2025 Conference Speakers
We're excited for our 19th year of GOLD Lactation online conferences! Learn all about the topics and speakers as we're eager to continue our work of exploring the latest research, trends, new ideas and hot topics in the world of human lactation.
Our conference for 2025 will present education on the interplay between infant and maternal mental health, the impact of oxytocin on stress systems, providing care in the context of perinatal depression, breastfeeding grief and neurodivergent parents with sensory issues. You'll also learn how to put it all together and work mental health screening and care into your consults.
Click below to review further details on the speakers and each presentation.
Dr. Angela Lober is a breastfeeding advocate, academic, and writer. She has been an IBCLC since 2005, providing evidence-based care to breastfeeding families in her community. She is the director of the Academy of Lactation Programs at Arizona State University. She is involved in multiple professional and community organizations supporting breastfeeding families. Angela focused her PhD on the breastfeeding complexities of late preterm infants. She is dedicated to working for a better world for families. Angela is also committed to education and mentorship as a means of uplifting and uniting the lactation profession.
Late preterm infants (LPIs), born between 34 and the end of 36 weeks gestation, may appear term but many face quiet challenges. Effective feeding is at the top of the list (AWHONN, 2024). Yet they are often overlooked due to their birth size and relative stability. With the unplanned birth of an LPI, parents must make a hard shift from their full-term feeding plans to caring for a preterm baby who may benefit from scheduled feeding, therapeutic bottle feedings, and time to achieve exclusive breastfeeding. This talk will take a deep dive into the physiologic and neurologic developmental patterns of LPIs, supportive feeding techniques, and family counseling strategies.
Anya Kleinman is a general pediatrician who lives in Northeast Ohio. She works at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio caring for the range of patients from birth to late adolescence. She uses her IBCLC expertise to counsel new parents and promote breastfeeding in the pediatric emergency room. She is the mother of three young boys, who she was proud to breastfeed.
Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based approach to behaviour change that requires the clinician to engage with their client as an equal partner. It's a useful communication technique for care providers but it requires skill, time and practice. This interactive lecture will focus on the basic principles of motivational interviewing as a method for improving communication with clients. We will explore practical applications of this technique for the lactation professional, during goal setting and client education.
Catharine McDonald is a National Certified Counselor, Connecticut Licensed Professional Counselor Certified in Perinatal Mental Health, with a Post-Graduate Certificate in Sex Therapy. She is trained as a Family Life Educator, Fair Play Method Certified Facilitator and Baby-Led Sleep Educator currently working on a Sexual Health Educator Certificate through Options for Sexual Health, BC.
She owns Growing Well Counseling in Tolland, Connecticut where she specializes in integrative reproductive wellness, fertility and loss, birth trauma, sexual health and parental work-life balance. She has spoken at state and national conferences and creates professional development training for therapists, birth professionals and reproductive healthcare providers on these topics, perinatal ethics and clinical documentation and more.
Trauma-informed care strategies are shifting the lens in many areas of health care, driven by the realization that trauma is common, enduring, and manifests in a variety of ways. Moreover, trauma responses can and do occur in both health care professionals and their clients. Lactation specialists should be aware of and sensitive to the many ways trauma may manifest to avoid perpetuating harm and optimize care of self. In this presentation, established trauma-informed principles will be applied to the field of lactation care.
Attention will be paid to sources of trauma that may impact human milk feeding, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intergenerational trauma, sexual assault, and birth or NICU trauma. Participants will gain an understanding of foundational principles of trauma-informed care that can be translated to a variety of practice settings. Lactational professionals will come away from this presentation with enhanced awareness about the impact of trauma and concrete strategies to foster safety for both their clients and themselves.
Dr. Diane DiTomasso has over 30 years of experience in the field of women's health; she has worked as an obstetrical nurse, lactation consultant, and educator. She is a clinical associate professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island.
Her research has been focused on breastfeeding, infant weight changes, maternal worry about infant weight, and most recently, milk expression practices during lactation. Her work has been widely published and her research has earned awards from the International Lactation Consultant Association, the Association of Women’s Health and Neonatal Nursing, and the Eastern Nurses Research Association.
She speaks regularly at national and international breastfeeding conferences. She also owns and operates Lactation Services Rhode Island, a small business providing in home lactation care. She is passionate about supporting new families, especially in the early weeks and months following birth.
Breast milk expression can provide milk removal in place of or in conjunction with an infant that is not exclusively breastfeeding. Although milk expression strategies are well established for premature infants, no guidelines for milk expression are available for mothers of full-term infants who are not exclusively breastfeeding.
Breast pump technology continues to develop, yet there is little education available for clinicians and mothers regarding how to best use this technology. This presentation looks at a research study that was undertaken to examine what information, guidelines, and strategies are available. Learn more about the results of this study, the recurring concepts identified, and how you can better support mothers of full-term infants who are expressing their milk.
Elizabeth (she/her/kwe) is a mother of two sparkling human beings, an Indigenous Lactation Counselor, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, perinatal mental health advocate, a retired professional chef, and eternal food justice advocate. She is an enrolled citizen of Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, descendant of Forest County Potawatomi, and carries heritage from Mexico, Germany, and Appalachia.
