Topics & Abstracts

“Hello, the Lactation clinic? Here is a nurse from Primary Health Care; we have a mother engorged in the hotel, can you help her?”… After taking some time to understand this strange call, we embarked on a totally unexpected journey: trying to support 25 Covid-19 positive asymptomatic mothers, most of them isolated without their newborn. This happened between April and June 2020, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, as a consequence of the initial USCDC recommendations. This presentation describes the intense practical, clinical and emotional support needed by these mothers to cope with their traumatizing situation, but also the silver lining of their resilience, the amazing power of peer support, and a new cooperation between health care providers from different facilities, and with lay supporters. Further insight is provided by some research done in the UAE: an observational study from a hospital who has followed WHO recommendations, and a cross-sectional study among mothers from the community.

Lessons should be taken from the past, to prevent the repetition of decisions based on a distorted balance of benefit/risk, affecting so many families and their care providers globally.

Objectives:

1. Describe the consequences of the situation encountered by asymptomatic Covid-19 mothers isolated without their infant.

2. List the components of the practical, clinical and emotional support needed by these mothers.

3. Explain ways to prevent the reoccurrence of such dramatic situations due to mistaken perinatal recommendations in time of pandemics.

Craniofacial anomalies (CFA) are a common anatomical malformation that affects the craniofacial region; they present either as cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), or cleft lip and palate (CL/P) with varying degrees of severity. The incidence depends on the population’s ethnicity and geography. Infants with CFA can experience feeding difficulties either at the breast or at the bottle because they can have issues with their suck, swallow, breathe sequence and milk transfer.

This presentation will provide an overview of the anatomy of CFA. Techniques on how best to support families with CFA infants who wish either to breastfeed, maintain lactation or transition towards breastfeeding post-surgery will be discussed. Health care professionals involved in the care sometimes lack the expertise of supporting breastfeeding and often only recommend maternal pumping and specialised bottles. There is limited research about feeding infants with CL/P directly at the breast. A clinical case will be presented to illustrate clinical techniques and sequence of care.

Objectives:

1. Describe the basic anatomical features of Craniofacial anomalies including cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip and palate.

2. Describe lactation supportive techniques which enhance breastfeeding, maintain lactation and help transition towards breastfeeding post-surgery.

3. Explain what Assisted Nursing is and how it can be used safely with some breastfeeding dyads 4. List sources of information for parents with Craniofacial anomalies.

IBCLCs, often with limited education in newborn medicine and obstetrics, care for the infant-parent dyad within the context of a complex healthcare system staffed by providers with variant training in breastfeeding medicine. This is an interaction filled with knowledge gaps and fraught with the possibility for misunderstanding and dangerously missed diagnoses. I plan to combine my training in general pediatrics and my clinical experience as a pediatric ER physician with my IBCLC training. I will teach conference participants about medical emergencies when caring for the breastfeeding newborn and the post-partum parent so that they can recognize clinical scenarios presenting to their care that require immediate medical assessment. The presentation will focus on high-yield topics in newborn medicine and postpartum obstetrics to deepen the IBCLCs recognition and ensure appropriate ongoing care for common and life-threatening complaints. It will include a discussion of neonatal jaundice, neonatal fever, severe weight loss, pyloric stenosis, congenital birth defects and genetic disorders; the lecture will also address postpartum depression, post-operative infections, and postpartum preeclampsia. Armed with this understanding of clinical red flags, IBCLCs will be empowered to better care for their breastfeeding patients, while also understanding when immediate medical assessment is imperative.

Objectives:

1. Describe both common and dangerous pathology in the newborn and postpartum period.

2. List red flags in the history and the physical exam of the infant-mother dyad that require immediate medical assessment.

3. Describe clinical questions to be used when evaluating patients for evolving postpartum complications.

Evidence suggests that trauma during pregnancy, labor and delivery may be a contributing factor to soft tissue and joint restrictions that affect an infant’s inability to latch and effectively transfer milk. How can lactation and medical experts identify the signs of dysfunctional movements that contribute to feeding dysfunction? To what extent can chiropractic care, within a collaborative model, safely and effectively help to correct feeding dysfunction? This session will enable attendees to elicit a more careful history, and to notice often overlooked signs that cannot be resolved with better breastfeeding management, but rather, indicate referral to a pediatric chiropractor.

