SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Sessions noted with (CE) or (CERP) indicate those sessions for which we've applied for continuing education hours. CERPs were awarded on 1/30/17 and you can see the type of CERPs below. Nursing Contact Hours will be applied for for all Friday sessions. Two of Saturday's sessions offer CERPs only, no Nursing Contact Hours.
Friday, April 28
8:30–10:00 a.m.: General Session 1
A New Paradigm for Depression in New Mothers, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett (CE, R CERPs)
Recent research has revealed that systemic inflammation, the immune system response to physical or psychological threat, increases the risk of depression. Puerperal women are especially vulnerable because proinflammatory cytokines significantly increase during the last trimester of pregnancy, the time when women are most at risk for depression, and continues on through the postpartum period. In addition, common experiences of new motherhood, such as sleep deprivation, postpartum pain, and psychological trauma, also cause inflammation levels to rise. This session will describe the inflammatory response and its relation to physical and psychological stress. This session will also show why breastfeeding and anti-inflammatory treatments, such as Omega-3s, cognitive therapy and antidepressants, protect maternal mental health by lowering the inflammatory response.
10:15–11:45 a.m.: General Session 2
Weighing in on Obesity and Breastfeeding, Kathleen Kendal-Tackett (CE, L CERPs)
Public health officials have been sounding the alarm about the “obesity epidemic,” not only in the U.S., but in industrialized nations around the world. In response, breastfeeding is offered as an important preventative measure for both maternal and childhood obesity. Unfortunately, strategies designed to improve breastfeeding rates among women with higher BMIs often backfire and become self-fulfilling prophecies by discouraging heavier women from breastfeeding. Despite these limitations, breastfeeding has an important role to play in obesity prevention. This presentation provides an overview of current research on surprising causes of obesity, such as sleep disorders, psychological trauma, and discrimination and outlines the limitations of current approaches. This session also describes research on the impact of BMI on breastfeeding, and provides practical steps for working with mothers with higher BMIs.
12:45–1:45 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Option 1: Working in perinatal care can be deeply rewarding. It can also lead to job-related burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Secondary traumatic stress, or compassion fatigue, can occur when witnessing traumatic events in the workplace. This can occur when witnessing infant death or traumatic births, or when there is too much work, or work that doesn’t seem to make a difference, and little institutional support. A recent survey by AWHONN of 464 Labor & Delivery nurses found that more than a third reported moderate-to-severe symptoms of traumatic stress as a result of incidents they encountered on the job. This has serious implications for both patients and providers. Burnout and Compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress can lead to physical and mental health sequelae for professionals who experiences them. It can also have a negative impact on the care provided. Self-care is essential for being able to provide care to others. In this seminar, participants will learn about the causes and consequences of both burnout and secondary traumatic stress/compassion fatigue. The good news is that there is hope for recovery. Participants will learn some specific strategies for integrating self-care into their care for others.
Option 2: This presentation will review the “big ethics” of lactation support including equity and access, conflicts of interest and the WHO code. There will also be discussion about “little ethics” - the ethical issues that arise in the context of everyday lactation practice. An approach to ethical decision making will be described using case examples.
2:00–3:00 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Option 1: Does being gay affect how you feed your baby? What is chestfeeding? Do LGBTQ people have health disparities that can potentially impact the immediate postpartum time and the breastfeeding/ chestfeeding relationship? What is co-nursing and who can do it? Please join us to begin learning about these topics in a safe and welcoming environment. In this introductory workshop, we’ll begin to cover the basics of being an ally, incorporating queer and gender neutral language into your vocabulary, and how to adequately provide lactation support to individuals that are LGBTQ. It’s not as easy as one might think and a rainbow of options and individual needs exist. We will send you away with information, resources, and self-work to do in order to better serve LGBTQ clients.
