Lactation consultants and medical professionals should bookmark a fantastic resource for finding continuing education opportunities: www.breastfeedingconferences.com. As Pamela K. Murphy prepared for the IBCLC exam, she recognized the need for a one-stop site for health care professionals to access worldwide breastfeeding education opportunities.

Graphic by Sachin Ghodke

She created a site that lists upcoming breastfeeding education events including conferences and classroom, at-home, and online education courses. Educators can click a button on the site to list events, and those seeking continuing education credits can search the site by state, region or type of continuing education credit. Because the site depends on conference organizers to list their events, the site does not claim to be comprehensive. So check out my list of ways to find breastfeeding conferences as well.

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Day 2009 is Wednesday, March 4, 2009. The theme for the 7th annual celebration is “IBCLCs: Beyond Borders,” which recognizes the work done by IBCLCs around the world. Take the fun IBCLC Trivia Quiz to find out just how many IBCLC’s there are in how many nations around the world! I scored a whopping four out of eight correct and learned some interesting facts.

Are you planning or attending an IBCLC Day event? Leave a comment!

As students young and old head off to school this September, we’re calling for Carnival of Breastfeeding submissions related to the subject of Learning about Breastfeeding.

Potential subjects include:

- Books on breastfeeding
- Taking a breastfeeding class during pregnancy
- Training to become a breastfeeding peer counselor, La Leche League Leader, or lactation consultant
- Attending a breastfeeding support group
- Breastfeeding education in the schools: elementary school, high school, nursing school, or medical school
- A person who taught you about breastfeeding by her example or by being of support to you.

If you would like to submit your own post on Learning about Breastfeeding, email me your submission by September 15, 2008, for consideration for the carnival on September 22, 2008.

As a reminder, here are the guidelines that will increase the chances a post will be selected for inclusion:

– A well-written, grammatically correct post
– Thoughtful commentary directly on point for the carnival subject
– Overall quality of the rest of your blog and whether the general subject matter is something of interest to our readers (breastfeeding, parenting)

If your post is selected for inclusion, you will be asked on the day of the carnival to edit your post to link back to each of the other participants in the carnival.

According to The Breastfeeding Answer Book, a paladai is a feeding device used traditionally in India. It is a “low bowl with a spout, shaped like ‘Aladdin’s lamp.’” It has advantages over cup feeding in that it helps babies take a higher volume of milk in the least amount of time, and it reduces milk spillage.

Counseling the Nursing Mother: A Lactation Consultant’s Guide mentions this supplemental feeding technique:

The paladai — a cup feeding device — has been used to feed babies in India for many years. It is gaining recognition in the Western world as a helpful lactation device (Sideman, 1999). If you are unsure about a cultural practice, do not hesitate to ask your client. Most families are receptive to explaining cultural practices to people who are sincerely interested.

p. 31.

The sixth annual IBCLC Day is March 5, 2008. It’s a special day to promote the credential for internationally board certified lactation consultants, educate the community, and celebrate! For more information and free downloadable materials, visit the IBCLC Day page from the International Lactation Consultant Association.

A new breastfeeding book debuts next week. The ABCs of Breastfeeding: Everything a Mom Needs to Know for a Happy Nursing Experience is written by neonatal nurse practitioner and internationally board certified lactation consultant Stacey H. Rubin.

The website for the book offers a sample chapter on “The Signals That Will Let You Know When to Feed Your Baby”. The book appears to have an easy-to-read style peppered with stories and examples from the author’s interaction with her clients. I found myself nodding in agreement with the Rubin’s recommendations. How nice to read the following passage:

Libraryjournal.com reviewer Rebecca Raszewski also enjoyed Rubin’s stories, saying:

Her fascinating client stories, interweaved throughout, effectively illustrate the issues and success of new and experienced breastfeeding mothers alike; end notes from mostly medical and nursing journals titles support her content.

Raszewski concluded:

A solid alternative to the classic Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (7th revised ed. 2004), this will serve as both an informative and a reassuring book to any mother.

The The ABCs of Breastfeeding: Everything a Mom Needs to Know for a Happy Nursing Experience is available for order now on Amazon.com.

