Course outline

The Lactation Learning programme runs over twelve months, commencing in December with an introductory session followed by monthly study days. When planning the course dates Wendy takes into consideration school holidays and weekday preference as far as possible.

Completing approximately 10 hours homework relating to each study day is required each month, and this includes reading and answering questions from the course textbook, writing a reflection and creating a teaching exercise.

Attending each study day and completing all homework is essential when planning to apply for the IBCLC exam, to ensure that sufficient lactation specific education hours have been earned.

The twelve month Lactation Learning programme is timed to end at the same time that the six week window for December applications of the IBCLC exam commences.

Study days

    • Getting to know each other.

    • Reviewing course documents and useful textbooks.

    • Studying and completing homework.

    • The role of the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

    • The importance of skin contact, and ‘golden’ opportunities.

    • Infant anatomy and breastfeeding

    • Observing baby feeding.

    • Infrequent feeding / ineffective attachment / insufficient milk transfer.

    • Increasing milk production to meet baby’s needs.

    • Neonatal jaundice.

    • Antenatal education sessions.

    • Providing infant feeding information to groups.

    • Facilitating support groups for breastfeeding and lactation.

    • Writing a lesson plan.

    • Using gender inclusive language.

    • Comprehensive history taking.

    • Conditions that may affect breastfeeding or lactation.

    • Nipple shields.

    • Observing a breastfeed.

    • Alternative methods of feeding (finger feeding, cup feeding, supplemental feeding aid).

    • The impact of plagiocephaly and torticollis on breastfeeding.

    • Attitudes, breastfeeding and lactation.

    • Rephrasing negative language.

    • Using language to facilitate breastfeeding or chestfeeding.

    • Culturally aware conversations.

    • Developing counselling skills.

    • Communicating with babies.

    • What to say when a baby dies.

    • Nipple pain and trauma.

    • Vasospasm / Raynaud’s phenomenon.

    • Conditions affecting the breast or chest.

    • Mastitis spectrum.

    • Relactation and induced lactation.

    • Breast reduction / augmentation / top surgery.

    • Mental health and wellness.

    • Mood disorders during lactation.

    • Dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER).

    • Supporting sexual abuse survivors to breastfeed or chestfeed.

    • Family centred care.

    • Feeding an older child / feeding during pregnancy / tandem feeding.

    • Hospital admissions and lactation.

    • Bed sharing / breast-sleeping / safe sleep.

    • Sexuality, contraception and lactation.

    • Returning to work.

    • Out and about / travelling / special occasions.

    • Spending time away from the breastfed infant.

    • Tongue-tie.

    • Preterm babies and human milk.

    • Clinical competencies of the IBCLC - use of techniques and devices.

    • Composition of human milk.

    • Viral infections and infant feeding.

    • Metabolic disorders and human milk.

    • Breastfeeding and lactation during emergencies.

    • Donor milk.

    • Informal milk sharing.

    • Anatomical and structural challenges.

    • Neurological challenges.

    • Oral clefts and infant feeding.

    • Therapeutic feeding positions.

    • Temporary feeding challenges.

    • Maternal or parental disability and infant feeding.

    • WHO growth charts.

    • Oral health and human milk.

    • Nutrition for pregnancy and lactation.

    • Diabetes, obesity and lactation.

    • Colic, reflux and allergies.

    • Introducing solid foods.

    • From nursing to weaning.

    • The World Health Organisation - The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

    • Other international initiatives supporting breastfeeding.

    • Using research in clinical practice.

    • Types of research.

    • Revision strategies.

What to expect from each study day

  • Study day participants ease into the day with a warm welcome and emotional wellbeing check-in - how is everyone doing?

  • Each session usually lasts for one hour and starts with a PowerPoint presentation - discussion is encouraged! We follow that with a group activity in breakout rooms then come back together to share conversations and experiences.

    Group activities include discussing infant feeding scenarios, finding out more about session topics or sharing practice experiences.

    Each one hour session if followed by a 5 minute break to have a stretch, put the kettle on and nip to the loo.

  • Half an hour to refuel and refresh.

  • The day continues as in the morning, with presentations and discussion followed by the group activity then a short break.

    Sharing experiences and ideas through conversations between participants from a variety of settings is integral to the learning process - all comments are valued and welcomed!

  • We watch a video of a baby breastfeeding. Discussion about what we see helps to increase observational skills, and comments and questions are a welcomed way of sharing experiences. I’m very grateful to all the parents who have given permission for their videos to be used during this session.

    We follow with multiple choice questions based on the topics covered during the day, using the Zoom poll function. The answers and reasons for them are then shared and discussed.

  • Confirming homework and completing the study day evaluation.

    Answering any final questions and saying goodbye.

  • Looking forward to seeing you next time!

  • "Today really has made me think about the words we use and the way we say things and going on from today I hope my every day practice can be improved not just with my patients but with my colleagues too."

    Study day 4 participant

  • "The break out rooms are a really useful way of getting to know our colleagues and sharing good practice and experiences."

    Study day 1 participant

  • "I have found todays session really beneficial, feels like its the 'nitty gritty' of breastfeeding support, exploring complex issues."

    Study day 5 participant

  • "Really good session with very relevant transferrable skills and knowledge to support mums with feeding when there are challenges."

    Study day 1 participant

  • "Really enjoyed content of today. also really liked the video example with further information to the scenario so we can relate it to practice."

    Study day 7 participant

  • "Wendy, you are a fantastic educator and I have taken so much learning from you. You have a wealth of knowledge and I hope to be as knowledgeable as you one day!"

    Study day 10 participant

  • "I found the study day really helpful for working towards the exam and it was really interesting to listen to someone who has recently passed the exam."

    Study day 11 participant

  • "Always well planned and thought out, sessions were all relevant to current role. Thank you Wendy."

    Study day 2 participant

  • "Really enjoyed this session, I found it very interesting and informative. I feel this will be a real benefit to my practice."

    Study day 8 participant

  • "Study day is always planned well and informative, learning new things all the time and resources are excellent."

    Study day 6 participant

  • "I really love the practical stuff, the real stories, experiences and solutions."

    Study day 3 participant

  • "Thank you so much, the day has been very inspiring and I have extra tools in my tool box to help with breastfeeding challenges."

    Study day 9 participant

Course aim and expected learning outcomes:

For those on the course to access knowledge and skills and enable facilitation of independent and collaborative work to support lactating mums and parents, their babies and families to achieve their breastfeeding and lactation goals.

1.     Recall and define the principles of effective breastfeeding and human lactation in a wide variety of circumstances.

2.     Apply the principles of learned lactation skills to professional practice.

3.     Use enhanced knowledge to monitor and evaluate local lactation services and innovate change for the benefit of families.

4.     Utilise increasing expertise to provide specialist support for complex breastfeeding and lactation challenges.

5.     Support colleagues, other professionals and partner agencies to develop skills and services to support lactating families.

Learn more about becoming an IBCLC here

Read my blog here