Alison Hazelbaker, Ph.D., IBCLC, CST, RCST

about Alison Hazelbaker

Dr. Hazelbaker's extensive experience in the field of lactation has earned her an international reputation. Her original research on tongue-tie has changed clinical practice both in the US and abroad. People recognize her as an expert on infant sucking issues and the treament of same. As an innovator, she invented the Hazelbaker(TM) FingerFeeder, a specialty feeding device designed to support or cultivate proper infant sucking as a means to transition infants onto or back to the breast. Dr. Hazelbaker utilizes CranioSacral Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage Therapy in her practice, as well as botanicals and homeopathy. Her willingness to address breastfeeding problems from a variety of perspectives has earned her the respect of her colleagues and her client population. Conference organizers seek her out; she has 25 years of experience speaking on a variety of lactation topics, especially those that fall into her main areas of expertise. Dr. Hazelbaker served in multiple capacities on ILCA committees, is the past President of both the Central Arizona Lactation Consultant Association and the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association. She also served as an Editorial Review Board member for the Journal of Human Lactation for over a decade. Her dissertation "Toward a Unified Theory of Healing: A Grounded Theory Study" was nominated for the Marvin B. Sussman Award for Academic Excellence. She authored multiple monographs and articles on lactation theory and management. She is currently revising both her Master's thesis on tongue-tie and her dissertation into books. She devised a developmentally oriented therapeutic process known as Somenos(TM) during her doctoral program and trains therapists to apply this cutting edge transformational healing method.

official bio

Dr. Hazelbaker maintains a private practice in Columbus, Ohio. She has been a La Leche League Leader for 27 years and a practicing lactation consultant for over 25 years. She incorporates her special training in Cranio-Sacral Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage Therapy into her lactation practice. She authored the "Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function" and invented the Hazelbaker(TM) FingerFeeder. She is one of the few lactation consultants who earned a graduate degree in human lactation (Master's.) Dr. Hazelbaker also holds a doctorate in Psychology, specializing in Energetic and Transformational Healing. Dr. Hazelbaker mothered her five children through long-term breastfeeding and is the proud grandmother of two breastfed grandchildren, Aidan and Eva.

presentations

Alison Hazelbaker is pleased to provide presentations on the following topics to professional and parenting conferences. Presentations on other topics may be available upon request and subject to sufficient development lead-time. (For CERP topics, required paperwork will be provided promptly to meet CERP deadlines)

The Hazelbaker ™ FingerFeeder
30 - 180 minutes

The Hazelbaker™ FingerFeeder remains the only device approved by the FDA for finger feeding. In this presentation, Dr. Hazelbaker briefly reminisces about the history of the FingerFeeder’s development. She presents and discusses its therapeutic power as a training tool, a proper-suck maintenance tool, and as a device used to support other forms of therapy like cranio-sacral. She then covers and demonstrates assembly, cleaning and proper use. Participants will get to handle the FingerFeeder thereby creating muscle memory for assembling, disassembling and using the product. As desired, case histories will illustrate the FingerFeeder’s efficacy as an alternative feeding device that ultimately supports the establishment of optimal breastfeeding. Note: enhance the clinical component, this presentation can incorporate demonstration on live baby models. Please discuss this with Dr. Hazelbaker.

Why Johnny Can’t Suck: Perinatal Influences on Normal Term Infants’ Ability to Suck and Strategies to Prevent and Correct Sucking Problems.
150 - 180 minutes

Originally a day-long workshop presented by Lact-Ed, Inc. and Lact-Ed, LLC, this presentation focuses on the most dramatic presentation of breastfeeding problems: the baby who has significant sucking problems associated with US childbirth management. Dr. Hazelbaker covers all the potential pitfalls of childbirth as business and the possible negative impact this approach has on infant sucking. She covers the differential lactation diagnosis process, the decision tree for choosing level and type of intervention, and the various treatment modalities used to correct sucking problems both in and out of hospital. Dr. Hazelbaker takes the participants on a journey through the normal physiological sucking process to aid participants in their understanding of normal vs. abnormal thereby enhancing the assessment skills of the audience. She also suggests ways to “stack the deck in the baby’s favor” to prevent sucking problems from developing. This workshop touches on but does not cover assessing and treating sucking problems that are associated with structural abnormalities or neurological causes.Note: A clinical component can be added to this workshop by adding an extra half-or full day. Case histories, models and DVD presentation of babies with sucking issues presented in this portion can deepen and broaden the clinical skills of participants.

