“Wonderful speakers with incredibly useful and applicable information for clinical practice!” – Kristen Groot, PT
In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, this month’s featured course is Out of Focus: Using Your Neonatal Therapy Lens to Empower Breastfeeding.
Speakers: Kristin Taylor, OT, CNT & Erin Hamilton Spence, MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP
Course Description: The evidence for benefits of breastmilk feeding for the NICU population continues to grow. Despite the added complexity of providing breastmilk and feeding at the breast, improved short-term and long-term outcomes fuel the drive to support NICU families desiring to do so. NICU clinicians operate in a world of objective day-to-day nutritive intake volumes based on assumptions about optimal growth. Because feeding at the breast introduces uncertain intake volumes, this route of feeding is often not supported or encouraged with complex feeders.
Additionally, the functional differences between breastfeeding and bottle feeding have been under appreciated. Ultrasound imaging of feeding at the breast has elucidated the wider latch required, as well as the unique mechanics of the tongue for effective breastfeeding compared to bottle feeding. Because neonatal therapists focus on neurodevelopment, we are in a unique position to support breastfeeding families throughout their NICU stay.
By combining a family-centered framework with individual assessment of the infant, neonatal therapists can provide each mother-infant dyad with appropriate expectations for breastfeeding milestones, identify progressions to the next stage, and troubleshoot breastfeeding challenges. Multidisciplinary collaboration among infants, parents, therapists, clinicians, dietitians, lactation consultants, and nursing is essential to optimal breastfeeding support.
Target Audience: OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and Neonatal professionals
Level: Intermediate
CE Credit: 1 hour for OT, SLP, PT
Fee: $57 or FREE for NANT Members
Objectives:
- Discuss the evidence base for improved outcomes with breastmilk feeds in the NICU.
- Explain the functional differences between breastfeeding and bottle feeding.
- Describe the neonatal therapist’s role in the support and assessment of breastfeeding.
Instructional Method: Recorded webinar, lecture, videos, case studies, and handouts. Learning assessment and course evaluation follow course.
Click here to access this course now.
