It seems everywhere you turn, parents and professionals are discussing, concerned about, and asking questions about tongue and lip-ties. With so many opinions, objections, and success stories, it’s hard to cut through the noise. This evidence-based and clinically-informed presentation will clarify the real struggles and quality of life issues a restricted tongue or lip can impact. Dentists are well-positioned to screen for, diagnose, treat, or refer these patients with a team-based approach to manage these common conditions. A review of the relevant literature, clinical cases of all ages, diagnostic criteria, assessment techniques, treatment videos, and recommendations will be discussed in this comprehensive lecture. Dr. Baxter will share the knowledge, successes, and struggles from his practice and experience in treating thousands of patients with these conditions.
IBLCE Detailed Content Outline: (I, II, III, VI, VII)
Infants born with cleft lip, cleft palate, or cleft lip and palate have a distinct anatomical profile that can impact breastfeeding success. Most notably, difficulty separating oral and nasal cavities to generate adequate oral pressure. Feeding challenges associated with cleft lip and/or palate include insufficient milk transfer, slow growth, and prolonged feeding time, all of which can leave families feeling anxious and worried.
IBLCE Detailed Content Outline:
1 L Cerp (I, II, III, V, VI VII)
With an emphasis on visual diagnosis using more than one hundred clinical photographs, this presentation focuses on clinical features of the newborn head and neck, emphasizing normal variants where reassurance is appropriate and pathologic findings in which further evaluation and management is warranted.
IBLCE Detailed Content Outline:
1 R Cerp (I, III, VII)
When parents are not appropriately educated or prepared regarding the unique needs of their late preterm infant, or Early Bird, the situation often deteriorates for them by week one or two weeks after birth, resulting in a baby who’s not thriving and/or a parent who’s not thriving, plus all the emotions of “what am I doing wrong?” This can be avoided, and late preterm dyads can be better protected with an optimization plan so that lactating parents can meet their own infant feeding goals despite having given birth prematurely. The late preterm infant frequently has physical limitations which prevent them from feeding from the chest/breast effectively, which can also lead to problems with the maintenance of adequate milk production if parents are not properly informed about these potential risks. However, with the proper information about Techniques to use to support progress in feeding, knowledge about expected Timelines for progress in lactation with a late preterm infant, and suggestions for what to Teach the parents of a late preterm infants, clinical lactation care providers can improve their ability to facilitate the ability to sustain lactation in this population.
IBLCE Detailed Content Outline:
1.5 L Cerp (I, IIII, V, VI, VII)
Latch pain has long been a significant reason for the premature cessation of breastfeeding. Globally, the percentage of women who experience nipple pain and damage upon discharge has remained largely reduced in the last 20 years. In this presentation, Avery Young will present an innovative, reflex-based approach to latching, based on her own observations working with infants, that has reduced nipple pain and damage in an overwhelming majority of the families she has supported, even when nipple damage is severe and has been persisting for months.
IBLCE Detailed Content Outline:
1 L Cerp (I, III, VI, VII)
Hypoglycemia refers to a low blood or plasma glucose concentration and may reflect the imbalance between supply and utilization, and is the most common metabolic disturbance occurring in the neonatal period. It is frequent that healthcare professionals do not take actions that support breastfeeding mothers, leading frequently to early and unnecessary supplementation with artificial formulas, undermining breastfeeding. During this presentation, we will provide healthcare professionals with recent evidence base guidelines on neonatal hypoglycemia and the recommendations that may support the breast /chest feeding families.
1 L Cerp (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII)
Despite the known risks, routine labour interventions are very common. However, the risks associated with routine labour interventions are not limited to infant and maternal health. Interventions used during labour can often cause negative downstream challenges for breastfeeding initiation and continued lactation success. This lecture examines the most commonly used labour interventions and their potential negative consequences with regard to establishing and maintaining lactation. This discussion explores the latest research on many labour interventions such as induction of labour, maternal IV fluids, epidural anesthesia, instrumental delivery, and cesarean delivery (and others). The analysis will include the known physiological factors that can impede the establishment of breastfeeding in the critical early postpartum period and offer several strategies to minimize the negative impact on lactation.
