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This is the third module from the anatomy and physiology of the lactating breast series. In this lesson you will learn the science around secretory activation. Moreover, you will learn how lactocytes (milk-making cells)  activate milk synthesis  to establish a copious milk supply through: Early, frequent and effective breast stimulation during the critical window after birth. Evidence based care, established from an understanding of the basic principles of lactation and mammary gland function is imperative to improve breastfeeding rates and subsequently the health and wellbeing of breastfeeding women, infants’, and their families.   This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692. Read more

Evidence based care, established from an understanding of the basic principles of lactation and mammary gland function is imperative to improve breastfeeding rates and subsequently the health and wellbeing of breastfeeding women, infants’, and their families. This lesson is part of the anatomy and physiology of the lactating breast series and aims to understand the physiological breast changes from neonate to the end of pregnancy, focusing on breast growth during pregnancy known as secretory differentiation. This series aims to develop an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the lactating breast to drive timely and effective secretory activation to establish a copious milk supply through lactation best practices.   Read more

Anatomy of the lactating breast Lesson 1: Evidence based care, established from an understanding of the basic principles of lactation and mammary gland function is imperative to improve breastfeeding rates and subsequently the health and wellbeing of breastfeeding women, infants’, and their families. This series aims to develop an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the lactating breast to drive timely and effective secretory activation to establish a copious milk supply through lactation best practices. This lesson focuses on the anatomy of the lactating breast. Read more

Infants with critical congenital heart disease (CHD) are among the most vulnerable neonates and experience extremely low rates of human milk feeding and direct breast/chestfeeding. Until recently, there has been little evidence on this topic, with concurrent variation in feeding practice across clinical sites. This session will discuss a series of recent studies examining the prevalence of human milk and breastfeeding for infants with critical CHD, identifying supportive and limiting factors of these feeding practices, and investigating the impact of human milk and breastfeeding on key health outcomes in this population. Qualitative findings from lactating parents of infants with critical CHD will further describe the process by which direct breastfeeding can be established with these vulnerable infants. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692.   Presenter Kristin Elgersma, DM, MN, RN, PhD (C) Kristin Elgersma, DM, MN, RN, is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, a current NIH NRSA F31 Fellow, and a parent of a child born with critical congenital heart disease (CHD). Her work focuses on feeding for infants with CHD, with a particular interest in human milk feeding and direct breastfeeding as a means of optimizing infant health and providing family-centered, developmental care. Dr. Elgersma holds previous doctoral and master's degrees in piano performance from Northwestern University. Read more

Medela’s Breastfeeding & Lactation Symposium 2023 featured a world-class agenda for healthcare professionals keen to learn about the latest scientific evidence in the field of human milk and lactation towards improving the quality of lactation care and infant feeding. International speakers provided most recent advances in the topics of lactation as a biological system, research in the mother-breast milk-infant “triad” and initiation of lactation best practice in the neonatal unit and Maternity Ward as well as focused on the need of prioritizing own mother’s milk and collecting standardized metrics to improve infant outcomes in the neonatal unit.   This program has been approved for 2.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692. Read more

Black women and birthing people have the lowest rate of breastfeeding in the United States than in regions of Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. There is a stereotypical belief among healthcare workers that Black women do not want to breastfeed, with an ensuing lackluster attempt to support them in their feeding choices and remove barriers to ensure success. Let's have a candid conversation and change the narrative. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692.   Presenter Rose L. Horton, MSM, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, FAAN.png Rose L. Horton, MSM, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, FAAN is the Founder & CEO of NotOnMyWatch Consulting Partners, an LLC she created 3 years after coining the hashtag #notonmywatch. She created the hashtag out of her frustration at the rising rate of maternal & infant morbidity and mortality. As a nurse, she believed that nurses, as the largest healthcare employee contingent, have the power to change the trajectory of morbidity and mortality. The hashtag is a call to action for all nurses to use their collective voices to support, listen to, advocate for, and follow evidence-based practices in caring for all birthing people. Rose is a Women & Infant healthcare executive leader working as a Specialty Director at Emory Decatur Hospital. She is passionate about safe and equitable care for all women. Rose speaks on the topic of Maternal & Infant Mortality, Resilience, Joy diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) locally, regionally, and nationally. She is leading a DEI Health & Wellness committee at her hospital. Rose served as the 2012 President of the Association of Women’s Health Obstetrics & Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN), a 25,000-nurse member association that is pivotal in creating, supporting, legislating, and researching best practices and evidence-based care of women and newborns. Read more