Breastfeeding Infants and Children with Malignancy

At some point in your career, you may work with families navigating the unimaginable: childhood cancer. Will you be ready to offer the lactation care they need? In this unique course, Lyndsey Hookway, PhD, RNC, SCPHN, IBCLC—both a pediatric expert and a mother of a childhood cancer survivor—prepares you to support these families with confidence and compassion.

In addition to having breastfed through her own child’s cancer journey, Lyndsey Hookway is the founder of Breastfeeding the Brave, a resource for parents and professionals supporting breastfed medically complex infants and children. She incorporates real-life quotes and videos from parents to offer a rich window into the lived experience of navigating pediatric cancer while breastfeeding.

What You’ll Learn

• Pediatric Cancer Basics. Gain a working knowledge of childhood cancers, risk factors, prognoses, and treatments.
• Breastfeeding Benefits. Discover the critical role breastfeeding can play for pediatric cancer patients and their parents in both physical health and emotional wellbeing.
• Lactation Support Strategies. Learn the specific ways cancer and cancer treatments impact lactation and develop strategies to provide support.
• Family-Centered Care. Understand the psychological impact of childhood cancer on the child, parents, siblings, and extended family, prepare to help, and know when to refer.
• Collaborative Teamwork. Understand the roles of other professionals in pediatric cancer care and how to coordinate efforts to best support the family.

Childhood cancer, though rare, is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 15, and its incidence is increasing by 1% annually. This course offers a rare opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to support families facing this difficult journey. Beyond the course content, you'll also gain a powerful ally for the future—instructor Lyndsey Hookway shares her contact information and encourages students to reach out for continued guidance and support.

Content warning: This presentation contains images of critically sick children and shares stories of families who have endured trauma, battled with painful and difficult treatment, and suffered bereavement.

This course awards:

• 2 L-CERPs
• 2 Nursing Contact Hours

Cost: $48.00