ILCA Knowledge Center

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Webinar Recordings (Members Only)
JHL Study Modules
JHL Study Modules (Members Only)


Conference Sessions
Conference Sessions (Members Only)

New to the Member Library

  • Includes Credits

    Sustainable Maternity: Traditionally, Breastfeeding consultants have had abundant scientific evidence about the risks of not breastfeeding. Both risks for the baby and the mother, in the short and long term. As important as these are, we seem not to be able to attract a society that feeds on breast milk substitutes and believes that this causes no harm. The main objective of my presentation is to give the lactation consultant another area of evidence related to the current and vital issue of caring for the environment. During my presentation we will walk through the different areas of concern, beginning with the effects on land, erosion, deforestation, lowered productivity and biodiversity. Additionally, we will explore the huge water footprint in the manufacture of dry milk and water pollution. We will then touch on antibiotic use in cattle and the secondary effects on humans. More environmental impact topics will include air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, packaging, use of plastics, transportation, as well as the waste derived from the extra menstrual periods and lack of birth control. Breast milk is a valuable renewable natural resource, and is the most ecological existing food source. It is produced and delivered to the consumer in the same place, without using other resources, does not cause contamination and helps to ensure the nutrition of the weakest and poorest, when food security has become a concern.

    Sustainable Motherhood: The Impact of the use of Artificial Infant Milk on the Environment

    Sustainable Maternity: Traditionally, Breastfeeding consultants have had abundant scientific evidence about the risks of not breastfeeding. Both risks for the baby and the mother, in the short and long term. As important as these are, we seem not to be able to attract a society that feeds on breast milk substitutes and believes that this causes no harm. The main objective of my presentation is to give the lactation consultant another area of evidence related to the current and vital issue of caring for the environment. During my presentation we will walk through the different areas of concern, beginning with the effects on land, erosion, deforestation, lowered productivity and biodiversity. Additionally, we will explore the huge water footprint in the manufacture of dry milk and water pollution. We will then touch on antibiotic use in cattle and the secondary effects on humans. More environmental impact topics will include air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, packaging, use of plastics, transportation, as well as the waste derived from the extra menstrual periods and lack of birth control. Breast milk is a valuable renewable natural resource, and is the most ecological existing food source. It is produced and delivered to the consumer in the same place, without using other resources, does not cause contamination and helps to ensure the nutrition of the weakest and poorest, when food security has become a concern.

    Credit: 1.00 L CERP and 1.00 Contact Hours

    Source: ILCA Webinar 20 May 2021

    Presented by: Martha Alicia Ferraez de Lee MSP, IBCLC

    Upon completion, the learner will be able to: 

    1) State the relationship that exists between not breastfeeding, the making of artificial infant milk and the impact on the environment

    2)  Identify 3 of the main effects that the making of breastmilk substitutes have on the environment

    3) Distinguish changes in personal lifestyle to protect the environment but also in the way to teach mothers and families to help them measure the risks of not breastfeeding on the baby, the mother, the family, and the environment

    Learning Level: Intermediate

    Expiration Date: 19 July 2024

    Disclosures: ILCA accepts no commercial support for continuing education activities. The activity planners have no conflicts of interest to declare. The presenter has no significant financial interest or other relationship with the manufacturer(s) of any product(s) or provider(s) of any services relating to the subject matter of this presentation unless otherwise stated below.

    CERPs: ILCA is an approved provider of Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). (CLT-108-7).

    ANCC: ILCA is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval Number ILCA-P0286. Accepted for BRN credit by the Board of Registered Nursing.

    ILCA education is provided as a service to our members for continuing education, knowledge, and awareness. We believe in fostering an inclusive environment that supports diversity and removes barriers. The views and opinions expressed in this education, including the choice of vocabulary, expressions, and use of supporting evidence-based research belong to the presenter. ILCA is steadfast in our commitment to present, learn, and discuss any information in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.

    Martha Alicia Ferraez de Lee

    MSP, IBCLC

    Born in the City of Xalapa, Veracruz, México, Martha Alicia Ferraez de Lee had a happy childhood, full of rich experiences in the media of radio in Veracruz and Mexico City. She has traveled extensively with family and danced classical ballet from age 6. Ms. Ferraez de Lee holds a Bachelor degree in Science in Nursing from UNAM in Mexico City, a MPH from Montemorelos University in Nuevo León and recently recertified as an IBCLC, which she has held for 20 years. Martha Alicia lived 18 years in the United States between 1976 and 2008. Ms. Ferraez de Lee wrote the book, Lactancia Materna, published by McGraw Hill. She worked as couplet care nurse and then lactation consultant in Paradise Valley Hospital and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in San Diego California. She enjoys teaching, lecturing and participating in talk radio and TV shows about breastfeeding in the US and Mexico. Ms. Ferraez de Lee is married to Dr. Elfred Lee, an internationally known muralist and portrait artist, and has three children from a previous marriage. Most notably, she is the grandmother of three beautiful children that were 100% breastfed.

