BE03: Positioning and Latch of the Baby to the Breast

CERPs: 12 L CERPs / 12 Lactation Specific Hours / 12 CHs (continuing education credit)
Cost: US$119
Access Time: 1 month (starting from time of purchase)
Enrolling in more than 1 course? Time is cumulative ie buy 2 courses, have 2 months access to both courses
Synopsis: On completion of this course participants will have a thorough knowledge of how to assist the mother to position her baby for good latch, the physics of suckling, and be able to accurately evaluate a breastfeed.
Tutor: Barbara Ash, MA IBCLC
Enrol now: http://health-e-learning.com/enroll

For detailed course information, click on "Read More" 

This wholly online evidence-based course uses course notes, examples, links to quality educational websites, graphics, a workbook and self-test quizzes to assist the student’s learning. The course is extensively referenced using recent primary research and current texts relevant to the topic.
The course is facilitated via the forum by an experienced online tutor. The forum provides a place where topical issues may be raised, case studies discussed, questions posed and answered, links to additional information provided, and students and the facilitator can interact.

Aim

The aim of this course is for the practitioner to learn the principals of good positioning that facilitate effective latch and milk transfer avoiding preventable breastfeeding problems.

Learning Objectives

When you've successfully completed this course you should be able to:
  • Describe the features of the lactating breast that facilitate and enhance milk transfer.
  • List the cranial bones, cranial nerves and facial muscles of the infant relevant to breastfeeding.
  • Describe the neurobehavior of the newborn infant that leads to breastfeeding.
  • State the most important clinical practice that should be implemented immediately following birth.
  • Describe the maternal position that best facilitates breastfeeding.
  • Define the principles of infant positioning that facilitates breastfeeding.
  • List the sequence of actions that lead to correct latch.
  • Describe the placement of the breast teat in relation to the infant's tongue and oral cavity.
  • List the individual roles of the mother and the baby in milk transfer.
  • Describe the neurohormonal sequence of the milk ejection reflex.
  • Describe the sequence of events in the suck cycle.
  • List 10 infant causes of poor latch and 10 causes of un-coordinated suck and how to recognize them.
  • Describe maternal reasons causing poor milk transfer in terms of maternal anatomy and milk ejection.
  • Describe 3 observational stages employed during a breastfeeding consultation.
  • Demonstrate to a mentor how to teach a mother to position and latch her baby correctly herself
  • Recognise when and why problems of latching and suck are occurring and describe the process

Prerequisites

  • A good understanding of anatomy and physiology of the lactating breast.  Completion of BE02 would be appropriate.
  • Good observational skills
  • The ability to listen to what the mother is saying, then apply evidence-based theory to the practical situation.
  • A Mentor. This course will help you to learn the theory of good positioning and latch and give you practical tips. However, it is essential that you observe a competent practitioner assisting a mother to breastfeed, and have that person observe your skills. It is expected that you will seek out your own mentor. Share your notes on this course with your mentor so they will understand what you are trying to achieve

Administration:

BE03: Positioning and Latch of the Baby to the Breast is facilitated by an experienced International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
There is a forum where topical issues may be raised, case studies discussed, questions posed and answered, links to additional information provided, etc.
The course is available as a one month subscription commencing on the day of notification to you of your username and password.
The average time taken to complete this course and the assessment is 12 hours.
On successful completion your Certificate will be available to you in pdf format from the website.

Syllabus

The course is studied under the following topic headings:

  1. Introduction
  2. Relevant anatomy for breastfeeding
    1. Breast Anatomy
    2. Infant Cranial Anatomy
  3. Sharing the Skills
    1. The Breastfeeding Environment
    2. Good Positioning
    3. Good Latch
  4. Milk Transfer
    1. Milk Ejection Reflex
    2. Physics of Sucking
    3. Factors affecting milk transfer: Baby
    4. Factors affecting milk transfer: Mother
  5. Breastfeeding Consultation
    1. Observation and Assessment
    2. Breastfeeding Assessment Tools
    3. Breastfeeding Consultation
  6. Problems of Latch and Suck

Required Reading Material

All required reading materials available online.

A quality, current lactation text is recommended to augment your studies.

Assessment

Achievement of the learning objectives is assessed by automatically graded, online, multiple-choice questions. A passing grade is 85%.

A Workbook, downloaded from the course, is not required to be submitted, but completion will aid learning and provide an excellent resource.

Accreditation

On successful completion of this course you will be awarded:

  • 12 L CERPs*
  • 12 Contact Hours (ANCC)**

*IBLCE Approval Number: C26309
**Health e-Learning is an approved provider of continuing education by the Virginia Nurses’ Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. ANCC Approval 07-01-01

Quality Assurance

  • Primary Author: Denise Fisher, MMP, BN, IBCLC; Co-author: Bridget Ingle, RN, IBCLC
  • Reviewed by: Barbara Ash IBCLC Trudi Szallasi IBCLC
  • Course release date: January 2010
  • Updated as new information becomes available. Reviewed annually.

Enrolment and Fees

Enrollments are accepted online, or upon receipt of a faxed or mailed enrollment form (number and address on enrollment form). Click HERE now to go to the Enrollment page where you can enroll online.

US$119.00 per course

Enrollment period is for one month per course, which is cumulative when you enroll into more than one course; eg. enroll into 4 BreastEd courses and have access to all 4 courses for 4 months.