Alison K. Hazelbaker, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA, CST, RCST, PPNE
Speaker Type: Main Presentations, Tongue-tie Lecture Pack 2014, GOLD Lactation 2013, GOLD Lactation 2014, GOLD Midwifery 2016, Sucking Dysfunction & the Role of Bodywork 2016, Tongue-Tie, Infant Mental Lecture Pack 2016, GOLD Alumni 2019, Tools of the Lactation Trade Lecture Pack, , GOLD Learning Day 2022 (Winter), A Whole Body Approach to the Clinical Management of Complex Breastfeeding Issues Lecture Pack 2023
Country: USA
Biography:
Dr. Hazelbaker has been a therapist in private practice for over 30 years. She specializes in cross-disciplinary treatment and to that end has taken training in several modalities to best assist her clients. She is a certified Craniosacral Therapist, a Lymph Drainage Therapy practitioner, a Tummy Time™ Trainer, a Haller Method practitioner, A Pre and Perinatal Psychology Educator, a Lactation Therapist Diplomate, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association.
She earned her Master’s Degree from Pacific Oaks College (Human Development specializing in Human Lactation) and her doctorate from The Union Institute and University (Psychology, specializing in Energetic and Transformational healing.)
People recognize her as an expert on infant sucking issues caused by various structural problems like torticollis, plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and tissue shock-trauma. She invented the Hazelbaker™ FingerFeeder and the Infant Breastfeeding CranioSacral Protocol™ to assist in the resolution of this type of infant sucking dysfunction.
Torticollis, an abnormal foreshortening of the fascia of the neck that causes a head tilt, presents unique challenges to breastfeeding. Unfortunately, the incidence of this formally rare condition is on the rise. Dr. Hazelbaker discusses the causes of the condition, explains the assessment process and presents multiple therapeutic strategies for resolving torticollis in infants. She uses video to show both the assessment and treatment process in action.
Learning Objectives:
The participant will be able to:
Define torticollis.
Discuss an assessment strategy.
Discuss various treatment strategies.
Has the incidence of tongue-tie increased or are we seeing more cases of "tongue-tie" because of poor differential diagnosis? In this presentation, Dr. Hazelbaker describes the differences between actual tongue-tie and sucking issues that can appear to be tongue-tie due to structural restrictions that pull the tongue back in the throat. She provides the conceptual framework for such an occurrence and shows both pictures and video that help the participant grasp the differences between the two thereby distinguishing a true tie from a faux tie in his or her clinical setting.
The Hazelbaker Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function™ (HATLFF) remains the only research-based assessment tool for tongue-tie screening in babies under 6 months. This screening tool is used throughout the world as a basis for clinical research on the subject and by clinical practitioners in their own practices. In this presentation Dr. Hazelbaker teaches the participant how to use the Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function to screen for tongue-tie. Using videos of babies from her practice, she covers every item on the screening tool helping the participant to grasp the nuances of using this thorough assessment process thereby enabling the practitioner to make an accurate diagnosis of tongue-tie
Dr Hazelbaker reviews anatomy and physiology of infant suck, then describes the various insults to structure and function that can occur. She presents some easy assessments to determine the presence of such insults and suggests strategies for addressing them.
Torticollis, an abnormal foreshortening of the fascia of the neck that causes a head tilt, presents unique challenges to breastfeeding. Unfortunately, the incidence of this formally rare condition is on the rise. Dr. Hazelbaker discusses the causes of the condition, explains the assessment process and presents multiple therapeutic strategies for resolving torticollis in infants. She uses video to show both the assessment and treatment process in action.
Dr. Hazelbaker defines infant trauma and describes its signs and symptoms. She then discusses the various strategies for preventing infant trauma and resolving the condition. She suggests the multiple ways that midwives and doulas can help prevent infant trauma. She then makes suggestions as to which practitioners midwives need to refer to assist resolution.
This session addresses the types of breastfeeding problems that respond to bodywork. Dr. Hazelbaker presents examples of structurally related sucking dysfunction that indicates the need for bodywork. She discusses the three major release areas that must be addressed to resolve the sucking issue.
This presentation examines several influential recent studies that will change the way we think about tongue-tie; the manner in which we examine, treat and perform therapy on babies. From the overall perspective of development, Dr. Hazelbaker looks at histology, speech development, posture, wound healing, lasers and airway integrity, citing the most exciting studies on these subjects, explaining how each will impact our philosophical, intellectual and clinical involvement with study findings. Further, Dr. Hazelbaker makes suggestions of how these various studies should guide our thinking about when and how to assess and treat tongue-tied infants.
This presentation examines infant trauma and its adverse impact on breastfeeding. Dr. Hazelbaker begins by defining trauma then cites the various intrauterine, intrapartum and postpartum causes of trauma. She suggests prevention strategies and outlines ways to prevent and mitigate trauma including simple methods for resolving trauma easily employed by lactation consultants.
Surprisingly, lymphatic congestion forms the foundation of some lactation problems like chronic plugged ducts and un-resolving nipple and breast pain. In this cutting-edge presentation, Dr. Hazelbaker covers the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system (especially as it pertains to the breast) and discusses the most common presentations and causes of lymphatic breast congestion. She demonstrates the Lymphatic Drainage Therapy technique in videos of three cases. Dr. Hazelbaker leaves the audience with a brief breast self-care regimen that can enhance the breast health of every participant when used consistently.
Although an alternative feeding method, such as bottle, cup or finger feeding, represents a less than ideal way to feed infants, at times introducing one of these methods may ultimately save the breastfeeding relationship. In this session, Dr. Hazelbaker presents the research on and the theory of finger feeding. She then proposes areas for further research. She includes a sub-lecture on the physiology of finger feeding and compares finger feeding against bottle and cup from the physiological perspective. Participants come away with a new understanding of finger feeding, enabling them to make sound clinical decisions regarding a therapeutic choice when a baby must be fed away from the breast.
Deep breast pain and milk stasis are often blamed on back pressure on milk ducts, incomplete emptying and fungal infection. Although these issues can be attributed to backpressure in the case of milk stasis, or "not likely to be related to" in the case of fungal infection inside the breast, the forgotten role that structural integrity plays in breast health can explain those problems that develop and persist despite proper milk removal and general health care of the breast. This presentation covers the anatomy and physiology of rib and vertebral subluxation and myofascial trigger points in generating deep breast pain and milk stasis. Several case reports illustrate the concept; proper care for resolution of these issues is covered.
This presentation covers the role of the cranial nerves in coordinating suck-swallow-breathe, a critical component of the process of breastfeeding. In this presentation, Dr. Hazelbaker identifies the main nuclei of these cranial nerves, how the oral and oro-pharyngeal areas are innervated, and presents the pathways and functions of each relevant cranial nerve with special emphasis on the trigeminal and vagal nerves and their nuclei, describing how each impacts the actions needed for effective breastfeeding.
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