In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, our featured course is — Out of Focus: Using Your Neonatal Therapy Lens to Empower Breastfeeding. This course provides education, insight, and practical strategies specifically for the NICU.
Speakers: Kristin Taylor, OTR, CNT, CLC and Erin Hamilton Spence, MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP
Course Description: The evidence base 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
Target Audience: OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and Neonatal professionals
Level: Intermediate
Instructional Method: Recorded webinar, lecture, videos, case studies, and handouts. Learning assessment and course evaluation follow course.
Course Fee: Free for NANT Members or $57 Non-Members
Enroll now or learn more about the objectives, speaker bios, and CE Credit.
“[Kristen Taylor was]… An excellent speaker who spoke candidly about the struggles many of us face in dealing with supporting and promoting early breast feeding in the NICU. She provided good information and suggestions. [Dr. Spence]… provided current research about pumping that will definitely change how we educate our NICU mommas.” – Darlene Bickett, OT