She strives to honor these pieces of her life and all her ancestors through her work. In her role at Open Arms Perinatal Services, she provides community-matched, relationship-based direct service to bodyfeeding dyads and mentors rising lactation professionals of color. Additionally, she provides robust lactation education to midwifery students attending the Cedar Medicine School of Midwifery and is the Michigan WIC Indigenous Breastfeeding Liaison, as well as frequently speaking for audiences at conferences and educational engagements across Turtle Island.
Recent research and protocols have shown significant benefits to postnatal milk supply in people who practice hand expression in pregnancy and the early postpartum period. However, what is the cost of this practice to birthing people, and is there an approach during pregnancy that can support the physical and mental health of pregnant people while also cultivating a more abundant milk supply?
Elizabeth will connect case studies and research from an Indigenous lens to explore the way the current emphasis on prenatal colostrum collection mirrors destructive fracking, treating the body as an extractive resource rather than stewardship of a harmonious ecosystem. She will then explore how care providers can use a relationship-based ecological approach with clients and their bodies starting in pregnancy, as well as the benefits that providers and clients often experience from this approach. When lactation professionals can guide clients to be in good relationship with their body, we see the milk supply benefits of prenatal stimulation without the anxiety and pressure associated with prenatal colostrum collection.
Indira has supported birthing and breastfeeding families for the past 17 years. She has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for 13 years and currently works as a clinician, educator and researcher. As a clinician IBCLC, she has led the Specialist Breastfeeding Clinic (Central London Community Healthcare NHS trust) for complex breastfeeding dyads for the past 6 consecutive years. As the Director of the Centre for Breastfeeding Education and Research, she created 13 years ago the Breastfeeding London Course, a 1 year-long international in-depth training course for HCPs who want to become IBCLCs. She is currently doing Doctoral studies within the Mother, Infant and Child Health research group (MIRU) in the School of Health Sciences at Dundee University. Her PhD examines breastfeeding education for HCPs, the interplay between learning needs and motivation.
Gayle Subramaniam is a lactation consultant, educator and author. She has over 15 years experience in research where, as chair of research teams, she has written, produced, and presented research internationally. Gayle is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Breastfeeding Education and Research (CBER), delivering lactation education internationally in preparation for the IBLCE exam and publishing peer-reviewed research. She is also an Associate Editor with the Journal of Human Lactation (JHL). Gayle has a small private practice in London, UK, and is a clinician with the UK National Health Service (NHS) providing lactation care to families. Gayle has volunteered extensively in the community with The National Childbirth Trust (NCT), a national charity for pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood in the UK and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM), a major breastfeeding charity in the UK.
Evidence-based practice is the cornerstone of clinical decision-making, essential for IBCLCs and lactation supporters to provide culturally effective and up-to-date breastfeeding care. Recognizing the growing importance of research competence, the IBLCE has expanded the 'research' section of its exam content outline. However, many IBCLCs and lactation supporters are not academics and may lack confidence in critically appraising research papers.
Our presentation aims to bridge this gap.
We will guide you through interpreting and critically appraising research in an approachable and accessible manner, using real-life examples to keep it relevant to your practice. This ensures the topic remains engaging and manageable, even for those who might find it daunting.
Additionally, we will review a selection of recent research papers from the past two years, chosen for their practical application in supporting breastfeeding dyads. Topics may include alternative complementary medicine (such as auricular acupressure, acupressure, and reflexology), dysphoric milk ejection reflex, breast pumps and flanges, supporting women with intellectual disabilities, and the role of social media in breastfeeding
Genny Stiller (she/her) is a board-certified nurse practitioner and lactation consultant specializing in neurodiverse lactation support and education.
With over two decades dedicated to lactation support, she has seamlessly integrated her expertise across hospital environments, new parent support groups, and private practice settings. She is renowned for pioneering the Sensory Conscious Lactation Support approach.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Genny channels her creativity into intricate yarn projects and is passionately engaged in homeschooling her 3 children.
The neurodivergent experience encompasses multiple developmental, sensory, cognitive, and social differences. Given that approximately 15-20% of the global population is neurodivergent, it's essential for lactation clinicians to possess diverse assessment skills. Transitioning from a specialized niche within lactation care to a robust and rapidly expanding domain in the profession, neurodivergent affirming care is crucial to a comprehensive clinical practice.
Despite its clinical usefulness, the traditional exam approach lacks numerous pertinent assessment points crucial for effectively supporting neurodivergent clients. This gap in the assessment process extends into the clinical decision-making plan, creating potential challenges and limitations for providing aligned and effective support for neurodivergent parents. These issues emphasize the necessity of adopting a neurodivergent-informed approach to lactation exams and assessments as a standard of care.
This presentation aims to equip lactation clinicians for the evolving landscape of lactation care, where incorporating neurodivergent-informed approaches becomes the standard of care. To do that, we’ll delve into the clinical complexities of the comprehensive intake, assessment, and exam all within the context of the neurodivergent lactation experience.
Kamaria Dansby is a fourth-year dual degree medical and masters of clinical research student at Emory School of Medicine. She is currently a research volunteer at the non-profit Ready, Set, Push and works on projects to increase positive attitudes around breastfeeding as she is deeply passionate about reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in the black community.