This session is actually listed at 360 minutes.

Title: Finger Feeding: What do we know? What should we know?
75 - 120 minutes

Although an alternative feeding method, such as bottle, cup or finger feeding, represents a less than ideal way to feed infants, at times introducing one of these methods may ultimately save the breastfeeding relationship. In this session, Dr. Hazelbaker presents the research on and the theory of finger feeding. She then proposes areas for further research. She includes a sub-lecture on the physiology of finger feeding and compares finger feeding against bottle and cup from the physiological perspective. Participants come away with a new understanding of finger feeding, enabling them to make sound clinical decisions regarding a therapeutic choice when a baby must be fed away from the breast.

To Clip or Not to Clip: Assessing and Treating Tongue-tie
75 - 180 minutes

For decades, assessing and treating tongue-tie has been a controversial subject. Although lactation consultants have a keen appreciation for the need to treat this relatively uncommon structural abnormality, other health care providers do not share their level of concern. Parents often get caught or trapped between the recommendations of their LC and their primary health care provider. In this presentation, Dr. Hazelbaker presents the most up-to-date research on definition, assessment, treatment, and treatment outcome. She examines the on-going controversy and provides research based guidelines for the clinical decision-making process. Dr. Hazelbaker presents her own screening process, the Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function (ATLFF) and teaches participants how to use it properly (in longer versions of this presentation.) She also suggests ideas for cultivating a supportive team approach in communities where the practitioners remain ignorant of the pertinent research. Note: This session can be expanded to a one or two day workshop depending on the needs of the audience and the sponsor. A workshop includes a video detailing the use of the ATLFF and may include monitored assessments on model infants. A completion certificate is provided to two day workshop participants.

Treating Infant Sucking Problems with Craniosacral Therapy
75 - 180 minutes

It unfortunately has become commonplace for newborns to refuse to latch or have tremendous difficulty latching-to the breast. A non-latching baby or a baby with significant sucking issues presents a unique and frustrating challenge to the lactation consultant. Several studies have shown the benefit of craniosacral therapy as a treatment approach to correct disorganized and dysfunctional sucking. In this exciting presentation, Dr. Hazelbaker details the anatomy and physiology of the craniosacral system, linking it to the anatomy and physiology of infant suck. She describes the multiple structural and physiological deficits of newborn sucking caused by intrauterine and intrapartum influences. She explains and demonstrates craniosacral therapy, and presents case histories of actual clients whose situations responded well to this form of therapy. Along with the benefits, Dr. Hazelbaker suggests a clinical decision-making algorithm that aids the clinician to determine if a particular infant could be helped by craniosacral therapy. This session also covers indications for treating the breastfeeding mother with CST. Note: The sponsor may choose to have an infant model whose parents desire a craniosacral treatment as a live demonstration of this exciting and non-invasive form of therapy. Additionally, mothers who have had epidurals, spinals and/or cesarean sections can benefit from this modality. A demonstration may include treatment of a mother or member of the audience who experienced these interventions.

Sucking Issues and Solutions
75 - 180 minutes

In this pared down version of Why Johnny Can’t Suck, Dr. Hazelbaker examines the different types of sucking problems and their various causes. She presents a conceptual framework for working with these problems that includes a detailed assessment protocol; guidelines for making a differential diagnosis; and a decision tree for determining the clinical intervention pathway to meet the specific needs of the breastfeeding dyad.Note: This presentation does not include training in any treatment modality, e.g. suck training or cranio-sacral therapy.

Differentiating Between Normal, Disorganized, and Dysfunctional Suck
75 - 180 minutes

Regrettably, infant sucking problems are on the rise due to a variety of influences. Lactation consultants often find themselves unable to assist a breastfeeding dyad with sucking issues, sometimes because the sucking problem is too complex, but also because their ability to assess and determine the type of sucking problem is not well developed. Dr. Hazelbaker reviews normal suck physiology then describes in detail the ways in which disorganized and dysfunctionally sucking babyies deviate from this norm based on Marjorie Meyer Palmer’s original research in this area. As well, Dr. Hazelbaker describes the differences between oral-motor sucking issues and sensory sucking issues. An accurate assessment leads to appropriate and timely interventions. The participant will come away from this presentation with a better understanding of infant sucking pathology that will enable them to address the sucking problem quickly and effectively. Note: Longer presentations include DVD footage showing the use of the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale, which Dr. Hazelbaker is certified to administer.

