Laurel Wilson, BSc, IBCLC, INHC, CLSP, is an international keynote speaker, educator, and consultant with over 30 years of experience in lactation, perinatal health, and women’s midlife wellness. She is the founder of Thrive During the Transition and a leader in bridging the gap between clinical practice, corporate wellness, and real-world support for women across the lifespan.
Laurel is known for delivering evidence-based, forward-thinking education that translates directly into practice change. She works with healthcare professionals, organizations, and corporate leaders to improve outcomes in maternal/parental-child health, employee retention, and women’s health support, from the perinatal period through menopause.
Her areas of expertise include the microbiome and estrobolome, epigenetics, hormone health, lactation physiology, and the intersection of maternal and midlife wellness. She is particularly passionate about how early life experiences,including feeding, attachment, and skin-to-skin care, shape long-term health, as well as how hormonal transitions impact both lactation and overall well-being.
A dynamic and engaging speaker, Laurel creates highly interactive, visually rich learning experiences that challenge professionals to think differently and act boldly. Whether working with small groups or large audiences, she is known for blending science with humanity, sparking insight, confidence, and meaningful change in the professionals she serves.
Laurel Wilson is an international keynote speaker, author, and consultant with more than 30 years of experience in lactation, perinatal health, and women’s midlife wellness. She is the founder of MotherJourney and Thrive with Laurel, and a recognized leader in advancing evidence-based, integrative care for women across the lifespan, from early parenthood through menopause.
Laurel has held numerous leadership roles within the maternal/parental-child health field, including serving as Executive Director of Lactation Programs for CAPPA for 17 years. She has contributed at the national level as a board director for the United States Breastfeeding Committee and as a board member for Kindred Media. She currently serves as an advisor to InJoy Health, an Expert Advisor for the Perinatal Professionals Association, and a board member-at-large for the Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition.
As an Academic Development Specialist with the GOLD Lactation Academy, Laurel led the development of a comprehensive 95+ hour IBCLC preparatory program, helping to train the next generation of lactation professionals worldwide.
Her areas of expertise include the microbiome and estrobolome, epigenetics, lactation physiology, hormone health, and the long-term impact of early life experiences such as feeding, attachment, and skin-to-skin care. She is particularly passionate about bridging the connection between perinatal health and midlife wellness, bringing a rare, lifespan-based perspective to her work with both healthcare professionals and organizations.
Laurel is the co-author of The Attachment Pregnancy and The Greatest Pregnancy Ever, and a contributing author to Round the Circle: Doulas Talk About Themselves. Known for her dynamic, visually engaging presentations, she blends cutting-edge science with practical application, challenging professionals to think differently and take meaningful action.
At the heart of Laurel’s work is a deep belief that the journey into parenthood, and beyond, is a transformative rite of passage that deserves to be informed, supported, and honored.
Laurel Wilson is an international keynote speaker and leader in women’s health who has spent over 30 years helping professionals rethink how we support women, from the first feed to midlife transitions. As an author, educator, and consultant, she brings a rare, lifespan-based perspective that connects lactation, hormone health, and long-term well-being.
Laurel is known for blending cutting-edge science with practical application, delivering presentations that are as insightful as they are transformative. Her work challenges professionals to think differently, act boldly, and create lasting impact for the families and communities they serve.
GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as semaglutide and tirzapeptide medications) are rapidly changing the landscape of maternal/parental health, with more postpartum and breastfeeding parents using these medications for weight management and metabolic health. WIC staff are increasingly encountering families with questions about milk supply, appetite suppression, nutrition adequacy, and infant feeding behaviors – often without clear guidance.
Participants will gain a practical, evidence-informed understanding of how GLP-1 medications may impact lactation, maternal/parental nutrition, and infant feeding. They will leave with real-world counseling strategies to support families in a way that protects breastfeeding, honors autonomy, and avoids weight stigma.