Objectives:

1. List potential causes and contributing factors of neonatal/ infant head, neck (spine), and soft tissue restrictions as it relates to feeding dysfunction.

2. Describe asymmetries and dysfunctional movements in an infant. This will suggest how body mechanics can be contributing factor to feeding dysfunction.

3. Explain the role, safety and efficacy of chiropractic care for collaborative management and treatment of infants with feeding dysfunction as it relates to their inability to transfer milk.

As lactation professionals, we see clients who are experiencing many challenges during the perinatal period. Clients with eating disorders are uniquely at risk, as are their babies. This presentation will educate the perinatal professional about how eating disorders present in the childbearing year and beyond. It will explore the connection between trauma and disordered eating, and teach how to be a trauma informed provider for eating disordered clients. It will discuss the specific and unique challenges the person with an eating disorder may have during lactation, including postpartum body image, elimination diets, and provider bias. The learner will gain the skills needed to screen for disordered eating and provide culturally humble and appropriate referral for congruent care.

Objectives:

1. Describe the connection between trauma and eating disorders.

2. Explain how eating disorders present in the perinatal client.

3. Describe lactation specific challenges for clients with eating disorders.

4. Explain the process of screening for eating disorders and make appropriate referrals.

The care of breast/chestfeeding dyads is not always straightforward. With the potential for postpartum medical concerns in parent or baby, the potential for a parent needing mental health support and the possibility of a baby needing a type of feeding support that falls outside of the scope of practice or experience of a lactation professional, it’s important for care provides to know when to refer, how to navigate barriers to referral and how to work collaboratively with other care providers once a referral has been made. Our panel of expert speakers will be sharing their clinical knowledge and experience to address these issues and help lactation professionals with the practicalities of making referrals and working collaboratively to ensure optimal outcomes for their clients.

Objectives:

1. List at least 3 situations where referral to another care provider is necessary.

2. Describe possible barriers to referral and potential solutions.

3. Describe strategies for working collaboratively with other care providers once a referral is made.

According to a recent WHO/UN report, synthetic chemicals are a threat to human health. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) are of special concern to humans since they bioaccumulate and biomagnify. Species on the top of the food chain pyramid such as humans are thus among the most heavily exposed. POPS is a group of chemicals compromising PCBs, DDT, Dioxin, Organic Pesticides, flame retardants, as well as the more recent contaminants perfluorinated compounds. They are ubiquitous in air, water and soil, food and humans. In spite of DDT being forbidden more than 40 years ago, both DDT and its metabolite DDE, are still found in breastmilk. This demonstrates the long legacy of these chemicals. The child is exposed to the mother's accumulated levels while in the womb since most of these chemicals pass to the uterus unrestricted, and through breast milk. In spite of declining levels of forbidden POPs we demonstrate that perinatal exposure to POPs are associated with adverse effects on infant health. Large multi-cohort studies encompassing many thousand mother-child pairs report adverse effects of these chemicals on growth and neurodevelopment, with an increased risk of obesity and behavioral disorders among those most heavily exposed.

Objectives:

1. Explain the meaning and implications of bioaccumlation and biomagnification.

2: Describe the current research on DDE and dioxin in human milk and obesity.

3. Describe the current research on environmental contaminants in human milk and ADHD.

Health professionals that interact with birthing parents and their infants in the first few days of life are uniquely positioned to impact lactation. In the context of the maternal guilt, shame, and stigmatization that can accompany infant feeding decisions, lactation professionals have an obligation to provide ethical care. This presentation will review the ethical guidelines of autonomy, nonmaleficence, and justice in the context of lactation support in the early postpartum period. Participants will be presented with strategies to mitigate harm, promote autonomous decision-making, and increase equity in lactation care. Based on these ethical principles, the extent of lactation promotion and language considerations will be discussed, as well as an in-depth look at the health professional’s ethical responsibilities when encountering cessation of exclusive human milk feedings.

