Program Benefits

1. Course development by experts in the field. All study material is evidence based and regularly updated to conform (and exceed)  BFHI Step 2 requirements
2. No training session roster scheduling or back-fill required
3. Staff study from their preferred location (home, work, office, library etc) 24/7/365
4. Add new staff as training is required, consistent training for all staff
5. Full training records maintained

Breastfeeding Essentials and Essentials for Doctors are educational courses designed for health care professionals working with women antenatally and postnatally and in the community. The courses cover all aspects of the WHO/UNICEF 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and the 7-Point Plan supporting breastfeeding in the community care setting, and are therefore suitable for staff education as required by the Baby Friendly Hospitals' Initiative accreditation process.

• Breastfeeding Essentials is intended to be used for staff who have yet to complete their initial education as required by Step 2 of the 10 Steps and the 7-Point Plan.
• Breastfeeding Essentials for Doctors has been developed specifically for the needs of medical personnel working with mothers and babies in the peripartum period.
• Our Continuing Education options are ideal for an ongoing education, ensuring staff are up-to-date and ready for your BFHI re-accreditation whilst keeping staff fresh and updated. Continuing Education options include some short courses or recorded lectures on many different contemporay lactation topics that are interesting for Nurses, Midwives and Physcians alike.

The Essentials series are flexible learning courses developed specifically around the access needs of busy health professionals. They are delivered wholly over the Internet, where participants are able to access their study course anywhere, anytime from any computer connected to the Internet. The modular design allows participants to be flexible, completing small sections of the coursework whenever they have available time.

The Essentials series modules have interactive content, including graphics, graphs, diagrams, video and links to other Internet sites where appropriate. At appropriate times there are Unit-specific suggestions to review policies or procedures. Within each module are short multiple-choice self-test questions, or crosswords, or cloze paragraphs, or scenarios or interactive case studies. Participants receive feedback on most of these activities; the results are not recorded and are designed to focus the participants' attention on the content covered. This interactivity increases participant enjoyment of the learning process and retention of information.

Communication within the course is an integral component. In Breastfeeding Essentials participants are able to email the course facilitator and use a forum facility that encourages participants to discuss topical issues.

An assessment component, comprised of automatically-graded, multiple-choice questions based on the objectives of the course, confirms that the course objectives were attained.

Aim of the Program

The aim of the program is to provide participants with the opportunity to gain an excellent understanding of the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and the 7-Point Plan for Supporting Breastfeeding in the Community, which will allow them to educate and assist mothers to breastfeed their infants in a manner which is consistent and evidence-based, and results in high breastfeeding initiation rates with a lesser number of women experiencing difficulties.

A secondary aim is to provide the consistent, convenient, cost-effective, high-quality staff education required by health care settings seeking Baby Friendly Hospitals' Initiative accreditation.

Using Essentials Programs for your staff education

Technology:

Hospitals do not require any software or change to their current network configuration - the course is accessible from the Health e-Learning web server (website). We provide technical support or advice to individuals when needed.

Tutoring:

Option A: GROUP ORDER - Staff are enrolled into our public version of the courses, which is facilitated by one of our tutors.

Option B: INSTITUTIONAL ORDER – Your nominated hospital educator has online facilitator access to answer individual participant’s questions posed via the forum facility and can monitor and guide discussion in the online forums.

Participant Records:

The Health e-Learning Administrator will notify the hospital contact regularly of the progress of all participants.

Participant Administration:

The Health e-Learning Administrator enrols participants; provides the facilitator with their passwords to permit access; emails a spreadsheet of participants’ achievements for your record-keeping. Graduates print their Certificate from the program..

