Early Bird Sale
March 1st - 31st
Course series
Breast, Baby, and the Difficult Latch: Postpartum Management for Breast (Chest) Feeding Challenges
Write your awesome label here.
This course offers an in depth knowledge of:
- the anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics involved in breastfeeding
- practical strategies for addressing common issues that affect both the mother and infant which impact breastfeeding
Learn a new strategy for managing pressure systems!
Learn a new strategy for managing pressure systems!
What to expect:
This comprehensive continuing education course is designed for physical and occupational therapists and assistants who wish to expand their clinical expertise in evaluating and treating breastfeeding mothers and their infants. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics involved in breastfeeding, as well as practical strategies for addressing common issues that affect both the mother and infant which impact breastfeeding. This course is designed as a beginner to intermediate program that teaches advanced skills for direct application of manual therapy techniques to the breast as well as the infant to address breastfeeding barriers. It also includes updated information regarding current ABM (Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine) protocols, common breast, nipple, and infant oral diagnoses, and a thorough understanding of the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach. There is also thorough explanation and demonstration of milk production as well as the infant’s role in feeding at the breast. Basic hand skills will be taught for evaluation and treatment of the fascia, lymphatics, and vasculature of the breast; as well as evaluation of the infant’s posture, trunk, neck, and oral structures as it impacts the suck. The course also includes important considerations for working with this specialized population such as normal developmental milestones and behaviors of the newborn and how to support new parents.
Throughout the course, physical & occupational therapists will learn to apply evidence-based practices, work collaboratively, and use hands-on techniques to help breastfeeding mothers and infants achieve optimal comfort, function, and breastfeeding success. This course is suitable for physical and occupational therapists and assistants who work in outpatient, inpatient, or home health settings, and those seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in this specialized area of care.
Throughout the course, physical & occupational therapists will learn to apply evidence-based practices, work collaboratively, and use hands-on techniques to help breastfeeding mothers and infants achieve optimal comfort, function, and breastfeeding success. This course is suitable for physical and occupational therapists and assistants who work in outpatient, inpatient, or home health settings, and those seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in this specialized area of care.
Basic hand skills will be taught for evaluation and treatment of the fascia, lymphatics, and vasculature of the breast; as well as evaluation of the infant’s posture, trunk, neck, and oral structures as it impacts the suck.
The course also includes important considerations for working with this specialized population such as normal developmental milestones and behaviors of the newborn and how to support new parents.
What will you learn?
OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:
At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Identify the anatomy of the breast in different planes.
Identify the anatomy of the infant’s oral and pharyngeal cavities.
Describe the process of sucking and swallowing.
Describe the process of lactogenesis.
Understand the anatomy of the latch.
Understand the importance of communication for the breastfeeding dyad.
Recognize the “green flags” (normal expected course) with breastfeeding.
Discuss various diagnoses that affect the breast and impact breastfeeding.
Understand the roles of various practitioners in treating the breastfeeding dyad to implement in practice.
Perform mechanical evaluation and treatment of the breast.
Perform the mechanical evaluation and treatment of the baby struggling to feed.
Recognize signs which indicate referral of the infant and/or mother for further support.
Be able to teach classes or work one-on-one!
Meet the instructors
Mary Ellen Kramp, DPT, CLT-LANA
Mary Ellen graduated from Springfield College in 1992 with a Master of Science degree in physical therapy and received her doctorate from Boston University in 2005. She is a certified lymphedema therapist and has been working in women’s health for 20 years treating bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction. Although she loves treating absolutely everything in the body from head to toe, she has a passion for fertility, prenatal and postpartum care with particular focus on making sure that both parent and baby are doing well in the first few weeks after delivery. Mary Ellen considers herself a manual therapy snob and has fine tuned a plethora of hands on skills over the past 30+ years of practice.
Education is another passion. She is the owner of Fluid PT, a continuing education company for therapists. She has also co-founded The Nourish Project to create professional and community education from a multidisciplinary standpoint for the treatment of breast/bottle feeding infant issues and mastitis. In 2014 she became the president and co-founder of Pelvic Health Research Initiative, a non-profit organization established to raise money to fund pelvic research. Through her companies she has developed her own continuing education courses to teach Lymph Drainage and Vascular Release for the Pelvic PT, Lymph & Vascular Techniques for the Ortho Therapist, The Infertility Protocol, Pelvic PT Primer, and Breast, Baby & The Difficult Latch.