Objectives:

1. Name ethical guidelines that apply to the provision of lactation support in a hospital setting.

2. Describe the different perspectives parents and health professionals may have on ethical issues in lactation care.

3. Describe recommendations for incorporating principles of ethics into early postpartum lactation support.

As lactation professionals, our overall goal is to help more babies get more human milk. Our work often includes supporting families with pumping. For many years, we have been told to "size up" for pump flange/breast shield size but many parents and lactation professionals are now finding that sizing down is much more effective for comfort, yield and pumping efficiency. But how small? Do silicone flanges work just as well as hard plastic? Does the shape of the flange influence milk removal and comfort? This session will show participants many different flanges sizes, several different types of flanges and video snippets of real parents pumping with some of them. The session will focus on how lactation professionals can actually do a flange fitting WITH a client, both in-person and virtually. Providing effective flange fitting services as a lactation professional can increase pumping comfort and significantly increase milk yield and extend the duration of lactation for many families.

Objectives:

1. List 10 smaller flange sizes and 6 types of silicone flanges they could try/suggest for their clients.

2. State the three main factors (FIT: flange, intensity and tempo) and multiple sub-factors that go into an effective pumping session.

3. Describe how to perform a flange fitting with a pumping client, using multiple flanges and inserts and assess which are the most appropriate for their client.

For low-income, immigrant, and rural families and their infants, access to lactation care is a critical need at one of the most vulnerable times of a child’s life. A root cause of this significant gap is the lack of lactation professionals and lactation-support training for healthcare professionals and home visitors. Knowing that home visitors are critical for families, the New Mexico Breastfeeding Taskforce (NMBTF) conducted a survey in 2020 to ascertain how to help increase home visitors’ knowledge and confidence about lactation issues so they can better support families. The survey results indicated that only 42% of home visitors had ever attended a breastfeeding class and that 100% of those surveyed could benefit from the support of lactation professionals in the communities they serve. In order to address this gap, NMBTF developed a combination of the Home Visitor Lactation Support Program and the Certified Lactation Counselors (CLC) Training programs for Lactation Education and Support Expansion in NM. First, NMBTF is piloting comprehensive lactation training for home visitors that addresses the basic lactation education they need to support the families they serve. The training program is evidence-based and includes culturally sensitive parent education, knowledge about latch and positioning, and guidance for accessing related local community resources. NMBTF partnered with home visiting programs to provide lactation education to their home visitors. Second, NMBTF worked to recruit women of color for the CLC training and provide financial aid. As CLCs, they will then be able to provide a network of expanded and enhanced lactation support in the underserved communities they serve, for their clients, and act as a resource to other home visitors.

Objectives:

1. List two ways that home visitors can help bridge the gap in lactation care and improve breastfeeding/chestfeeding outcomes.

2. Explain the importance of supporting the BIPOC community to access higher lactation education.

3. List 2 steps that can be taken to increase lactation support in your community.

With the increase in the prevalence of obesity internationally, the world is turning its attention to effective forms of treatment. As a result, surgical techniques are increasingly being used in an attempt to ensure weight loss, reduction of comorbidities and hormonal balance in young patients of childbearing age. However, as a restrictive and disabsortive surgery, its impacts on pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum outcomes have been increasingly studied closely. Scientific studies provide substantial data on lactation after bariatric surgery, with common outcomes such as greater use of supplementation, less exclusive breastfeeding, shorter duration of breastfeeding and a higher rate of nutritional and vitamin deficiencies. Less studied, however, are its emotional effects on the lactating person, as well as the impacts on body recognition and the difficulties in dealing with the new morphological breast/chest configuration. Therefore, it is essential that the health professional who is dedicated to working in support of breastfeeding is specially trained to support families for the proper management of breastfeeding in the presence of substantially increased risks, as demonstrated after bariatric surgery.

