Nursing Mothers Counsel Member Site

Training Curriculum

Nursing Mother's Counsel training is a rigorous curriculum taught by IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants), other professionals (registered dieticians, MDs, mental health professionals), and Nursing Mothers Counsel members. After completing the 20 hours of training, you will be able to address the following breast/chestfeeding issues:

  1. Recognize situations that exceed the range of normal nursing challenges.
  2. Discuss breast/chest changes during pregnancy and lactation.
  3. Discuss the importance of skin-to-skin contact.
  4. Discuss what is required to establish and maintain a good milk supply.
  5. Provide education on newborn feeding cues and behavior states.
  6. Provide education on how feeding will change, depending on infant’s age and developmental stage.
  7. Assist the nursing parent to find comfortable positions for feeding.
  8. Identify and discuss ways to achieve an optimal latch.
  9. Discuss adequate milk intake of the infant and appropriate weight gain.
  10. Provide suggestions as to when and how to stimulate a sleepy baby to feed.
  11. Discuss common self-care treatments for engorgement, sore nipples, plugged milk ducts, thrush, vasospasm and mastitis.
  12. Discuss oversupply and/or overactive MER, and how it might affect feeding.
  13. Discuss breast/chest reduction and/or augmentation, and possible effects on feeding.
  14. Describe how “special situations” (preterm, jaundice, tight frenulum, cleft palate, twins) may affect feeding.
  15. Discuss common causes of decreased milk supply.
  16. Provide suggestions on how to increase milk supply.
  17. Discuss strategies for maintaining breast/chestfeeding when returning to work/school.
  18. Describe techniques for hand expression.
  19. Discuss proper/effective use of pumps.
  20. Provide information on safe handling and storage of expressed milk.
  21. Provide information on tandem nursing and nursing an older baby.
  22. Discuss safe and appropriate weaning techniques.
  23. Share information about postpartum mood disorders.
  24. Provide current information on lactation support services (lactation centers, support groups, websites, books).
  25. Display an understanding of why and under what circumstances an IBCLC or HCP might recommend common tools (i.e. SNS, nipple shield).
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