Gut Reaction

The human microbiome weighs just 200 grams — but it makes up 40-70% of our DNA.  One of the most powerful determinants of short- and long-term health, the microbiome is powerfully affected by what and how we are fed as infants. 

In this course from researcher and renown expert Laurel Wilson, IBCLC, RLC, BSc, CLE, CLD, you will learn exactly how breastfeeding and chestfeeding and human milk shape an infant’s microbiome, setting the stage for lifelong health. You’ll also learn: 

• How an infant’s microbiome is first seeded during labor and delivery
• How mode and place of birth impact this process
• How the microbiome in a lactating parents’ milk is determined, and why it matters
• Practical suggestions you can give your clients for optimizing the microbiome of their milk for their baby’s health
• How the significant risks of not providing human milk are related to the effect of human milk substitutes on the microbiome
• Why all of this means that greater access to human milk for all who need it is a critical issue for focus and advocacy.

The human milk microbiome is at the cutting-edge of lactation science, and there is no one better to explain it than Wilson. Packed with the latest fascinating research, her accessible course makes the science easy to understand, and better yet, clarifies the connections between the science and your day-to-day lactation care for your clients.