On top of treating numerous diagnoses and creating educational programs, she also has an interest in research. She published a case series report in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association on manual therapy techniques for the treatment of infertility and has also published in Rehabilitation Oncology. A randomized, controlled pilot study on treating infertility has recently closed.
Education is another passion. She is the owner of Fluid PT, a continuing education company for therapists. She has also co-founded The Nourish Project to create professional and community education from a multidisciplinary standpoint for the treatment of breast/bottle feeding infant issues and mastitis. In 2014 she became the president and co-founder of Pelvic Health Research Initiative, a non-profit organization established to raise money to fund pelvic research. Through her companies she has developed her own continuing education courses to teach Lymph Drainage and Vascular Release for the Pelvic PT, Lymph & Vascular Techniques for the Ortho Therapist, The Infertility Protocol, Pelvic PT Primer, and Breast, Baby & The Difficult Latch.
On top of treating numerous diagnoses and creating educational programs, she also has an interest in research. She published a case series report in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association on manual therapy techniques for the treatment of infertility and has also published in Rehabilitation Oncology. A randomized, controlled pilot study on treating infertility has recently closed.
Patrick Jones - Course author
Cat Halek, IBCLC
Cat discovered her love of breastfeeding through her experience of breastfeeding her own child, Jax. She started her professional journey towards becoming an IBCLC, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, at Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) in Pinellas County as a breastfeeding peer counselor in 2011. There she received mentoring by 3 IBCLCs, which inspired her to become an IBCLC. In 2014 she started her own private practice. In 2016 she began work at Champions for Children where she worked in another high-volume non-profit community setting. Cat has become an educator in the breastfeeding community for both parents and IBCLCs through presenting at numerous conferences and breastfeeding trainings. She is passionate in supporting the whole family in all their feeding choices. Because of her passion for a multidisciplinary approach for treatment and education, she co-founded The Nourish Project. Cat also has extensive teaching experience prior to her lecture with The Nourish Project including both parent and professional trainings including: 2011 through 2014 Pinellas County Health Department; Breastfeeding trainings for WIC, Healthy Start, Nurse Family Partnership; Stages of change and Motivational Interviewing for WIC Staff; Breastfeeding Classes: 2015 to present; Breastfeeding and Counseling techniques for doulas: 2016 to Present; Boot Camp For Moms instructor: 2016; Storms of Motherhood Trainings (Mental Health Distress during the Perinatal period) for Perinatal Professionals: 2016; and No more difficult clients: Touchpoints TBBT Conference: 2018.
Patrick Jones - Course author
Barbara Nelson, CCC-SLP, CLC
Barbara Nelson is a dual certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Lactation Counselor with a deep specialization in infant feeding and breastfeeding support. With over 13 years of clinical experience in NICUs, outpatient rehab, and community-based pediatric care, Barbara has honed her expertise in addressing complex feeding challenges, including infant dysphagia, breastfeeding difficulties, and pediatric voice disorders.
A passionate educator, Barbara co-founded The Nourish Project, where she develops and delivers interdisciplinary continuing education courses for healthcare providers nationwide. Her lecture experience includes topics on breastfeeding dyad assessments, treatment approaches for feeding issues, and fostering collaborative care. She has presented at large conferences, such as the Tampa Bay Breastfeeding Task Force Annual Conference and the National APTA Conference.
Through her work, Barbara combines clinical acumen with an unwavering commitment to teaching and advocacy, ensuring both providers and parents are equipped with the tools to nurture healthy feeding practices from the start.
A passionate educator, Barbara co-founded The Nourish Project, where she develops and delivers interdisciplinary continuing education courses for healthcare providers nationwide. Her lecture experience includes topics on breastfeeding dyad assessments, treatment approaches for feeding issues, and fostering collaborative care. She has presented at large conferences, such as the Tampa Bay Breastfeeding Task Force Annual Conference and the National APTA Conference.
Barbara’s teaching contributions extend to mentoring clinical fellows and student interns, conducting in-services for healthcare teams, and creating digital parent education resources. As Head of Parent Education for Baby Boldly, she developed the Newborn Feeding Course, empowering families with the knowledge to navigate infant feeding confidently.
Through her work, Barbara combines clinical acumen with an unwavering commitment to teaching and advocacy, ensuring both providers and parents are equipped with the tools to nurture healthy feeding practices from the start.
Patrick Jones - Course author
We are an online educational platform that helps professionals and aspiring individuals to succeed in their pelvic health goals.