Kiana Ayers has a passion for helping families with prenatal education to include childbirth and breastfeeding classes. She has been a Registered Nurse for more than twenty years. Kiana has been teaching and supporting families in the prenatal and postpartum periods for the last 10 years. She is a wife and mother of four breastfed children and now one breastfed grandson. The goal of providing access to quality prenatal education and postpartum support is what drives her to move forward. She started Mamas and Tatas in Jonesboro GA which provides clinical lactation care. Kiana also started Ready Set Push; a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all families can get access to quality education and resources. Ready Set Push is proud to host MAMMA which is the Metro Atlanta Mothers Milk Alliance. Ready Set Push is proud to provide a safer option for peer-to-peer milk sharing and we are also helping to normalize breastfeeding in marginalized and underserved communities. She is committed to helping to decrease maternal and infant mortality in GA and beyond.
Black mothers often encounter significant barriers to accessing breastfeeding education and support, challenges that have been intensified by recent infant formula shortages reaching up to 70% in some areas¹. To address this critical need, Ready Set Push, a nonprofit supporting Black mothers, collaborated with local lactation consultants and community organizations to establish the Metro Atlanta Mother’s Milk Alliance (MAMMA).
MAMMA fills a crucial gap in support for short-term breastfeeding crises, such as maternal hospitalizations or sudden declines in milk supply, by providing a safer and informal human milk-sharing network. Grounded in the four pillars of safer milk sharing—informed choice, donor screening, safe handling, and home pasteurization—MAMMA ensures secure, non-monetary exchanges of human milk².
A multidisciplinary team comprising lactation consultants, birth workers, and community members works collectively to vet donors and manage the logistics of milk transport and storage. Since its launch, MAMMA has assisted 30 families across Georgia and plans to broaden its reach further. Committed to empowering Black communities, Ready Set Push aims to scale MAMMA's impact, demonstrating how Black-led community organizations can effectively address and reduce maternal and infant health disparities.
Kelly M. Durbin is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), childbirth educator, author, and volunteer breastfeeding counselor. She has co-authored original research on breastfeeding topics, including access to lactation care, community breastfeeding support, telelactation, and community vulnerability, published in numerous top-tier, peer-reviewed academic journals. Her new book, Protecting Your Potential for Breastfeeding, published by Praeclarus Press, became available in June 2023.
As a lactation consultant, Kelly has provided one-on-one consultations, taught numerous breastfeeding classes, and has conducted nine lactation support groups in five US states, offering evidence-based information, practical support, and compassionate care to hundreds of families since 2008. Kelly is the Curriculum Development Coordinator for Childbirth International. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, with her husband and two daughters.
Breastfeeding is a robust system; however, lactation can be negatively impacted by multiple variables that occur around the time of birth. One variable of hospital birth that has the potential to impact breastfeeding is birth during the nighttime hours. While delivery in the overnight hours is totally normal for mammals, nighttime birth can inadvertently create challenges for breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Using the latest research, this lecture aims to shed light on the variables that are present during nighttime births in the hospital setting that can potentially interfere with breastfeeding initiation and lactation support. Through analysis of the current literature, this lecture examines breastfeeding obstacles that may arise from giving birth at night, including increased formula supplementation, increase in birth interventions that can negatively impact breastfeeding, delay in lactogenesis II, lack of support for breastfeeding on the night shift, and increased likelihood of NICU admission. Furthermore, this lecture will emphasize the importance of hospital policies that protect breastfeeding, such as the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. In addition, this lecture explores strategies known to enhance breastfeeding that parents can utilize during the overnight hours, with or without the assistance of high-level lactation support. Finally, this talk includes various strategies that lactation consultants can use to help remediate breastfeeding challenges resulting from nighttime birth.
Kristen Howorko, BSN, RN, IBCLC, combines her experience as a former NICU nurse with her passion for supporting parents at Milk’d Up, her Denver-based lactation support company. Drawing from her background as a NICU nurse and her education at the University of Texas at Austin, Kristen offers expert guidance and empathy to parents as they navigate the intricacies of infant feeding. At Milk’d Up, she empowers families to confidently embrace their feeding choices, whether through breast/chest feeding, bottle-feeding, pumping, or a combination thereof. Kristen prioritizes personalized support, creating a nurturing environment where families can navigate their unique journeys with assurance. Beyond her work, she finds joy in yoga, running, skiing, and reading.
When a parent is not producing enough milk for their child, supplementation with donor human milk or infant formula is medically necessary to meet the infant’s nutritional needs for growth and development. Within the lactation profession, a narrative has become the norm that supplementation with donor human milk or infant formula has an intense impact on the infant’s microbiome and can lead to long term negative health outcomes. Current research suggests that this is not entirely the case. In this presentation, the Learner will gain evidence-based information on the infant gut microbiome and how raw human milk has the ability to protect the infant microbiome despite supplementation with formula or human donor milk. Additionally, the presentation will discuss two specific studies that break down the differences in microbial diversity in preterm infants and term infants with different feeding methods. By the end of the presentation, the Learner will be able to effectively communicate with clients/patients regarding topic of gut microbiome when supplementing.
Kristin Cavuto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in dual private practice in central NJ. Her practice specialties are low supply, parental and infant mental health, ethical non monogamy, and LGBTQ+ issues. They have spoken on various lactation, mental health, and equity topics for many regional, national, and international conferences and organizations. She serves as a legal advocate and expert witness for cases involving lactation and child welfare.
