Breastfeeding and the Birth Professional

I am excited to be doing this workshop! I will be presenting information about breastfeeding and how the birth professional can make an impact on their clients future breastfeeding goals prenatally, at birth, immediate postpartum and the early days following delivery. Topics will include: promoting breastfeeding during pregnancy breastfeeding as the norm risks of not breastfeeding components and nutrients in breastmilk skin-to-skin first contact at breast first hour and early days new guidelines to determine efficient feeding when to help, when to observe positioning how to assist reluctant feeders breast/nipple concerns birth practice and impacts on breastfeeding practices that enhance breastfeeding dangers of supplements common clinical concerns special needs neurological concerns if baby cannot feed at the breast red flags woman who need extra attention when to refer BFI: what it is and what it means for clients case studies We will have a variety of information sharing formats including videos & discussions to take part in plus the much needed reflections about our work as birth professionals and observations and scenarios we have been part of. January 18 & 19, 2014 2 full days 8am-5pm Lunch will be potluck or bring your own to keep fees down Fees: Early bird (before January 5th)  $290 Regular $ 325 Non-refundable deposit of $75 to hold a space. Space will be limited. Payment Options Deposit $75.00 CAD Early Bird (before Jan 5th, 2014) $290.00 CAD After Early Bird (Jan 6th, 2014) $325.00 CAD Early Bird Balance $215.00 CAD After Early Bird Balance $250.00 CAD   If needed we can arrange payment plans. My proposed plan is the $325. $75 deposit to registration and then 4 separate payments of $62.50 to follow (either bi-weekly or monthly). Post-dated cheques will be collected. Please email kasmith@accesscomm.ca to request this option. Testimonial from a past workshop: Recently I was a participant in Kim Smith's Breastfeeding Workshop for Doulas. My reason for taking the course was to add to my helping skills in the initial breastfeeding realm, as well as talking to moms after they have experienced birth trauma and may have had breastfeeding difficulties as a consequence. I thought that the workshop was very comprehensive and raised many key issues. Kim addressed a wide variety of topics, and reinforced what is normal to see and what key tools a doula can use to assist her client. It also covered elements, like the WHO code of breastmilk and breastmilk substitutes, BFI, and societal issues which affect our clients. We had lots of opportunity for discussion, videos which were informative and relevant, and Kim did a great job keeping us on task and facilitating the workshop. She came prepared with technology but it was very well balanced and well used to teach the workshop. My feedback to Kim was that every birth professional should review this information. Even though I am a health care professional and have a degree, I found that the information Kim provided was cutting edge, evidence based, and would absolutely apply to any professional working with lactation. As a labour doula, I have seen the benefit to having additional breastfeeding support on board with my own clients. Not all clients are able to access feeding advice, and it has been inconsistent. I think Kim's workshop would absolutely apply to our professional development as health care workers and definitely to doulas, midwives, and anyone else working with mother and child. Congrats Kim on getting your workshop together and looking forward to even more!