Catherine Watson Genna, BS, IBCLC

about Catherine Watson Genna

In addition to speaking (on four continents so far) and writing, Catherine maintains a busy private lactation consulting practice. An LLL Leader for 18 years and IBCLC for 17, she believes that clinical expertise must go hand in hand with empathy and compassion for breastfeeding dyads. Her teaching grew out of a strong desire to understand the science underlying breastfeeding and lactation in an effort to find solutions to her clients’ difficulties. Though many of her offerings are designed as continuing education for experienced lactation consultants and health care professionals, her repertoire includes talks for peer helpers as well. A visual learner herself, Catherine illustrates her often technical topics with clinical photographs and videos. Catherine makes her home in Queens County, New York City with her husband Dave. They both enjoy the company of their adult son and daughter.

official bio

Catherine Watson Genna has been an IBCLC in private practice in NYC since 1992. She has a special interest in the anatomical, genetic and neurological influences on infant sucking skills, and writes and speaks on these topics. She is co-researcher in a study utilizing ultrasound to examine tongue movements during breastfeeding in infants with ankyloglossia and other sucking problems. Her clinical photographs have been published in both lay and scholarly venues. She is the author of Supporting Sucking Skills in Breastfeeding Infants (Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2008) and Selecting and Using Breastfeeding Tools (Hale Publishing, 2009).

sessions

Catherine Watson Genna 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)

Anatomical Contributions to Infant Sucking Skills
90 - 120 minutes
CERP

Many infants who present to lactation consultants with feeding difficulties have anatomical variations of the oral cavity and airway. Issues such as micrognathia, ankyloglossia, macroglossia, larygomalacia, and velopharyngeal insufficiency can lead to persistent feeding difficulties, and greatly increase the risk of early weaning and/or failure to thrive. Through the use of clinical photographs and videos, participants will gain an understanding of how these anatomical variations impact sucking and breastfeeding skills, and learn some initial measures to use to help mothers and infants compensate. Note: Major overlap with Tongue-tie and Sucking Skills and Respiratory Issues and Breastfeeding.
Can be shortened for pairing with Resp.

Sensory Integration, Sensory Processing Disorders, and Breastfeeding
90 - 180 minutes
CERP

Sensory processing is important for successful breastfeeding, and is less developed in infants. This lecture gives a brief overview of sensory integration theory, explains how dysfunctional sensory integration can make breastfeeding challenging, and gives strategies for working with infants and mothers with these issues. Extensive discussion (illustrated by clinical photographs and videos) of infant state, stress cues, and methods of helping infants re-organize apply to neurotypical (normal) infants as well.Note: Ninety minutes for only the most sophisticated audiences, three hours for peer counsellors, 2 hours is good for most IBCLCs and experienced La Leche League Leaders.

The Non-Latching Infant: The First 48 Hours
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

Optimized for medical personnel in the delivery and postpartum unit, this presentation explores newborn neurobehavioral programming for breastfeeding and how it is impacted by birth interventions and separation from the mother. The development of hospital feeding practices is briefly traced, and evidence based strategies to assist non-latching infants and their mothers are detailed and illustrated with clinical photographs. Supporting milk supply, preventing hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia, and post-discharge planning are included.Note: Works very well as a hospital in-service.

The Non-Latching Infant: The First 48 Hours and Beyond
90 - 90 minutes
CERP

One of the biggest challenges of lactation consultant practice is the non-latching infant. Optimized for mixed groups of hospital and private practice lactation consultants and health care providers, this presentation provides equal emphasis on in patient and out patient issues for non-latching infants. Advanced strategies employed by IBCLCs to help infants who don’t latch are covered in the final half of the presentation. This presentation is copiously illustrated with clinical photos and some video.Note: Includes emphasis on latching infants over one month old.

Good Latch/Bad Latch: Nuances of Attachment
60 - 75 minutes
CERP

The understanding of infant sucking has burgeoned in recent years with the continued development of cineradiographic and ultrasound techniques. A clear understanding of how infants use the tongue during breastfeeding as well as triggers for infant feeding behaviors helps the lactation consultant understand how to optimize attachment for each mother-baby pair. A wide variety of approaches to both mother and infant led attachment are illustrated by video clips from lactation consultations. Extensive clinical photos illustrate the subtle signs of suboptimal vs. optimal attachment. The longer version includes latching to bottle nipples to support breastfeeding skills, optimizing attachment when using at-breast supplementers, and latching to nipple shields in a way that promotes direct breastfeeding in the future. Note: This presentation is good for a mixed audience, when there is a wide range of experience levels or professional titles. 60-75 minutes.

Substantially revised for 2009.

Choosing and Using Breastfeeding Tools: A Clinical Reasoning Approach
120 - 150 minutes
CERP

How does the lactation consultant choose between the various supplementers, nipple shields, cups and bottle nipples? Infants differ in their skills and needs, and mothers differ in their capabilities and resources. A strategy for clinical observation and decision making is detailed, using case studies, clinical photographs, and videos to show how different devices are used to achieve individualized feeding goals. This is an advanced practice presentation, and the cases profiled are complex. Note: For smaller groups, a “hands on” practice with the various tools covered can be provided. If desired, use the 150 minute time frame.