1 L Cerp (I, II, III, IV, V, VI VII)
This presentation will explore what induced lactation is, circumstances where it may be needed and review several real case studies of induced lactation and their outcomes. Participants will come away with a deeper knowledge and understanding of inducing lactation, as well as how to better counsel and support families who choose this path.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (I, II, IV, V, VI, VII)
The connection between the thyroid gland and milk production has not been well-recognized or appreciated. The good news is that new animal research is providing us with insights into the possible effects of thyroid dysfunction. This talk takes a detailed look at hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, postpartum thyroiditis and thyroid cancer and the unique challenges each presents for lactation, and then discusses treatment strategies and interfacing with the health care team.
1 L Cerp (II, III)
An overview of neonatal jaundice will be presented. The pathophysiology of hyperbilirubinemia will be explained. Red flags for medical opinion and treatment will be highlighted. Strategies for supporting breastfeeding and optimising lactation during and following resolution of jaundice will be explored.
1 L Cerp (IBLCE Content Outline: I, II, III)
Women who have insufficient glandular tissue (IGT) may struggle with their milk supply, despite good breastfeeding management. Some of these babies can present with dehydration in the neonatal period, hypernatremia or even death, and it is uncommon for mothers to receive support with breastfeeding to achieve goals that benefit the dyad. It is of great importance to help with an accurate and prompt diagnosis that benefits both mother and baby and supports the choice to continue breastfeeding with breast/ chest supplementation if needed.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1.25 L Cerp (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII)
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is secreted into breast milk and is critical to both protecting against enteric pathogens and shaping the infant intestinal microbiota. The efficacy of breast milk-derived maternal IgA (BrmIgA) is dependent upon its specificity however, variability in the binding ability to the infant intestinal bacteria is not known. We demonstrated that a relative reduction in IgA binding to inflammatory intestinal bacteria in preterm infants is associated with an increased likelihood of developing Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), so binding of intestinal bacteria in infants may be important in some settings. Using a flow cytometric array, we analyzed the ability of BrmIgA against bacteria common to the infant microbiota and discovered substantial variability between all donors. Conversely, longitudinal analysis showed that the anti-bacterial reactivity of breast milk-derived antibodies was relatively stable through time, even between sequential infants, indicating that mammary gland IgA responses are durable. Together, our study demonstrates that the anti-bacterial BrmIgA reactivity displays inter-individual heterogeneity but intra-individual stability. These findings have important implications for how breast milk shapes the development of the preterm infant microbiota and protects against NEC.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (I, II, III)
Lactation mastitis is a debilitating inflammatory breast disease occurring in 1 of 5 Australian breastfeeding women. The disease causes reduced milk synthesis, localised pain, and the rapid onset of systemic symptoms including fever, muscle aches, chills and fatigue, leading many women to use supplementary formula or cease breastfeeding altogether. Forty years ago, it was believed that the underlying cause of mastitis was infection of the breast with pathogenic bacteria. This old paradigm was built upon work within the dairy industry showing that mastitis in dairy cows can be significantly reduced by sterilisation of milking equipment and routine administration of antibiotics. However, this simple relationship between pathogens and disease in women is not supported by current clinical evidence and it has become clear that the underlying causes of mastitis in breastfeeding women are more complex. Our research is providing new insights into the biology of mastitis and challenging the old paradigm. Through developing a better understanding of the causes of mastitis, we can develop new treatment and prevention approaches to this debilitating disease and improve breastfeeding outcomes.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L CERP (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII)
I. Development & Nutrition
II. Physiology & Endocrinology
III. Pathology
IV. Pharmacology & Toxicology
V. Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology
VI. Techniques
VII. Clinical Skills
Breastfeeding offers metabolic benefits for both mother and child, particularly in the context of maternal metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, lactating parents with insulin-resistant conditions experience more difficulties in establishing and sustaining lactation. In this presentation, we will review the basic pathophysiology of diabetes and PCOS, discuss the impact of these conditions on breastfeeding outcomes, outline the likely underlying mechanisms for lactation difficulties in women with metabolic disease, and describe clinical management considerations.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L CERP (I, II, III, VII)
In this presentation, Ginna will take a look back at history, and then review the current literature on nipple soreness in breastfeeding mothers. She will explore various approaches to preventing/managing pain, look at some new modalities not yet widely in use, and finish with some unique case studies.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1.5 L CERP (I, III, IV, VI, VII)
I. Development and Nutrition
III. Pathology
IV. Pharmacology and Toxicology
VI. Techniques
VII. Clinical Skills
For most maternal medications, the potential for harming the breastfed infant is minimal; only small amounts of medication are transferred into human milk and absorbed by the infant. Most reviews of medications for breastfeeding women conclude that the benefits of medication use during lactation outweigh the risks. Yet, health professionals and families are often unsure about the safety of medicines on the breastfed infant, and this is still a barrier to achieving Australia’s breastfeeding goals.