Many families with nursing babies will experience parental breakups, divorce, and custody negotiations. The lactation professional is often called upon to provide information, support, and advocacy, including legal support, throughout this process. This presentation will give the provider the information they need to care for the family ethically during this difficult transition, including scope of practice, boundaries, and provider bias.
Leslie has been providing lactation support in Central New Jersey for over 20 years - as a La Leche League (LLL) leader for 20 years, an IBCLC for WIC from 2014 to 2016, and in private practice IBCLC since 2011.
Leslie grew up in New York and New Jersey. She graduated from Cook College/Rutgers with a BS in Biochemistry, and from Rutgers University/UMDNJ with a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Her difficulties with early breastfeeding, the help she received from LLL, and challenges with returning to work laid the foundation for her understanding of the importance of skilled and compassionate lactation and infant feeding support.
IBCLCs are unique amongst healthcare professionals, working with two patients at once - the parent/infant dyad. In this role we assess, aid and coordinate a wide variety of issues - from parental breast/chest health and milk supply, to infant feeding skills (breast/chest and bottle), as well how the baby’s oral and body structures and motions impact the process of feeding. This presentation will focus on the role of the IBCLC in aiding infant suckling skills. Taking into account supporting the feeding goals of the family as well as aiding the infant’s skills over time - whether it’s learning to feed more efficiently after birth, or resolving feeding dysfunction.
Maria qualified as an IBCLC in 2019 coming through the IBCLE pathway 1 as a voluntary Breastfeeding counsellor with LLL Ireland. She currently works in private practice in Cork City. She also continues to volunteer as a LLL Leader in her Community and has worked as a Lactation Educator for voluntary groups. She is a council member of The Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland. Maria is a mum to 3 wonderful children Freyja, Xavier, and Aurora who have been a vital part of her journey as an IBCLC.
Maria is passionate about supporting nursing dyads on their lactation journeys and has a particular interest in how hormones can impact an individual’s breastfeeding and attachment experience with their babies and her aim is to help them understand it better so they can achieve their breastfeeding goals. As the average age of a first-time mother has risen there can be a crossover into perimenopause pregnancy, postpartum & lactation she wants to educate and empower mothers and HCPs to navigate this unique journey.
Perimenopause is the transitional stage leading to menopause, and lactation during this period presents unique complexities and implications that require further research. This Presentation will look at the relationship between lactation and perimenopause, focusing on the physiological and hormonal changes that occur during this phase. It will explore the possible impact of perimenopause on lactation, including challenges in milk production and hormonal fluctuations. It will also look at what the implications of lactation during perimenopause are on maternal health, specifically mental health and hormonal balance. The presentation will look at the challenges women face in managing breastfeeding during perimenopause, considering the physical and emotional changes associated with this stage.
Although more research is needed to better understand the relationship between lactation and perimenopause, by looking at what is currently known about the physiological, hormonal, and psychosocial aspects of this unique phase, we can begin to provide support for women in managing their reproductive health and well-being during this transitional stage while navigating breastfeeding.
Mariana was born in Mexico City, and from an early age she was fascinated by animals and nature. She studied medicine at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), and found her passion as a pediatrician doing my residency at the National Pediatric Institute. Mariana recently migrated with her family to the UK where she is working in Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics. When her first child was born she witnessed the lack of knowledge and commitment with breastfeeding within the medical profession so she decided to specialize in breastfeeding medicine. Certified as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2011.
Mariana is a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and a proud founding member of the National Lactation Consultant Association of Mexico (ACCLAM), where she served on the Board of Directors as Education Coordinator (2014-2019). She is part of the board director for the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine for 3 year period (2019-2022) and actual secretary for the ABM (2022-2025). She has been practicing in London United Kingdom since June 2022. She has been part of expert committees for the World Health Organization, and consultant for the National Health Institute in Mexico and has collaborated with UNICEF in breastfeeding projects.
Mariana has spoken at national and international conferences, co-published numerous articles, and co-authored a chapter for the National Academy of Medicine. Her commitment is to contribute to a medical profession better prepared to support breastfeeding and support students to become IBCLC.
Recently we have observed an increase in tongue-tie diagnosis and tongue-tie procedures which, by itself, may not always solve the problem. So, what do we do when releasing a tongue-tie doesn't result in improved breastfeeding?
A tongue tie directly impacts the possibility of breastfeeding. The tongue is one of the most important organs involved in suckling abilities, and when the tongue is restricted, it may affect the ability to latch to the breast, the ability to transfer milk, cause discomfort, plugged ducts, among other symptoms. However there are also other contributing factors that may impact and sometimes are not addressed adequately.
Marta Guoth-Gumberger, civil engineer by training, is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 1999, working in private practice. Additionally, as a Pre and Perinatal Somatic Practitioner she supports adults, couples and families, also adoptive and foster families. Her focus as IBCLC is low milk supply, weight gain, tongue function and tongue tie, relactation, induced lactation and breastfeeding special need babies, as well as making best use of an at-breast supplementer if needed.
She is author of numerous articles, peer-reviewed papers, a book for professionals on weight gain and a breastfeeding book for parents published in eight languages. After 25 years on the market, the fourth revised edition is due soon. She developed LACTDOC, a tool for breastfeeding counselling to document weight curves, as well as Frenulum TOOLs with Daniela Karall and runs the website www.breastfeeding-support.de and two German websites. She is involved in research and teaching assignments on breastfeeding.