Breastfeeding Infants with Respiratory Issues
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

Infants who can’t breathe well have difficulty feeding. Breastfeeding is generally easier for these infants, especially if modifications are made to accommodate their reduced stamina and ability to manage flow. The most common developmental respiratory difficulties(laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia, transient tachypnea of the newborn) and malformations (velopharyngeal insufficiency, subglottic stenosis) are discussed, along with ways to optimize breastfeeding for each condition. Clinical photos and videos illustrate the conditions and techniques covered. Note: 60-75 minutes.

How Milk is Made: Implications for LC Practice
120 - 120 minutes
CERP

The control of milk synthesis depends on a complex interaction of autocrine and endocrine factors. The contributions of these two systems are continually being clarified by research. This presentation explains the two systems, their interactions, and what this means for the advice we give to mothers. Should an engorged mother pump? How do we best help a mother increase milk supply? How do we control oversupply without increasing the risk of mastitis? The scientific background is clearly delineated in understandable language, and these quandaries discussed.Note: Good for a wide range of audiences, gives the scientific background necessary for clinical decision making.

Tongue-tie and Sucking Skills
90 - 120 minutes
CERP

The tongue is the major player in sucking, and even subtle variations in tongue attachment can cause suckling difficulties. This presentation covers normal tongue movements and normal sucking, effects of different degrees of tongue restriction on tongue mobility, sucking compensations in tongue tied infants, and strategies to preserve breastfeeding. Richly illustrated with clinical photographs and videos, this presentation is suitable for health care professionals as well as lactation consultants.Note: A 120 minute version with details on surgical technique is co-presented with Elizabeth V. Coryllos, MD, IBCLC, FAAP, FACS.

Whatcha Say Baby? Infant Communication
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

This humorous presentation focuses on infant communication strategies. Many basics of infant needs and breastfeeding management are covered. The presentation conveys a respect for the competence of the human infant. Infant state, hunger cues, feeding behaviors, stress signals, satiety cues, and normal neurobehavioral modulation are all included. Includes a brief introduction to conditions that might impact breastfeeding through the lens of infant facial expressions and motor responses.Note: 75 minutes. Richly illustrated with sparse text, it is designed for an audience of peer counselors, WIC personnel, and postpartum and pediatric nurses.

Fingerfeeding as Oral Motor Therapy
60 - 120 minutes
CERP

This talk presents the nuances of fingerfeeding as both an alternative feeding method to help preserve breastfeeding behaviors and as a way to facilitate sucking skills in infants currently incapable of breastfeeding correctly. Theoretical justification is briefly reviewed, and then specific devices and techniques are discussed and illustrated along with indications and contraindications for each. The techniques are presented in case context, with clinical video of each technique in use. Note: 60 minutes to a sophisticated audience well versed in normal sucking, and 120 minutes with a review of normal sucking for less experienced audiences. Good for both therapists and IBCLCs.

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Posterior Tongue-Tie
60 - 60 minutes
CERP

Posterior tongue tie is a frequent cause of oral motor dysfunction and is frequently missed by even experienced physicians and lactation consultants. Extensive clinical photos and video demonstrate evaluation and simple frenotomy for posterior and submucosal tongue tie. Ultrasound videos document the changes in tongue function produced by this treatment. This presentation can stand alone or can be used with Research Update.Note: Can be presented with Elizabeth Coryllos, MD, IBCLC, FAAP, FACS.

Breastfeeding Red Flags
75 - 90 minutes
CERP

Some conditions require further scrutiny and referral to a health care professional. This presentation uses clinical photographs to illustrate signs of insufficient milk intake, cardiac and respiratory problems, and tongue-tie in infants; as well as signs of breast cancer or risk factors for insufficient milk production in mothers. Note: This presentation is most suitable for La Leche League Leaders, peer counselors, postpartum doulas, lactation educators and lactation counselors.

Research Update: Ultrasound Study of Tongue Function during Breastfeeding Before and After Treatment of Partial Ankyloglossia (Tongue-tie)
60 - 75 minutes
CERP

Ultrasound is a non-invasive tool for studying tongue and swallowing function during breastfeeding. Infants with tongue tie are unable to perform normal wavelike tongue movements, and use compensatory and less efficient strategies to transfer milk from the breast. Ultrasound videos show these strategies in action, and are correlated with clinical video of infants using the same compensations. Normalization of sucking motions and rhythms are documented after treatment.Note: This presentation is best for an audience of physicians, therapists and experienced IBCLCs.

Assessing Suck:Swallow Patterns
60 - 60 minutes
CERP

Skillful lactation consulting requires the ability to interpret sucking speed, suck:swallow ratios, and coordination of swallowing and breathing. This session presents recent research on normal sucking rhythms of breastfeeding infants. Compensatory strategies used by infants with prematurity and cardiorespiratory anomalies are discussed, and are illustrated with clinical videos.Note: This talk works well with Cervical Auscultation for Lactation Consultants for a 75-90 minute combined session.

Cervical Auscultation for Lactation Consultants
60 - 60 minutes
CERP

Cervical Auscultation (listening with a stethoscope over the baby’s neck or chin during feeding) is a useful tool for lactation consultants in assessing suck:swallow:breathe rhythms. Inaudible swallowing sounds become audible, and difficulties coordinating swallowing and breathing are more easily identified. This advanced practice presentation uses recorded sound files of cervical auscultation of breastfeeding infants to illustrate difficulties that can be identified using this method. Use of this information in clinical problem solving is stressed.Note: This session works very well when combined with Assessing Suck:Swallow Patterns for a 75-90 minute session.