Medela put together a video in honor of the field of lactation consultants. Lactation consultants who need a pick-me-up, or candidates striving to become lactation consultants, could get a lot of affirmation and inspiration from this thoughtful tribute. Watch “One Mother at a Time” (click on your choice of media player: QuickTime or Flash).

When I asked: “Who gave you the best breastfeeding advice?” two sources emerged as the clear leaders: lactation consultants and La Leche League leaders/members. Doctors fell very low on the list, which only goes to prove that it’s not easy to get good advice from medical professionals lacking breastfeeding training.

Please take a moment to vote in the new poll in the sidebar if you haven’t already!

While at first it appears that the breastfeeding mother and baby only need each other, there is a whole cast of people in supporting roles–people who help mother and baby have a positive nursing experience. When my daughter was a newborn, I joked that it took four people to nurse: me, my baby, my husband to help adjust pillows and latch the baby on, and my mother to bring me water and snacks. With that vital support, the nursing relationship quickly blossomed.

1. Husband/partner. If the breastfeeding mother is in a relationship, it’s important that her partner supports breastfeeding. A husband might want to give the baby a bottle–it’s such a pervasive image of how babies are fed in today’s society. A mother can reassure her husband that there will be plenty of opportunities for him to feed the baby bottles of expressed breast milk once the nursing relationship is well established. In the meantime, a mother can suggest that her husband help with burping, cuddling and diapering the baby. (If he insists on giving the baby a bottle, offer him the 3 a.m. feeding!) In my own situation, I can say that my husband quickly realized the benefits of nursing our daughter. He loved that nursing instantly satisfied her needs for thirst, hunger, comfort and pacifying.

2. Neighbor/friend. Friends and neighbors can support the nursing mother in two ways. First, they can set a good example with their own nursing relationships. Second, they can offer to bring a hot meal when the mother is recovering from birth or volunteer to babysit an older child while the mother naps with the baby.

3. Medical professionals. A mother’s obstetrician and the baby’s pediatrician can help get the nursing relationship off to a good start by encouraging the mother to breastfeed as soon as possible after the birth. They can continue to support breastfeeding by helping the mother to make medical decisions for herself and her baby that are compatible with continued nursing.

4. Doula/birth attendant/postpartum doula. Having an experienced person assist the mother during the birth can help her have a positive birth experience with minimal medical interventions, which in turn allows the mother to breastfeed shortly after the birth. A postpartum doula offers on-going support and guidance as the new family settles in at home. To learn more about doulas and how to hire one, go to Dona International.

5. Lactation consultant. A lactation consultant is specially trained to assist mothers in breastfeeding and can be particularly helpful if the new mother needs to be seen in the hospital or at home. Board certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) have passed an independent examination and demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge and attitude to support breastfeeding mothers. To find a board certified lactation consultant, click here. Many hospitals offer the services of a lactation consultant as part of a mother’s stay in the hospital and for a short time after she returns home. Some pediatricians also partner with lactation consultants in their medical offices.

6. Breastfeeding support group. Some hospitals and birthing centers offer support meetings and breastfeeding classes for mothers and their newborns. I took a class the day after my first daughter was born, and I found it particularly helpful to get that instruction when I had a baby in my arms for practicing the techniques.

7. La Leche League or other breastfeeding organization. La Leche League and other breastfeeding organizations around the world provide information, support and meetings for mothers, newborns and nursing toddlers. There’s a permanent link to LLL in the sidebar at the bottom right of this page.

8. Internet support. Several on-line communities exist for breastfeeding support. For information, one particularly helpful site is www.askdrsears.com (also linked on this page). Kellymom.com has message boards for information and support on a variety of topics.

9. Librarian. When we talked about recommended books on breastfeeding, I mentioned how a librarian can help mothers locate the latest versions of helpful books.

10. Pharmacist. When I thought I had thrush, my pharmacist assisted me by preparing the proper solution of gentian violet (read the link on thrush for a warning about the safety of that remedy and for information on other treatment options). Any time I have needed to take an over-the-counter or prescription medication, my pharmacist has answered questions and offered additional printed materials on the safety of the drug for breastfeeding mothers.

While the breastfeeding mother and baby form their own special pair, having the support of a whole cast of characters can enrich and extend the nursing relationship.