Simkin Center: 2025 Foundations for Best Practice in Lactation Care, JUNE 23-27 (in-person)

Course Date and Time

This workshop is in-person, at Bastyr Seattle Campus
14500 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
June 23-27, 2025

Course Details

This workshop is an in-person, five-day core program to begin practice in evidence-based breastfeeding and lactation care. This course is for anyone working with postpartum parents and their newborns and/or is beginning the process of becoming a lactation consultant (IBCLC). In this course you learn to provide accurate, current and consistent information about breastfeeding and lactation and to support new families in feeding their babies from birth through the weaning process.

Bastyr University health and safety protocols are followed for all in-person trainings. If you have any questions regarding this training or attending in-person classes at Bastyr University, please call us at 425-602-3378.

To review the Simkin Center refund and cancellation policy visit https://bastyr.edu/simkin-center-allied-birth-vocations (scroll down to Registration Policies). Please note our policy indicates a processing fee will be charged for any cancellations, transfers, make-ups, and/or refunds. Requests must be made 30 days prior to the start of the workshop.

Curriculum  

• Talking to Pregnant Women about Feeding their Babies: Breastfeeding Promotion
• Culture: Belief or Best Practice or Both?
• Prenatal Assessment for Breastfeeding: What to Look for in the Physical Exam
• The Wonders of Human Milk: Why Breastmilk and Breastfeeding Matter
• Human Milk and the Development of the Immune System: Consequences of Formula Feeding
• Getting Families Started Breastfeeding: Evidence-Based Care
• Position and Attachment for First Feedings: Evidence or Opinion?
• Normal Breastfeeding Patterns and Growth and Development: The Baby 0-3 Months Old
• The Anatomy and Hormones of Milk Production: The Influence of Early Care
• Challenging Feedings: Good Problem Solving
• Early Clinical Challenges: Nipple Pain Beyond Physiologic Nipple and Breast Infection
• Common Questions about Nutrition During Lactation
• Caring For Babies Who are Born Early: Breastfeeding the Preterm, Very Preterm Infant
• Common Questions about Medications During Lactation
• The Late Preterm and "Supposedly" Term Infant: Now Official "Early Term" Somewhere Between Term & Preterm Infants
• Tools and Techniques of the Trade
• Non-Infectious Mastitis: Engorgement, Plugged Ducts Chronic Inflammation
• Safe Sleep and the Conflict with Biology and Culture
• Growth and Development: 3-6 Months Old
• Caring for the Infant with Hyperbilirubinemia: What Role Does Breastfeeding Play?
• Insufficient Milk Volumes & Slow Gaining Infants: Is it Intake or Supply? (3 hours)
• Relationships in the Breastfeeding Family
• Breastfeeding Women Who Return to Work: Describe Some of the Challenges of
• Breastfeeding and Working Outside the Home
• Breastfeeding Six Months and Beyond: The Biologic End of Breastfeeding

All Topics from the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline, Technical Reports & Studies are covered.

Course Notes
Certificates of completion are issued only to students present for all sessions and who complete all required work before the end of the workshop. There is no pre-coursework.

Required Text

There is no required textbook for this course

Recommended Reading
There are many excellent reference books available. If you wish to purchase books before the course, we can recommend starting with one of the following:

“Breastfeeding and Human Lactation” by Karen Wambach and Becky Spencer (6^th Edition) 

“Breastfeeding Answers” by Nancy Mohrbacher (2020)

“Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession” by Ruth Lawrence, MD and Robert Lawrence, MD (6^th Edition), (this book is very "medical" in its writing and message)

CEUs

Instructors
The Simkin Center Foundations for Best Practice in Lactation Care workshop is led by faculty Ginna Wall, RN, MN, IBCLC, & Christine Muenz, MA, CLE, CCE, & Guest Speakers.

Contact Us
(425) 602-3378
simkincenter@bastyr.edu
Simkin Center | Bastyr University