Objectives:

1. Describe the impacts on health during pregnancy and lactation after bariatric surgery.

2. Describe the clinical implications for breastfeeding after bariatric surgery, especially the physiological, hormonal and emotional aspects.

3. Explain how bariatric surgery may impact milk supply and composition of human milk.

Many lactation consultants enter practice without ever being fully oriented to lactation-specific note-taking/charting. If you come from a peer counseling background where formal medical charting wasn’t used; a health care professional background that didn’t focus on lactation; or you’re an IBCLC who has been in practice for a while and is looking to level up your note taking, this talk is for you. We will discuss three common challenges: making charting something that improves your patient care (instead of just being a chore); documenting in difficult clinical and legal situations; and balancing your visit time between note-taking and interaction with patients. And we’ll practice with some real-life scenarios to put our skills into practice.

Objectives:

1. List 3 ways accurate, thorough charting can improve patient care.

2) Name 4 key components of a lactation note.

3) Describe how to chart when a patient disagrees with the plan of care.

Concerns about low milk production can be frustrating for parents and clinicians alike. There are many reasons milk production can be compromised. How can lactation and health professionals best assess the root causes of the production issue at hand and suggest targeted, sustainable ideas? This presentation will help clinicians think about the ‘detective work’ needed to help provide personalized care. Through interactive case studies, participants will critically-think about assessment and care plan strategies for the families in their care that are struggling with low milk production.

Objectives:

1. List at least 3 reasons milk production many be compromised.

2. Describe at least 3 diagnostic tools and assessment techniques for identifying low milk production etiology.

3. Explain at least 3 ways to evaluate if care plan strategies are working for milk production optimization and the parent.

The billions of unicellular organisms which form a symbiotic relationship with our bodies provide essential functions which regulate, modulate, and maintain homeostasis. The microbiome has an essential role in prompting a proper immune response, maintaining adequate digestion and metabolic function, managing inflammatory status, supporting mental health, and many more functions which are required for good health. Dysbiotic conditions during the perinatal period are common and impact the infant feeding relationship. In this presentation, participants will learn about the functions of the microbiome as it relates to lactation and infant health as well as the consequences of dysbiosis and its impact on lactation/infant feeding.

Additionally, participants will learn how to address dysbiotic conditions within their profession’s scope. This presentation provides clinically applicable information and recommendations that participants can apply when providing lactation education and developing care plans.

Objectives:

1. List the functions a healthy microbiome regulates.

2. Describe symptoms of microbiome imbalance.

3. Describe how to create and communicate an appropriate care plan for your patient/client according to your scope of practice.

Breastfeeding for the first two years has physical and psychological benefits. The baby should be well-fed through exclusive human milk for the first 6 months, then given complementary feeding (or 'start solids') while continuing to breastfeed until weaning after two years. Inadequate complementary feeding may lead to nutritional as well as developmental problems. Due to a lot of misinformation many parents are unaware of current recommendations on starting solids, and it is often a time when poor understanding of the baby’s nutritional needs leads to unnecessary concern about intake of solids and subsequent weaning. Education is crucial during this period, and it is important for health care providers to be up to date on the latest best practice guidelines and skilled at counselling parents to avoid unnecessary weaning and nutritional deficits.

Objectives:

1. Describe the importance of maintaining direct breastfeeding after six months until two years of life while ensuring the baby's adequate nutrition.

2. Describe the recommended complementary feeding practice for breastfed babies 6-24 months and how to achieve adequate nutrition.

3. Explain common misinformation and difficulties in complementary feeding practice among breastfeeding mothers and how to counsel on current best practice guidelines.

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.

Objectives:

1. Describe current views regarding mothers’ experiences of lactation after infant death and consequent bereaved lactation care needs.

2. Explain how to assess if their organization's policies and practices adequately respond to bereaved families’ lactation needs.

3. Describe practice tips and techniques to enable them to better inform and support bereaved families to make decisions about their lactation care and management.