Increasing diagnosis and self-recognition of neurodiversity, especially among women is occurring in increasing frequency worldwide. Attention- Deficit- Hyperactivity- Disorder (ADHD) is an often poorly understood condition of neurodivergence, with presentations in women having been traditionally missed. How healthcare providers approach this is an evolving area and yet there has been little discussion around the implications of ADHD diagnosis and pharmacological management during the peripartum and breastfeeding. There are increasing bodies of evidence demonstrating higher risks of complications during pregnancy and postpartum and that appropriate treatment greatly reduces these risks. Breastfeeding and pharmacological treatment are compatible with stimulants being not only the most efficacious treatment option but also the safest. Non-stimulant treatment options may be compatible but lack of data and higher rates of transfer in breastmilk can be problematic. Women however can be supported to have appropriate care of their ADHD during the peripartum and breastfeed also, with well-backed reassurance that this is often safe for their infant and is the gold standard for outcomes for both mother and child.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (III, IV, VII)
Whether real or perceived, low breast milk supply remains one of the most commonly reported reasons for early breastfeeding cessation. While non-pharmacological support strategies remain the first-line approach for addressing concerns with low breast milk supply, we know that many women are recommended, or turn to using galactagogues (substances thought to promote lactation). Domperidone is one of the most widely recognised and recommended pharmaceutical galactagogues across the world. This presentation will provide an evidence-based guide to potential benefits and harms associated with using domperidone as a galactagogue and describe key recommendations relating to treatment initiation, dosing, duration of treatment, and treatment cessation. Evidence relating to the association between domperidone and sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmias will also be discussed with a focus on its relevance to lactating women and consideration of risk management approaches that can be utilized in clinical practice to reduce the risk of harm.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (II, III, IV, VI, VII)
Sadly, many mothers are told that they cannot breastfeed when taking medication if they have a chronic condition. It is seen as more important that the mother’s health is managed and breastfeeding is seen as unimportant and a drain on the mother. This is rarely based on evidence-based information or an understanding of how drugs pass into milk and the value of term breastfeeding. In this presentation, we will look at the way to use specialist sources of information, illustrated by situations commonly encountered by lactating mothers with chronic conditions and how breastfeeding may protect the health of future generations.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (I, III, IV, VII)
This presentation reviews common radiology and nuclear medicine studies that breastfeeding women undergo and describes the safety of these with continued lactation. It also will describe specific circumstances when lactation should be interrupted temporarily and identifies the rare situations when lactation should be stopped completely. It will then transition to a discussion of what studies should be ordered for women who have a breast-specific concern while breastfeeding, and review guidelines for breast cancer screening during lactation. The second half of the lecture will cover anaesthesia and analgesia recommendations for lactation as well as specific concerns related to surgical procedures.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (III, IV, VII)
Breastfeeding is on the rise in the 21st century. However, even with all of the evidence-based research and verification from health care professionals, there are still some strong barriers to breastfeeding. Research and case studies have associated how child sexual abuse, intimate partner violence and birth trauma suffered by the mother and the baby can interfere with breastfeeding initiation and duration. By dissecting some of the research and case studies, this presentation identifies how trauma, either endured by mother, baby, or both, can lead to failure to initiate breastfeeding, latch issues, milk supply problems, painful feeds and early cessation of breastfeeding. Both psychological and physiological damage can occur during this delicate post-partum period. This presentation will help the provider to detect the sometimes subtle signs of trauma. By using the research and case studies, providers will learn how to best support women who are struggling with the backlash of trauma and abuse. Once trauma has been identified, taking care to problem solve is crucial for initiating and sustaining breastfeeding under difficult circumstances.
IBLCE Content Outline:
1 L Cerp (I, V, VI, VII)
In this presentation, Professor Chamberlain will:
IBLCE Content Outline:
0.75 L Cerp (V, VII)
With over 2000 feeds in the first year of life, it's easy to see how difficulties with feeding could impact the parental-infant relationship. During this talk we will explore some of the common challenges the dyad may experience, and how feeding impacts mental health - and vice versa.