Objectives:
· Identify 2 potential impacts of appetite suppression and rapid weight loss on milk production and maternal nutrition
· Recognize 2 common concerns and scenarios WIC staff may encounter when supporting families using GLP-1 medications
· Apply practical, client-centered counseling strategies that support lactation while maintaining a non-judgmental, weight-inclusive approach
With more parents delaying childbirth into their late 30s and early 40s, many are navigating perimenopause during pregnancy and lactation. The average age of onset for perimenopause in the United States is 42; however, some individuals begin experiencing symptoms as early as 35, and the transition can last 10 years or longer. Black and Hispanic women are more likely to experience earlier onset, longer duration, and more severe symptoms, highlighting important disparities in care and support.
Inequities in access to care, education, and treatment during perimenopause can further complicate lactation outcomes. For many, this dual transition can feel overwhelming. This presentation explores the complex intersection of perimenopause and lactation, with a focus on practical, evidence-based support.
We examine the interplay between hormonal changes and lactation, including how fluctuations, and eventual declines, in estrogen and progesterone influence milk production and composition. We also explore how changes in the microbiome, including the estrobolome (the portion of the microbiome involved in estrogen metabolism), may impact milk supply.
Participants will gain insight into strategies to support and optimize milk production during this transitional period. From nutrition and supplementation to lifestyle and clinical considerations, we highlight practical approaches to help parents meet their feeding goals while supporting overall health.
Finally, we review current research on how lactation may influence the perimenopausal experience. By addressing hormonal shifts, supporting physiological function, and offering actionable tools, this session equips providers with the knowledge and confidence to support families navigating the unique overlap of lactation and perimenopause.
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Lactation is a defining characteristic of mammals and a critical evolutionary adaptation that supports infant survival. The development, activation, and maintenance of mammary function are driven by a complex interplay of hormonal activity. Among these are neohormones, hormones with specialized roles in human fertility, reproduction, and lactation.
While lactation research has traditionally focused on a select group of hormones, the reality is far more intricate. An entire symphony of hormones works together to support mammary gland development, regulate milk production, and sustain lactation over time.
This session explores the dynamic network of hormones involved in lactation and examines how endocrine disruptors and promoters, both external and internal, can influence hormonal balance. From everyday exposures such as cosmetics and household products to lifestyle factors like sleep and stress, we will unpack what supports or hinders optimal hormonal function.
Participants will leave with practical, evidence-based strategies to support hormonal harmony during lactation, as well as the ability to recognize key signs that hormonal imbalance may be affecting milk production, prompting appropriate referral and further evaluation.
Objective 1: Identify three key neohormones essential for mammary function
Objective 2: Identify at least two endocrine disruptors that may impair optimal mammary function
Objective 3: Describe one strategy to support hormonal harmony during lactation
The microbiome has become a central focus in understanding human health, and for good reason. Emerging research continues to reveal its powerful role in digestion, immune development, metabolic function, mood regulation, and communication along the gut-brain axis. But perhaps nowhere is its impact more profound than during the first 1,000 days of life, when the foundation for lifelong health is being established.
This session explores how the infant microbiome is seeded and shaped, beginning in the prenatal period and continuing through birth and early feeding. We examine the critical role of maternal health, mode of birth, environmental exposures, and early caregiving practices in influencing microbial colonization. Special attention is given to human milk as a dynamic, living substance-rich in prebiotics, probiotics, immune factors, and bioactive components, that actively supports the development of a diverse and resilient microbiome.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how early microbial patterns influence immune function, inflammation, and long-term health outcomes, including risks for chronic disease. We will also explore practical, evidence-based strategies to support optimal microbiome development in infants, empowering providers to better guide and support families during this critical window.
The estrobolome, an emerging area of research within the microbiome, refers to the collection of gut microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that are involved in the metabolism and regulation of estrogen. This dynamic system plays a critical role in maintaining hormonal balance, influencing circulating estrogen levels, and shaping key aspects of health, including reproductive function, body composition, brain health, and cardiovascular and bone integrity.
