Anna Coutsoudis, PhD

Anna Coutsoudis is a public health scientist who holds the post of Professor in the Department of Paediatrics & Child Health at the University KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

She has done extensive research on HIV and nutrition, and especially in breastfeeding and has published over 120 peer-reviewed journal articles. Her research work has played an important role in the shaping of the WHO guidelines on HIV and Infant Feeding and she is a member of several WHO committees and guideline groups.

She is committed to improving maternal and child health in vulnerable communities through strategies that empower communities. In recognition of her contributions she was awarded the Science for Society Gold Medal award by the Academy of Science of South Africa.

Prof Coutsoudis established the first community based breastmilk bank in South Africa specifically to provide donor breastmilk to AIDS orphans. She is now collaborating with the Department of Health and PATH to scale up of human milk banking in South Africa in neonatal intensive care units as well as in rural community based human milk banks through the GSK/Save the Children Health Innovation Award.

Human milk banking in resource limited settings

This presentation covered the importance of the availability of donor human milk for vulnerable infants who cannot access their own mother’s milk especially in resource poor settings. The presentation then covered practical guidance on setting up human milk banks in resource-limited settings, which is possible provided simple safety procedures are put in place. This has been further facilitated due to the availability of the newly developed low cost; mobile; FoneAstra Pasteurization system for pasteurizing breastmilk.

Ros Escott, BAppSc, IBCLC

Ros Escott has been a lactation consultant for 26 years. She is also active as an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor, trainer and assessor, and an international BFHI assessor and educator. She has contributed to the implementation of BFHI in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan. She has a particular interest in understanding not just what is important in infant feeding and care, but why it is important.

Mother-baby separation: microbiome and health implications

Any mother-baby separation in the neonatal period has the potential to affect the optimal establishment of the infant’s gut microbiome, and hence has long term implications for health and the development of allergies. When babies have been born by caesarean, episodes of separation in the neonatal period have increased risks, yet these infants are more likely to be separated. Immediate, undisturbed skin-to-skin after birth (BFHI Step 4), exclusive breastfeeding and full rooming-in (BFHI Step 7) are practices which potentially have life-long effects.

Sally Etheridge, BA(Hons), PGCE, IBCLC

Sally Etheridge is an IBCLC in Leicester, the first city of the UK to have a majority Black & Ethnic Minority population. She was a La Leche League leader from 2000 until 2012. She was a member of LLLGB’s Peer Counsellor Programme team, which inspired her to specialize in developing community breastfeeding peer support. In 2009 she began Mammas, a community breastfeeding peer support programme and Community Interest Company. ‘Mammas’ is truly multi-cultural, like the community it serves – over 60 mothers have completed the training, representing 20 nationalities and seven faith groups. A core element of her approach to protecting and supporting breastfeeding is its role in the wider society; mitigating poverty, health inequalities and social isolation, and creating strong communities of women from all walks of life. Sally is Secretary of LCGB, Lactation Consultants of Great Britain.

Breastfeeding, poverty and crisis in the UK

For increasing numbers of families in the UK, life has become worryingly uncertain. How do families and mothers with babies cope when they are hit with crisis – loss of family income, welfare cuts, housing issues, domestic violence, immigration status… ? Food banks are hitting the headlines. Yet the role of breastfeeding in reducing the burden of poverty and addressing health inequalities, and as ‘an emergency-preparedness activity’ (cf Dr Karleen Gribble) is overlooked and still seen as having relevance only in ‘developing countries’. How can the breastfeeding community come together to support all babies and mothers at such times, and to raise the profile of the critical importance of breastfeeding among those making the decisions and delivering services?