With her husband she lives in Rosenheim in Southern Germany and they are adoptive parents of three young adults who inspired her lactation journey.
The tongue has an essential role in breastfeeding – to stay attached to the breast, to create negative pressure, to remove milk from the breast, and to initiate swallowing. The anatomy of the tongue and its suspension within the head shows a complex structure which enables the tongue to execute the variety of three-dimensional movements and shapes needed during breastfeeding.
The biomechanics of the tongue as a muscular hydrostat is unique in the body and makes these movements possible. Some implications of anatomy and biomechanics of the tongue will be discussed for breastfeeding, artificial nipples, at breast supplementation including photos, videos, and the resulting weight curves from selected cases.
Maryse Arendt was born in Luxembourg where she lives still today. She came to breastfeeding through her personal experience and her active engagement in founding an organization in Luxembourg to improve birth and breastfeeding conditions.. She is an IBCLC since 1992 and the actual Board chair of the Luxembourg lactation consultant organization. Maryse Arendt is a member of the national breastfeeding committee in Luxembourg.
As a person interested in sound breastfeeding support from birth she brought the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative to Luxembourg and is the national BFHI coordinator and an external assessor for BFHI with international experience. As a member of the BFHI Network, an International Network of BFHI Coordinators, and their board of directors she is attending the Global Breastfeeding Collective meetings.
Her Luxembourg association is a member of the IBFAN Network and as such she is involved in coordinating the European region under the lead of Patti Rundall.
She is the assistant editor of the Journal of Human Lactation JHL for the WHO International Code – She has long experience as the ILCA delegate to Codey Alimentarius and the World Health Assembly.
In the 44 years since its adoption, the Code was updated by 20 subsequent resolution or decisions to include new products, to better protect mothers and babies and to adapt to the changing world of marketing. This presentation will highlight the extensive work done in the past years to look into the power of digital marketing, the different types of digital marketing and its potential impact on breastfeeding. Digital marketing has become the dominant form of marketing in many countries. It targets mothers through personal data collected with algorithms. Digital marketing is extremely effective and often not recognizable as advertising and it still goes below the radar of regulators in many countries. The lecture will include the newest information of the 2025 deliberations among members states to adopt a guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes.
Megan Dunn is an experienced Lactation Consultant, infant feeding specialist, and Health Educator with nearly two decades of experience providing comprehensive lactation education and clinical care. With a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Sociology and a minor in Communication, Megan offers holistic, evidence-based care and develops innovative care plans in a Trauma-Informed environment. Megan is an award-winning breastfeeding advocate, currently serving as the President of the Oregon Washington Lactation Association, and has successfully implemented and developed clinical lactation services and Medicaid billing for Public Health lactation care.
This interactive workshop aims to educate lactation professionals on infant stooling norms by examining both historical and global perspectives, as well as modern expectations. Participants will gain insights into how human milk, antibiotics, diet changes, and supplements influence stooling frequency, color, and consistency. The session will also cover low-risk management techniques to enhance infant gastrointestinal function and alleviate symptoms of discomfort and colic. Additionally, attendees will learn to differentiate between constipation, dyschezia, and other functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), and understand how effective feeding support can be integrated into care coordination to improve infant well-being. Learn live through case studies and participant interaction!
Miranda is a neonatal nurse, midwife [as of March 2025], and IBCLC. Originally from the UK she now lives and works in Melbourne Australia. She is the parent of two teenagers and in her free time enjoys camping, crafting, and brewing. Miranda's research interests include early parenthood adaptations, breastfeeding difficulties, and neurodivergent families.
Helping new families make sense of how breastfeeding is established, and what a baby's behaviours mean, is one of the primary roles of Lactation Consultants. Looking back at what life was like for our ancestors can explain what needs to happen to get breastfeeding off to a good start. Recent neurophysiological research has shed light on profound and enduring adaptations of the maternal brain following childbirth. Both the method of birth and infant feeding interact with how a mother's brain adapts to post natal life. Breastfeeding is ancient and the adaptations humans evolved to ensure our survival don't always interact well with modern lives. This talk explores how we can prevent and solve breastfeeding problems by considering how early humans survived.
Nikki is a nurse, a childbirth educator, a lactation consultant, an infant massage instructor, a cranio-sacral therapist, a researcher, an author, and a public speaker. and a registered yoga teacher. She has been working in the world of breastfeeding and lactation since 1975. At present, she maintains a private practice as a holistic consultant (with a wide range of services offered), teaches infant massage and TummyTime! classes and offers a 20-hour basic breastfeeding course year-round. Other interests include backup rhythm guitar (Cajun and old-time), hiking, yoga, and gardening.
Human milk is a renewable and sustainable resource that is not considered in any country's Gross National Product (GNP) nor Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If something isn't seen by policy makers, it isn't valued. It becomes invisible.
Research shows us that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of both acute and chronic disease, thus saving healthcare dollars. Breastfeeding should "be considered a carbon offset in global financing arrangements for sustainable food, health and economic systems." However, cost savings never show up in budgets.
How do we make the invisible visible? One way is for breastfeeding activists to speak the language of economics and money.
We can use simple math to calculate the value of human milk. That figure can be used locally, in counties and provinces, regions and states, and in countries. Breastfeeding advocates can speak in the language of currency, to attract the attention of legislators and policy makers.