Research ethics institutions protect the rights, safety, dignity, and well-being of research participants, and also have a duty to ensure ‘good’ research. Conducting poor research is unethical, and there are many studies in the field of breastfeeding and lactation that have been challenged when published, simply because their findings and results are, at best, incorrect. Proper definitions, project design and industry conflict of interest are important factors, and these can be critiqued and challenged at the ethical review stage.

Participants will learn how to use the method of the '4 Ds of a Brief Assessment' to scrutinise the research questions, definitions of words used, disclosures and even the research methodology to decide if a study will have both scientific and ethical merit in the field of breastfeeding and lactation. If you are a donor, an applicant, a manager or a researcher you need to be aware of the process of ethical review of research protocols, the possibility of specialist review, and also of how to sift through published studies that have questionable study designs, and the findings.

Objectives:

1. Describe the primary principles of research ethics and application of these, and how to review studies in the field of breastfeeding, lactation and infant feeding.

2. Explain how to use the '4 D’s of brief assessment’ to assess a research protocol or peer review published paper, and the importance of transparency of Declarations of Interests in research.

3. Describe the impact of the gap of participant enrolment in research as it pertains to pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the impact of this on our field literature.

Lactation Consultants/Counselors are the emerging professionals in developing countries like India. Breastfeeding practices are still heavily influenced by traditions and often left to the expertise of elders in the family. Many health care providers are unaware of the emergence of Human Lactation Management as a science & the availability of experts in their vicinity. Most maternity services do not have a dedicated Lactation Consultants/Counselors. Even where such facility exists, there is a lack of management strategies to improve & sustain breastfeeding rates & outcomes. This presentation will help Lactation Consultants & Counselors learn how to convey to management that there is a need for a Lactation Consultant/Counselor to set up the administrative strategy and protocols for ensuring things like early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, prevention and prompt treatments of breastfeeding problems, post discharge follow-up and care, monitoring of breastfeeding indicators, maintaining BFHI status and regular and ongoing training of staff to build adequate knowledge and skills.

Objectives:

1. Describe strategies for convincing management of the dire need to appoint a dedicated Lactation Consultant/Counselor in any maternity set up.

2. List the areas where a Lactation Consultant/Counselor can focus to improve the breastfeeding practices in a Private/Corporate maternity set up.

3. Explain the management strategies required to improve the breastfeeding practices in a Private/Corporate maternity set up.

Mothers 35 year of age or older are the fastest growing demographic of new mothers in many developed countries, & a steadily emerging global trend. The quality of a mother's breastfeeding experience has the potential to affect breastfeeding duration and factors that promote healthy maternal-infant attachment, infant growth and development, and maternal mental health. There is a lack of understanding of how older first-time mothers make decisions about breastfeeding and mothering. Learn more about new research that looked to answer the research question ‘What factors affect how first-time mothers >35 years of age make decisions about breastfeeding and the motherhood in the first six months postpartum?’ The findings provide a framework to work in partnership with older first-time mothers to enhance positive breastfeeding experiences, adaptation to motherhood and positive mental health outcomes through strategies that promote resiliency and shared decision-making around early postpartum care, and breastfeeding/infant feeding supports. Key components include helping mothers identify what satisfaction with breastfeeding is for them, encouraging increased levels of knowledge, control, trust and ownership, supporting them in redefining their core self, and providing realistic, evidence-based information.

Objectives:

1. Following this session participants will be able to describe the process of adaptation to motherhood and the building of resilience gained while working through learning the breastfeed and breastfeeding for the first-time mothers >35 years of age.

2. Following this session participants will be able to describe factors affecting the decision-making process of the first-time mothers >35 years of age who participated in our study surrounding infant feeding practices.

3. Following this session participants will be able to explain the role of knowledge, control, trust, and ownership in both early breastfeeding and transition to motherhood for first-time mothers >35, and how health care providers can effectively support this demographic in clinical practice through mother-centred and flexible interventions.

For many mothers/lactating parents, their reasons for deciding to breast/chestfeed are often grounded in an effort to do what’s best for themselves and their child. Unfortunately, the reality is that on the road to trying to be the best parent they can be, breast/chestfeeding doesn’t always work out in the way that parents had hoped. In fact, sometimes it doesn’t work out at all. This loss can be deeply felt by a parent for a long time.