Alice Farrow, Lactation Educator

Alice Farrow is a Lactation Educator (certified with Arizona State University in 2015), writer, speaker and infant feeding advocate with expertise in breastfeeding with a cleft lip and palate and health inequities. Since 2006 (initially as a mother support counsellor and cleft parent, later independently) Alice has researched, taught and advocated worldwide on the topic of breastfeeding with a cleft lip and palate and worked extensively with parents, parent organisations, cleft teams, health providers, and lactation support professionals in order to increase awareness of the specific challenges faced by cleft infants and their families and improve access to adequate lactation support for this community. Resident in Italy, Alice has two information websites – Cleft Lip and Palate Breastfeeding and Allattamento e Labiopalatoschisi, an online parent support group in each language, as well as providing one-on-one parent support through in person and distance counselling.

Alice is an undergraduate student with the Open University (UK), working towards a Bachelor of Science with a focus on health and social care, public health promotion, and developing practice. The article Lactation Support and the LGBTQI community was published in the Journal of Human Lactation’s “equity” issue in February 2015. Alice participated in the 2014 Lactation Summit – Addressing Inequities within the Lactation Consultant Profession, and is currently a member of the Lactation Consultant Equity Initiative. Alice has also completed peer reviews for JHL and the Journal of GLBT Family Studies.

Breastfeeding with a cleft lip and/or palate

It is often thought that infants born with a cleft lip and palate, or cleft palate, cannot breastfeed. This talk looked at the definition of breastfeeding, how infants with a cleft lip and/or palate do breastfeed, and the kind of support and technical assistance the family or parent/infant dyad may require throughout the first breastfeeding months or ‘year’ – from diagnosis through to surgical closure of the lip and/or palate and some time beyond (which can occur anywhere from 2 – 18 months).

Márta Guóth-Gumberger, IBCLC, DiplIng

Márta Guóth-Gumberger is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a civil engineer. She is certified in counseling and crisis intervention for families with young infants. She has worked with breastfeeding mothers since 1992 and as an IBCLC in private practice since 1999, specializing in relactation, weight gain, milk supply issues, special need babies and making best use of a nursing supplementer if needed. The unique combination of many years’ experience in evaluating breastfeeding and weight gain with her engineering background enabled her to develop the evaluation criteria and the LACTDOC program. Her counseling background ensures that data and figures always remain simply a tool in the service of personal counseling. She is author of many publications, for example of the book Weight Gain and Breastfeeding (in German), of the booklet Breastfeeding with the Supplementary Nursing Systemand a breastfeeding book for parents published in seven languages.

Weight gain – evaluation criteria for breastfeeding counselling

Weight curves are an effective tool in breastfeeding counseling. After a brief discussion of percentiles and their meaning, selected cases will be presented including weight curve, photos, video clips and details of counseling to show how conclusions from the weight curve support counseling. Afterwards, evaluation criteria will be presented. Weight curves in a large enough scale in combination with observations and diaper output show even minor changes, help to detect any upcoming problems early and enable to evaluate the efficacy of the measures undertaken. They are especially useful during weaning from eventual supplementation. Competent use of weight curves improves breastfeeding counseling for the well-being of mother and baby.

Jen Hocking, BA, BN, Grad Dip Mid, M Mid, IBCLC, RN, RM

“Yes but what do you actually do?” Unpacking the role of the IBCLC

Lactation Consultants have existed as a profession for 30 years. Despite their relatively established presence in health care systems and private practice, there has been little examination of what LC practice is like, or how LCs feel about their work. This presentation discussed the research that has been done so far about breastfeeding support – as it is provided by nurses, midwives and others, in various settings. It Discussed the research that has been done about Lactation Consultant practice which provided a backdrop to the aims of Jen’s research project which examined LC work in Australia and asks women to share their own experience of LC care.

