Meet the Minds Behind the Movement

Dr. Ana Maria Linares, DNS, RN, IBCLC, FAAN, FILCA

Breastfeeding practices among Hispanic mothers are shaped by social-ecological factors, including cultural norms, family dynamics, social support, and access to culturally congruent healthcare. This presentation examines scientific evidence related to factors influencing breastfeeding within Hispanic mother–infant dyads. Key cultural traditions and beliefs affecting infant feeding decisions will be discussed. The presentation will also highlight culturally appropriate considerations for healthcare providers supporting Hispanic women during pregnancy, the hospital stay, and the post-discharge period, with the goal of promoting exclusive breastfeeding among Hispanic mothers.

Ashley Mickelson, M.S., CCC-SLP, IBCLC, Rachel Fann, M.S., CCC-SLP, CLC, and Tashery Risner, CBS, IFS representing the SAFE team

A significant portion of the workshop will be dedicated to developing practical skills essential for providing skilled lactation support in non-traditional settings. Participants will engage in real-life scenario analyses learned from Hurricane Helene and problem-solving exercises that simulate common challenges faced during disaster response.

Part 1 includes:

- Collaboration and Referral Networks: Understanding the roles of various emergency responders and emergency response systems and establishing effective communication and referral pathways.

- Managing Resources: Providing guidance and support for managing people, supplies and time.

- Navigating Resource Constraints and Ethical Dilemmas: Problem-solving when faced with limited supplies, challenging environmental conditions, and complex ethical considerations.

- Addressing Breastfeeding Challenges in Stressful Conditions: Managing common breastfeeding difficulties exacerbated by trauma, displacement, and limited resources.

- Rapid Assessment of Feeding Needs: Efficiently evaluating infant feeding practices and identifying families at high risk in chaotic environments.

Cynethia Bethel-Hines, DNP, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, CLC

Objectives

Analyze breastfeeding disparities impacting Black maternal and infant health.

Discuss historical and structural barriers that influence lactation

outcomes in Black communities.

Explore equity-centered approaches, including community-based support

and culturally responsive care, to improve lactation support.

Tiffany Steele, M.S., CCC-SLP, COM, IBCLC, CIMI-2

Bottle feeding is a common and often necessary component of infant feeding in the United States especially as many parents have to return to work when their baby is only weeks or months old. However, it remains a complex and frequently misunderstood aspect of lactation support. This 2-part presentation provides an evidence-based, clinically grounded overview of bottle feeding, designed to equip lactation professionals with the skills needed to support families across a wide range of feeding scenarios while protecting and promoting breastfeeding.

Participants will learn how to select the best bottle based on features including nipple flow, shape, length, width, and air venting systems, to promote optimal feeding function. The session will teach feeding strategies such as paced bottle feeding, alternative positions, and recognizing infant cues to determine readiness for flow rate changes. Special considerations for infants with unique feeding needs such as tethered oral tissues, cleft palate, cardiac conditions, low tone, and reflux will be discussed. Feeding strategies for bottle refusal and transitioning between breast and bottle will also be explored. 

This presentation is fully aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Content will remain free from commercial influence, with no promotion of specific bottles, nipples, or feeding products. Education will focus on functional characteristics rather than marketed features. Recommendations will prioritize individualized, clinically appropriate care to support breastfeeding whenever possible. The sessions emphasize informed decision making, ethical practice, and the protection of the breastfeeding dyad while acknowledging the realities of modern infant feeding dilemmas common in our society.

Attendees will leave with practical, family-centered strategies to confidently support bottle feeding within the broader context of lactation care.

Paula J. Norcott, IBCLC and Megan Moran, PT, DPT, PCS

Breastfeeding challenges are rarely isolated to feeding alone and often involve infant motor patterns,

oral function, and parent stress. This one-hour presentation explores an interdisciplinary care model

pairing lactation consultants and pediatric physical therapists to support breastfeeding dyads

holistically. Presenters will review common infant presentations that benefit from collaborative care,

including latch difficulty, body tension, and inefficient milk transfer. Emphasis will be placed on

measurable infant outcomes such as feeding efficiency, weight gain, and functional movement,

alongside parent-reported outcomes including confidence, satisfaction, and perceived support.

Attendees will leave with practical strategies for referral, communication, and family-centered care

planning.

Jacqueline Cropper, MS, APRN, FNP–BC, IBCLC, PMH-C

Newborn weight loss and slow weight gain can trigger unnecessary supplementation and stress for families—but delayed intervention can also compromise maternal milk supply. This session provides a clear, practical approach to assessing feeding effectiveness, identifying when intervention is truly needed, and determining whether challenges stem from milk supply, infant feeding, or both. Learn how to support weight gain while protecting breastfeeding.

Janet Johnson, RD, LD, IBCLC

Review the levels of lactation care covering mother to mother, trained peer, breastfeeding educators, and clinical lactation care providers. Discuss healthcare and the American legal system, liability, and how health insurance recognizes and credentials healthcare providers. Discuss the pros and cons of IBCLC licensure in Kentucky.

Audrey Summers Farooqui, M.D.

Perinatal depression is the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth,

affecting up to 1 in 5 individuals, yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed and

undertreated. Lactation professionals are uniquely positioned to identify early

symptoms, provide support, and guide patients through complex decisions regarding

mental health treatment and breastfeeding.

This presentation will provide an overview of perinatal depression, including

epidemiology, risk factors, screening, and diagnosis, with an emphasis on distinguishing

normal postpartum adjustment from clinically significant mood disorders. Participants

will review evidence-based approaches to treatment, including psychotherapy and

pharmacologic options, with a focused discussion on the safety of antidepressant use

during lactation.

