Presentation: Breastfeeding families are often advised to provide medical supplementation via bottles without the benefit of education about bottle feeding in a manner that is protective of breast/chest feeding. Lactation consultants can be excellent resources for nursing families using bottles. Effective bottle skills require
1) a good-fit teat compatible with the baby’s oral anatomy,
2) competent sucking skills,
and 3) an informed parent/caregiver knowledgeable about bottle feeding.
When families are coached using a skill-building method, babies learn to recognize, accept, and suck effectively with a bottle and the breast. Teaching bottle skills is within the scope of the IBCLC and it can be done in an ethical, code-compliant manner. This program will offer a framework for lactation consultants to incorporate bottle skills into their lactation practice. It will discuss practical skills for supporting bottle-feeding families and the technical skills for improving an infant’s ability to bottle-feed. Novice and seasoned lactation consultants will find the content applicable to practice.
Susan is a Registered Nurse and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She is the owner of Arlington Lactation & Feeding Therapy, located near Washington DC where she offers comprehensive lactation support and education to families. Susan is an expert in complex feeding issues. Her expertise includes supporting families at all stages of feeding from initiating breast/chest feeding, returning to work, bottle feeding, starting solids, and weaning. Professionally she is a speaker, industry product consultant, and mentor to new and experienced lactation consultants.
Susan began her professional career in public health working in the tobacco cessation arena. Seeking a more personal connection with patients, Susan pursued a nursing career in women’s health. She obtained a Master's in Nursing allowing her to combine her love of teaching with clinical care. Susan’s career has included positions as a Labor and Delivery nurse, a childbirth educator, a research nurse, and a clinical nursing instructor at Georgetown University. She became a lactation consultant in 2011. Opened her practice in 2013. Susan describes herself as a "lactogeek" and loves talking about babies, boobs, bottles and breastmilk.