Helene Johns, RN, RM, DipAppSci(CHNurs), BHealthSci(AdvNurs), MEd, IBCLC

Helene Johns is a midwife and maternal and child health nurse, lactation consultant and volunteer counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association. She is employed by two state-wide services: The Women’s Health Information Centre (based at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne) and the Victorian Maternal and Child Health telephone line. Work in these services embraces the provision of advocacy, advice, support and referral for women and children. Helene’s clinical role at the Women’s involves the provision of pap tests and other sexual health screening for well women and deinfibulation for women who have experienced circumcision. She has a background in clinical practice, education and conference organisation. A PhD candidate at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, her final submission on the Mothers and Infants Lactation Cohort (MILC) study is imminent.

Under the pump: the Mothers and Infants Lactation Cohort (MILC) study

Many breastfed infants receive expressed breast milk as well as feeding at the breast. Concurrently breast pumps have evolved to be more sophisticated and aesthetically appealing. This presentation described the MILC study, our exploration of the prevalence and outcomes of breast milk expression, and whether feeding other than at the breast in the first 24-48 hours decreased the proportion of infants breastfeeding at six months. The methods of the study, the findings and implications for practice were discussed.

Leah Jolly, BA, IBCLC, RLC and Misti Ryan, BSN, RN, IBCLC, RLC

Lactation detectives: challenging cases for new IBCLCs

As an IBCLC, you will encounter a variety of consult situations regardless of the setting you work in: Some mothers and babies may only need help with basic lactation management such as engorgement, low weight gain, pumping and latch assessments. However, you won’t escape those consults that make you want to drop your jaw or scratch your head and leave you speechless. These experiences may test the limits of your confidence and knowledge. This talk equiped you with skills to gather evidence and unleash your inner detective to bring about a positive outcome for mother and baby.

Miri Levi, MS, CNM, FNP-BC, WHNP-BC, IBCLC

Miri Levi is a Certified Nurse Midwife, Family and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She achieved her bachelors and masters of science in Midwifery and Women’s Health from Columbia University in New York City. She then completed a post-masters certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Massachusetts. Miri is dedicated to helping women learn how to breastfeed and continue successfully. Miri is also passionate about supporting women and families throughout the lifespan.

Differentiating nipple pain from tongue-tie to vasospasm

When a breastfeeding mother calls with a concern about breast pain, many providers assume the woman has a yeast infection and begin treatment. However, many women do not experience a resolution of symptoms and often endure months of painful nursing. Breast and nipple pain are very common and can be caused by a myriad of lactation issues. This presentation taught how to diagnose and treat different types of breast and nipple pain and help women find the answers they need to nurse pain free. This topic focused on yeast infection of the breast, lingual and labial tongue-tie, Reynaud’s phenomenon of the nipple, bacterial breast infections, shallow latch, and discomfort associated with the milk ejection reflex. Participants learnt how to triage pain related nursing issues and ensure that women are able to continue to exclusively breastfeed their infants.

Mohammad Hamayoun Ludin, MD, MPH, Nutrition specialist

Dr Ludin is the Director of the Public Nutrition Department of the Ministry of Public Health, Afghanistan. He graduated from the Medical Faculty of Nangarhar University, Afghanistan with an MD. He is the National coordinator of IYCF in Afghanistan, and works in the Public Nutrition Department of the Ministry of Public Health as a Maternal Nutrition consultant. Dr Ludin holds a Post graduate Diploma in Public Health Nutrition from the Public Health Foundation of India, as well as Masters of Public Health from the Public Health school from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in Kabul. He also has a Diploma of Community medicine from University of Indonesia in Jakarta.

Breastfeeding culture and progress in Afghanistan

The presentation explained the culture, updates and situation regarding breastfeeding in Afghanistan. Data from the latest National Survey and WBTi trend report was presented, with a discussion of the challenges and coordinated efforts.

Maureen Minchin, BA(Hons), MA(Melb), TSTC

Darcia Narvaez, PhD

Darcia Narvaez is Professor of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame. She publishes extensively on moral development and education. Her most recent book is Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom (2014, Norton). She is executive editor of the Journal of Moral Education. She also writes a popular blog for Psychology Today (“Moral Landscapes”).

