Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC

about Marsha Walker

Acquiring new knowledge about breastfeeding and lactation is an ongoing professional responsibility for all who work with new families. Marsha's presentations endeavor to provide evidence-based practice guidelines, hands-on suggestions for remediation of breastfeeding problems, and insight into making changes at the institutional level. Professional offerings span a wide range of subjects including clinical, advocacy, systems changes, and breastfeeding as a public health issue. Whether it is a hospital in-serive, WIC workshop, regional perinatal program, or large professional association conference, all material is tailored to the needs of the target audience.

official bio

Marsha is a registered nurse and international board certified lactation consultant. She maintained a large clinical practice at a major HMO in Massachusetts, is a published author and an international speaker. Consulting with hospitals, providing in-service presentations, speaking at conferences and workshops and advocating for breastfeeding at the state and federal levels occupy her professional time. She is currently a member of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition, Baby Friendly USA, Best for Babes Foundation, and the US Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA). She is a past president of the International Lactation Consultant Association.

presentations

Marsha Walker 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)

Stemming the Tide of Supplementation
75 - 90 minutes
CERP

Supplementation of the breastfed infant has been steadily increasing over the years, reducing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding and increasing the likelihood of premature weaning. This presentation explores the reasons for necessary and unnecessary supplementation, as well as when, why and how to supplement if necessary.

Birth Interventions and Breastfeeding
75 - 90 minutes
CERP

Most mothers giving birth experience a myriad of interventions. Many of these affect breastfeeding and the infant's acquisition of early feeding skills. This presentation discusses many interventions from labor medications and IVs to separation and crying and their affect on the breastfeeding dyad. Suggestions to remediate problems associated with birth interventions are presented.

Breastfeeding and Obesity
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

Overweight and obesity are at epidemic proportions. Both conditions complicate pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. This presentation looks at the evidence for the protective effects of breastfeeding upon the development of overweight and obesity, especially in infancy and childhood. Also covered is how obesity affects lactation and the possible complications to breastfeeding that overweight and obesity present. Interventions for remediating these problems are offered.

Breastfeeding and Diabetes
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational) are all increasing among the general population and especially in childbearing women and their children - much of it as a result of the increasing rates of overweight and obesity. This offering discusses each type of diabetes as it relates to breastfeeding or the lack of breastfeeding and looks at the potential complications to breastfeeding that diabetes can present. Recommendations for diabetic breastfeeding mothers are presented.

Improving Maternity Care Practices: Raising Your mPINC Score
60 - 180 minutes
CERP

In 2007, all US birthing facilities received a survey from the CDC asking questions regarding maternity care feeding practices and policies related to breastfeeding. In 2008, the CDC sent facility-specific scores to responding hospitals assigning them a score based on how close they came to evidence-based best practices. This talk covers how to use your facility's score as a tool to create a more supportive environemnt for breastfeeding families.

Breastfeeding the Late Preterm Infant
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

This offering reviews the vulnerabilities of the late preterm infant (34-37 weeks) and offers specific guidelines for breastfeeding these babies and protecting the mother's milk supply.Note: Late preterm infants are a special and vulnerable population that is rapidly increasing in number. These babies are not just smaller versions of full term infants, but require increased vigilence and breastfeeding interventions tailored to meet their unique needs. This presentation provides an overview of the late preterm infant and offers specific clinical guidelines for breastfeeding these babies.

Delayed Lactogenesis: The Waiting Game
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

Delay in the onset of copious milk production has a number of origins. This presentation explores recognition of delayed lactogenesis and offers interventions to adequately nourish the infant and preserve lactation.Note: A number of maternal and infant conditions can delay the onset of copious milk production, increasing the potential for adverse outcomes for the infant and a potential for lactation failure. This presentation explores prenatal markers for delayed lactogenesis, peripartum events, infant contributions, and iatrogenic causes and offers interventions to preserve lactation.

Breastfeeding and Employment: From the employee's side; from the employer's side
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

With so many mothers of young infants in the workplace, breastfeeding is being challenged by lack of paid maternity leave, unsupportive worksites, and lack of appropriate guidelines for mothers returning to work. This presentation addresses how to work with mothers and employers to allow breastfeeding to thrive in the work setting. Creative solutions to breastfeeding challenges, approaches to reluctant employers, and hard numbers will be discussed.

Scripts: Assuring consistent guidelines
60 - 75 minutes
CERP

Scripts are a tool for providing consistent, evidence-based care on busy maternity units. They offer a consistent, logical approach to solving early breastfeeding problems and issues.Note: Scripts are tools that can be used to help nurses feel more comfortable in delivering consistent, evidence-based breastfeeding care. Many situations arise in the early days following birth that the staff nurse is asked to address by new mothers. Nurses without advanced lactation skills may be caught off guard or apprehensive in solving breastfeeding problems. Scripting is a tool that gives nurses guidelines for handling situations more effectively. It can help with daily interactions with patients, peers, and physicians to ensure consistency and continuity of patient care