the unique needs of each individual and their family.
In March of 2020, Janiya made history by creating and establishing the groundbreaking Pathway 2 Human Lactation Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC), becoming the first public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to offer a lactation program. As the Director of this pioneering program, she has set new standards in lactation education and operates an Outpatient Community-Based Lactation Clinic, providing essential support to nursing families in the local community.
Janiya's visionary leadership extends beyond the university setting. As the Co-Chair of the Perinatal Health Equity Collective for North Carolina since 2022, she leads strategic initiatives to address disparities and promote equitable access to quality perinatal services. Her passion for social justice and commitment to advancing equity in perinatal care have made a profound impact on the field.
Additionally, Janiya serves as the Co-Coordinator for Doula Services at the Women's and Children's Center at Cone Health. In this role, she works tirelessly to ensure birthing individuals and their families receive compassionate care and invaluable resources throughout their journey.
Recognizing the need for representation and cultural inclusivity within the lactation field, Janiya founded the Mahogany Milk Support Group in 2015. This empowering initiative aims to promote, encourage, and normalize nursing for Black and Brown families. Her trailblazing efforts include being the first person of color and Non-Registered Nurse to be hired as a Lactation Consultant within Cone Health's hospital system.
Driven by a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion in lactation, Janiya strives to promote better health outcomes for Black, Brown, marginalized, and underprivileged families, who often face significant lactation barriers. Her visionary leadership, dedication to lactation equity, and unwavering commitment to empowering nursing families have earned her recognition and respect within the industry. Through her pioneering work and advocacy, Janiya is making a lasting impact on the field of perinatal health equity, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all nursing families.
Topic: Breaking the Silos: Understanding the Connections Between Labor Interventions and Lactation - [View Abstract]
Placing patient-centered care at the forefront of lactation is not just important; it is pivotal. This endeavor seamlessly weaves together the intricacies of equity and evidence-based information, all while focusing intently on tailoring support to the unique needs of lactating individuals and fostering ideal communication.
For breastfeeding/chestfeeding, patient-centered care infused with equity recognizes diverse socio-cultural factors, bridging gaps in support and enriching maternal and infant health outcomes. Integrating evidence-based information bolsters lactation guidance, refining the nursing person’s experience.
However, at its core, lactation-focused care revolves around meeting individuals where they are with just moments to grasp their preferences and establish trust and empathy. Effective communication acts as the cornerstone, facilitating clear dissemination of their concerns/issues while applying shared decision-making. This empowers lactating individuals and their families by aligning feeding choices and plans with their personal objectives.
In order to revolutionize lactation support we must practice patient-centered care, while weaving in equity and evidence-based practices.This means combining fairness and using proven methods. This approach values families' experiences and encourages teamwork, making parents, infants and children healthier and happier.
Approaching Care When You’re Barely There: Reimagining Empathy When You’ve Got Nothing Left to Give
Nekisha Killings is an equity strategist, internationally board-certified lactation consultant, and maternal and child health advocate who speaks, teaches, and facilitates on topics related to equity and dismantling bias across various sectors.
When she is not home educating 4 future world changers, she acts as a Director of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Lactation Education Resources and consults organizations on creating and implementing strategies to better support marginalized communities.
Nekisha holds a Masters in Public Health and penned the chapter titled Cultural Humility in the latest Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Support text. Nekisha is on a mission to normalize brown breasts and nipples in health education, thereby better equipping healthcare providers to accurately assess and treat people of color.
Nekisha's work is rooted in a compassion and candor that could only have been cultivated in years of supporting new parents during their first days of parenthood. Nekisha is an active duty military spouse who has been awarded the Spouse of the Year designation for her volunteer efforts supporting families.
Topic: Breast Assessment and Non-White Skin Tones - [View Abstract]
Topic: BreastSide Manner: A Patient-Centered Approach to Lactation Support - [View Abstract]
Topic: Marching Orders: Developing Practical and Impactful Care Plans - [View Abstract]
Healthcare professionals, particularly those in the lactation field, are known for providing care that is emotionally, physically, and mentally taxing. Providing care as lactation professionals during a pandemic has driven many to experience compassion fatigue. This phenomenon impacts one’s personal health in a myriad of ways and also has a significant impact on how one provides empathetic care to families. The current communication model for providing empathetic care in lactation is steeped in the patriarchal model, which actually suppresses empathy. This presentation will help health care providers identify signs of compassion fatigue and provide tools for self-assessment. Additionally, attendees will learn how to apply a natural empathetic model to their lactation/ IBCLC practice to protect their personal health and promote a more supportive way to engage with their families.
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Annie Frisbie has been an IBCLC in private practice since 2011. Her background is in media, where she worked very closely with producers, content developers, and tech thought leaders on business strategy, content development, contracts, legal clearances, and more. She has also produced training for professional media software solutions as well as created and managed print and video content for media professionals.