IBLCE Content Outline:
1 L Cerp (I, IV, V, VII)
Inevitably much of the work of breastfeeding support focuses on establishing a feeding relationship, but we shouldn’t underestimate the challenges that weaning can bring, especially for an older child who has a strong emotional connection to breastfeeding. This presentation describes how we can support parents in making decisions about how to end a breastfeeding relationship and how to go about it in a way that feels authentic and emotionally supportive for all parties. When our society simultaneously devalues natural term breastfeeding and perceives child-led weaning as an ideal, parents can be left feeling isolated. What role can breastfeeding supporters have?
IBLCE Content Outline:
1 L Cerp (I, V, VII)
Parents commonly experience difficulties adjusting to life as a new parent, especially when it comes to sleep. But what if you had two, or more same-aged sleepless littles? Supporting families with multiple children brings a unique set of challenges that many parents (and professionals!) struggle to comprehend. This presentation will review some of the biological, psychological, and social differences to consider when assessing a family’s sleep situation. How does the early development of multiples differ from singletons? What are some of the psychological blocks, logistical challenges and societal pressures that parents of multiples face? And what impact does this have on sleep? This session will explore some of the common day-to-day challenges faced by families with multiples, and will review a variety of holistic strategies that you can use to gently support families to get more sleep without sleep training.
IBLCE Content Outline:
1.25 L Cerp (I, V, VII)
This presentation focuses on issues regarding low milk production among lactating individuals who exclusively pump. The session will cover reasons for insufficient breast development during pregnancy, medical complications that can impact secretory activation, and common reasons why people may have a loss of milk production. Interventions to improve milk production will be discussed.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (I, II, III, IV, V, VI VII)
In this presentation, Dr Kellams will review how to support families with exclusive breastfeeding, how to determine if supplementation is needed, how to prevent the need for supplementation, and how to get back to breastfeeding if supplementation occurs.
Following the presentation, participants will be able to:
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (I, III, IV, V, VI, VII)
In this presentation, participants will learn about the causes of feeding aversion in breastfeeding babies and signs, even ones that may be quite subtle, that are indicative of aversion at the breast. They will be instructed on ways to support mothers in maintaining a breastfeeding relationship through the use of responsive feeding measures. Responsive feeding is a reciprocal process between a parent and an infant where infants communicate their hunger and fullness cues, and parents respond to those cues. With responsive feeding measures, caregivers are taught ways to manage feeding aversion, without force or pressure and through the use of consistent and predictable responses which help teach the baby self-regulation with eating. Participants will be able to support families in identifying and even preventing more intense aversive feeding behaviours that could sabotage the breastfeeding relationship. While aversion to the breast can be stressful to the family, it can be managed with the right responsive feeding techniques. Participants will also be educated on ways to collaborate with other health care professionals, such as a dietitian if the feeding situation is more complex and parents may be experiencing fear due to poor weight gain.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1.5 L CERP (I, III, V, VI, VII)
Antenatal breastmilk expression (ABME) has been shown to be effective in reducing the use of infant formula supplementation and significantly improves postnatal lactation performance by causing early establishment of adequate milk supply. What are the dos and don’ts of this technique?
Following the presentation, participants will be able to:
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (I, II, III, VI, VII)
In this presentation, Ginna will discuss the use of alternative feeding methods, nipple shields, weighing babies, and pumping. When do they help? When do they hinder? As we acquire more devices and new technology, how do we discern which ones help and which cause problems of their own?
IBLCE Detailed Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (III, VI, VII)
‘Faltering Weight’ is used to describe a baby whose weight gain is less than expected, and in 2017 NICE Guidance was produced to provide evidence-based information and recommendations for those working with the weight faltering babies. This presentation seeks to provide information and resources on supporting the families of breastfed babies who are weight faltering and explores some case studies for discussion.
Following the presentation, participants will be able to:
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (I, II, III, VII)
This presentation will focus on improving your clinical skills during your lactation consultations to enable you to get the best outcomes for your clients/patients. There will be a focus on improving your history-taking and examination skills. This presentation will address some common conditions of the breastfeeding dyad and highlight red flags to watch out for. Finally, the presentation will cover formulating a management plan and making appropriate referrals.
Following the presentation, participants will be able to:
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (I, III, IV, V, VI, VII)
Breast pain is one of the major causes of weaning. The likelihood of weaning increases the longer pain persists. Engorgement, plugged ducts, and mastitis are commonly associated with acute breast pain. Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation (TBML) is one of the important measures to resolve pain quickly. The purpose of this presentation is to enhance knowledge of TBML techniques for relieving discomfort caused by engorgement, plugged ducts and mastitis in lactating women and learn how to empower breastfeeding mothers to use these techniques as well.
