Lactation Support for Health Professionals
Certificate of Accomplishment | LAC1
This certificate is designed for RNs, RPNs and those in recognized health professions employed in and/or seeking to advance their practice to support lactating persons, their infants and families. Content spans pregnancy through postpartum, and the first year and beyond of infant life related to human milk feeding.
This certificate is based on the World Health Organization Code & Baby Friendly Initiative and the Detailed Content Outline (effective April 2023) of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE®) in preparation of International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®). Other significant foundations include the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nurses (CAPWHN), Perinatal Nursing Standards in Canada, and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) competencies for perinatal and neonatal nurses.
NEW: Please note that OBST 608, the foundation course, must be taken first followed by OBST 610, 611, and 612 which are offered in one term. OBST 613 can be taken concurrently with OBST 610 or 611 or 612.
Content Modules
Course Details
Add Humanistic Leadership skills to your resume with these three courses
Course 1: OBST 608 Human Milk Feeding Basics
Learners critically examine their knowledge base, attitudes, and biases regarding infant feeding and learn about the significance of the WHO Code & Baby Friendly Initiative. Students also learn how to assess and manage common concerns with human milk feeding in the initial postpartum period. Emphasis will be placed on effective communication skills and the impact of social support for the infant and family, and on promoting self-efficacy in infant feeding. This course is based upon the Canadian Nurses’ Association competencies, the Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nurses (CAPWHN), Public Health Agency of Canada, and the clinical competencies of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
Course 2: OBST 610 Supporting Lactating Persons
Students explore the need for additional lactation support for lactating persons having varied medical or physical findings from pregnancy and into the second year of infant life. Through group discussions, assignments and diverse activities, students demonstrate knowledge of assessments and findings, and interventions required for lactating persons. Students apply current research integration while exploring the impact of interventions on the families along with the requirements of the health-care team.
Course 3: OBST 611 Lactation Support: Infant
Students explore the need for additional lactation support for infants having varied medical or physical findings from birth into the second year of life. Through group discussions, assignments and diverse activities, students demonstrate knowledge of assessments, findings and interventions required of these infants. Students apply current research integration while exploring the impact on the families and the requirements of the health-care team.
Course 4: OBST 612 Advanced Techniques and Clinical Skills to Support Lactation
Learners critically examine, in greater depth, the contributors to positive health in the infant and childbearing family related to human milk feeding. Learners explore specialized techniques and skills to support the lactating person, the infant and the family. Timelines focus from birth through the second year of infant life. Students identify potential ethical situations that may be encountered related to the need for specialized techniques and skills. Students will be taught to demonstrate the ability to locate and apply relevant research.
Course 5: OBST 613 Communication for Empowerment
Learners examine the significance of self-efficacy within a strategic population in health care. They identify methods which enhance communication and foster confidence in parents related to human milk feeding. By incorporating targeted communication skills, learners demonstrate promotion of self-efficacy with the goal of empowering others.
Course 6: OBST 618 Lactation Support – Clinical
RNs and RPNs, under the supervision of a certified lactation consultant, learn to demonstrate basic skills of communication, assessment and support of new parents and infants related to human milk feeding. Additionally, learners demonstrate knowledge and skills which align with the World Health Organization and Baby Friendly Initiative, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nurses (CAPWHN), Perinatal nursing standards in Canada, and related competencies for perinatal and neonatal nurses from the Canadian Nurses Association.
Curriculum
Quick-Look Availability Scheduler
Use the Quick-Look Availability Scheduler to see available courses in a calendar view and plan towards achieving your certificate.
Loading...| Course Name | 2024/2025 Academic Year | 2025/2026 Academic Year | 2026/2027 Academic Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb |
| OBST 608: Human Milk Feeding Basics | |||||||||||||||
| OBST 610: Supporting Lactating Persons | |||||||||||||||
| OBST 611: Lactation Support: Infant | |||||||||||||||
| OBST 612: Advanced Techniques and Clinical Skills to Support Lactation | |||||||||||||||
| OBST 613: Communication for Empowerment | |||||||||||||||
Compulsory Courses
Learners critically examine their knowledge base, attitudes, and biases regarding infant feeding and learn about the significance of the WHO Code & Baby Friendly Initiative. Students also learn how to assess and manage common concerns with human milk feeding in the initial postpartum period. Emphasis will be placed on effective communication skills and the impact of social support for the infant and family, and on promoting self-efficacy in infant feeding. This course is based upon the Canadian Nurses’ Association competencies, the Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nurses (CAPWHN), Public Health Agency of Canada, and the clinical competencies of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
Students explore the need for additional lactation support for lactating persons having varied medical or physical findings from pregnancy and into the second year of infant life. Through group discussions, assignments and diverse activities, students demonstrate knowledge of assessments and findings, and interventions required for lactating persons. Students apply current research integration while exploring the impact of interventions on the families along with the requirements of the health-care team.
Learners critically examine, in greater depth, the contributors to positive health in the infant and childbearing family related to human milk feeding. Learners explore specialized techniques and skills to support the lactating person, the infant and the family. Timelines focus from birth through the second year of infant life. Students identify potential ethical situations that may be encountered related to the need for specialized techniques and skills. Students will be taught to demonstrate the ability to locate and apply relevant research.
Learners examine the significance of self-efficacy within a strategic population in health care. They identify methods which enhance communication and foster confidence in parents related to human milk feeding. By incorporating targeted communication skills, learners demonstrate promotion of self-efficacy with the goal of empowering others.
Faculty Highlights
Jenny Pizzale
Jenny holds a Health Science degree from UWO, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UofT, and a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery from McMaster University. An IBCLC since 2017, she has authored a textbook chapter on lactation complications and is currently pursuing a Master's in Health Professional Education at Queens University. With a strong commitment to advancing education in obstetrics and lactation, Jenny is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals. Outside of work, she cherishes time with her three growing children and two golden retrievers, balancing family life with her joy of teaching and learning.
Jessica Spisak
I have been lucky to venture many avenues since graduating the Toronto Metropolitan University nursing program in Toronto. I currently practice at Victoria General Hospital in the NICU and call Vancouver island home. I enjoy my most recent work as a bedside RN bringing forward a background in lactation to help families.
My interest in all things mother-babe began as a new grad in the Netherlands where I found myself working as a postpartum home care nurse. I soon became passionate about lactation and supporting lactating persons working alongside midwifery groups across Amsterdam. I have had the opportunity to explore other areas of nursing in postpartum research and in the world of fertility since then. As a fertility nurse, I marveled in the intricacies of hormonal feedback loops and connected those of human reproduction to lactation. Thereafter I sought my IBCLC in 2019 and have been thrilled to be a part of a wonderful team with Humber’s Lactation Support program.
Kim Dart
Kim has 35+ years of nursing experience in antepartum, postpartum, and newborn care in community and teaching hospitals. She is an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) providing in-hospital and at-home infant feeding consults. Kim is a strong advocate for supporting families with their infant feeding goals.
She currently works as a perinatal nurse educator in a level 3 teaching hospital, ensuring best practice standards and quality care initiatives. Kim received her MSN from D’Youville College and her perinatal nurse specialty certificate from Canadian Nurses Association. She teaches post RN/RPN students in the Obstetric Nursing and Lactation Support Certificate program at Humber Polytechnic.
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Contact Us
Humber Continuous Professional Learning Health Sciences & Wellness
cplhealthsciences@humber.ca
416.675.6622 ext. 4554
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