Welcome to the Medela University

This course discusses the state of the science of test weighing to measure breast milk intake for premature and medically complex infants. It also covers barriers and facilitators of the use of test weighing in the high-risk nursery setting to support breastfeeding at the breast. From an initial publication on the development of an accurate test weighing technique, this course also reviews the experiences with use of the technique and recommendations for clinical practice. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692.   Presenter Barbara Haase PhD, MSN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC Dr Barbara Haase is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the College of Nursing. She has practiced extensively as a certified paediatric nurse practitioner, international board-certified lactation consultant and clinical researcher with a focus on lactation and breastfeeding support of women and their families with premature and medically complex infants. She has published on the topics of test weighing hospitalized breastfeeding infants, human milk feedings in the NICU, colostrum collection techniques for breastfeeding women in the early postpartum period, treatment of insufficient breast milk supply, and the efficacy of the IBCLC role. Read more

This course encourages, motivates, and inspires others to take on similar initiatives to address racial disparities in maternal health care and implement quality and safety measures to improve outcomes for pregnant and post-partum women. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692.   Presenters Bonnie DiPietro, RN, MS, NEA-BC, FACHE Ms. DiPietro has more than 40 years of healthcare experience, holding clinical, educational, management and executive positions throughout the Baltimore-Washington metro area. She holds both a Master of Science degree in Nursing Administration and a Bachelor of Science (nursing) degree from the University of Maryland. She is active in many local and national professional organizations. In her role at the Maryland Patient Safety Center she provides coordination of all the Center’s collaboratives, education and conference offerings and serves as manager of day to day operations for the organization.   Blair Eig, MD, MBA, MA Blair Eig is currently the President and CEO of the Maryland Patient Safety Center, the nonprofit Patient Safety Organization designated by the State of Maryland. He was previously the Chief Medical Officer for 19 years for the Holy Cross Health system, the Maryland Region of Trinity Health. Blair is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He has previously been the President of the Medical Staff at Children’s National, the Chair of the Laboratory Advisory Committee for the State of Maryland, the Board Chair for the Maryland Healthcare Education Institute, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Maryland Hospital Association. Read more

One of the most common practices in the NICU is the use of a gastric tube for enteral feedings. However, there are known risks to the use of a tube that will be addressed and discussed in this course. Clinical practices that involve parents in the tube feeding of their infant, decrease pain associated with the feeding experience and some recent research that may lead to earlier discharge while maintaining patient safety will be discussed as well. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692.   Presenter Sandra Sundquist Beauman MSN, RNC-NIC Sandra Sundquist Beauman has been a neonatal nurse for her entire career, spanning almost 40 years. Sandy works at the University of New Mexico, Health Sciences Center, Department of Pediatrics as the manager of clinical trials operations in Neonatology. She has lectured extensively for many years, both nationally and internationally. She has published a number of articles and book chapters. She consults with neonatal product manufacturing companies in an effort to bring the needs of patients and the clinical team to the attention of the manufacturer/designer of medical devices. Sandy’s passion is to advance the practice of neonatal nursing through education and research. Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic raised many questions with respect to breastfeeding and changed the clinical care of childbearing families. This course aims to  identify strategies to protect lactation physiology and ensure that all families in need receive equal access to evidence-based lactation education, care and technical assistance. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692.   Presenters Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN Diane L. Spatz is a Professor of Perinatal Nursing & the Helen M. Shearer Professor of Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing sharing a joint appointment as a nurse researcher and director of the lactation program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the clinical coordinator of the CHOP Mothers’ Milk Bank. She teaches an entire semester course on breastfeeding and human lactation to undergraduate nursing students and, in the hospital portion of her job, she developed the Breastfeeding Resource Nurse program.    Lars Bode, PhD Dr. Lars Bode is Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics,and the Director of the LRF MOMI CORE at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. His laboratory focuses on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), a group of complex sugar molecules that represent the third most abundant component of human milk after lactose and lipids. The goal of Dr. Bode’s research is to understand how HMOs are synthesized in the human mammary gland and how they benefit the breast-fed infant and potentially also the breastfeeding mother. Read more

This course seeks to present the lived experience from Black birthing people as they navigated breastfeeding/chestfeeding in a COVID world. Our goal is to reshape and reimagine the breastfeeding experience for Black women by highlighting their triumphs over their struggles. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692.   Presenter Nastassia Davis DNP, MSN, RN, IBCLC Dr. Nastassia Davis is a licensed registered nurse with over 15 years’ experience in perinatal nursing and became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2009. In 2018, she went on to found a nonprofit, the Perinatal Health Equity Foundation where she serves as the executive director. Through the nonprofit, Nastassia established Sistahs Who Breastfeed, a breastfeeding support group for black women which operates in several NJ cities. Nastassia's research and clinical interests include implicit bias/racism in healthcare, breastfeeding in the black community, obstetrical violence, high risk OB, and reproductive justice. Read more

In this course, lactation consultant Donnianne Noble, explores the possible impacts of nipple shield use on the breastfeeding dyad. A thorough look at current research and social perceptions of nipple shield use will be explored.  A focus on improving underlying latch problems, avoiding common nipple shield pitfalls and suggestions for optimal education and follow-up will be discussed. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692.   Presenter Donnianne Noble, BSN, RN, IBCLC Donnianne Noble received her RN degree in 2004, deciding at that time to dedicate her education, skills and expertise to working with new families in their transition to parenthood.  For the last 17 years, Donnianne worked as a lactation consultant, staff educator and charge nurse in the Postpartum and Breastfeeding Clinic at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, Washington, the first Baby-Friendly Hospital in North America.  Donnianne has spoken at regional breastfeeding conferences and created online lactation learning modules always focusing on increasing maternal self-efficacy with the goal of helping mothers reach their breastfeeding goals. Read more