While the microbiome has received significant attention in recent years, the role of the estrobolome in lactation and mammary gland health remains underexplored. Disruptions in the gut ecosystem, or dysbiosis, have already been linked to infant outcomes such as food sensitivities and allergic disease. However, growing evidence suggests that these microbial imbalances may also influence lactation physiology, milk production, and the long-term health of breast tissue, including potential implications for breast cancer risk.
This session explores the current science behind the estrobolome, including its role in estrogen metabolism and its connection to reproductive and mammary function. We will examine how exposomal factors, such as diet, environmental toxins, medications, stress, and lifestyle, can shape the estrobolome, either supporting or disrupting hormonal balance.
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to assess and support estrobolome health through practical, evidence-informed strategies aimed at optimizing lactation outcomes and promoting long-term hormonal and breast health.
Is FemTech Our Friend? The Promise, and the Risks, for Lactation and Perinatal Care
Speaker: Laurel Wilson
As digital health continues to expand, FemTech has rapidly emerged as a powerful force in women’s and perinatal healthcare. Encompassing technologies such as mobile apps, wearable devices, breast pump innovations, artificial intelligence, and virtual care platforms, FemTech is transforming how individuals track, manage, and experience their reproductive and lactation journeys. With the industry projected to approach a $100 billion market, its influence is only accelerating.
But with rapid growth comes critical questions.
While FemTech offers unprecedented opportunities for education, access, and personalized care, it also raises complex concerns around data privacy, surveillance, equity, and ethical responsibility. Who owns the data? Who benefits from it, and who is left out? How do these tools support or undermine informed decision-making, autonomy, and culturally competent care?
This session takes a bold and balanced look at the evolving FemTech landscape in lactation and perinatal health. We will explore current technologies, from breast/chest pumping innovations and tracking apps to virtual lactation support, and examine both their potential and their pitfalls. Special attention will be given to issues of intersectionality, including the experiences of LGBTQIA+ families, marginalized communities, and those at risk of being excluded or exploited by digital health systems.
Participants will leave with a critical framework for evaluating FemTech, understanding its implications for practice, and navigating the ethical tensions between innovation, access, and protection. This is not just about what FemTech can do, but what it should do.
Promotion of Lactation in a Digital World: Leveraging Social Media and 21st Century Technology for Impact
Presenter
Laurel Wilson, IBCLC, RLC, CLSP, INHC, BSc
Timing
60–90 minutes
Over the past decade, the landscape of health communication has transformed at lightning speed, yet lactation promotion has struggled to keep pace. Today, social media is one of the primary sources of infant feeding information for families, often outweighing guidance from healthcare providers. At the same time, influencers with limited training, and formula companies with sophisticated marketing strategies, are shaping narratives in ways that can undermine evidence-based care.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, pushing families to rely heavily on digital platforms for education, connection, and support. In response, formula companies have expanded their digital presence, often bypassing or subtly violating the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, while many lactation professionals remain underprepared to effectively and ethically engage in these spaces.
This session explores how lactation promotion must evolve to meet families where they are – online. We will examine current research on social media use in the perinatal period, explore how families engage with digital content, and unpack the marketing tactics used by artificial milk companies to influence feeding decisions.
Most importantly, participants will gain practical, ethical, and innovative strategies to confidently leverage social media for education, advocacy, and connection, without compromising professional standards or Code compliance. This is about reclaiming the digital space and using it as a powerful tool to support, inform, and protect families.
As mammals evolved, so did a unique set of hormonal systems designed to meet the complex demands of pregnancy, birth, and lactation. The development of the placenta and the need to nourish highly dependent offspring through milk led to the emergence of specialized hormones now referred to as neohormones.