In 2018 she was honored with the US Lactation Consultant Association's President's Award, "awarding those that demonstrate extraordinary service to the association and profession."
She is a produced screenwriter and proud member of the Writers Guild of America, East. She have a BA from Franklin and Marshall College, and an MA in Cinema Studies from New York University. In a previous life I was a film critic. I live with my husband and our two children in Queens, New York.
Topic: The Ethics of Digital Privacy and Lactation Practice - [View Abstract]
Follow the complete life cycle of a typical client through collecting information during the intake process, documenting and charting effectively and efficiently, and communicating with families and their care providers. Bring your questions about incorporating technology while protecting client/patient privacy and providing compassionate care so families can meet their goals.
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Barriers to Breastfeeding in Appalachia: A Sociocultural Perspective
Stephanie Carroll is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who lives in southeast Ohio with her two daughters. She founded the Appalachian Breastfeeding Network in May of 2016. Now has grown to over 500 members across 15 states. Stephanie owns a private practice and works for a Breast Pump DME part-time. She also works as a speaker and marketing manager for Lactation Education Consultants. She continues to work towards transformation of breastfeeding culture, women's health equity, and increasing access to care in Appalachia, giving a voice to Appalachia, which continues to be underserved and overlooked.
The issue of lower breastfeeding rates in Appalachia goes beyond poverty – as many women in the region are willing to travel out of the area to receive good care. Why isn’t access to care easier to obtain in these rural areas? Why are women getting most of their prenatal education from their family members – making much of the education outdated and incorrect? Why have these women lost trust in their healthcare providers that are local?
The answers to these question reverts back to two major conclusions:
- Women are still considered second class in Appalachia and;
- Many healthcare providers do not understand Appalachian culture in order to serve them in the best way possible.
This presentation will discuss: a. What these specific barriers are; b. How we, as health professionals, can approach these barriers; c. How to help to create a new culture trend; and d. How to empower Appalachian women to take hone of their healthcare – specifically their birth and breastfeeding journey.
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Be Your “Breast” You! Self Care Strategies for Lactation Professionals to Avoid Burnout
As a seasoned RN and IBCLC, Stacy Notestine has been blessed to work with thousands of mom & baby dyads.
She started her career in 1991 as a labor and delivery nurse, and in 2005 she became an IBCLC. She has worked in many different areas that have enhanced her experiences and knowledge to help moms and babies.
In 2011 she founded her private practice, Baby's Best Beginning. Before working private practice full time, she worked on the lactation team and as the NICU Lactation Educator in the second largest pediatric hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
In 2017 Stacy graduated from an esteemed yoga training program to teach as a registered yoga teacher. She also has training as a certified infant massage therapist, essential oils wellness advocate, reiki master and she has also completed 2 levels of craniosacral therapy. Most recently she completed a transformative nurse coaching program and plans to sit for board certification.
Her recent interests include sharing her love of yoga, meditation, and breath work, specifically with lactation professionals, to help decrease the stressors in their current world and work place in an organic way.
Stacy has 4 amazing grown children and have 2 beautiful grandchildren.
Currently, occupational stressors and burnout are at an all-time high. Lactation professionals are not immune to this phenomenon. Lactation professionals often work in very demanding and stressful environments. They are very skilled at caring for their clients. They adeptly help new mothers learn to nourish their babies; however, they often lack prioritizing self care to enhance their own health and mental wellbeing. Overtime, stressors that are not addressed, can cause unhappiness and stress related diseases in the body. This presentation was created to bring awareness to the levels and causation of stressors, find better balance in the workplace, and to create an individualized care plan to bring more harmony and wellness to ultimately avoid occupational burnout.
Breastfeeding as a Prevention Strategy for Speech Language Disorders
Lina Mazzoni is a Lactation Consultant, IBCLC with a Bachelors Degree in Speech and Language Therapy. Since 2013 she has been working primarily with children and specialized in the treatment of sucking, swallowing and feeding disorders. In 2019 she became a Lactation Consultant to be able to work equivalent with the children and the mother. As a working mom she worked part time as a Lactation Consultant in a hospital in Hamburg, started her own privat practice in 2019 and since october 2021 she works exclusively in her private practice as a lactation consultant and SLT. She also works as an Instructor in lactation education and further education regarding feeding developement and disorders . Lina has two children and lives with them and her husband in Hamburg, Germany.
Topic: Sucking Disorders in Children with Neurological, Muscular, Genetic or Anatomical Diseases - [View Abstract]
The prevention and early treatment of diseases is part of a Speech and Language Therapist's working field.
The question is, at what point can SL Therapy have a preventative influence, what are the advantages of early consultations and treatments and what significance does a nursing and lactation consultation have in this context. Asha and Fletcher (2005, S.1) called a SL Therapist and a Lactation Consultant a "Baby's feeding dream team", so the combination of these two professions might be a good way to facilitate difficult breastfeeding relationships and reduce SL disorders over the years.