After this presentation participants will be able to:
IBLCE Content Outline: 1.5 L Cerp (III, V, VI, VII)
Communication is an essential skill for healthcare professionals. Motivational Interviewing has been proven to be one of the best models for encouraging self-directed learning and effect long term change. This talk explains how to effectively use principles and the spirit of Motivational Interviewing to help guide decisions and support Participant-Centered Learning. There is a focus on educating while respecting the autonomy of the client.
Following the presentation, participants will be able to:
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (VII)
Increasing numbers of parents around the world are pumping their milk when breastfeeding isn’t possible. Offering insights from both personal experience and 25 years in private practice, this presentation explores strategies for maximizing milk removal and pumping comfort, including pump selection, flange fitting, hands-free options, scheduling, and tips that make all the difference.
IBLCE Content Outline: 1 L Cerp (VI, VII)
Diana West
Diana West has been an IBCLC in New Jersey (US) for over 20 years and is a retired La Leche League Leader. She has published many books, including Making More Milk, Sweet Sleep, the 8th edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding after Breast and Nipple Procedures, Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction Surgery, and ILCA’s popular Clinician’s Breastfeeding Triage Tool. Diana has also co-authored a research article with a team led by Trevor MacDonald and the late Joy Noel-Weiss about trans men’s experiences with lactation and gender identity.
Anita Bearzatto
Anita is a GGP and IBCLC who works in the field of Breastfeeding Medicine and maternal and child health. Anita works with families who have complicated breastfeeding problems and addresses the varied medical issues of the mother and baby in the perinatal period. Anita works in private practice in Melbourne and she also works sessions at the Breastfeeding and Lactation Disorders Clinic at The Royal Women’s Hospital. Finally, recognising an unmet need, Anita provides ongoing lactation education and support to healthcare professionals and the community. Anita is a board member of the Breastfeeding Medicine Network of Australia and New Zealand.
Lisa Marasco
Lisa Marasco has been working with breastfeeding mothers for 35 years and has been an IBCLC since 1993. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development with specialization in Lactation Consulting and was designated a Fellow of ILCA in 2009. Lisa is co-author of Making More Milk: The Breastfeeding Guide to Increasing Your Milk Production, a contributing author to the Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Care, and a new Cochrane Collaborative author. She is employed by WIC of Santa Barbara County while she continues to research, write and speak. In addition, Lisa is affiliated with La Leche League of Southern California/Nevada, and serves on the Breastfeeding Coalition of Santa Barbara County.
Ginna Wall
Ginna ran the lactation program at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle Washington for 35 years. She led the way to Baby-Friendly Hospital certification in 2009 and recertification in 2019. Before that she was an acute care inpatient pediatric nurse, a camp nurse, a childbirth educator, and a doula. She enjoys teaching healthcare workers about all the things she learned along the way.
Luke Grzeskowiak
Luke is a registered pharmacist at Flinders Medical Centre and practitioner fellow at Flinders University and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Luke’s research is focused on improving women’s and children’s health through the development and promotion of safer, more effective and personalized approaches towards medicines use. Luke is currently leading an active research program focused on improving the identification and pharmacological management of lactation insufficiency. Luke is the principal investigator of a large clinical trial evaluating different doses of domperidone for the treatment of lactation insufficiency following preterm birth.
Wendy Ingman
A/Prof Wendy Ingman is a breast biologist at the University of Adelaide, based at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Her research explores the biology of how the breast develops and functions to better understand how disease states occur, including lactation mastitis and breast cancer. Wendy’s research challenges old paradigms and explores new concepts in how the breast develops and functions to improve breast health across the life course.
Shel Banks
Shel Banks is an UK-based IBCLC, specialising in the unsettled baby with symptoms of colic, reflux, allergy and faltering weight. She also works in the NHS as well as working and volunteering for various national and international organisations in the world of infant feeding and early parenting. She was involved in 3 x infant feeding-focussed NICE Guidelines - including NG75 on Faltering weight in Infants and Young Children. In addition, Shel is clinical director for the mobile app - Anya, working to support improved pregnancy, parenting and infant feeding outcomes for families everywhere. Shel is currently undertaking her doctoral study on supporting parents of unsettled babies with colic, reflux and allergy, through the Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nurture (MAINN) Group at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), UK. She is the author of the book Why Formula Feeding Matters (2022).