Failure to Launch: Working with the Baby who has Difficulty Latching, Latches but Won’t Suck or Who Won’t Latch at All.
75 - 180 minutes

Guiding principles of treatment follow profiles of dysfunctionally sucking babies in this presentation. Dr. Hazelbaker presents and discusses the various treatment approaches to address this specific form of infant sucking dysfunction including ways to maintain the milk supply and support the mother while the suck problem is being addressed. She further examines selection criteria for these various treatment approaches while framing the breastfeeding goals for babies who have anomalies like tongue-tie, clefts and syndromes. A clinical case review that includes an assessment and treatment element rounds out this presentation. At the end of this presentation, the participant will be better able to assist the breastfeeding mother whose baby cannot or will not latch for whatever reason.

Perinatal, Labor and Delivery, and Postpartum Influences on the Infant’s Ability to Breastfeed
75 - 180 minutes

From intrauterine lie and intrapartum narcotic pain-relief to circumcision, multiple factors influence the preservation of the Suck/Swallow/Breathe developmental reflex that sets the stage for optimal breastfeeding. In this presentation, Dr. Hazelbaker examines the ways in which infant suck can be undermined from a psychological and structural perspective. She discusses both intrauterine and intrapartum cranial molding and the influence of obstructions and interventions on the normal molding process. She discusses aversive behaviors and pre-birth and birth trauma as negative influences on breastfeeding. Dr. Hazelbaker presents treatment suggestions for both the psychological and physiological components with emphasis on body-mind and transpersonal therapies. Note: This presentation can be tailored to focus on physiological or psychological aspects depending on the needs of the sponsor and the audience.

Establishing Flow: Using Lymphatic Drainage Therapy to Treat Lactation Related Issues
75 - 180 minutes

Surprisingly, lymphatic congestion forms the foundation of some lactation problems like chronic plugged ducts and unresolving nipple and breast pain. In this cutting-edge presentation, Dr. Hazelbaker covers the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system (especially as it pertains to the breast) and discusses the most common presentations and causes of lymphatic breast congestion. She demonstrates the Lymphatic Drainage Therapy technique (the Chikly method) either on a model or volunteer from the audience and gives pointers on how to determine if lymphatic congestion is playing a role in a breastfeeding problem. Dr. Hazelbaker leaves the audience with a brief breast self-care regimen that can enhance the breast health of every participant when used often. Note: This presentation can be offered in a one-day workshop format wherein the participants get hands-on experience assessing the lymphatic system and doing basic lymphatic drainage techniques that can resolve lymphatic breast congestion.

It’s Not Supposed to Hurt: Advanced Clinical Skills for Preventing and Resolving Breast and Nipple Problems During Lactation
150 - 180 minutes

In this one day seminar originally presented by Lact-Ed, Inc. and Lact-Ed, LLC, Dr. Hazelbaker presents a brief review of breast anatomy and physiology, and milk synthesis including the latest findings on the subject. She then covers assessment of the lactating breast. A discussion of Early, Late and Sudden Onset nipple problems and their treatments follows. Dr. Hazelbaker then addresses various breast problems including engorgement, mastitis, and tissue trauma. Case histories illustrating treatment strategies for both breast and nipple issues round out this section of the seminar. Dr. Hazelbaker also discusses milk supply issues, including a brief overview of PCOS and other endogenous and secondary causes of low supply and their treatment. She then addresses breast pain of unknown origin, safe weaning and consequences of inadequate or improper treatment. She places emphasis on collaboration and referral when a team approach is indicated. Note: This seminar can be pared down into shorter presentation that address specific aspects like Nipple Pain, or Assessment and Treatment of Abcesses. Please call Dr. Hazelbaker to discuss your specific needs.

This session is actually listed as 360 minutes.

Breastfeeding Management at the Bedside
75 - 180 minutes

Mothers who come to see me often complain about bedside breastfeeding care they received in the hospital. What prevents care from optimally supporting these mothers and their babies? Dr. Hazelbaker starts by presenting the various policies designed to guide health care professionals to provide best practices support of breastfeeding dyads in hospital. She then discusses common practices that conflict with these best practices and suggests ways to resolve these conflicts. She covers basic bedside management of breastfeeding to ensure a good start and ways to address common breastfeeding problems seen in the early post-partum period. The “same page” phenomenon is presented and emphasized. Dr, Hazelbaker also discusses the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and its role in instituting best practice care at the bedside.Note: This presentation can be given twice in one day to catch multiple shifts of hospital based professionals.

This session is actually listed as 75 - 260 minutes.