Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Participants will have the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills needed to assist families with more complex breastfeeding challenges. The IBLCE Exam Blueprint is a guide for the curriculum utilized in this course. The course includes a combination of in-person instruction and distance learning. This course is required for students completing the Lactation Consultant Certificate.

All students enrolling in LEC 202 must have completed 45 hrs of basic lactation education prior to enrolling in this course. LEC 201 meets this requirement. Students who did not complete the first 45 hrs of lactation education at PCC will need to provide proof of successful completion of 45 hrs of basic lactation education to the course instructor.

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

1. Utilize effective communication, counseling, and adult education skills in order to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding.
2. Apply critical thinking skills to make evidence-based decisions on breastfeeding practices.
3. Assess and manage complex maternal and infant breastfeeding challenges.
4. Critically evaluate sources of scientific information to determine the validity of the data.
5. Understand the scope of practice, standards of practice, and the professional code of conduct for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

In this course, students will learn about more complex maternal and infant health problems that can make breastfeeding more challenging. Students will practice assessment and management of more complex breastfeeding challenges.
Learning activities will include readings, lecture, quizzes, observations, interviews with mothers, counseling practice, group discussions, case studies, research, use of breastfeeding equipment, and presentations. Students will review the latest evidence-based practices, and the ethical provision of breastfeeding support, focusing on how to help each individual family reach their breastfeeding goals.
This course is offered in a hybrid format with in class and online delivery.

Multiple choice tests
Presentations and/or projects
Written assignments
Course activities and discussion

Themes
Evidence-based lactation practices
Concepts
Collaboration
Communication
Counseling
Observation
Clinical-Assessment
Adult Education
Cultural Practices
Family-centered Care
Problem-Solving
Professional Ethics
Issues
Individualized definition of breastfeeding success
Provision of human milk when breastfeeding is not possible
Cultural sensitivity
Complex maternal and infant breastfeeding challenges
Evidence-based decision-making
Skills

• Use the principles of family-centered care while maintaining a collaborative, supportive relationship with clients
• Provide evidence-informed information to assist family when making decisions regarding breastfeeding
• Participate in the development of policies at the local, national, or global levels which protect, promote and support breastfeeding and the provision of human milk
• Assess maternal and infant anatomy as it pertains to adequate function for lactation and breastfeeding
• Assess maternal mental and psychological states and social supports
• Assess mother’s milk supply and provide information on increasing or decreasing milk supply as needed
• Calculate an infant’s caloric and volume requirements
• Provide evidence-informed information on regarding maternal use of medications, and other substances
• Provide information and strategies to deal with complex maternal and pediatric breastfeeding challenges
• Facilitate breastfeeding or the provision of human milk for the medically fragile and physically compromised child
• Evaluate and critique how techniques and devices may be used to ensure initiation and/or continuation of breastfeeding in certain circumstances
• Develop, implement and evaluate an individualized feeding plan in consultation with the family
• Identify maternal or pediatric contraindications to breastfeeding or the provision of human milk
• Work collaboratively with other members of the health care team to coordinate care and will provide written assessments as required
• Make appropriate referrals to other health care providers and community resources in a timely manner when needed
• Critique, evaluate and incorporate evidence-informed findings into practice
• Conduct her/himself in a professional manner using the ethical and practice guidelines developed for those working in the lactation field
• Utilize breastfeeding–related equipment and demonstrate appropriate use