Karen Gromada, MSN, RN, IBCLC, FILCA

about Karen Gromada

Karen currently works as a hospital-based lactation consultant at Cincinnati's TriHealth Hospitals where she serves as a Lactation Consultant Team Leader. She holds a Masters of Science degree in mental health nursing from the University of Cincinnati. Although best known for her expertise regarding breastfeeding multiple-birth infants, her recent presentations have included: Bottle Nipple Flow Rates: Supporting Safe Infant Oral Behaviors and Breastfeeding; Facilitating Breastfeeding in the Near-Term Newborn; Sexual Abuse: Potential Effects on Breastfeeding; and a comprehensive two-day workshop Clinical Management of the Breastfeeding Dyad: An Evidence-Based Approach. She developed a several-day course for TriHealth employees that is being introduced in 2007.

official bio

Karen Kerkhoff Gromada, MSN, RN, IBCLC, has worked in various perinatal settings, including L&D, OB early discharge homecare, and as a private practice and hospital-based lactation consultant. She leads a La Leche League group for mothers of multiples and is the author of Mothering Multiples: Breastfeeding and Caring for Twins or More and related articles for professional and parent publications. She served as President of the International Lactation Consultant Association from 1994-1996.

sessions

Karen Gromada 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)

Breastfeeding Twins and Higher-Order Multiples
60 - 180 minutes
CERP

Helping mothers initiate and maintain breastfeeding/lactation with full-/preterm multiple-birth infants. Note: Multiple births have increased and so has the desire of their mothers to breastfeed, yet in addition to managing breastfeeding with two or more different babies, many mothers are also transitioning two or more preterm or compromised newborns to breast.

Facilitating Breastfeeding in the Near-Term Newborn
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

The number of late preterm (near-term) births is increasing. Initiating breastfeeding with these infants often poses a challenge, and mothers may turn to childbirth educators for breastfeeding information and support.

Safe and Breastfeeding Compatible Oral Behaviors for the Infant Receiving a Bottle
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

A newborn or young infant may receive supplementary feedings for a variety of reasons. Determining the “best” method of supplementation can be controversial, although definitive evidence favoring any particular method is lacking. A transition to full, long-term breastfeeding and early bottle-feeding supplementation are not mutually exclusive. This session examines the risks or disadvantages of bottle-feeding for supplemental feedings and discuss how bottle-feeding may be used to reinforce breastfeeding oral behaviors.

Maternal History of Sexual Abuse: Implications for Breastfeeding
90 - 120 minutes
CERP

Breastfeeding may help heal or seem to hinder healing in the mother with a history of sexual abuse. This session looks at the sociological factors and the maternal behaviors associated with a history of childhood/adult sexual abuse. Also discussed are verbal and nonverbal communication techniques that facilitate assessment of and intervention with these breastfeeding clients

Breastfeeding Problem Solving: A Solution-Oriented Approach
75 - 90 minutes
CERP

Solution-oriented techniques were designed to meet the breastfeeding mother where she is. In addition to maximizing maternal strenghts, solution-oriented techniques also minimize care provider bias. This session examines the role of a solution-oriented approach as it pertains to the therapeutic relationship with breastfeeding clients and it provides examples of applying solution-oriented concepts to breastfeeding/lactation issues or problems.

Codependence as an Issue for Lactation Consultant Care Providers
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

Ever care so much or want breastfeeding for a baby so much that you'd breastfeed the baby yourself if you could? Over-involvement in breastfeeding dyads' issues/problems is not unusual. This session helps care providers recognize when they are in too deep and how to more effectively assist the breastfeeding dyad.

The Multiple Birth Experience: One Size Does NOT Fit All
60 - 120 minutes
CERP

Multiple pregnancy comes with a “high risk” tag. Although this label requires a flexible approach to birth, every multiple pregnancy and birth is unique and should be treated as such, especially when breastfeeding is the goal after birth.