Emma Pickett
First qualifying as a breastfeeding counsellor with the UK’s Association of Breastfeeding Mothers in 2007, and previously their chair for 9 years, Emma qualified as an IBCLC in 2011 and has written 4 books (You’ve Got It In You: A Positive Guide to Breastfeeding, The Breast Book, Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond, and Supporting the Transition From Breastfeeding). She volunteers as part of the training team for the UK National Breastfeeding Helpline and at groups in her local area in North London. Her private practice focuses on supporting breastfeeding families at all stages. Her podcast, “Makes Milk with Emma Pickett” has a regular focus on weaning alongside all aspects of the breastfeeding experience.
Maya Bolman
Maya Bolman was born and raised in Minsk, Belarus. She was certified as IBCLC in 2001 and currently works as a lactation consultant at Senders Pediatrics and Breastfeeding Medicine of Northeast Ohio. Maya is well known internationally for her work promoting hand expression and breast massage to health professionals and parents. She recognizes that teaching these basic tools helps empower them to work through breastfeeding challenges including engorgement, plugged ducts, separation from the infant, and milk supply concerns. She has worked with Dr. Ann Witt to create an instructional video “The Basics of Breast Massage and Hand Expression” and conducted research on the effectiveness of Therapeutic Breast Massage in Lactation (TBML) both in the office and as a treatment at home for mothers. Maya Bolman is the proud owner of “BreastKindness”, LLC which is dedicated to empowering parents and consultants through education; supporting their goals; teaching simple and effective techniques.
Wendy Jones
Wendy was a founding member of the UK charity, Breastfeeding Network and set up the drugs in breastmilk service. A community pharmacist, she worked in doctor surgeries and later left paid work to concentrate on writing her books Breastfeeding and Medication, Breastfeeding for Dads and Grandmas and Why Mothers Medication Matters. She co-edited with Prof Amy Brown A Guide to supporting breastfeeding for medical professionals and self-published Breastfeeding and Chronic Medical Conditions in 2020. Wendy is known for her work on providing a service on the compatibility of drugs in breastmilk and has been a breastfeeding supporter for 35 years. She was awarded a Points of Light award by the UK Prime Minister in 2018 and an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2018 for services to mothers and babies.
Catherine Chamberlain
Professor Catherine Chamberlain is an Australian NHMRC Career Development Fellow and Professor of Indigenous Health at the Centre for Heath Equity, The University of Melbourne. She has worked in maternal health in remote, rural and urban settings over 25 years as a midwife and public health researcher. A descendant of the Trawlwoolway people (Tasmania), her current research project aims to co-design perinatal awareness, recognition, assessment and support strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents experiencing complex childhood trauma.
Lisa Amir
Professor Lisa Amir is a general practitioner and lactation consultant. She works in breastfeeding medicine at The Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne. She is a Principal Research Fellow at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Australia, and the Editor-in-Chief of the International Breastfeeding Journal.
Christy Jo Hendricks
Christy Jo Hendricks, IBCLC, is an international speaker, educator, inventor, and author. She has made a career of teaching lactation in ways that simplify learning. She has been awarded the US Presidential Volunteer Award for her community service, the Phyllis Klaus Founder's Award for her contribution to the mother/baby bond and the Above and Beyond Award for innovative projects that exemplify the mission of Public Health. She has also been named Lactation Educator Faculty of the Year from CAPPA and has earned their Visionary Award. Christy Jo created the Grow Our Own Lactation Consultant/IBCLC Prep Course which has been used to train hundreds of students to become Lactation Consultants. She resides with her family in California where she continues to serve her community as a Lactation Consultant, Health Educator for the Department of Public Health, doula and faculty for the CAPPA CLE© and Childbirth Educator Programs.
Gillian Opie
Dr Gillian Opie is a full-time neonatal paediatrician at the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg, Victoria and IBCLC for over 20 years. In 2011 she was instrumental in establishing the Mercy Health Breastmilk Bank. Gillian has an active interest in clinical research. She is a member of the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study group, regularly contributes to lactation consultant education and is an editorial board member of the International Breastfeeding Journal.
Katrina B. Mitchell
Katrina B. Mitchell is a breast surgeon, lactation consultant, and perinatal mental health provider. She runs a daily lactation clinic alongside her surgical practice at Ridley Tree Cancer Center at Sansum clinic in Santa Barbara, California. She speaks regularly on the intersection of lactation and surgery, and has authored book chapters, clinical care protocols, and journal articles on the topic. She is the creator of the physicianguidetobreastfeeding.org, an evidence-based resource for breastfeeding families and the communities that support them.