Breastfeeding is the physiological way to feed a baby. It supports the Mother-Child-Bond and sets the foundation for the undisturbed organic, sensorial, motoric, cognitive, oral and social development. If there is a problem with the ingestion of food (oromotor dysfunction or dysphagia), the topic of breastfeeding tends to move to the background. But what if breastfeeding can be used as part of the therapy? Promoting early SLT and by supporting the breastfeeding and preventing the use of artificial teats, which can have a negative influence especially on the oromotor and muscle development, the outcome might improve.
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Breastfeeding Counselling Concepts from Disciplines Outside the Maternity Ward
Nikki started as an LPN in 1971, got her RN and BSN, and a graduate degree. She is an author, a teacher, a holistic lactation consultant, a craniosacral therapy practitioner, and a baby body worker (teaching Infant Massage and TummyTime! She is mother to 2 wonderful (breastfed for a long time) daughters, wife to 3 interesting men, only one of whom was the right one for the past 37 years, Rafe!
Her publications include the books, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy and A Breastfeeding Owner’s Manual; the monographs, “Benefits of Breastfeeding and Their Economic Impact” and “Sexuality and Breastfeeding” and the educational pamphlet “How to help yourself through labor”. She has been the reviews editor for the journal Clinical Lactation, and has worked as the lactation consultant for the division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health since 2006.
Topic: Breastfeeding Counselling Concepts from Disciplines Outside the Maternity Ward - [View Abstract]
Topic: Tips and Tricks for Writing Breastfeeding Policy - [View Abstract]
Topic: Words That Work - [View Abstract]
Many healthcare disciplines, including breastfeeding counseling and lactation consultation, use negotiation and therapeutic conversation to give practical advice, encouragement and suggestions to their clients. What can we learn about counseling from disciplines that are outside the healthcare arena? This presentation will describe different counseling principles that come from fitness coaching and from hostage negotiation and how they can be used to help improve outcomes for breastfeeding families.
BreastSide Manner: A Patient-Centered Approach to Lactation Support
Nekisha Killings is an equity strategist, internationally board-certified lactation consultant, and maternal and child health advocate who speaks, teaches, and facilitates on topics related to equity and dismantling bias across various sectors.
When she is not home educating 4 future world changers, she acts as a Director of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Lactation Education Resources and consults organizations on creating and implementing strategies to better support marginalized communities.
Nekisha holds a Masters in Public Health and penned the chapter titled Cultural Humility in the latest Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Support text. Nekisha is on a mission to normalize brown breasts and nipples in health education, thereby better equipping healthcare providers to accurately assess and treat people of color.
Nekisha's work is rooted in a compassion and candor that could only have been cultivated in years of supporting new parents during their first days of parenthood. Nekisha is an active duty military spouse who has been awarded the Spouse of the Year designation for her volunteer efforts supporting families.
Topic: Breast Assessment and Non-White Skin Tones - [View Abstract]
Topic: BreastSide Manner: A Patient-Centered Approach to Lactation Support - [View Abstract]
Topic: Marching Orders: Developing Practical and Impactful Care Plans - [View Abstract]
Warm and empathic bedside manner is a lost art in provider-patient interactions. Be it time constraints, systemic limitations, lack of trust or training, the disconnect is apparent and the consequences are grave. In this talk, lactation support providers have an opportunity to learn how to be intentional in their approach to care in a way that honors the patient and their needs while also meeting them where they are. This talk will consider attitude, cultural, language, and other factors that might have traditionally impeded communication or relational connection in order to get to the heart of drawing lines of trust and respect between Patient and provider.
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Bridging the Gap: Case Studies in Community Based Lactation Care
Shonte' Terhune-Smith is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, postpartum doula and health educator. Over the past 10 years, she has worked diligently in Genesee County to increase breastfeeding rates. She has worked for WIC, in the hospital as a lactation intern and at various pediatric and obstetrician clinics, promoting and educating women about breastfeeding. Normalizing breastfeeding is her passion. Shonte' is the owner of, You Overcoming Lactation Obstacles (YOLO). She empowers and provides timely, culturally competent, evidence-based breastfeeding support and services to Genesee County families and surrounding areas. Shonte' understands that breastfeeding works better when the mother has a village of support to overcome the barriers families face. She is also co-founder of Southeast Michigan IBCLC's of Color.
While breastfeeding initiation rates have increased over the years, there continues to be disparities in duration rates, specifically amongst black and brown families. After families are discharged from the hospital, there is a gap in connecting with equitable outpatient resources. Follow-up appointments after hospital discharge may be days or sometimes weeks away and in that time, difficulties with latching, engorgement, weight loss, and other issues, can spiral out of control. This presentation will demonstrate how these gaps can be bridged with referrals and partnerships with hospitals and providers, with case studies that show how they can positively impact breastfeeding outcomes.