This presentation will explore what is at the heart of breast/chestfeeding grief and what distinguishes it from other types of grief. Lactation providers will also learn about several socio-cultural factors that amplify grief after the loss of the breast/chestfeeding relationship. Additionally, attendees will learn about some of the emerging data related to how the pandemic has impacted this type of grief. And lastly, we will take a closer look at how to respond more effectively to clients who are experiencing the loss of a breast/chestfeeding relationship with their child.

Objectives:

1. Describe breast/chestfeeding grief, including what elements discern it from other types of grief.

2. Explain some of the societal and cultural factors that influence breast/chestfeeding grief.

3. Describe meaningful approaches and interventions with clients who are experiencing breast/chestfeeding grief.

This presentation will provide the learner with further knowledge about the current needs of the LGBTQ+ community in the context of healthcare, and particularly as it pertains to breastfeeding/chestfeeding/bodyfeeding for all families who desire to feed their infant/child in this way. Participants of this education will learn about some history of the LGBTQ+ community within healthcare, appropriate inclusive language and its critical relevance within the LGBTQ+ community, and will learn about tools and resources available to feel more confident when taking care of a family or a parent who identifies as a LGBTQ+ human.

Objectives:

1. Describe some of the history of the LGBTQ+ community in Healthcare and why this is important to meet the unique needs of these families.

2. Describe current language that the LGBTQ+ community uses (prefixes/pronouns/inclusive terms) and explain how to use their language in a respectful and appropriate way while providing lactation care.

3. List tools and resources to use as a Lactation Professional to make sure LGBTQ+ families recognize themselves in your outreach and are fully seen, heard, and supported.

The body’s ability to process sensory information provides the basis of all function. Interestingly, our most foundational sense of movement is often overlooked as a component of lactation support. In this presentation, we will tie together research in neurology, primitive reflexes, mental health, and sensory integration to demonstrate the significant impact vestibular function has on the quality of lactation and infant/caregiver relationships. Participants will enhance their observational skills and explore ways to provide support for body/breastfeeding dyads using a vestibular processing perspective. Experiential activities will offer participants the opportunity to play with movement and reflect on personal experiences to enhance self-awareness and compassionate care.

Objectives:

1. Participants will define the interpersonal and neurobiological functions of the vestibular system.

2. Participants will develop their observational skills to identify how vestibular processing may be playing a role in the quality of feeding in the body/breastfeeding dyad.

3. Participants will describe vestibular strategies to support relationships and development in body/breastfeeding dyads.

In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued the first revision of the 1989 WHO/UNICEF Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Revisions are subtle, yet meaningful for implementation. A major change made by WHO is subdividing the Ten Steps into 1) critical management procedures, and 2) key clinical practices. Lessons have been learned on how the change has shifted the focus from health care staff to parents and families and shifted the responsibility for some elements of care from hospitals to the community. In this presentation, we will compare 1989 and 2018 Ten Steps, and explore its cost and benefit implications for diverse stakeholders, such as healthcare professionals, parents, family and government.

Objectives:

1. Explain the difference between the 1989 and 2018 Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

2. Describe the cost implications of the changes to diverse stakeholders.

3. Describe the benefit implications of the changes to diverse stakeholders.

This session focuses on supporting parents who are breastfeeding/chestfeeding beyond 12 months. Many of us live in countries where breastfeeding beyond 12 months is not the norm. When it does happen, it may not happen openly. Parents are often feeling increasingly isolated and may be dealing with lack of support from family and friends. There can be further challenges such as new issues with positioning and attachment, conversations with employers and health professionals, dealing with family break-up and thinking about new pregnancies. Parents continuing to feed older children may not always feel able to reach out to local breastfeeding support services that often focus on the newborn period. You will be encouraged to reflect on your personal approach to supporting feeding older children and whether you have any unconscious or conscious bias that may affect your work. The session will give you confidence to discuss the value of continuing to breastfeed with families and colleagues and be able to offer a variety of support.