These hormones are fundamental to mammalian reproductive success. They not only regulate fertility and pregnancy but also direct the development and function of mammary tissue and contribute bioactive components to human milk. Beyond their immediate physiological roles, neohormones interact with the epigenome, modulating gene expression in ways that influence growth, development, and long-term health outcomes for both parent and infant.
This session explores the evolutionary origins and biological significance of neohormones, highlighting their roles in pregnancy, lactation, and early life programming. Participants will examine key neohormones involved in mammary function and human milk production, as well as emerging research on their broader impact on health, development, and fertility.
By deepening understanding of these powerful hormonal systems, attendees will gain a more integrated view of lactation biology and its critical role in supporting optimal outcomes across the lifespan.
As humans evolved, so did the composition of human milk—transforming into a highly specialized, bioactive substance designed to nourish, protect, and shape infant development. The unique demands of placentation, rapid brain growth, and the need to support relatively immature newborns led to the emergence of a complex network of hormones known as neohormones.
Neohormones are central to mammalian reproductive success. They not only regulate fertility and pregnancy, but also direct the development and function of mammary tissue and contribute directly to the bioactive composition of human milk. These hormones do not act in isolation, they interact dynamically with both the epigenome and the microbiome, influencing gene expression and microbial colonization in ways that shape long-term health outcomes.
Human milk serves as a powerful biological communication system, helping to program the infant’s epigenome and microbiome for optimal growth, immune function, and adaptation to the environment. From hormonal signaling to microbial seeding and salivary interactions, this session explores the extraordinary complexity of human milk and its role in early life programming.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how neohormones, epigenetic mechanisms, and the microbiome intersect to influence development, and why these insights are critical for advancing lactation support and long-term health outcomes.
For more than a decade, most lactation professions have been suggesting to families that diet matters very little in terms of human milk composition. We have told parents that they can essentially eat whatever they want, it does not matter to the bottom line. However, new studies imply that diet does matter in terms of the composition of fatty acids and essential nutrients available in milk that can potentially impact life-long health. Studies also show that changes in diet can lead to gene methylation, which impacts gene expression, and changes the oligosaccharide profile, shaping the microbiome. This presentation takes you on a tour of some recent research to better understand how maternal/parental diet (potentially prenatally through lactation) DOES play a role in human milk and how a parent’s diet can potentially influence a baby’s health.
Objectives:
Identify at least one way that maternal/parental diet can impact fatty acid profile in human milk.
List the primary reason changes in oligosaccharide profile in human milk can have health consequences in baby.
List at least three nutrient changes in human milk that can be influenced through maternal/parental diet.
Lactation education has come a long way in the past few decades yet the research shows that most of what is offered is not what is advantageous for parents in this day and age. Laurel Wilson has been a lactation educator, faculty, and lactation director in the community, in hospital settings, and for professionals for nearly two decades, and she has seen what works and what clearly fails. It is not uncommon today in classrooms to have dozens of parents listening to hours of lecture and watching endless power points without having the opportunity to step in to their own educational experience and OWN their breastfeeding journey. In fact, some parents are foregoing traditional classroom education all together and learning exclusively on You Tube and other social media sites, which comes at the price of accuracy and connection. Come with me on a journey through today’s classrooms, discussing what is and isn’t successful. Learn what works, not just for early initiation and surviving the hospital lactation experience but to help parents meet their own feeding goals. Research has identified that what is efficacious for some families and situations will not work for others. Discover unique strategies to address the specific learning needs of your families. The session will end with some favorite engaging activities to use in lactation classes and support groups, gleaned from two decades on the job and having had the opportunity to learn from and work with the best of the best educators of our time.
Objectives:
List two pros and cons of traditional classroom lactation education in terms of preparing parents for feeding their baby.
List at least two reasons parents are turning to online education instead of classroom education.
Identify three engaging activities to use in the classroom during lactation classes or support groups.