This presentation will flip the economic discourse to show how much commercial milk formula costs, and to demonstrate how to use simple math, (using the current price of an ounce of banked donor milk and local breastfeeding statistics) to come up with a figure that represents the value of one of the world's most valuable resources, human milk.
Dr. Nour El Hoda is a passionate pharmacist and a dedicated lactation consultant with a profound commitment to supporting breastfeeding families. Her journey began in 2014, initially as a community volunteer, where she witnessed the challenges mothers faced in their breastfeeding journeys. Motivated to make a lasting impact, she pursued a transformative path, eventually becoming a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist in 2015, and then an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
Dr. Nour El Hoda's approach to lactation support is rooted in her belief that each breastfeeding experience is unique. Holding a PharmD degree from Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, her background in pharmacy, allows her to provide holistic guidance, blending medical expertise with compassionate care.
Holding a PharmD degree from Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, her background in pharmacy allows her to provide holistic guidance, blending clinical medical expertise with compassionate care. During her residency, she successfully created a long-lasting impact by implementing her breastfeeding project, part of which was integrating lactation into the central pharmacy’s yearly operational goals, thus offering mothers breastfeeding friendly standards of care.
What sets her apart is her extensive experience across diverse settings, including hospitals, home visitation programs, support to vulnerable communities, in addition to training community breastfeeding specialists. She also offered her technical support to different organizations and helped numerous families overcome challenges and reach their breastfeeding goals.
Dr. Nour El Hoda's approach to lactation support is rooted in her belief that each breastfeeding experience is unique. As a continuous learner herself, she is passionate about spreading breastfeeding knowledge among peers and professionals as well as through her direct work with mothers. Her speaking engagement at this esteemed conference promises a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, sharing invaluable insights into the art and science of applied pharmacology into lactation counselling.
Managing diabetes in breastfeeding mothers presents unique physiological and metabolic challenges, requiring careful consideration of both pharmacological strategies and lifestyle practices in order to ensure the health and well-being of both mother and child. In this presentation, we will delve into the complexities of maternal diabetes management, highlighting the dynamic relationship between breastfeeding and diabetes and examining its different aspects. A significant focus of the presentation will be on pharmacological strategies. Attendees will receive a comprehensive overview of commonly prescribed hypoglycemic medications, with a specific emphasis on their safety profiles and considerations for breastfeeding mothers.
We will discuss the transfer of these medications into breast milk, potential side effects in infants, and strategies for balancing maternal glycemic control with the safety and efficacy of pharmacological interventions. The presentation will also explore effective monitoring and support strategies tailored to the specific needs of lactating mothers. By reviewing evidence-based information, this presentation aims to equip lactation professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to evaluate pharmacological strategies and provide comprehensive care for breastfeeding mothers with diabetes.
Mariana was born in Mexico City, and from an early age she was fascinated by animals and nature. She studied medicine at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), and found her passion as a pediatrician doing my residency at the National Pediatric Institute. Mariana recently migrated with her family to the UK where she is working in Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics. When her first child was born she witnessed the lack of knowledge and commitment with breastfeeding within the medical profession so she decided to specialize in breastfeeding medicine. Certified as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2011.
Mariana is a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and a proud founding member of the National Lactation Consultant Association of Mexico (ACCLAM), where she served on the Board of Directors as Education Coordinator (2014-2019). She is part of the board director for the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine for 3 year period (2019-2022) and actual secretary for the ABM (2022-2025). She has been practicing in London United Kingdom since June 2022. She has been part of expert committees for the World Health Organization, and consultant for the National Health Institute in Mexico and has collaborated with UNICEF in breastfeeding projects.
Mariana has spoken at national and international conferences, co-published numerous articles, and co-authored a chapter for the National Academy of Medicine. Her commitment is to contribute to a medical profession better prepared to support breastfeeding and support students to become IBCLC.
Elizabeth (she/her/kwe) is a mother of two sparkling human beings, an Indigenous Lactation Counselor, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, perinatal mental health advocate, a retired professional chef, and eternal food justice advocate. She is an enrolled citizen of Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, descendant of Forest County Potawatomi, and carries heritage from Mexico, Germany, and Appalachia. She strives to honor these pieces of her life and all her ancestors through her work. In her role at Open Arms Perinatal Services, she provides community-matched, relationship-based direct service to bodyfeeding dyads and mentors rising lactation professionals of color. Additionally, she provides robust lactation education to midwifery students attending the Cedar Medicine School of Midwifery, and is the Michigan WIC Indigenous Breastfeeding Liaision, as well as frequently speaking for audiences at conferences and educational engagements across Turtle Island.
Dr Shela Hirani is an Associate Professor at the University of Regina, Canada. She is a maternal and child health nursing professional, researcher, lactation consultant and an advocate of baby-friendly initiatives. Her breastfeeding advocacy in Canada and Pakistan has promoted breastfeeding, dismantled breastfeeding barriers, led to a baby-friendly movement, and informed programs, policies and practices in disaster relief camps, post-secondary institutions, workplaces and public spaces where breastfeeding mothers often struggle. Dr Hirani received several honors for her contributions, including World Health Organization's top 100 outstanding women nurse leaders (2020), the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023), Saskatchewan Multicultural Leadership Award from the Governor (2022), and YWCA Women of distinction award (2022). She is an honored listee in Marquis Who's is Who® 2023. She is an elected board member of reputable international, national, and provincial organizations. She is providing quality mentorship to nurses and nursing students to prepare the next generation of leaders in breastfeeding advocacy.
