Welcome to the Medela University

Course description Emerging evidence indicates that achievement of secretory activation and coming to volume, events that occur during the first two weeks postpartum, are fundamental to continued lactation.  The biologic underpinnings of the transition from secretory differentiation to secretory activation and coming to volume are extraordinarily complex, and are poorly understood by many clinicians, especially with respect to integrating them into best practices.  Patterns of infant suckling and milk removal during this critical stage have been relatively well-studied and mirror the biology of the mammary gland.  However, there are often ideological barriers to adapting these patterns for breast pump dependent mothers with NICU infants.  This presentation summarizes the biology of secretory activation, effective and efficient milk removal, and achievement of coming to volume.  Also introduced for the first time are personalized point-of-care instruments designed to measure and mirror these biologic processes.    Dr. Paula Meier Paula Meier, PhD, RN, is a Professor of Pediatrics and Nursing at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Meier has worked as a practitioner, researcher, and educator in the area of human milk, lactation and breastfeeding for premature infants and their mothers since 1975. She spearheaded the multidisciplinary Rush University NICU Human Milk Research Team that has conducted numerous externally-funded translational research and demonstration projects focused on the removal of barriers to high-dose, long-exposure mothers' own milk feedings for NICU infants. Dr. Meier has published over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts and parent educational materials and has mentored graduate students from a multitude of disciplines. Read more

Tragbare oder freihändige BH-Pumpensysteme sind bei Frauen beliebt, die Flexibilität und/oder Effizienz beim Abpumpen wünschen.  Diese neue Art des Abpumpens ist jedoch mit verschiedenen Designmerkmalen verbunden, die sich im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Pumpsystemen auf die Leistung auswirken können, auch wenn die Effizienz und Wirksamkeit dieser Art des Abpumpens bisher noch nicht getestet wurde. Um diese Lücke zu schließen, haben wir neue Protokolle entwickelt, um das freihändige Abpumpen im BH zu erforschen, und diese Methoden verwendet, um die Auswirkungen auf die Wirksamkeit eines freihändigen Doppelpumpsystems im BH zu untersuchen, einschließlich der Effektivität (ausgedrücktes Volumen, Prozentsatz der verfügbaren Milch, wie gut die Brust entleert wurde), der Eigenschaften des Milchausstoßes (zeitliche Stimulation des Milchausstoßes und des Milchflusses), der Veränderungen der Brustwarze (Temperatur und Größe der Brustwarze) und der Komfortbewertungen. Darüber hinaus werden wir Daten über die erhöhte Flexibilität der mütterlichen Mobilität, die Wahrnehmung und das Vertrauen in die Abpumperfahrung präsentieren.   Referentin Prof. Donna T. Geddes, DMU, PhD Professor Geddes ist international bekannt für ihre neuartige Arbeit mit der Ultraschallbildgebung, die unser Verständnis der Anatomie der stillenden Brust, des Michspendereflex und des Blutflusses sowie der Saugtechnik des Säuglings, der Saug-Schluck-Atem-Koordination, der Magenentleerung und der Körperzusammensetzung von Früh- und Neugeborenen revolutioniert hat. Seitdem hat sie ihr Forschungsinteresse auf die Synthese und den Abtransport von Milch aus der Brust, die Zusammensetzung der menschlichen Milch und ihre Auswirkungen auf das Wachstum und die Körperzusammensetzung gestillter Säuglinge, die Untersuchung von HM-Metaboliten und die Suche nach Biomarkern, die auf Brustfunktionsstörungen hinweisen, ausgeweitet. Read more

We cordially invite you to join Dr. Leslie Parker, PhD, APRN for the first webinar in our five-part series "Bridging Human Milk Research to Increase Human Milk in the NICU."    Receipt of own mothers's milk (OMM) significantly reduces the risk of prematurity related complications known to increase cost of care and vulnerability to chronic illness, re-hospitalisation, and developmental delay in a dose-dependent manner. Unfortunately, mothers of preterm infants are at high risk of producing insufficient amounts of OMM to provide high dose OMM feedings until discharge and beyond, thus limiting OMM associated protection.  The first few days and weeks postpartum are critical for mammary gland programming and predict long-term lactation success underscoring the critical need for strategies beginning soon after delivery to optimise lactation outcomes.  This presentation will provide an overview of current evidence regarding strategies in the early post-partum period including timing of pumping initiation after delivery. In addition, an overview of best practices to improve lactation outcomes in mothers of preterm infants is presented. This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP 13692. and CPD Certification Service Registration number: 3606693. Read more

We cordially invite you to join Dr. Diane Spatz PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, FAWHONN , the second webinar in our five-part series "Bridging Human Milk Research to Increase Human Milk in the NICU."      Overview: Persistent disparities exist in both breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Not all families have equal access to breastfeeding information, resources, technology, and support. Structural racism and implicit bias exist in healthcare which can impact family’s decision-making processes for human milk and breastfeeding. Dr. Spatz first published her ten-step model 20 years ago with published outcome data worldwide. The first step of this model is “informed decision making”. This presentation will discuss research and strategies to ensure that all families can make informed feeding choices.   This program has been approved for 1.0 Contact Hours; provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #13692. Read more

UNICEF and the WHO advocate initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth and frequently thereafter. Scientific studies exploring the early hours and days post birth identify that onset of secretory activation may differ in women with risk factors. In this course, you will learn about risk factors that impact lactation outcomes in at-risk women and infants. The second module further translates the evidence into the clinical setting to optimise exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge and beyond.   Read more

The nutrition of breast milk in newborns and particularly in premature infants has an impact on the lifelong health of the child. This webinar  by Professor Matthias Keller, will first address barriers to breast milk feeding in a neonatal intensive care unit. Subsequently, the concept of clinical care pathways as a management tool will be introduced, highlighting their significance for change management, as well as for incorporating evidence into clinical practice and quality management in a healthcare facility. Of particular importance is the identification of project managers and process owners who will be responsible for patient care pathways. Practical examples on the implementation of a clinical care pathway for breast milk feeding in a neonatal intensive care unit will be presented. Read more