Objectives:

1. Describe how one's own attitudes about natural term breastfeeding might impact a client's care.

2. Describe key evidence about the value of continuing to breastfeed an older child.

3. Describe common issues that arise with positioning and attachment when parents are feeding older children and how they can be addressed.

4. Explain some of the common challenges that families continuing to breastfeed face.

New parents do not anticipate a challenging journey when it comes breast-/chest-feeding. When things do not go as planned, parents are therefore often consumed by fear and uncertainty and look to professionals for support. Being the person guiding the steps of a new, lactating parent creates a challenge. How do you design a care plan which address the concerns of the parent(s) but also allows the parent(s) to act as a member of the team and the expert on what is best for them and their family in their current life circumstances? How do you foster self-efficacy, and self-empowerment in your clients to ensure that your plan of care is feasible and within the capacity of the parent(s)? Learn more about the importance of meeting parents where they are at to create a care plan which is mutual, feasible, and sustainable. This presentation will be a 60-minute Q&A session so bring your questions about how to approach communication and counselling to create a plan of care that really works for your clients and helps them to meet or exceed their infant feeding goals.

Objectives:

1. Describe how personal bias and learning style can inhibit positive lactation support and care.

2. Explain how positive rapport can establish a positive relationship with lactation parents.

3. Describe how to utilize parent-centered lactation support and care when communicating with and counseling lactating parents.

For years we have learned how to support breastfeeding for the infant with differences and disabilities. There is a lack of education and support however for mothers/lactating parents who face these same challenges. Studies show parents with differences and disabilities are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care and breastfeeding assistance compared to those without disabilities. How do we support lactation for parents who have physical, mental, and emotional/social differences? Each type of difference or disability also has specific needs for adaptations, to the environment and to the tools we would use to facilitate position, latch, and lactation success. This session helps participants use critical thinking to ask the right questions, make adjustments to the environment, and create functional plans specific to the individual needs of the parent. The three domains we will be discussing are physical challenges, social/emotional challenges, and the neurodiverse.

Objectives:

(1) List the different types of differences and disabilities that impact breast/chestfeeding.

(2) Describe the challenges that lactating people with various differences and disabilities face during their breast/chestfeeding process.

(3) Describe adaptations to the environment to assist the lactating person.

(4) Describe support systems for lactation success.

For years we have learned how to support breastfeeding for the infant with differences and disabilities. There is a lack of education and support however for mothers/lactating parents who face these same challenges. Studies show parents with differences and disabilities are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care and breastfeeding assistance compared to those without disabilities. How do we support lactation for parents who have physical, mental, and emotional/social differences? Each type of difference or disability also has specific needs for adaptations, to the environment and to the tools we would use to facilitate position, latch, and lactation success. This session helps participants use critical thinking to ask the right questions, make adjustments to the environment, and create functional plans specific to the individual needs of the parent. The three domains we will be discussing are physical challenges, social/emotional challenges, and the neurodiverse.

Objectives:

(1) List the different types of differences and disabilities that impact breast/chestfeeding.

(2) Describe the challenges that lactating people with various differences and disabilities face during their breast/chestfeeding process.

(3) Describe adaptations to the environment to assist the lactating person.

(4) Describe support systems for lactation success.

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (WHO Code) exists to protect health during a vulnerable period of life. In the course of practicing health care in the service of families with babies and young children, health care workers of all disciplines will encounter situations which should be guided by the WHO Code. It is in the interest of families and health for all health workers to be aware of the WHO Code and what it requires, as well as to be able to evaluate a situation where a commercial entity is interacting with the public regarding infant and young child feeding. Using a rubric of WHO Code guidance, the participant will practice evaluating real-world case studies and determining whether or not they are in compliance with the WHO Code.

Objectives:

1. List 3 specific types of scenarios which are covered by the WHO Code.

2. Apply a rubric of WHO Code guidelines to evaluate components of a real-world case study of a company interacting with the public.

3. Explain 2 action steps to address violations of the Code; and identify 1 case study describing a real-world situation where a company acts within WHO Code guidelines.