Option 2: Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle yet powerful bodywork modality.. It is both safe and beneficial for infants, and can aid in resolving certain breastfeeding issues. This session will help you to understand Craniosacral therapy, and how it works to gently release restrictions and distortions in the body. We will go over signs and symptoms that may indicate the need for CST and how to find a Craniosacral Therapist in your community. A demonstration will be given during the session.
3:15–4:30 p.m.: General Session
Breastfeeding Makes All the Difference: Breastfeeding’s Role in Resiliency and Overcoming Adversity, Kathleen Kendal-Tackett (CE, R CERPs)
We do not live in a perfect world. Many new mothers have experienced abuse and adversity as children. They want to be good mothers. But they often wonder whether they will perpetuate the cycle of violence that they have experienced. They may also have a history of depression and wonder whether this has harmed their children. Fortunately, we can offer new mothers hope. Recent studies have found that breastfeeding helps mothers mother—even when there is a history of abuse. It not about the milk; it’s the physical act of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding improves maternal sleep, lowers the risk of depression, lessens anger and irritability, and even attenuates the negative effects of past sexual assault. Breastfeeding protects babies when their mothers are depressed and is associated with better children’s mental health up to age 14. Because mothers must be responsive to their babies, breastfeeding promotes secure attachments, which has lifetime implications for babies’ health. Breastfeeding mothers are less likely to physically abuse or neglect their children. And if a mother has a history of sexual abuse or assault, breastfeeding attenuates (lessens) the impact of sexual assault/abuse on sleep, depression, anxiety, and anger or irritability. Breastfeeding offers mothers a chance to do things differently—to be a different kind of parent. When it comes to overcoming adversity and stopping the intergenerational cycle of violence, breastfeeding makes all the difference.
4:30 p.m.: Day Concludes. Turn in CERP/Contact Hour forms and evaluations.
Saturday, April 29
9:00–10:30 a.m.: General Session
The Neuropsychological Effects of Sleep Training and Its Implications for Breastfeeding, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett (R CERPs)
Sleep training continues to be a popular parenting philosophy with its roots in American Behaviorism. The idea behind this approach is that if you want to stop a behavior, don’t “reinforce” it, which increasing its likelihood that it reoccur. Under this school of thought, if you pick up a crying baby, you are just reinforcing the likelihood that the baby will cry more often—especially at night. Recent research has suggested that there is “no apparent harm” to this approach. But is that true? This presentation will describe recent research in neuroscience on the importance of responsive early parenting on brain development, and harmful effects of leaving babies to cry. Non-responsive parenting raises babies’ cortisol levels. Cortisol is toxic to brain cells, particularly in the hippocampus. This research is also put in the context of current AAP recommendations to keep babies in the parents’ room during the first six months, and how solitary sleep increases the babies’ risk of SIDS.
Objectives
10:45–11:45 a.m.: Breakout Sessions
Communication Skills 1 (Part 1 of 2)
This session will be most helpful to attendees who attend both parts one and two as the information and skills build upon each other. This is the basis of LLL's communication workshop. The communication skills workshops are the basis of LLL's philosophy to provide support and information without telling a parent what to do. In part one, we will learn about attending behavior and body language. There will be lots of examples and many opportunities for practice.
Breastfeeding Older Children Panel
The WHO recommends breastfeeding continue, along with appropriate complimentary foods, up to 2 years of age or beyond. What does "beyond" look like? Our panel will discuss the joys and challenges of breastfeeding beyond age 2, as well as answer questions and address concerns about breastfeeding older children. Topics will include tandem nursing, setting limits, weaning, dealing with criticism, cultural norms and more.