Melody Jackson
Dr Melody Jackson is a GP and IBCLC and runs a private practice for parents and babies. She has a keen interest in women’s health, mental health, and antenatal and postnatal care. She completed a Dip. of Child Health and a Dip. of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (counselling). Melody is also currently studying a Postgraduate Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies. She is a Possums Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) accredited practitioner and an Adjunct Clinical Lecturer at University of Notre Dame, Sydney.
Maisie Ruttan
Maisie Ruttan is a family sleep specialist and parenting coach. She runs an international practice offering individualised support to families and is the founder of Hello Bedtime, an online sleep program for children. She specialises in working with bigger kids (2+), families with multiples, and children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, using a heart-centred and holistic, parenting to sleep framework. She has a B.A. in psychology and spent many years working as a psychiatric nurse before turning to private practice. She is multi-certified as a holistic sleep coach, infant sleep educator, and peaceful parenting educator, with additional training in cognitive behavioural therapy, and developmental theory. She lives on Vancouver Island, in Canada with her husband and twin boys.
Nicole Gale
Dr Gale is a perinatal general practitioner and international board-certified lactation consultant who works exclusively in breastfeeding medicine and maternal/ infant health. She has undertaken further training in Newborn Behavioural Observation and Neuroprotective Developmental Care, having worked with families in this space for over a decade. She addresses complex perinatal, breastfeeding, and mental health concerns in consultations and believes in holistic and evidence-based care. She is passionate about health professional education and is deputy chair of the board of Breastfeeding Medicine Network Australia/NZ. She is currently opening ‘Juno - Maternal, Infant and Women’s Specialists’ a multidisciplinary medical clinic for women and families, in Melbourne, Australia.
Anne Eglash
Dr Eglash is a clinical professor with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in the Dept of Family and Community Medicine. She has been practicing breastfeeding and lactation medicine since 1994. She is a cofounder of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, the medical director and cofounder of the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes, and the medical director of the University of Wisconsin Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine Clinic.
Jessica Boyce
Dr Jessica Boyce is a speech pathologist and lecturer in Melbourne, Australia. She has clinical expertise working with infants and children born with cleft lip and/or palate. Her research has led to several scientific publications in this area, including the AMB Guidelines for Breastfeeding Infants with Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, or Cleft Lip and Palate.
Mariana Colmenares Castano
Dr Colmenares specialises in paediatrics and breastfeeding medicine. She has a special interest in tongue-tie assessment and division, and has had the opportunity to work with many challenging cases. She is a founding member of the Mexican organization of IBCLC’s, Asociacion de Consultores Certificados en Lactancia Materna de Mexico, ACCLAM and is also secretary of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. She coordinates a 280 hour online breastfeeding course for health-care professionals.
Kelly Durbin
Kelly M. Durbin is an IBCLC, childbirth educator, author, and volunteer breastfeeding counselor. She has co-authored original breastfeeding research on various topics, including access to lactation care, community breastfeeding support, telelactation, and community vulnerability. Her new book, Protecting Your Potential for Breastfeeding became available in June 2023. Kelly is the Curriculum Development Coordinator for Childbirth International. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Christine Staricka
Christine Staricka is an IBCLC and trained childbirth educator with over 22 years of lactation experience in the hospital and the community. She is the host of Evolve Lactation Community, a membership and coaching program for aspiring and new lactation consultants. Christine also hosts Evolve Lactation Podcast and writes a blog on Substack called Evolve Lactation. She is the facilitator of the first licensed Baby Café to open in California.
L. Avery Young
Avery Young is a passionate enthusiast about empowered feeding and is on a mission to help make feeding feel better. Over the last few years, she has been observing, studying and experimenting with engaging the reflexes that infants use when feeding, to help make the latching progress work better. This work has transformed her practice and her ability to make profound changes in the families she supports. She has a master's degree in Biology, a Master's Degree in Science Education and has been supporting feeding families for almost a decade.
Tim Hand
Dr Hand is associate professor of pediatrics and immunology and the director of the Gnotobiotic Animal core facility at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, he directs the Immunity to Bacterial Colonization Lab at UPMC Children’s Hospital. He has published over 35 research articles and scholarly reviews and was named the inaugural ‘Emerging Leader’ by the Society for Mucosal Immunology in 2022.