Primal Caregiving: Why give babies what they evolved to need

Participants learnt about the immaturity of human babies at birth, the early caregiving practices that human babies need and expect (loving responsiveness, positive and no negative touch, breastfeeding, soothing birth experience, free play, multiple responsive adults and positive social support) why they are important for health, sociality, and morality. Specifically, participants were able to: List multiple risks of not following the needs of babies; Describe how family and cultural milieus can optimize psychological development; Describe the neurobiological effects and moralities between those who do and don’t receive proper (species-typical) early care.

Aunchalee Palmquist, MA, PhD, IBCLC

Sherry Payne, MSN, RN, CNE, IBCLC

Welcoming African-American women to your breastfeeding practice

Alyssa Schnell, MS, IBCLC

Alyssa Schnell has been helping mothers and babies in the St Louis area with breastfeeding for the past 13 years. She has been accredited as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 2009. Her private practice, Sweet Pea Breastfeeding Support, provides prenatal, pre-adoption/surrogacy, and postpartum lactation consultations. Alyssa enjoys working with all mothers and babies, but she has an extra special place in her heart for helping mothers through adoption and surrogacy to breastfeed their babies. She is the author of Breastfeeding Without Birthing: A Breastfeeding Guide for Mothers Through Adoption, Surrogacy, and Other Special Circumstances. Alyssa is the proud mother of three breastfed children, two by birth and one by adoption.

Breastfeeding without birthing

It is truly amazing that a mother who hasn’t birthed can breastfeed her baby. There are many reasons why mothers choose to breastfeed and some additional reasons why they may want to breastfeed a baby by adoption, surrogacy, or even foster care. In some cases, mothers will be initiating breastfeeding with older or compromised babies. In all of these cases, the mother may choose to induce lactation or nurse without making milk. And when she chooses to induce lactation, her lactation consultant can guide her in developing an approach to suit her individual values and circumstances. Whether that approach involves manual techniques, pumping, at-breast supplementation, medications, or herbs can be decided with the informed guidance offered in this presentation.

Sroeu Phannsy, RN

Sroeu Phannsy is a Patient Family Education Coordinator and breastfeeding counsellor in the nutrition team at Angkor Hospital for Children, a not for profit hospital which treats children free of charge in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where she has worked for ten years. She completed a three year nursing training at Battambang Regional Training Centre and one extra year to qualify in midwifery. She has attended one international breastfeeding conference and loves being part of the wider breast feeding community.

Breastfeeding in Cambodia

This presentation gave an overview of Cambodian situation regarding breastfeeding issues including some historical context and basic statistics that showed the improvements that have been made and the work still to do. It discussed some myths and social issues that prevent some mothers from breastfeeding. And also looked at some specific cases from Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Elisabeth Sterken, MSc, BSc, Dt

Elisabeth Sterken, the current director of INFACT Canada, is a professional nutritionist specializing in infant and young child feeding. She has been actively working on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in her home country, Canada and internationally for over 25 years. In addition to being a founding member of the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, and past member of its Nutrition Committee, her current responsibilities include co-chair of the IBFAN Global Council governing the IBFAN global network; member of the UNICEF Breastfeeding Advocacy Initiative; member of the ILCA Code Expert Panel; The Past Chairperson and Co-Chair of the Non Governmental Organization/Civil Society Organizations group of the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition; a member of the joint Core Advisory Group of WABA and IBFAN on the governance and implementation of the global Breastfeeding Initiative for Child Survival; and the chairperson of the IBFAN Codex Working Group for the protection of breastfeeding in the development of Codex Alimentarius standards for foods for infants and young children.

The International Code: what is new, what is important

The presentation aimed to increase awareness of the importance of the International Code and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions on infant and young child nutrition as a critical tool for supporting breastfeeding as the norm for optimal health and development. Emphasis was put on current developments on Code monitoring and enforcement as well as on conflicts of interest and the need for increased advocacy for action by governments and the health care system to regulate and comply with the Code and resolutions.