Birth Story Sharing
This session will allow attendees to share their own birth stories and/or learn from others in preparation for future births. In particular, we'll discuss:
-how your birth affected breastfeeding in the early days and weeks
-what you did prior to birth to prepare for both the birth itself and for the early postpartum period
-what you WISH you had done prior to birth to prepare for birth and postpartum or what you plan to do next time around
-your birth team and their effect on your birth
Partners Discussion
This session is for breastfeeding supporters (dads, partners, grandparents, etc) and moms who want to have a conversation about how breastfeeding supporters can help the breastfeeding mother and baby in the early weeks, months, and even years. The session will follow the same outline as a typical LLL series meeting, with introductions, question and answer session, and then specific topic discussion. Come to learn new things and share your experiences.
12:45–1:45 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Communication Skills 1 (Part 2 of 2)
This session will be most helpful to attendees who attend both parts one and two as the information and skills build upon each other. This session will pick up where part one ended. We will be identifying feelings and reasons for feelings. There will be lots of examples and many opportunities for practice.
LLL Jeopardy
How much do you know about La Leche League's early years? In honor of LLL's 60th anniverary, come share your knowledge or learn something new about this incredible organization's beginnings.
Positive Discipline Right from the Start
It is never too early to get a good handle on your discipline philosophy and have some tools in your tool belt. Discover how the power of attachment and connection allows us to parent without punishment. Setting limits and supporting our kids emotional development through the toddler years can bring up our own "stuff". We will look at effective discipline, emotional coaching and facing your own fears and doubts.
Gentle Weaning Panel: How, When, and Why
Have you wondered when will be the right time to wean, or how you will ever wean your nursing-loving child? During this session, you will hear the varied experiences of panelists who collectively have weaned their children at different ages, in different ways, and for different reasons. Explore the challenge of balancing a mother’s wants and needs and her child’s wants and needs. We will define “gentle weaning” and share practical strategies to make weaning work for both mother and child, as well as what to expect for your body and mothering after breastfeeding is done. There will be time for questions at the end of the session
2:00–3:00 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Parenting into the Abyss
As our children grow older and move past the breastfeeding years we may find ourselves in unknown territory. Are you struggling in how to stay connected with these new, independent creatures? Are your communication skills being tested in new ways? All parents are welcome to join us for a discussion and shared support while we explore the "unknown" as we parent our older children and explore the wonderful new stages that come along with them.
Dealing with Criticism
For many parents, breastfeeding is a relationship in addition to a feeding process. Hearing criticism or feeling disapproval from people in our lives can be very difficult.
This session will be a mix of idea sharing and practical tools for dealing with those who question and criticize our parenting choices.
Inclusivity and Support for Diverse Families
La Leche League strives to be a resource for all families interested in natural infant feeding. This session will be an opportunity for lactation supporters, professionals, and parents to share, discuss, and practice using unbiased communication that creates a welcoming atmosphere and facilitates inclusivity for nursing families from different backgrounds.
Supporting Baby’s Immune System from Birth
Common birth practices and interventions can greatly alter the diversity of beneficial bacteria your baby's body will rely on to build their own gut flora and immune system. Learn how to plan your birth to maximize your opportunity to seed your child's body with an optimal flora, and what you can do to support them if interventions become necessary.
3:20–4:45 p.m.: General Session
Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett (L CERPs)
Each year, hundreds of thousands of women initiate breastfeeding only to stop in the first few days or weeks postpartum. Why does this happen? It’s certainly not lack of information or lack of mothers’ interest in the topic. This attrition suggests that a different approach is needed. This session describes the seven natural laws for nursing mothers that simplify breastfeeding and help mothers tap into their own innate wisdom. These laws are based on the latest research from around the world and will help you teach mothers more effectively so they can have a successful breastfeeding experience.
4:45 p.m.: Day concludes. Turn in CERP forms.
Sessions noted with (CE) or (CERP) indicate those sessions for which we've applied for continuing education hours. CERPs were awarded on 1/30/17 and you can see the type of CERPs below. Nursing Contact Hours will be applied for for all Friday sessions. Two of Saturday's sessions offer CERPs only, no Nursing Contact Hours.
