Human Lactation

Develop the knowledge and skills to become a competent practitioner in the field of lactation. This module would prepare you for Pathway 1 of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners’ (IBCLE) examination, providing in excess of the 95 hours of specific lactation education required to apply for the IBCLE exam, if you choose to do take it.

The module covers 11 topics over three subject areas relevant to the lactating parent and infant.

The Science of Lactation section explores the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of mother and infant; facilitating and assessing the initiation of lactation and feeding; biochemistry of human milk and nutrition; and medications in breastmilk.

The Managing Breastfeeding Complications section explores maternal challenges such as nipple pain or breast pain and feeding multiples; infant challenges such as hypoglycaemia and low weight gain; breastfeeding devices and expression of milk; and longer-term breastfeeding and induced lactation and re-lactation.

Lastly, the Professional Issues section invites practitioners to explore counselling, communication, and culturally sensitive care; public health, ethics, and research; promotion, protection of breastfeeding; and providing support to modern families.

Each of the above units of work will utilise online resources using our virtual learning environment. You will work through the units and undertake mandatory formative multiple-choice exam, online, to assess your learning and highlight areas of further study.

The assessment for this module will compromise a summative multiple-choice exam at the end, and four 500-word critical reflections upon how the knowledge you've gained will be best used in practice. This exam will prepare you for the IBCLC exam if you choose to take it.