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Course

Foundations of Lactation Education

RMED-40040

Become a Lactation Education Counselor with this comprehensive, flexible, online 45-hour course. Perfect for healthcare professionals or anyone interested in supporting breastfeeding families. 

What you'll learn

  • Breastfeeding basics: anatomy, physiology, latch, positioning 

  • Strategies to assist and encourage breastfeeding triad of mother, baby, and support person 

  • Early infant attachment and hospital care 

  • Postpartum support, common challenges and solutions 

  • Breast pumps and breastfeeding tools 

How It Works: 

  • Fully online, no set login times, self-paced with assignments/quizzes due weekly 

  • Weekly modules: 4–5 hours of video + 2–3 hours of readings/assignments 

  • Work ahead at your own pace 

  • Optional monthly live online office hours with your instructor 

  • Receive an Award of Completion and qualify to work as an Lactation Education Counselor 

  • Fulfills the Lactation Consultant Pathway 2 prerequisite

If you intend to take the Certified Lactation Counselor exam through the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, this course does not meet the 95 hours of education requirement.  Please see the Lactation Education Counselor Program.

Canvas, our online learning platform, is not compatible with smart phones or tablet devices. We recommend students plan to use a laptop or desktop for our courses.

Course Information

Online
4.50 units
$745.00

Get more information

This course applies to these programs

Lactation Consultant: Pathway 2

Course sessions

Closed

Section ID:

189548

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Care 2nd
by Spencer, Campbell, Chamberlain
ISBN / ASIN: 9781284255515

You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 7/4/2025

Note:

UC San Diego Extended Studies is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development (CE hours) by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), provider number 0058 (no partial credit is awarded).

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
Closed

Instructor: Jennifer Gathman, MSN, FNP-C, IBCLC, PMH-C

Jennifer Gathman, MSN, FNP-C, IBCLC, PMH-C
Jennifer Gathman is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with over 15 years of maternal-infant experience.  She began her career as a Labor & Delivery nurse and transitioned into lactation and postpartum work when she realized there was a need for better care and support for postpartum families.  
 
Jennifer gained clinical experiences at Sharp Mary Birch and Kaiser Permanente before ultimately opening her own private practice for lactation and infant feeding.  She is also the owner of a prenatal and postpartum wellness center and the founder of a non-profit organization to help make lactation and postpartum services more accessible to new families.  
 
Jennifer has her Masters of Science in Nursing Education and is passionate about educating the next generation of lactation students.  She loves to continue her own education to ensure she is up to date on the latest evidence based care and support.  She specializes in all types of lactation challenges from simple to complex cases, tongue ties, supply challenges, and more.  Jennifer is excited to teach for UC San Diego Extended Studies and looks forward to supporting you on your educational journey.  
Full Bio
Add To Cart

Section ID:

189553

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Care 2nd
by Spencer, Campbell, Chamberlain
ISBN / ASIN: 9781284255515

You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 10/3/2025

Note:

UC San Diego Extended Studies is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development (CE hours) by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), provider number 0058 (no partial credit is awarded).

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
Add To Cart

Instructor: Margaret Saltysiak, MPH, BS, IBCLC

Margaret Saltysiak, MPH, BS, IBCLC
Margaret has been working in the Maternal Child Health field for nearly 15 years.  She independently founded a La Leche League group in her area where there was previously no support. She grew and led the group for three years before handing it off to new leaders. She holds a BS in Maternal Child Health, has an MPH, and is working towards completion of an MBA. She has been an IBCLC since 2010. She worked for nine years in a busy OB unit as an IBCLC, was a part of a non-profit human milk bank, and is currently working for the Chicago Department of Public Health. Margaret is passionate about maternal child health and health equity, particularly around breastfeeding. She breastfed each of her five children, two of which were NICU babies.
 
Pronouns: she/her
 
Full Bio
Add To Cart

Section ID:

194954

Class type:

Online Asynchronous.

This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

Textbooks:

All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.

Policies:

  • No refunds after: 1/16/2026

Note:

UC San Diego Extended Studies is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development (CE hours) by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), provider number 0058 (no partial credit is awarded).

Schedule:

No information available at this time.
Add To Cart

Instructor: Alexandra Barrera, RN, DNP, IBCLC

Alexandra Barrera, RN, DNP, IBCLC
Allie Barrera is a Registered Nurse and IBCLC with over eight years experience in Maternal Child Health and lactation. She completed her undergraduate degree in Education, and after becoming a Registered Nurse, went on to receive her Master’s of Science in Nursing with the goal of becoming an instructor. Allie’s teaching experience includes Pediatric Theory at the university level, as well as Breastfeeding Basics, Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, and Newborn courses at the hospital level.
 
Allie feels passionate about serving high risk populations and believes that everyone should have access to excellent care, especially in lactation! She is a mom to three boys who have all influenced her practice in different ways. She loves learning new things, advancing her education, and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice where she hopes to focus on improving perinatal outcomes for women with a history of trauma.
 
Full Bio