Friday, April 28
8:30–10:00 a.m.: General Session 1
A New Paradigm for Depression in New Mothers, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett (CE, R CERPs)
Recent research has revealed that systemic inflammation, the immune system response to physical or psychological threat, increases the risk of depression. Puerperal women are especially vulnerable because proinflammatory cytokines significantly increase during the last trimester of pregnancy, the time when women are most at risk for depression, and continues on through the postpartum period. In addition, common experiences of new motherhood, such as sleep deprivation, postpartum pain, and psychological trauma, also cause inflammation levels to rise. This session will describe the inflammatory response and its relation to physical and psychological stress. This session will also show why breastfeeding and anti-inflammatory treatments, such as Omega-3s, cognitive therapy and antidepressants, protect maternal mental health by lowering the inflammatory response.
10:15–11:45 a.m.: General Session 2
Weighing in on Obesity and Breastfeeding, Kathleen Kendal-Tackett (CE, L CERPs)
Public health officials have been sounding the alarm about the “obesity epidemic,” not only in the U.S., but in industrialized nations around the world. In response, breastfeeding is offered as an important preventative measure for both maternal and childhood obesity. Unfortunately, strategies designed to improve breastfeeding rates among women with higher BMIs often backfire and become self-fulfilling prophecies by discouraging heavier women from breastfeeding. Despite these limitations, breastfeeding has an important role to play in obesity prevention. This presentation provides an overview of current research on surprising causes of obesity, such as sleep disorders, psychological trauma, and discrimination and outlines the limitations of current approaches. This session also describes research on the impact of BMI on breastfeeding, and provides practical steps for working with mothers with higher BMIs.
12:45–1:45 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
- Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Self-Care for Members of the Perinatal Team, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett (CE, R CERPs)
- Big and Little Ethics: Ethical Issues in Lactation Support, Dr. Pam Heggie (CE, E CERPs)
Option 1: Working in perinatal care can be deeply rewarding. It can also lead to job-related burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Secondary traumatic stress, or compassion fatigue, can occur when witnessing traumatic events in the workplace. This can occur when witnessing infant death or traumatic births, or when there is too much work, or work that doesn’t seem to make a difference, and little institutional support. A recent survey by AWHONN of 464 Labor & Delivery nurses found that more than a third reported moderate-to-severe symptoms of traumatic stress as a result of incidents they encountered on the job. This has serious implications for both patients and providers. Burnout and Compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress can lead to physical and mental health sequelae for professionals who experiences them. It can also have a negative impact on the care provided. Self-care is essential for being able to provide care to others. In this seminar, participants will learn about the causes and consequences of both burnout and secondary traumatic stress/compassion fatigue. The good news is that there is hope for recovery. Participants will learn some specific strategies for integrating self-care into their care for others.
Option 2: This presentation will review the “big ethics” of lactation support including equity and access, conflicts of interest and the WHO code. There will also be discussion about “little ethics” - the ethical issues that arise in the context of everyday lactation practice. An approach to ethical decision making will be described using case examples.
2:00–3:00 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
- LGBTQ Positive Lactation Support - a Rainbow of Options and Needs, Janine Stiles and Cheyenne Johnson (CE, R CERPs)
- Craniosacral Therapy & the Breastfed Baby: The What, How, Why, and When, Brittney Volker (CE, R CERPs)
Option 1: Does being gay affect how you feed your baby? What is chestfeeding? Do LGBTQ people have health disparities that can potentially impact the immediate postpartum time and the breastfeeding/ chestfeeding relationship? What is co-nursing and who can do it? Please join us to begin learning about these topics in a safe and welcoming environment. In this introductory workshop, we’ll begin to cover the basics of being an ally, incorporating queer and gender neutral language into your vocabulary, and how to adequately provide lactation support to individuals that are LGBTQ. It’s not as easy as one might think and a rainbow of options and individual needs exist. We will send you away with information, resources, and self-work to do in order to better serve LGBTQ clients.