Human milk is known to be a pathway towards long-term health for both parent and child. The specific mechanisms for how this communication works have been studied, and today many researchers believe that messenger RNAs and stem cells contribute in many ways to appropriate developmental pathways for the baby and cause gene activation that promotes health for life. mRNA in human milk can also be influenced by the time of day and even the timing of the baby’s delivery, becoming adaptive for the baby’s unique needs. Not only do these messenger RNA communicate important genetic information to the baby via human milk, changes in the parent’s body via mRNA occur during lactation responding to a new “mothering” focus during the period of lactation. This may impact the parent’s postpartum mental states, adaptation to stress, and changes in fatty acids. This presentation highlights some of the fascinating studies that demonstrate the myriad of ways that stem cells and mRNA during lactation become the ultimate communicators, affecting change for years to come.
Objectives:
With a cesarean rate of 32.2% in the United States, the need for specific lactation support that meets the unique needs of these families is imperative. Parents who have had cesarean section are at risk of edematous mammary glands, sedated or sleepy babies, a delay in lactogenesis, increased pain, and difficulty moving in early postpartum. This presentation looks at the new concept of family-centered cesarean and how this approach changes lactation outcomes and family attitudes about birth. Additionally, techniques and information for better success post-cesarean will be reviewed.
This presentation provides the latest evidence on how and why to express human milk to maximize output and meet parental goals for providing human milk via expression. Attendees can expect to learn how to help families understand the differences between hand and mechanical expression and when each type of expression is the most useful. Discover the specifics of expression science to help families determine the best pump for their situation. Learn about ways that families can potentially increase milk output with expression with techniques like acupressure, music, etc. Finally, understand how equity and insurance practices can limit access to breastpumps for families and what you can do to help them address these predicaments.
Outline
Social media has proven to be the main way Millennial and Gen Z parents communicate and get healthcare information, yet privacy practices and guidelines for healthcare use of social media is lagging. To add to this, artificial milk companies and the Fed is Best Organization are using social media against the recommendation of the WHO International Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes to their advantage, which is increasing misinformation. Many healthcare providers wish to utilize social media to engage, educate, inform, and interact with their patients. However, due to a lack of distinct guidelines and misunderstanding about privacy practices with social media, many healthcare providers are unknowingly sharing personal and private healthcare information. This presentation offers an understanding of the most common social media platforms, exploration of how millennials use social media (particularly during pregnancy and lactation), how artificial milk companies are using social media, and how healthcare professionals can use social media effectively and ethically.
Outline:
Abstract:
The session looks at the Ten Steps to BabyFriendly and the science that supports this elevated level of care for the maternal/parental infant dyad. Brain and microbiome development in the first days and weeks in both parent and baby that is influenced by breast/chestfeeding behavior, nutrition, and skin to skin will be discussed. Attachment as it pertains to the Ten Steps and the improved biological outcomes for parent and baby will also be addressed. Finally, how the Ten Steps influence family life post-hospital stay will be examined.
Objectives:
Identify the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
Identify three reasons why exclusivity is critical to long-term health.
Identify at least one risk to baby of ingesting infant formula during critical periods of development.
List two reasons skin to skin can impact brain development in mother and baby.
Outline:
Many peer counselors and lactation professionals are taught basic counseling skills without any knowledge of body language or mindfulness skills which does not contribute to deep listening or the ability to fully understand the depth of the clients issue and need. Attendees will be able to use proper listening skill, appropriate body language, and mindfulness while employing Three Part Listening Skills to better understand and address the needs of their patients.
Lactation professionals often hear from their clients that their human milk fed babies have been diagnosed as lactose intolerance. This lack of understanding regarding types of lactose intolerance and potential issues with human milk involving the newborn gut often lead to a cessation of breast/chestfeeding. This session will cover the three main types of lactose intolerance, as well as galactosemia. Maternal gut damage and protein sensitivity and how that can impact the breast/chestfed baby will also be addressed. Attendees will also learn about the most common foods that cause food sensitivity and allergy and what referrals are best made with these issues.
