Classes for Perinatal Professionals

This is a parent group class, taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), with an additional hour-long module for birth professionals.

Doulas, childbirth educators, and other perinatal professionals play a key role in helping families to meet their breastfeeding goals.

This class will give you the tools you need to share evidence-based information prenatally with clients, offer lactation support immediately after birth, and connect postpartum families with lactation professionals when needed.

Topics include:

• The benefits of breastfeeding

• Basic anatomy and physiology (let down, supply and demand)

• How birth impacts lactation/breastfeeding

• Infant capabilities, reflexes and cues

• Achieving a proper latch

• Counseling clients in the postpartum period

• Pumping, hand expression, and storage guidelines

• Early challenges (engorgement, nipple soreness, milk supply)

• When and how to make referrals

You must be in attendance for the entire 3 hours to receive your Certificate of Attendance. This certificate fulfills the breastfeeding class requirements for most doula certifications, including DONA and DTI.

Note: This class does not certify participants as Lactation Counselors or Consultants. It's for any doula (or other perinatal professional) that wishes to expand their lactation knowledge, and also meets the requirement of many doula certifying programs to attend a breastfeeding class for completion of their doula certification.