Option 2: Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle yet powerful bodywork modality.. It is both safe and beneficial for infants, and can aid in resolving certain breastfeeding issues. This session will help you to understand Craniosacral therapy, and how it works to gently release restrictions and distortions in the body. We will go over signs and symptoms that may indicate the need for CST and how to find a Craniosacral Therapist in your community. A demonstration will be given during the session.
3:15–4:30 p.m.: General Session
Breastfeeding Makes All the Difference: Breastfeeding’s Role in Resiliency and Overcoming Adversity, Kathleen Kendal-Tackett (CE, R CERPs)
We do not live in a perfect world. Many new mothers have experienced abuse and adversity as children. They want to be good mothers. But they often wonder whether they will perpetuate the cycle of violence that they have experienced. They may also have a history of depression and wonder whether this has harmed their children. Fortunately, we can offer new mothers hope. Recent studies have found that breastfeeding helps mothers mother—even when there is a history of abuse. It not about the milk; it’s the physical act of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding improves maternal sleep, lowers the risk of depression, lessens anger and irritability, and even attenuates the negative effects of past sexual assault. Breastfeeding protects babies when their mothers are depressed and is associated with better children’s mental health up to age 14. Because mothers must be responsive to their babies, breastfeeding promotes secure attachments, which has lifetime implications for babies’ health. Breastfeeding mothers are less likely to physically abuse or neglect their children. And if a mother has a history of sexual abuse or assault, breastfeeding attenuates (lessens) the impact of sexual assault/abuse on sleep, depression, anxiety, and anger or irritability. Breastfeeding offers mothers a chance to do things differently—to be a different kind of parent. When it comes to overcoming adversity and stopping the intergenerational cycle of violence, breastfeeding makes all the difference.
4:30 p.m.: Day Concludes. Turn in CERP/Contact Hour forms and evaluations.
Saturday, April 29
9:00–10:30 a.m.: General Session
The Neuropsychological Effects of Sleep Training and Its Implications for Breastfeeding, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett (R CERPs)
Sleep training continues to be a popular parenting philosophy with its roots in American Behaviorism. The idea behind this approach is that if you want to stop a behavior, don’t “reinforce” it, which increasing its likelihood that it reoccur. Under this school of thought, if you pick up a crying baby, you are just reinforcing the likelihood that the baby will cry more often—especially at night. Recent research has suggested that there is “no apparent harm” to this approach. But is that true? This presentation will describe recent research in neuroscience on the importance of responsive early parenting on brain development, and harmful effects of leaving babies to cry. Non-responsive parenting raises babies’ cortisol levels. Cortisol is toxic to brain cells, particularly in the hippocampus. This research is also put in the context of current AAP recommendations to keep babies in the parents’ room during the first six months, and how solitary sleep increases the babies’ risk of SIDS.
Objectives
- Describe the role of Behaviorism in current sleep-training practices
- Understand the importance of early responsive care in babies’ brain development
- Describe the effects on babies’ brain development of prolonged exposure to the stress hormone cortisol
10:45–11:45 a.m.: Breakout Sessions
Communication Skills 1 (Part 1 of 2)
This session will be most helpful to attendees who attend both parts one and two as the information and skills build upon each other. This is the basis of LLL's communication workshop. The communication skills workshops are the basis of LLL's philosophy to provide support and information without telling a parent what to do. In part one, we will learn about attending behavior and body language. There will be lots of examples and many opportunities for practice.
Breastfeeding Older Children Panel
The WHO recommends breastfeeding continue, along with appropriate complimentary foods, up to 2 years of age or beyond. What does "beyond" look like? Our panel will discuss the joys and challenges of breastfeeding beyond age 2, as well as answer questions and address concerns about breastfeeding older children. Topics will include tandem nursing, setting limits, weaning, dealing with criticism, cultural norms and more.