Breastfeeding Essentials

1. Why breastfeeding is important.
   • Biochemistry;
   • Immunology;
   • Effect of artificial infant formula-feeding
2. Communication Skills
3. Antenatal Considerations
   • Making the infant feeding decision;
   • Barriers to breastfeeding, including Working Mother;
   • Physical preparation;
   • Special considerations (HIV, drugs, etc)
4. The Birth Experience
   • Labouring and breastfeeding;
   • Birthing and breastfeeding;
   • The first hours;
   • Rethinking detrimental practices
5. Breastfeeding the Baby
   • Positioning Principles;
   • Assessing breastfeeding;
   • Principles of breastmilk transfer
6. A Time to Learn
   • Practical skills;
   • Breastfeeding messages;
   • Normal growth;
   • Sleeping and waking patterns;
   • Psychological Support;
   • Discharge planning
7. Infant Challenges
   • The non–latching baby;
   • Hypoglycaemia; Jaundice;
   • The near-term baby; Supplements;
   • The crying baby;
   • Inadequate weight gain
8. Maternal Challenges
   • Nipple damage/conditions;
   • Blocked ducts; Mastitis; Abscess;
   • Breastmilk supply problems;
   • Medical issues; Surgical issues; Medications
9. Promoting, Protecting and Supporting Breastfeeding
   • Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding;
   • 7-Point Community Plan;
   • WHO Code

Breastfeeding Essentials for Doctors

• Provide information and assess breastfeeding women.
  • Discuss the impact doctors can have on breastfeeding initiation and duration.
  • Explain the evidence-based differences in maternal and infant outcomes that occur with breastfeeding vs formula feeding and why these differences occur.
  • Apply knowledge of breast anatomy and physiology to identify women who may have difficulty lactating.
  • Discuss the nutritional properties of human milk.
  • Identify and assess conditions that may contraindicate breastfeeding.
  • Discuss six concerns mothers may have with breastfeeding and strategies they may use to overcome these concerns.
  • Assess the risk of a maternal medication for an infant who is being breastfed.
  • Locate reputable information regarding a specific drug and its use during lactation.
  • Provide advice related to the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method of contraception.
• Manage the normal breastfeeding dyad.
  • By following the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, plan appropriate breastfeeding related management of a well mother and infant in the first three days postpartum.
  • Assess whether an infant less than two weeks of age is receiving sufficient breastmilk.
  • Describe changes in normal breastfeeding behaviours (including feeding and elimination patterns) from birth to one month.
  • Assess correct positioning and attachment.
  • Use and interpret appropriate infant growth charts.
  • Discuss the rationale for the timely introduction of complementary foods.
  • Explain the recommendations related to weaning.
• Manage abnormal situations for the breastfeeding dyad.
  • Assess the effect on breastfeeding of: near-term birth; pain relief used in labour; poor latch; and hypoglycaemia.
  • Differentiate between normal breast fullness and engorgement and plan appropriate treatment.
  • Discuss the causes of jaundice in the neonatal period and their relationship with breastfeeding.
  • Distinguish between causes of delayed lactogenesis and low milk supply.
  • Plan appropriate management/treatment of a woman with a low milk supply.
  • Discriminate between the common causes of sore and cracked nipples within the first week, and at one month.
  • Plan appropriate management/treatment for a woman with: infected nipples; vasospasm; or dermatological conditions affecting the nipple.
  • Identify causes of and diagnose mastitis and breast abscess.
  • Plan appropriate treatment of a woman with mastitis or breast abscess.

Continuing Education

Any of our publicly available courses can be made available as part of your program. We suggest using the following as continuing education:

• Expert Lectures - 1 hour each
• Advanced Practice courses 4-5 hours

Please see our Courses page for the full list and more information.

Recommended Readings

The Essentials Series are complete courses within themselves; there are no required texts to complete these courses. Research articles from peer-reviewed journals are extensively referenced throughout the courses, many available online. It is recommended that participants have access in their workplace to a quality text for reference, such as:

• Lauwers J., Swisher A. (2010) Counseling the Nursing Mother. 5^th ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Barlett Publishers.
• Mohrbacher N. Breastfeeding Answers Made Simple. Hale Publishing (Texas)

More advanced texts include:

• Lawrence R., Lawrence R. (2010) Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession. 7^h ed. St. Louis, MO: CV Mosby.
• Riordan, J. &  Wambach, K. (2009) Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. 4^th ed. Boston; London: Jones & Bartlett.