Special attention will be given to common patient concerns about medication exposure

through breast milk, the risks of untreated maternal mental illness, and how to engage

in effective, supportive counseling. The session will also highlight the critical role of

lactation staff in multidisciplinary care, early identification, and timely referral to mental

health services.

By the end of this session, participants will feel more confident recognizing perinatal

depression, supporting breastfeeding patients navigating treatment decisions, and

contributing to improved outcomes for both parent and infant.

Angela Das, IBCLC

Few topics in infant feeding spark as much debate as oral restrictions, now amplified by the 2024 AAP

statement and media concerns about overdiagnosis. Families are receiving mixed messages, and providers

must navigate a confusing, emotionally charged landscape. Despite their best intentions, many clinicians

lack the hands-on training and common framework needed to determine when a restriction is actually

causing functional feeding problems.

Families deserve better. And providers deserve clarity in their practice.

This course offers a grounded, evidence-informed path forward; one that moves past the noise by

anchoring assessment in function, not assumption. Feeding at the breast is a whole-body, coordinated

process, and this presentation equips clinicians with a practical, research-aligned framework for evaluating

oral mechanics, identifying true functional restriction, recognizing compensatory tension patterns, and

identifying oral motor dysfunction.

To combat the widespread gap in visual and hands-on training, attendees will work through multiple

real-world photo and video evaluations. These case-based visuals illustrate diverse oral presentations,

feeding behaviors, and functional deficits—building the pattern recognition and clinical nuance that cannot

be obtained through lecture alone.

We will discuss how to guide families through a family-centered, supportive process. We will outline a

multidisciplinary team support from low-to-no intervention support to how to proceed when frenectomy is

indicated and desired by the family.

Learners will leave with clarity, confidence, and practical tools to support breastfeeding dyads using a

thoughtful, functional, and collaborative approach.

Courtney Tiemann Luecking, PhD, MPH, RDN, LD

Identify opportunities to strengthen continuity of lactation care through community-based organizations, including Cooperative Extension offices and other nonclinical partners. • Describe key findings from statewide conversations related to community-expressed needs, desired supports, and barriers to breastfeeding continuation. • Explain how integrating nutrition education and tailored maternal nutrition support into lactation services can enhance breastfeeding outcomes across the perinatal continuum.

Ashley Mickelson, M.S., CCC-SLP, IBCLC, Rachel Fann, M.S., CCC-SLP, CLC, and Tashery Risner, CBS, IFS representing the SAFE team

A significant portion of the workshop will be dedicated to developing practical skills essential for providing skilled lactation support in non-traditional settings. Participants will engage in real-life scenario analyses learned from Hurricane Helene and problem-solving exercises that simulate common challenges faced during disaster response.

Part 2 will focus on:

- Counseling and Communication Strategies: Adapting communication techniques to provide culturally sensitive and trauma-informed support to distressed families.

- Self-Care and Second-hand Trauma: Recognizing the emotional toll of disaster relief work and implementing strategies for personal well-being and resilience.

Melissa McElroy, PT, DPT, PWCS

Lactation, pelvic floor function, and the postpartum nervous system are deeply interconnected. Hormonal shift, breath mechanics, pressure management and vagal tone all influence both feeding and pelvic health outcomes. This lecture seeks to bridge lactation science with pelvic rehabilitation principles to support holistic postpartum recovery.

Ashlee Brown, BS, IBCLC

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe at least three common contributors to emotional load in perinatal care, including compassion fatigue, blurred boundaries, and role identity fusion. 2. Explain the relationship between practitioner well-being and parent outcomes in perinatal care settings. 3. Identify key signs that boundaries or workload may be impacting personal or professional sustainability. 4. Differentiate between caring for families and emotionally carrying their experiences. 5. Apply at least two practical strategies (such as capacity checks, reset rituals, or joy audits) to support sustainable practice. 6. Reflect on their personal identity outside of their professional role and how this supports resilience and long-term career satisfaction.

Angie Chisholm, DNP, CNM

By the end of this session, learners will be able to: Summarize evidence linking breastfeeding with improved short- and long-term outcomes for mothers and infants impacted by substance use disorders (SUD). Identify stigma and bias that create barriers to breastfeeding for women in recovery and apply trauma-informed care strategies to reduce those barriers. Apply practical clinical strategies to move beyond breastfeeding promotion to ensuring success. Incorporating Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) principles, optimized skin-to-skin care routines, and innovative approaches to prenatal & postpartum care.

Paula Norcott, IBCLC

Breastfeeding advocacy does not only happen at the state house. It happens in chart notes, handoffs,

hallway conversations, and the language we use with families. This interactive, introspective workshop

explores how the well-documented benefits of breastfeeding for parents, babies, and communities are

either strengthened or undermined by the way professionals communicate with one another and with families.

Participants will examine real-world scenarios, reflect on their own communication patterns, and practice collaborative strategies that reduce mixed messaging and improve outcomes. Through small-group discussion and practical exercises, attendees will leave with concrete tools to integrate advocacy into their everyday work without adding more to their workload.

Megan Moran, PT, DPT, PCS

When feeding challenges persist despite strong lactation support, underlying movement patterns, postural asymmetries, tone differences, and oral-motor coordination may be contributing factors. This breakout session explores the role of pediatric physical therapy “bodywork” in supporting breastfeeding and bottle feeding success.

Participants will learn how whole-body alignment, neuromotor control, sensory regulation, and musculoskeletal restrictions influence feeding mechanics. Practical, collaborative strategies will be shared to help lactation professionals identify when to refer and how to integrate positioning and regulation techniques into feeding plans.

This session is designed to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and expand clinical reasoning around complex infant feeding cases.