1 R-CERP + 1 CEU

Addressing Underlying Infant Developmental Milestones to Improve Milk Transfer

Dr. Christine L. Kan, OTD, OTR/L, IBCLC
Course description
As lactation professionals, we miss the importance of head and neck control and how it impacts breastfeeding. Breastfeeding through a neurodevelopmental perspective emphasizes the importance of stabilizing the base (trunk and head control) to have better functional movements (feeding, interacting, breastfeeding). Consequently, babies should be meeting their developmental milestones to transfer milk effectively. Disruptions in head or trunk control will directly impact orofacial sensory motor function and milk transfer. Tummy time is an effective and practical way for parents to work on at home to improve head and trunk control. In this webinar, you will learn the importance of head and control, how it impacts orofacial sensory motor function, and how to screen for developmental concerns.
Meet the Instructor

Dr. Christine L. Kan, OTD, OTR/L, IBCLC

Dr. Christine L. Kan, OTD, OTR/L, IBCLC, is an occupational therapist that specializes in lactation, feeding therapy, orofacial sensory motor re-training, and lip and tongue ties. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a doctorate in occupational therapy in 2013, focusing on feeding interventions for children with special needs. 

She is trained in Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, Infant and Pediatric Neurodevelopmental training (NDT), Neonatal Oral Motor and Assessment Scale (NOMAS ), Neonatal Touch and Massage Certification (NTMC), and has her advanced practice in feeding, eating, and swallowing (SWC). She has experience helping medically fragile infants and young children transition from gastronomy tube (G-tube) feedings to oral feedings at the hospital and at home.

She currently works part time as a neonatal occupational therapist in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center in San Gabriel, CA and Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, CA. She also works part time at her private practice, supporting parents with complex feeding histories, infant development, and breastfeeding. 

She is an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and is passionate supporting parents of premature and babies with tethered oral tissues breast/chestfeed their newborn. She went through her own personal struggle of breastfeeding babies with ties; her daughter with a lip tie and her son with a lip and tongue tie. Christine is currently tandem nursing her toddler (3 years) and infant (1 year).  
Patrick Jones - Course author

Learners say 

This was an highly informational session on how structural issues in babies can greatly impact infant infant. I have taken a lot of structural classes on infants and the impact on feeding and I feel like this one is well laid out and explains things in such a way that it pulled it all together for me. 

-Annie Hoag BSN, RN, IBCLC, CST

The information presented in this session were phenomenal. It was presented in a clear concise way that will help me in my practice. 

-Susan Manore, IBCLC, RLC

Great session overall. A lot of the "why" but need more focus on practical ways IBCLCs can help families facilitate improvement besides just tummy time. Often times it takes a while to get in with the OT or to even convince a family that OT is needed and the IBCLC can give basic education to get them started.

- Kate Cropp, IBCLC

Start learning now!

Knowledge Gap
Lactation professionals lack knowledge of infant head and trunk development and how head control and trunk control can impact breastfeeding. Without addressing the root of the issue or the developmental delay, the baby may not progress in breastfeeding, experience delays in other areas, and families may cease breastfeeding altogether. 
Objectives

01

Explain the importance of head and trunk control to breastfeeding

02

Describe how decreased head and trunk control limits breastfeeding and milk transfer

03

Identify 1 observable behavior that indicates developmental delay 

04

Recommend 1 activity to improve head and neck control
IBLCE Content Outline
I. A1 Feeding behaviours at different ages
I. A3 Infant anatomy and anatomical/oral challenges
I. A10 Skin tone, muscle tone, reflexes

Course Lessons

Guaranteed Security using one of the most advanced encrypted systems on the market.
The information in this page is being processed and encrypted securely using industry-leading encryption and fraud prevention tools.