Sophie Mace
Dr Sophie Mace is a GP/LC who specialises in caring for pepi and their whanau throughout pregnancy and the early years of life. Alongside her medical qualifications, she is an IBCLC and is NDC accredited through the Possum’s Clinic (Aus) and has comprehensive training in maternal and infant mental health. She also has a special interest in neurodevelopmental conditions, especially ADHD in both children and their parents.
Dianne Cassidy
Dianne is an IBCLC, podcaster, author, and lactation education manager and has been working with families since 2008. In 2010, Dianne completed her Advanced Lactation Certification and BS In Maternal Child Health/Lactation. In 2013, she completed her MA in Health and Wellness/Lactation. Dianne teaches using her real-life experiences and case studies, which sets her apart in the lactation field providing a personalized and realistic experience for her audiences. Dianne’s evolution began as a clinical, patient-centered lactation consultant to a public speaker and educator, where she really shines.
Charlotte Lewis
Dr Lewis is currently professor of pediatrics at University of Washington School of Medicine and attending physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr Lewis leads the Seattle Children’s Multidisciplinary Infant Nutrition and Feeding Team and attends in the Newborn and Progressive Care Nurseries at the University of Washington Medical Center, where she teaches, supervises trainees, and provides patient care.
Richard Baxter
Dr Richard Baxter is a board-certified pediatric dentist, Fellow of the AAPD, and Diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery. He is an internationally recognised speaker on tongue-tie, instructor of the acclaimed online course Tongue-Tied Academy, and lead author of the bestselling book Tongue-Tied: How a Tiny String Under the Tongue Impacts Nursing, Speech, Feeding, and More. He is passionate about educating parents and healthcare providers about the effects a tongue-tie can have throughout the lifespan. He is the founder of the Alabama Tongue-Tie Center where he uses the CO2 laser to release oral restrictions. He had a tongue-tie himself, and all of his three girls were treated as infants, so this field is a personal one.
Grace Tay Yue Wen
Dr Grace is a practising lactation consultant at Gloria Lactation Centre, and founder of Gloria Confinement Centre, a postnatal care centre located in Penang, Malaysia. She graduated with Honours from University College Dublin in 2012 and received the Malaysian Medical Association Book Prize for Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and for Surgery. Dr Grace is currently engaged in research with the RCSI-UCD Malaysian Campus for the “Evaluation of an Antenatal Lactation Preparation Package (ALPP) on Breastfeeding Practices Among Postnatal Mothers in a Postnatal Care Centre in Penang”, and “BF City— determining the indicators of a breastfeeding-friendly city”. She is also an active member of the Making Penang Breastfeeding-Friendly (MBPF) State Government Initiative since 2019.
Ann Kellams
Dr Ann Kellams is board-certified in both pediatrics and breastfeeding and lactation medicine, and is an IBCLC and a professor of pediatrics. In 2006, Dr Kellams joined the UVA Department of Pediatrics faculty and became the medical director of the newborn service on the maternity unit. She is the founder and director of UVA’s Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine program. In 2018, Dr Kellams became the vice chair for Clinical Affairs for UVA’s Dept of Pediatrics. In 2022, she was inducted into the American Pediatric Society, and in 2023 she was in the first class of physicians to become certified by the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine. She is the immediate past president of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
Jill Rabin
Jill Rabin is a pediatric speech pathologist and IBCLC with a private practice in Chicago. She has been working with the 0-3-yr-old population since 1986. Her areas of specialty include facilitating breastfeeding in at-risk populations such as preterm infants, babies with tethered oral tissues and babies with Down syndrome, managing feeding aversion and using the Adapted Baby-Led Weaning Approach® to transition babies with feeding challenges to solids. She co-authored the book Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too! with Gill Rapley in 2022. Jill lectures nationally and internationally as well as teaching live virtual classes for transitioning to solids to parents of babies. Jill co-moderates an international Zoom group for expectant, pumping and breastfeeding parents of babies with Down syndrome through Julia’s Way and the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress.
Kate Rassie
Dr Kate Rassie is a consultant endocrinologist at Monash Health and at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, Melbourne. She is also a PhD candidate at Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University. Her particular areas of clinical and research interest are women’s health, female reproductive and menstrual disorders, endocrinology in pregnancy and lactation, menopause and MHT, obesity and weight management, and all areas of diabetes (including general, T1DM, pre-conceptual diabetes management, and diabetes in pregnancy). Her PhD thesis examines the link between metabolic and insulin-resistant conditions (diabetes mellitus, PCOS and obesity) and breastfeeding; both with respect to the underlying hormonal mechanisms and at a broader (clinical and epidemiological) level.
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