Genae Strong, PhD, CNM, RNC-OB, IBCLC, RLC, CLC, CNE

Dr Genae Strong is an associate professor at the University of Memphis, Loewenberg School of Nursing with 24+ years of experience supporting breastfeeding women through teaching, research, and service. Both a national and international speaker, Dr Strong has authored multiple articles in the field of lactation. Dr Strong maintains a funded (ILCA 2012 Research Grant, & University of Memphis 2012 Faculty Research Grant) program of research focusing on barriers health care providers’ experience when assisting breastfeeding moms. As the largest health care profession in the US, nurses play a crucial role in changing health behaviors known to promote health and prevent disease. Because the primary reason for hospitalization in the US is childbirth, nurses are uniquely positioned to provide evidence based lactation care to every new mom. However, learning opportunities for nursing students are often inadequate leaving students less confident, less competent, and ill equipped to provide basic lactation care. Serving the Memphis Area Lactation Consultant Association (MALCA) as president and the Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition (SCBC) as Academic Chair, Dr Strong exhibits a “strong” passion for improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Dr Strong received the 2015 Award of Excellence in Education from AWHONN and was recently elected to the USLCA Board of Directors for Professional Development.

How to conduct effective inpatient lactation consultations by finding balance

Hospital inpatient consultations by IBCLCs require educating, assessing, developing a plan of care, implementing and evaluating, issuing referrals, and counseling breastfeeding families. Shortened hospital stays, lack of professional experts, and limited patient exposure pose increasing challenges to providing adequate support. Recommendations for conducting effective consultations given common challenges include finding a balance. Exemplar cases helped reveal strategies to conducting effective inpatient consultations.

Jennifer Thomas, MD, MPH, IBCLC, FAAP, FABM

Dr Jenny Thomas is a pediatrician and breastfeeding medicine specialist at Lakeshore Medical Clinic in Franklin, Wisconsin, USA and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Community and Family Medicine and Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She is now serving on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Breastfeeding Executive Board after spending several years as the Chief of the Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinators. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Chapter of the AAP, and is a founder and the immediate-past Chairperson of the Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition. She is the author of Dr. Jen’s Guide to Breastfeeding. She has received awards for teaching, advocacy for children, and innovation with in her practice and community. She is one of only a few physicians internationally to be recognized as a Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (FABM) for her expertise on breastfeeding. Dr Thomas’ interests and research have focused on issues related to the use of social media to support breastfeeding mothers.

Epigenetics 101: genes and how breastmilk influences how they work

We learned that DNA gives information to RNA which uses that information to direct the creation of a protein. However, epigenetics, a rapidly expanding understanding of how our genes are regulated, has challenged what we know about this pathway to protein production. This presentation reviewed basics of protein production from DNA and RNA and then introduced the mechanisms that the epigenome uses to change what genes are activated and what proteins are produced. We then looked at the unique components of human milk and how breastfeeding works within this system, potentially changing gene expression for generations.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC, FILCA

Barbara Wilson-Clay has been in private practice in Austin, Texas, USA since 1989. She is the co-author of The Breastfeeding Atlas. Barbara was the ILCA representative to the IBLCE from 1997-2000, serving on the Exam and Ethics Committees. She is a co-founder of the Mothers Milk Bank at Austin and served on the Board of Directors of this non-profit milk bank from its founding in 1998 until she retired as Vice President of the Board in 2010. Barbara is a volunteer lobbyist in the Texas legislature, advocating for laws that protect the rights of breastfeeding families.

Ethics in lactation: can we talk about milk sharing

Milk sharing is an ancient practice. Social media have facilitated milk sharing and milk selling in new ways that have altered traditional sharing relationships. In this presentation, the history of the practice was explored, and risks and benefits are discussed within the concept of ethics. Issues such as sustainability, the potential for abuse, and the commodification of human milk were explored.