Attachment begins during pregnancy, not in the moments, weeks, and years post birth. This attachment, the motherbaby bond, is forged through an awareness of the biological and emotional connection between mother and child from the very earliest moments of conception. The internal world of the mother and child is now known to be a strong influence in the behavior, health, and personality of a child. This crucial prenatal period is impacted by emotional and nutritional experience of the mother and has a lot to do with who babies turn out to be. The prenatal attachment that occurs, regardless of a mother’s conscious awareness, is changing the brain development, personality, and genetic expression of her baby. At no other time in their child’s life do parents influence who that child will be, both emotionally and physically, than during the 0-3 period of life. We now know that prenatal chronic stress leads to babies who cry more, sleep less, and are anxious. A mother’s thoughts create chemical signals that literally form her baby’s brain and lead to a happy or anxious child. Mothers have the ability to influence healthy brain development and genetic expression during pregnancy through the motherbaby bond. This presentation discusses epigenetics, brain development, molecular messaging between mother and baby, and the impact of stress on the baby’s future health.
Research shows that many mothers are afraid of experiencing pain in breastfeeding due to two common challenges, sore nipples and engorgement. Even more concerning is the fact that many women shorten their duration of breastfeeding due to these common issues. In fact, some practitioners still believe (and counsel new moms) that sore nipples and engorgement are a normal part of breastfeeding. Many women also experience early lactation challenges due to plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush. Current strategies to minimize the risk, as well as manage treatment are not grounded in current evidence. Discover what the latest meta-analysis and research says about how to prevent and treat these early breastfeeding issues and begin to implement practices that really work to keep the motherbaby dyad breastfeeding longer and more comfortably.
As the use of cannabis increases, the concern for families has expanded. Many countries and states have recently legalized or decriminalized the consumption of cannabis. This trend has led to more healthcare professionals being faced with the question, “Is it safe to use cannabis during lactation?” The answers given vary widely and this is due largely to myth, bias, and poorly conducted research. Differing recommendations lead healthcare professionals to scratch their heads and face the knowledge that they just don’t know what to say to families. Additionally, there are reports of social services removing babies from homes due to parental cannabis use while breast/chestfeeding. The human endocannabinoid system interacts with cannabis and is largely responsible for brain development, homeostasis, and much more. Unfortunately, a risk reduction instead of evidence-based harm reduction has been the standard of care. Discover what is known about cannabis chemicals and baby’s short and long-term health when cannabis is used during lactation. This presentation looks at the most recent research, policies, harm reduction practices, and equity issues surrounding this controversial herb.
Participants will review the biological basis for how primates and specifically human’s breast/chestfeed, according to biological need. Discover how the unique properties of human milk, as well as the biology of the human newborn and physiological responses from the parent, are designed to optimize breast/chestfeeding when skin to skin and laid back breastfeeding occurs.
Objectives:
Identify at least two benefits of skin to skin in early postpartum period on both mother/parent and baby.
Describe why biological breastfeeding is the “norm” for the baby.
Identify at least two reasons that baby led/laid back breast/chestfeeding benefits the couplet.
Describe how to facilitate relaxed/laid baby breast/chestfeeding and extended skin to skin in the postpartum period in the hospital.