If you have a GROUP ORDER

1. Email the names of the participants to us with the preferred starting date.
2. We will send you a spreadsheet (Report) with each participant's username and password and instructions for your distribution.
3. Participants access the course from any online computer and the Health e-Learning Tutor will facilitate their learning.
4. On successful completion the participant can print their Certificate of Completion.
5. We will send an updated Report monthly listing all participants with their progress.
6. You can add any number of extra participants at any time by emailing us. Each new participant will have 6 months access from the time we advise you of their passwords.

If you have an INSTITUTIONAL ORDER

1. When you're ready to commence we will setup your own courses that only your staff can access.
2. A tele-tutorial with your Educator will orientate them to the program and the software functions.
3. Email the names of the participants to us with the preferred starting date.
4. You'll receive a spreadsheet (Report) with each participant's username and password and instructions for your distribution.
5. Participants access the course from any online computer.
6. Participants print their Certificate of Completion on successful completion of the course.
7. We will send an updated Report monthly with participants' progress.
8. You can add any number of extra participants at any time by emailing us. Each new participant will have 6 months access from the time we advise you of their passwords.

The Breastfeeding Essentials series are evidence-based courses, the information based primarily on recent primary research published in peer-reviewed mainstream journals. All references are cited.

Breastfeeding Essentials

• This course was reviewed by faculty from the midwifery unit of Griffith University, Australia, a university that used this program in the education of their undergraduate midwives.
• On successful completion participants will receive a Certificate with the following educational points noted:
  • 20 L CERPs awarded by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. Approval # C24110
  • 20 Hours education specific to lactation and breastfeeding.
  • USA Nurses: 20 Contact Hours (CHs) awarded by the California Board of Registered Nursing
  • Australian Nurses and Midwives: This course can be used for 20 CPD points

Essentials for Doctors

• This course was written by Dr Wendy Brodribb, AM, MBBS, IBCLC, and reviewed for content accuracy and relevancy by Denise Fisher, MMP, BN, IBCLC
• On successful completion participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Continuing Education

• These options vary in length, from 1 hour lectures to short 4 hour courses.
• Staff will receive a certificate with CERPs and Contact Hours

How is the program delivered?

All courses are online; staff access the program using passwords from any online computer (work, office, home, public facility)

How long does the program go for and when does it start?

You nominate a block of names or individuals when you are ready to start. We issue the passwords and each participant has 6 months to complete their course.

How much time does it take to finish the courses and what about accreditation?

Individuals take varying times to finish, but the average study time is 20 hours (Essentials course) and 4-8 hours (Doctors course). Remember they have 6 months to complete their study. The Essentials course graduates are awarded L CERPs. A Certificate of Completion is issued to every participant.

How do staff handle online learning?

Thousands of hospital and community staff have now completed Breastfeeding Essentials programs and feedback indicates that they prefer to learn this way because of convenience and flexibility. Technical problems are rare, but we provide online support.

What about course quality?

The courses are evidence-based and peer reviewed. They are regularly updated. Learning is spread over a longer period of time, and self-test exercises and the final assessment consolidates learning.  Educators often praise our quality and remark on the changes in clinical practice as a result of this education. BFHI accreditors frequently comment on the high standard of staff knowledge.

Is this cost effective? We could do it ourselves.

Developing quality content is time consuming - ask any educator. This program is ready to go, today. Rostering staff to attend classes, organising back-fill, venue and educator costs all add up. Online learning can occur during quieter periods at work and can be spread out over the 6 months of the enrollment period.

Providing the same program for new staff or those on leave at the time of initial education can prove to be very difficult when leading face-to-face classes.

We also provide full training records and documentation to present to BFHI Accreditation Officers, making administration simple.

How much does it cost?

Contact Health e-Learning administration for discussion of your area's needs and pricing in your local currency: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it