Birth Story Sharing
This session will allow attendees to share their own birth stories and/or learn from others in preparation for future births. In particular, we'll discuss:
-how your birth affected breastfeeding in the early days and weeks
-what you did prior to birth to prepare for both the birth itself and for the early postpartum period
-what you WISH you had done prior to birth to prepare for birth and postpartum or what you plan to do next time around
-your birth team and their effect on your birth
Partners Discussion
This session is for breastfeeding supporters (dads, partners, grandparents, etc) and moms who want to have a conversation about how breastfeeding supporters can help the breastfeeding mother and baby in the early weeks, months, and even years. The session will follow the same outline as a typical LLL series meeting, with introductions, question and answer session, and then specific topic discussion. Come to learn new things and share your experiences.
12:45–1:45 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Communication Skills 1 (Part 2 of 2)
This session will be most helpful to attendees who attend both parts one and two as the information and skills build upon each other. This session will pick up where part one ended. We will be identifying feelings and reasons for feelings. There will be lots of examples and many opportunities for practice.
LLL Jeopardy
How much do you know about La Leche League's early years? In honor of LLL's 60th anniverary, come share your knowledge or learn something new about this incredible organization's beginnings.
Positive Discipline Right from the Start
It is never too early to get a good handle on your discipline philosophy and have some tools in your tool belt. Discover how the power of attachment and connection allows us to parent without punishment. Setting limits and supporting our kids emotional development through the toddler years can bring up our own "stuff". We will look at effective discipline, emotional coaching and facing your own fears and doubts.
Gentle Weaning Panel: How, When, and Why
Have you wondered when will be the right time to wean, or how you will ever wean your nursing-loving child? During this session, you will hear the varied experiences of panelists who collectively have weaned their children at different ages, in different ways, and for different reasons. Explore the challenge of balancing a mother’s wants and needs and her child’s wants and needs. We will define “gentle weaning” and share practical strategies to make weaning work for both mother and child, as well as what to expect for your body and mothering after breastfeeding is done. There will be time for questions at the end of the session
2:00–3:00 p.m.: Breakout Sessions
Parenting into the Abyss
As our children grow older and move past the breastfeeding years we may find ourselves in unknown territory. Are you struggling in how to stay connected with these new, independent creatures? Are your communication skills being tested in new ways? All parents are welcome to join us for a discussion and shared support while we explore the "unknown" as we parent our older children and explore the wonderful new stages that come along with them.
Dealing with Criticism
For many parents, breastfeeding is a relationship in addition to a feeding process. Hearing criticism or feeling disapproval from people in our lives can be very difficult.
This session will be a mix of idea sharing and practical tools for dealing with those who question and criticize our parenting choices.
Inclusivity and Support for Diverse Families
La Leche League strives to be a resource for all families interested in natural infant feeding. This session will be an opportunity for lactation supporters, professionals, and parents to share, discuss, and practice using unbiased communication that creates a welcoming atmosphere and facilitates inclusivity for nursing families from different backgrounds.
Supporting Baby’s Immune System from Birth
Common birth practices and interventions can greatly alter the diversity of beneficial bacteria your baby's body will rely on to build their own gut flora and immune system. Learn how to plan your birth to maximize your opportunity to seed your child's body with an optimal flora, and what you can do to support them if interventions become necessary.
3:20–4:45 p.m.: General Session
Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers, Kathleen Kendall-Tackett (L CERPs)
Each year, hundreds of thousands of women initiate breastfeeding only to stop in the first few days or weeks postpartum. Why does this happen? It’s certainly not lack of information or lack of mothers’ interest in the topic. This attrition suggests that a different approach is needed. This session describes the seven natural laws for nursing mothers that simplify breastfeeding and help mothers tap into their own innate wisdom. These laws are based on the latest research from around the world and will help you teach mothers more effectively so they can have a successful breastfeeding experience.
4:45 p.m.: Day concludes. Turn in CERP forms.