1.5 L-CERPs + 1.5 CEUs

Strengthening Our Human Milk Fortifier Game

Christine Staricka, BS, IBCLC, RLC, FILCA
Course description
Fortification of expressed human milk presents a conundrum: if human milk is optimal, why would we need to improve it? The concept of fortification has become fraught with misinformation, including misunderstanding of its purpose and application, especially outside of the hospital setting. Families across the U.S. are being advised to “fortify” their milk in ways that are not consistent with any research or formal guidelines, and they are not being given support to do so safely or to understand when they can stop doing so. In order to fulfill their clinical responsibilities, lactation care providers need clarity on when fortification would meet an infant’s needs, what we know and don’t know for sure about fortification, and how best to assist families in communicating with their medical providers and healthcare team about fortification.
Meet the Instructor

Christine Staricka, BS, IBCLC, RLC, FILCA

Christine Staricka is a Registered, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and trained childbirth educator. As the host of The Lactation Training Lab Podcast, her current role focuses on training and coaching current and aspiring lactation care providers. 

Christine created and developed The First 100 Hours© concept, an early lactation framework designed to support lactation care providers with the knowledge and mindset they need to help families optimize early lactation.Christine worked as a hospital-based IBCLC for 10 years and has over 21 years experience providing clinical lactation care and support. She provides clinical lactation care to families at Baby Café Bakersfield and serves as its Director.Christine recently completed 6 years of service on the Board of the United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA.) She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Phoenix. She has been married for 28 years, lives in California, and is the proud mother of 3 amazing daughters.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Learners say 

This was a fantastic presentation!

-Kate Cropp

I had no idea how much I didn't know about fortifying milk AND I SEE NICU FAMILIES IN THE HOSPITAL. This talk prompted me to pull out our protocols and procedures to get a better understanding of what the fortification game look like in my facility. Thank you for helping me serve families better. 

-Sarah, IBCLC

It’s a topic that I have been recently discussing due to an increase in twin deliveries at our facility! Loved that this can help change some faulty ways!

- Alexandra Strouse

Start learning now!

Knowledge Gap
The practice of fortifying human milk has become muddled with various methodologies, some of which are not evidence-based and others unsafe. Lactation care providers often question the recommendation to fortify human milk due to questions of safety, research proving benefit, potential harms to infant, potential impacts to maternal/parental breastfeeding self-efficacy and confidence, and more.
Objectives

01

Define the term “fortification” with regard to expressed human milk

02

Identify three lactation scenarios in which feeding fortified human milk may be recommended by members of the healthcare team

03

Name three areas of concern with regard to human milk fortification which might impact lactation management and care plans
IBLCE Content Outline
I. A8 - Nutritional requirements - preterm
I. A9 - Preterm development and growth
VII. A2 - Handing and storage of human milk

Course Lessons

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