Medically Challenged Infant

When an infant has a medical challenge, lactation is often more difficult–but it is also more important. This course provides a framework you, the lactation professional, can use to offer skilled support to breast/chestfeeding dyads when the infant faces a medical challenge, whether it’s an ear infection, a surgery, or a rare and severe disorder.

Allison Ward-Moore, MD, IBCLC, brings a blend of experience, common-sense advice, and deep medical knowledge to the course. Ward-Moore, a Board Certified OBGYN and a lactation consultant, is a Moderator Emeritus of Dr. MILK, an organization of female physicians advising over 34,000 female doctors on lactation-related issues since 2011.

This course goes into depth on a broad range of medical diagnoses that an infant may experience in the immediate postpartum period, during pre- and post-op time periods, and at other times. It covers the implications for lactation/direct feeding, as well as ways to protect milk supply and the breast/chestfeeding relationship during the course of the medical challenge.  Along with discussing many specific medical conditions, Ward-Moore focuses on teaching a set of general principles of lactation support during medical challenges–preparing you to think critically and respond effectively no matter what you encounter in your practice.  Ward-Moore keeps the focus on the lived experiences of lactating parents with a child with a medical problem, sharing advice for how to communicate in ways that encourage, support, and inspire. Frequent inclusion of Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine protocols and recent scientific research ensure that you will come away with evidence-based knowledge you can trust.

For a medically fragile infant, their parent’s milk is often better seen as medicine than food. Following this course, you’ll be prepared to provide insightful, up-to-date care for these families.

This Course Awards:

• 2.0 L-CERPS
• 2.0 Nursing Contact Hours
• 2.0 CMEs