Trauma Informed Care Online Course(s) & Continuing Education
Access the latest clinical skills and research for Trauma Informed Care for Tongue-tie, Lip Tie & Structure professional training. These Trauma Informed Care online courses provide practice-changing skills and valuable perspectives from leading global experts. This Trauma Informed Care education has been accredited for a variety of CEUs / CERPs and can be accessed on-demand, at your own pace.
Melissa Cole is a board-certified lactation consultant, neonatal oral-motor assessment professional and clinical herbalist in private practice. Melissa is passionate about providing comprehensive, holistic lactation support and improving the level of clinical lactation skills for health professional. She enjoys teaching, researching and writing about wellness and lactation-related topics. Her bachelor’s degree is in maternal/child health and lactation and her master’s degree is in therapeutic herbalism. Before pursuing her current path, Melissa’s background was in education and cultural arts, which has served her well in her work as a lactation consultant and healthcare educator. She loves living, working and playing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her 3 children.
Topic: A Mindful Approach to Infant Tongue-Tie Care - [View Abstract]
Topic: Beyond Fenugreek: An Individualized Approach to Dietary and Herbal Galactagogues - [View Abstract]
Topic: Beyond the Basics of Latch: Support Strategies for Helping Babies when the Basics Aren’t Enough - [View Abstract]
Topic: Common Infant Digestive Health Concerns and Useful Support Strategies - [View Abstract]
Topic: Connection and Care: Virtual Support for Tongue-Tied Infants - [View Abstract]
Topic: Feeding is Movement: Activities for Supporting Optimal Infant Oral Function - [View Abstract]
Topic: Infant Gut Health: Common Concerns and Useful Support Strategies - [View Abstract]
Topic: Infant Oral Assessment: Exploring Anatomy and Function Beyond the Frenulum - [View Abstract]
Topic: Low Milk Production Detective Work: Assessment and Care Plan Considerations - [View Abstract]
Topic: Nature’s Nurturers: Plant Medicine for Perinatal Mental Health - [View Abstract]
Topic: New Thoughts on Infant Pre and Post-Frenotomy Care - [View Abstract]
Topic: Placenta Medicine as a Galactogogue: Tradition or Trend? - [View Abstract]
Topic: Thinking Critically About the Use of Clinical Lactation Tools - [View Abstract]
Topic: Will It Hurt? Frenotomy Aftercare Strategies to Optimize Healing Outcomes for the Newborn - [View Abstract]
Tongue-tie, clinically known as ankyloglossia, is a dynamic topic that is often surrounded by controversy and mixed opinions. Tongue-tie can restrict proper lingual functionality and mobility, causing a range of feeding and health issues for infants. Such challenges can be complex, multi-factorial, and emotional for families navigating them. Having a better understanding of the variables involved in infant oral function and related ankyloglossia care can help providers best care for the patients they serve. This keynote presentation will highlight how clinicians can foster a mindful approach to oral assessment, timing of treatment, and related care strategies when it comes to supporting families navigating the physical, emotional roller coaster ride of ankyloglossia.
Trish Wierenga works as a private practice IBCLC with her business, Total Lactation Care, LLC and as a nurse practitioner and IBCLC at The Birth Center of Bloomington-Normal in Illinois. Trish has been a nurse since 1998, a lactation consultant in the central Illinois area since 2011, and she became a board-certified family nurse practitioner in 2021. She has also been certified in perinatal mental health by Postpartum Support International since 2021.
Trish is the current Chairperson of the International Affiliation of Tongue Tie Professionals (IATP), a member of the Central Illinois Breastfeeding Task Force (CIBTF), and a former board member of the Illinois chapter of Postpartum Support International (PSI).
She has spoken at conferences locally and internationally on the role of the IBCLC, breast/body feeding difficulties, and in the assessment and management of tongue and lip tie issues in relation to feeding challenges, mental health, and other facets of wellness. She lives in central Illinois with her husband, Brian and four children.
Symptoms of depression and anxiety can occur in up to 1 in 5 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers during pregnancy or during the first year after the birth of a baby. Feeding difficulties are well-known as a contributing factor in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). The efficient treatment and habilitation of ankyloglossia can potentially impact the mental well-being of our patients. This lecture will discuss the lactation consultant’s role in the assessment of PMADs, suggest strategies for supporting breastfeeding and mental health in the gap between the assessment and treatment of feeding difficulties, and identify resources available for referral, collaboration strategies, and effective communication between the lactation provider and other disciplines included in the ankyloglossia and mental health care team.
