Courses

Level 1 (an 18 hour course equivalent) 3 days

Level 2 (builds on level 1: clinical focus) 3 days

Physicians and Policy Makers 1 day

The Making a Difference Courses are congruent to ensure that consistent, accurate, evidence-based information reaches mothers and families from the whole team of breast-feeding care providers. Breast-feeding is placed in the context of primary, preventive, cost-effective health-care. The Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) a cornerstone of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, is conceptualized as a global strategy to address the barriers to successful breastfeeding outcomes. The Canadian national authority for BFI, the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC)'s BFI Practice Outcomes Indicator Documents are included with the course notes, and the focus is on clinical evaluation and implementing care plans to support successful outcomes.

Courses are offered on a cost recovery basis, utilizing in kind contributions from a Health Authority, Hospital or Community Health Service. The in-kind contributions include provision of a venue, photocopying of participant notes, audio-visual equipment and refreshments. Quintessence Foundation contracts to provide an instructor, CEUs and honoraria for those breastfeeding mothers participating in the interview sessions.

Breastfeeding: Making a Difference Level 1

This three-day workshop for hospital and community health professionals explores evidence-based, best practice that protects, promotes and supports breastfeeding. Practitioners will understand and be able to effectively and confidently implement care that facilitates the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding. This course meets the BFI recommendation for 18 hours of education for staff who provide direct care to breastfeeding families. A certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of this course. 21.3 L contact CERPs have been approved by IBLCE. Criteria for successful completion include attendance at the entire course, completion of pre/post tests and evaluation forms. Tuition fees for Health Region/ Facility sponsored courses (in Canadian dollars) depend on the number of registrants and includes participant handouts, internet resources, supporting documents and more.

Topics include:

  • Breastfeeding in the context of primary, preventive, cost-effective health care
  • World Health Organization and UNCEF guidelines for protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding (including the BFI and The Code)
  • Anatomy and physiology of the breast - implications for successful breastfeeding
  • Initiating breastfeeding and patterns of early breastfeeding
  • Achieving effective latching and positioning
  • Early problems (engorgement, plugged ducts, sore nipples, mastitis, yeast infections)
  • True versus perceived low milk supply
  • Breastfeeding babies with health challenges and special needs
  • Illness in mothers and medications
  • Decision making around supplementation
  • Alternative feeding methods and equipment
  • Human milk banking
  • reastfeeding and the working mother
  • Relactation and nursing an adopted baby
  • Introduction of complementary foods, extended nursing and weaning
  • History taking, counselling and care plans
  • Breastfeeding and cultural diversity
  • he process of change and implementing the BFI

Lectures are interspersed with demonstrations, discussion groups, case studies, clinical slides and videos, and interviews with mothers.


Breastfeeding: Making a Difference Level 2

The minimum prerequisite for this course for those working actively in the field of Maternal Child Health is a comprehensive three-day breastfeeding education course (level 1) in the past 2 - 3 years. Participants will demonstrate effective assessment and management skills by applying current research, using complex case studies and group problem solving to formulate care plans to deal with challenging situations. . A certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of this course. L and E contact CERPs have been approved by IBLCE. Criteria for successful completion include attendance at the entire course, completion of pre/post tests and evaluation forms. Tuition fees for Health Region/ Facility sponsored courses (in Canadian dollars) depend on the number of registrants and includes participant handouts, internet resources, supporting documents and more. Topics build on the information presented in the Level 1 course, exploring in greater depth (see above), and also include

  • Effective breastfeeding promotion in a multi-cultural society
  • Infant-parent attachment
  • Ethics
  • Evaluating research, teaching materials and resources

Lectures are interspersed with demonstrations, discussion groups, case studies, clinical slides and videos, and interviews with mothers.


Breastfeeding: Making a Difference
A Course for Physicians and Policy Makers (half day)

Physicians and Policy makers are key players in the multi-disciplinary team that protects, promotes and supports effective breastfeeding. In this short course, the opportunity costs (to health and budgets) of sub-optimal breastfeeding is discussed. The barriers to effective breastfeeding are addressed by examining the practice implications of the BFI across the continuum of pre , peri- and postnatal care. The biochemistry and species-specificity of human milk is discussed, and implications for normal patterns of growth in infants. The etiology of insufficient milk is examined, with breastfeeding-friendly care plans for infants whose growth is faltering. Prophylaxis and treatment of nipple trauma and breast infections, and the implications of medications and substance use in breastfeeding mothers is discussed. Resources for physicians are identified. TLectures are interspersed with demonstrations, discussion groups, case studies, clinical slides and videos. A certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of this course. L contact CERPs have been approved. Criteria for successful completion includeattendance at the entire course, completion of pre/post tests and evaluation forms. Tuition fees (in Canadian dollars) depend on the number of registrants and include participant handouts, internet resources, supporting documents and more.