All human babies have the right to receive exclusive human milk. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways – exclusive feeding at the parent’s breast/chest, exclusive expressed human milk delivered to the baby via a feeding device, or pasteurized donor human milk delivered via a feeding device. However, there has been much attention placed on the traditional practice of cooperative infant feeding, sometimes referred to as informal milk sharing or community milk sharing. Cooperative feeding is when lactating individuals provide human milk directly to another family in need, without going through the donor milk bank process. The increasing popularity of cooperative infant feeding via social media, the growing attention on the importance of human milk exclusivity, the increasing awareness of the potential health risks of artificial milk, and the inability for donor milk banks to provide milk for more than those in critical need has led professionals and families to an impass. While cooperative infant feeding is gaining popularity among families, finding policy and recommended practices can be difficult. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine only references mother’s own expressed milk, donor human milk, or hydrolyzed or standard infant formulas for breastmilk feeding in regards to supplemental feeds. The World Health Organization, states in its Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, “for those few health situations where infants cannot, or should not, be breastfed, the choice of the best alternative – expressed breast milk from an infant’s own mother, breast milk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human-milk bank, or a breastmilk substitute…depends on individual circumstance.” There are also significant equity issues at stake. Many families live in food deserts, without proper access to health care and lactation support or donor milk, who need human milk for their babies. There are also family structures whereby access to milk at the breast/chest may be limited. Many families are told by healthcare professionals to avoid cooperative feeding in all cases, even though the data is not supportive for that recommendation. Most cooperative infant feeding organizations recommend the practice of using The Four Pillars of Safe Milk Sharing. These are informed choice, donor screening, safe handling, and home pasteurization. This presentation will cover in detail the myriad of concerns of professionals, the information all families need to know about cooperative infant feeding, milk sharing and social media, and lactation professionals’ scope of practice issues regarding community milk sharing.
Abstract: Recent research on epigenetics, literally meaning above the gene, has led medical professionals to query about how the environment impacts the developing baby both in utero and throughout its lifetime. The genome is the genetic information inherited from one’s parents, but the epigenome is what deciphers the genome for each cell throughout the body. This deciphering process is impacted by both the internal and external environment of an individual. The external environment can include nutrition, chemicals, toxins, etc. The internal environment would include neuropeptides (emotional molecules) and stress hormones. The environment changes the proteins in the body that help the epigenome translate DNA. This finding has increased awareness of the importance of nutrition on the epigenome. Studies now are finding that the changes in the epigenome can influence not only that individual but can be passed along to future progeny, sometimes four generations out. The first nutrition for a human outside the womb is breastmilk, and thus its epigenetic impact is potentially expansive. New research has expanded the field of epigenetics to include breastmilk and how it potentially changes the epigenome and can affect the lifelong health of a baby. This presentation focuses on some of the latest published research- milksharing/wet nursing and the epigenome, breastmilk, and changes in gene expression and gut flora.
Learning Objectives:
Define genome and epigenome.
Identify at least one way breastmilk can potentially influence the epigenome of a baby.
Identify one way that epigenetics can influence gut flora.
This course is designed to introduce newer concepts and research findings form the past few years to certified breastfeeding professionals. Topics will include laid back breastfeeding, the importance of skin to skin and breastfeeding, manual expression and pump expression and supplementation risks and alternatives, the late pre-term infant.Objectives: Identify at least two benefits of skin to skin in early postpartum on both mother and baby. Describe why biological breastfeeding is the “norm” for the breastfed baby. Identify at least two reasons that baby led/laid back breastfeeding benefits the breastfeeding couplet. Describe how to facilitate relaxed/laid baby breastfeeding and extended skin to skin in the postpartum period in the hospital.Identify three separate types of effective pumping for women needing to maintain milk supply. List at least two reasons non-species specific supplementation can cause long-term health risks for the newborn. Identify at least 2 dose dependent disease risks of formula. Identify the seven reasons supplementation may be indicated, based on the newborn. Identify the three reasons supplementation may be indicated, based on the mother’s condition. List three options for supplementation that offer the least risk to breastfeeding relationship. Identify at least 2 breastfeeding risks for the late preterm infant. Define triple feeding and explain why it is indicated for late preterm infants who are not feeding well. Identify the most important piece of post discharge information for the family with a late preterm infant.
Note:
This course can be customized to your facility’s needs. It can be offered as a half day, 6 hour or 8 hour course. L-Cerps and nursing contact hours can be made available.
