Foundations of Lactation Education
RMED-40040
This comprehensive 45-hour course prepares health professionals and other interested individuals to become lactation educators.
What you'll learn
It furnishes the basic information necessary to promote breastfeeding and to interact in the breastfeeding situation by assisting and encouraging the breastfeeding triad of mother, baby, and support person. Topics include basic anatomy and physiology of lactation, early attachment of the baby, hospital care, support during the postpartum stage, common concerns and solutions, and appliances and apparatuses used in breastfeeding. At the completion of the course students are lactation educators.
The lectures are recorded, so no need to log in at a specific time, however assignments and quizzes are due weekly. The prerecorded lectures are four to five hours per week in addition to two to three hours of reading and assignments. The course takes approximately six to eight hours per week to complete and you are able to work ahead. Once a month, the instructor will have optional Zoom office hours and will answer questions and/or cover a relevant case study or topic. Students who successfully complete the course receive an award of completion.
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.
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.
The textbook for this class:
Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Care 2nd
by Spencer, Campbell, Chamberlain
ISBN / ASIN: 9781284255515
You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
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: 10/4/2024
Note:
Schedule:
Instructor:
Ruth Hammer
Ruth specializes in maternal and child health and her passion is for parents and babies! She loves to teach and educate parents, families, staff and students on the importance of breastfeeding, lactation, and psychological health for parents in their breastfeeding journeys and reaching their goals.
Ruth has been a Registered Nurse (RN) for almost 30 years and received Masters in Nursing (MSN) in 2019. She has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for almost 20 years and is active in the local breastfeeding coalition as a board member, and currently representing lactation in a California state nutrition collaborative expert panel specific to supporting NICU babies growth. She also has international experience working in private lactation while living abroad in Israel for 1 ½ years.
Ruth's experience before becoming a lactation consultant was as a postpartum nurse. Her lactation consultant experience began in couplet care and her current specialization includes working with sick, fragile, cardiac and premature infants. Ruth works full time job is in lactation at UC San Diego Health (UCSD) in the NICU after many years working at a children’s hospital.
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Section ID:
Class type:
This learning experience is intentionally designed as a combination of in-class and web-based instruction. In-class meetings follow the published schedule. Students are also expected to engage with course content online during the published course dates.
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: 10/29/2024
Note:
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/30/2024 | Wed | 8:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Room AUD, Adventist Health Sierra Vista, 1010 Murray Ave, San Luis Obispo |
| 10/31/2024 | Thu | 8:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Room AUD, Adventist Health Sierra Vista, 1010 Murray Ave, San Luis Obispo |
| 11/1/2024 | Fri | 8:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Room AUD, Adventist Health Sierra Vista, 1010 Murray Ave, San Luis Obispo |
Instructor:
Jennifer Gathman
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.
Section ID:
Class type:
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: 1/16/2025
Note:
Schedule:
Instructor:
Christina Tenorio
Christina Tenorio is a practicing International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and perinatal health educator at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California. She has her Bachelor of Science in Maternal / Child Health specializing in lactation.
Christina works in the Breastfeeding and Perinatal Health Center at Huntington hospital with families and patients. She also works with high-risk and neonatal intensive care infants in a level III trauma facility.
She has been practicing for over 20 years by supporting families with prenatal and postnatal care. As an educator, Christina has developed and facilitates programs for medical staff, patients, and communities in southern California.
Section ID:
Class type:
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: 4/4/2025
Note:
Schedule:
Instructor:
Ruth Hammer
Ruth specializes in maternal and child health and her passion is for parents and babies! She loves to teach and educate parents, families, staff and students on the importance of breastfeeding, lactation, and psychological health for parents in their breastfeeding journeys and reaching their goals.
Ruth has been a Registered Nurse (RN) for almost 30 years and received Masters in Nursing (MSN) in 2019. She has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for almost 20 years and is active in the local breastfeeding coalition as a board member, and currently representing lactation in a California state nutrition collaborative expert panel specific to supporting NICU babies growth. She also has international experience working in private lactation while living abroad in Israel for 1 ½ years.
Ruth's experience before becoming a lactation consultant was as a postpartum nurse. Her lactation consultant experience began in couplet care and her current specialization includes working with sick, fragile, cardiac and premature infants. Ruth works full time job is in lactation at UC San Diego Health (UCSD) in the NICU after many years working at a children’s hospital.
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