This panel will explore the complexities of providing lactation care when we don’t have best practice guidelines that are specific to the IBCLC’s unique knowledge, skills and scope of practice. There is a gap in the field of lactation care in that we don’t have a professional organization publishing clinical best practice guidelines that are freely available to both practitioners and the public. This panel will discuss the impact of this gap on both client care and the practitioner. Panelists will consider the value of best practice guidelines, the challenges of non-existent, inaccessible, limited or conflicting protocols, and the balance between clinical judgment and strict adherence to available guidelines.
Kelly M. Durbin is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), childbirth educator, author, and volunteer breastfeeding counselor. She has co-authored original research on breastfeeding topics, including access to lactation care, community breastfeeding support, telelactation, and community vulnerability, published in numerous top-tier, peer-reviewed academic journals. Her new book, Protecting Your Potential for Breastfeeding, published by Praeclarus Press, became available in June 2023.
As a lactation consultant, Kelly has provided one-on-one consultations, taught numerous breastfeeding classes, and has conducted nine lactation support groups in five US states, offering evidence-based information, practical support, and compassionate care to hundreds of families since 2008. Kelly is the Curriculum Development Coordinator for Childbirth International. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, with her husband and two daughters.
Nichelle Clark is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Infant Feeding Counselor (IFC), Holistic Sleep Coach (HSC), wife, and mom of two residing in Chesapeake, Virginia. She is the owner of a lactation private practice, SonShine & Rainbows Lactation & Sleep, which was inspired by her son and honors her fertility journey with him. Born and raised in Upper Marlboro, MD, Nichelle joined the United States Navy in 2010 and served honorably for 7.5 years. When she's not spending time with family, she admins multiple online support groups for People of Color, providing breastfeeding support and lactation education to her community. As prior exclusive pumping mom herself, Nichelle is a champion for breastfeeding parents to write their own rules and breastfeed their way.
Genny Stiller (she/her) is a board-certified nurse practitioner and lactation consultant specializing in neurodiverse lactation support and education. With over two decades dedicated to lactation support, she has seamlessly integrated her expertise across hospital environments, new parent support groups, and private practice settings. She is renowned for pioneering the Sensory Conscious Lactation Support approach. Beyond her professional endeavors, Genny channels her creativity into intricate yarn projects and is passionately engaged in homeschooling her 3 children.
This panel discussion will explore how lactation consultants can provide effective and compassionate care amidst modern challenges. With limited time and increasing reliance on technology along with hustle culture, healthcare providers must adapt to meet the needs of their clients in today’s high tech and fast paced world. The panelists will discuss issues such as limited time with clients who need a lot of teaching, the generational gap between older practitioners and younger generations who communicate and seek information differently in today’s digital era, and the disconnect between our fast paced world and human biology, and the need to teach parents to slow down and focus on themselves and their baby.
Polina Lykova has been supporting breastfeeding women for more than 15 years. Since 2014, she has been helping with breastfeeding professionally through conducting face-to-face (> 2,500) and on-line (> 5,000) consultations. Polina obtained an MD degree in 1999 and received her IBCLC in 2016. As a mentor, Polina works with colleagues from «New Degree», the largest Russian-language resource for consultants on breastfeeding, solid food and sleep for infants; she also has her own course on sensory processes in infants.
Deeply interested in the potential causes of various problems concerning feeding and sleep in infants, Polina came to study the theory of sensory integration. Polina was drawn to the sensory approach, as it considers a range of characteristics of children and parents, allowing to analyze the problem holistically and choose the optimal solution even for the most complex and confusing issues.
In 2022, her book “Breastfeeding: Myths and Reality” was published (in Russian), and in 2024 Polina finished the work on her second book, “Weaning Without Torment,” based on her own weaning method.
Polina believes that working with breastfeeding, solid food and sleep requires an analysis of the sensorimotor characteristics of the mother and the child, on the basis of which the specialist selects an appropriate assistance option for the whole family.
Breastfeeding is an indispensable step in infant development and meets a variety of needs, including infant sensory, motor, and psychoemotional development. Unfortunately, many families experience difficulties in weaning, despite it being an essential stage in both child's and caregivers’ lives. However, successful weaning may be achieved much easier and faster if the sensory component is considered. Life without sucking is a new era for a child, requiring a new skill set.
It is widely accepted that learning a new skill is impossible without appropriate motivation. In case of weaning, such motivation stems from the positive emotions that arise during the activities that are appropriate for the child. If the baby enjoys the activities, their need for sucking decreases, and they can regulate their condition and meet their needs in other ways, without breastfeeding. The specialist’s role in this process lies in selecting optimal activities suitable for both the child and the caregivers. Thus, the specialist enables weaning to become an exciting and developing process for everyone involved.
Dr Shela Hirani is an Associate Professor at the University of Regina, Canada. She is a maternal and child health nursing professional, researcher, lactation consultant and an advocate of baby-friendly initiatives. Her breastfeeding advocacy in Canada and Pakistan has promoted breastfeeding, dismantled breastfeeding barriers, led to a baby-friendly movement, and informed programs, policies and practices in disaster relief camps, post-secondary institutions, workplaces and public spaces where breastfeeding mothers often struggle.