“The Greatest Pregnancy Ever is a treasure. It should be the very first thing a pregnant woman reads in fact, every woman who intends to have a baby will be thrilled with the empowering message here.” ~Christiane Northrup, M.D., ob/gyn physician and author of the New York Times bestsellers: Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause. Once in a great while a book comes along that impacts the lives of families forever. You will never view pregnancy and motherhood the same way again. Has anyone ever told you that you can get to know your baby and bond with her before she is even born? Are you looking for ways to address the physical challenges in pregnancy that don’t require prescriptions? Are you aware that starting in pregnancy you can help your baby develop positive relationships with the important people in your life? Do you know that your baby’s personality is shaped by your emotions, stress levels, and environment during pregnancy? Finally, here is a book written by real pregnancy experts that provides keys to unlocking the secrets of having the greatest pregnancy ever! Offering insights and tips for addressing fears and anxieties, managing stress, and increasing comfort during pregnancy, this book offers way of life that will transform you, your baby, and ultimately the world you live in. This book offers real-life solutions to the emotional and physical issues pregnant women face. The Greatest Pregnancy Ever shares little known facts that can change the entire experience of pregnancy and parenting for families. For example: Unmanaged stress in pregnancy can lead to a baby who cries more, sleeps less, and is anxious. A mother’s thoughts and feelings create chemical signals that literally form her baby s brain and develop into emotional intelligence. Only during pregnancy and the first few years of a child’s life can parents truly influence who their child will become, both emotionally and physically. All moms want to do whatever they can to positively impact the development of their child. They want to have the greatest pregnancy ever, and luckily it is possible with the information and practices in this book. The book is organized into four parts: B.O.N.D. – Keys to Bonding B-Be-ing O-Observing N-Nourishing D-Deciding The keys relate to the concept of being able to B.O.N.D. This connection is imperative to the baby, the mother, and the partner for overall health and wellness. Many parents find with their busy, overscheduled, and stressful lives that seeking connection is just one more item on their to-do list. The Greatest Pregnancy Ever solves this dilemma by providing very simple tools, techniques, and tips for parents to use. They not only make connection possible, but ease stress and improve parents daily lives and their relationships. Start today by embracing motherhood in an entirely new way start by having the greatest pregnancy ever!
Studies have shown that parents have more influence over their child, both emotionally and physically, during pregnancy and the first years after birth than at any other point in life. With The Attachment Pregnancy, you will learn how to use this important time to form a deeper connection and introduce your child to a loving environment–even before birth. Childbirth experts Tracy Wilson Peters and Laurel Wilson guide you through each stage of development with advice for providing consistent and nurturing care as your baby grows, so that you can ensure that every need is always met.
From the moment your child is conceived to the day of delivery, The Attachment Pregnancy shows you how to strengthen your bond and give your baby the best life possible from the very beginning.
Are you a doula, a professional who supports women and their partners during the childbearing year? Do you feel called to become a doula because of your passion for women, birth, and babies? In Round the Circle, Julie Brill gathers the wisdom of 23 established doulas, who generously share what they’ve learned to create a doula mentorship in book format. Contributors include Laurel Wilson and Tracy Wilson Peters, authors of The Attachment Pregnancy, Rivka Cymbalist, author of The Birth Conspiracy, and Amy Wright Glenn, author of Birth, Breath, and Death. Learn more about addressing fears; encouraging the motherbaby bond; supporting religious and spiritual practices; working with LGBTQ families, teen mothers, surrogates, immigrants, incarcerated moms, friends and family; the doula’s role in planned and unexpected homebirths and cesarean births; supporting families after the birth; building and marketing your business; and doula self-care. This anthology will prove interesting and helpful reading for anyone considering becoming a doula, and for those already practicing. “I am so grateful for this circle of wise women’s voices, there to give us the support we deeply need as we support other women. This is the book all doulas should have-right after learning the fundamentals of labor and delivery, and upon bravely entering today’s dramatically changing landscape of birth.”