Birth Interventions Online Course(s) & Continuing Education
Access the latest clinical skills and research for Birth Interventions for PREGNANCY, LABOUR & CHILDBIRTH professional training. These Birth Interventions online courses provide practice-changing skills and valuable perspectives from leading global experts. This Birth Interventions education has been accredited for a variety of CEUs / CERPs and can be accessed on-demand, at your own pace.
Breaking the Silos: Understanding the Connections Between Labor Interventions and Lactation
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]
Birth and breastfeeding/chestfeeding are intimately woven together although many separate the two. One's labor and birth process however, have a direct impact on how their nursing journey begins. Naturally, most infants can independently progress through the fetal to neonatal transition and produce a baby-led latch within the first hours of life. However, the process of birth is often unpredictable and many birthing families are regularly faced with common or unexpected labor interventions that can adversely affect milk supply and the initiation and receptivity of breastfeeding/chestfeeding for the infant. Some of the most common interventions include: IV fluids, induction of labor, epidurals, and continuous electronic fetal monitoring. These maternity care practices come with unintended consequences that directly impact lactation. Furthermore, studies indicate that many of these interventions are done more for convenience as opposed to medical reasoning. In order to promote, protect and support breastfeeding/chestfeeding for birthing families, providers and other members of the healthcare team should be encouraged to work in tandem; using effective communication and facilitating open dialogue. By including families in every aspect of their birth and postpartum period, self-efficacy and confidence is increased and trust is developed, setting the foundation for increased initiation and duration of human milk feeding.
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Sterile Water Injections for Managing Back Pain in Labour: Evidence, Techniques and Implementation
Nigel is a Registered Midwife and Senior Research Fellow at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland. His interest in research is underpinned by many years of clinical practice.
The main focus of his research has been on optimising care during childbirth. In particular, he has undertaken mixed methods research and published extensively in the use of sterile water injections for pain relief in labour. He has also led research projects into first and second stage management, and induction of labour. Nigel has strong collaborative research networks with researchers across Australia and in the UK, Sweden, Canada and the United States.
Topic: Sterile Water Injections for Managing Back Pain in Labour: Evidence, Techniques and Implementation - [View Abstract]
Up to 30% of women experience severe back pain in labour. In qualitative studies women have described how labour back pain limited their mobility and altered their plans for analgesia use. Injections of small amounts of sterile water into the skin of the lower back are used to alleviate back pain for up to two hours. Whilst much research supports the effectiveness of the technique, critics suggest a placebo effect or dismiss the procedure as ‘midwifery voodoo’. This presentation will examine the causes and physiology of back pain in labour, examine and critique the research into sterile water injections, and describe the various techniques, benefits and limitations for use in clinical practice. Finally, I will discuss strategies for and dealing with barriers to implementation.