Dr Hirani received several honors for her contributions, including World Health Organization’s top 100 outstanding women nurse leaders (2020), the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023), Saskatchewan Multicultural Leadership Award from the Governor (2022), and YWCA Women of distinction award (2022). She is an honored listee in Marquis Who’s is Who® 2023. She is an elected board member of reputable international, national, and provincial organizations. She is providing quality mentorship to nurses and nursing students to prepare the next generation of leaders in breastfeeding advocacy.
Refugee mothers are vulnerable to cultural stereotyping and socioeconomic hardships when they migrate to a new country. This vulnerability often has a negative impact on refugee mothers’ breastfeeding practices, related to social, emotional, psychological, and physical stressors. Refugee mothers seeking refuge in high-income countries face a range of breastfeeding barriers that need attention.
To explore the range of factors that impede breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers accessing and utilizing healthcare services of a high-income country (Canada), a critical ethnographic study was undertaken in Saskatchewan which is one of the growing provinces in Canada. After seeking ethics approval, in-depth interviews were undertaken with 27 refugee mothers with young children of age range 1 day to 24 months. Data were also gathered through observations of breastfeeding services in healthcare settings and a review of the websites of the healthcare settings in Saskatchewan. Learn about the findings of this study and practical suggestions for helping refugee mothers in your community.
Sushma is a pediatrician, neonatologist, and lactation consultant with over 35 years of experience in addressing the challenges of reducing neonatal & infant mortality in a diverse country like India.
She has been a Professor Emeritus and Head of Pediatrics and Neonatology Department at T N Medical College and B Y L Nair Hospital, Mumbai - one of India’s largest public multi-specialty hospitals. She has to her credit over 100 research papers and publications in leading national and international journals. Working here, gave her an opportunity of closely interacting with people of all socio-economic, cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds.
She is a national assessor for Baby Friendly Hospital and senior faculty & trainer for IYCN, KMC, Breastfeeding & IBCLC program. This has helped her to spread the message of breastfeeding in the community in both the urban slums and in rural areas.
Currently she is a Board Director of the International Lactation Consultants Association, the President of the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India, Maharashtra and the Expert Advisor for the National Neonatology Forum, India for breastfeeding promotion. These have provided her with new platforms to live her passion of expanding the reach of breastfeeding & IYCN practices.
This presentation highlights the success stories of lactating parents who effectively breastfed their babies, despite physical anomalies of their breasts, areola & nipples, caused by various dermatological disorders, illnesses, or injuries. Changes in the landscape of the breast during lactation can be caused by several skin conditions resulting from infections, inflammations, autoimmune disorders, medications, burn injury, and post-surgical complications to malignancies.
These dermatoses can present with erythematous, cracked, pruritic, or painful nipples, breast scarring/ puckering, swelling, rashes, vesicles, and changes in breast shape and size. The spectrum of cases that will be discussed includes Varicella, Tinea corporis, eczemas, neurofibromatosis, burns, vitiligo, hyperkeratosis, and breast cancer. This presentation emphasizes the fact that the appearance of the breast is not a deterrent to successful breastfeeding. The mother’s strong willpower coupled with the support of lactation professionals and appropriate management by the medical team will help to overcome challenges.
Vanessa A. Simmons is a first-generation Ghanaian-American photographer, speaker, and author.
In 2014, Ghanaian-American mother and photographer, Simmons authored the Normalize Breastfeeding® movement to address the taboo of public breastfeeding in modern society. Her mission was to document diverse variations of normal infant feeding, across cultures and delivery methods of human milk.
As a Lactation Educator and Certified Blactivist, Simmons is speaking at conferences and events to eliminate general miseducation around the topic. Simmons is a public speaker focused on transforming the modern mindset around the natural, yet difficult task of breastfeeding.
Vanessa trains lactation advocates to better understand how to connect with millennial families online. She activates her gift of vision through speaking and writing to transform the mindset of parents and powerhouse advocates, teaching them to ambitiously pursue their dreams while simultaneously prioritizing joy, and rest, as they serve their family and give back to their community.
Simmons resides with her loving husband and three children in San Diego, CA.
In the fight to normalize breastfeeding, burnout can be a significant challenge for passionate advocates. Inspired by personal experience, and rooted in evidence, this presentation explores practical strategies to help breastfeeding supporters maintain their passion while avoiding emotional and physical exhaustion. Learn effective techniques for self-care, time management, and community building that empower you to sustain your advocacy efforts. By focusing on resilience and balance, participants will discover how to navigate the complexities of their roles without sacrificing their well-being, ensuring they remain powerful advocates for breastfeeding families. Join us for a transformative session aimed at revitalizing your commitment to advocacy while prioritizing your health.
Dr. Speakers Full Name
Speaker Credentials
Annet Mulder first became interested in breastfeeding in the year 2000, when she became a mother for the first time. During and because of her own breastfeeding experiences, in 2002 she became a volunteer with the Dutch breastfeeding Organization and in 2008 sat for and passed the exam administered by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, she now
Annet Mulder first became interested in breastfeeding in the year 2000, when she became a mother for the first time. During and because of her own breastfeeding experiences, in 2002 she became a volunteer with the Dutch breastfeeding Organization text text text text more name mulder first became interested in breastfeeding in the year 2000, when she became.
Dr. Speakers Full Name
Speaker Credentials