  • Includes Credits

    After completing this study module, the learner will be able to: 1. Identify common characteristics of women who used marijuana during postpartum period 2. Describe the relationship between the use of marijuana postpartum and breastfeeding 3. Describe the perceived safety of using marijuana among breastfeeding women

    Independent Study Module for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants®

    Title: Postpartum Marijuana Use, Perceptions of Safety, and Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration: An Analysis of PRAMS Data From Seven States, 2017

    Author(s): Kelsey C. Coy, MPH, Sarah C. Haight, MPH, Erica Anstey, PhD, MA, CLC, Althea M. Grant, PhD, Nan Ruffo, MPA, and Jean Y. Ko, PhD.

    Source: Journal of Human Lactation 2021

    After completing this study module, the learner will be able to:

    1. Identify common characteristics of women who used marijuana during the postpartum period

    2. Describe the relationship between the use of marijuana postpartum and breastfeeding

    3. Describe the perceived safety of using marijuana among breastfeeding women

    1 L-CERP and contact hour(s)

    IBLCE Category: Clinical Skills; Pharmacology; Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology 

    KEY TIPS FOR COMPLETING THIS MODULE:

    1. Be sure to read the article more than once.

    2. Read key messages and charts within the article.

    3. Reference the article as you answer the questions.

    4. Pay attention to keywords in the question prompt to help in locating the article section which contains the answer.

    5. Reference the learning objectives of the study module in order to answer questions.


    You will have two attempts to achieve a passing score of 70% on this module.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Disclosures: ILCA accepts no commercial support for continuing education activities. The activity planners have no conflicts of interest to declare.

    The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

    CERPs: ILCA is an approved provider of Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). (CLT-108-7).

    ANCC: ILCA is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval Number ILCA-P0286. Accepted for BRN credit by the Board of Registered Nursing.

  • Includes Credits

    After completing this study module, the learner will be able to: 1. Evaluate the reliability of using intra-mammary width and certain breast appearances as markers of breast hypoplasia 2. Identify what breast hypoplasia looks like and how to measure breasts for the hypoplasia markers used in this study 3. Identify areas for future research

    Independent Study Module for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants®

    Title: Reliability of Markers for Breast Hypoplasia in the Early Postpartum Period

    Author(s): Renee L. Kam, BPhysio, IBCLC, Meagh Cullinane, BSc, PhD, Don Vicendese, PhD, and Lisa H. Amir, MBBS, MMed, PhD, IBCLC

    Source: Journal of Human Lactation: 37(2) 2021

    After completing this study module, the learner will be able to:

    1. Evaluate the reliability of using intra-mammary width and certain breast appearances as markers of breast hypoplasia

    2. Identify what breast hypoplasia looks like and how to measure breasts for the hypoplasia markers used in this study

    3. Identify areas for future research

    1 L-CERP and contact hour(s)

    IBLCE Category: Clinical Skills; Pathology

    KEY TIPS FOR COMPLETING THIS MODULE:

    1. Be sure to read the article more than once.

    2. Read key messages and charts within the article.

    3. Reference the article as you answer the questions.

    4. Pay attention to keywords in the question prompt to help in locating the article section which contains the answer.

    5. Reference the learning objectives of the study module in order to answer questions.

    You will have two attempts to achieve a passing score of 70% on this module.

    Expires: 1 June 2025

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Disclosures: ILCA accepts no commercial support for continuing education activities. The activity planners have no conflicts of interest to declare.

    The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

    CERPs: ILCA is an approved provider of Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). (CLT-108-7).

    ANCC: ILCA is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval Number ILCA-P0286. Accepted for BRN credit by the Board of Registered Nursing.

  • Includes Credits

    After completing this study module, the learner will be able to: 1. Define lactational mastitis 2. Describe the frequency of lactational mastitis 3. Identify the risk factors for lactational mastitis

    Independent Study Module for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants®

    Title: Incidence of and Risk Factors for Lactational Mastitis: A Systematic Review

    Author(s): Emily Wilson, MSc, Susannah L Woodd, MSc, and Lenka Benova, PhD

    Source: Journal of Human Lactation: 36(4) 2020

    After completing this study module, the learner will be able to:

    1. Define lactation mastitis

    2. Describe the frequency of lactational mastitis

    3. Identify the risk factors  lactational mastitis

    1 L-CERP and contact hour(s)

    IBLCE Category: Clinical Skills; Pathology

    KEY TIPS FOR COMPLETING THIS MODULE:

    1. Be sure to read the article more than once.

    2. Read key messages and charts within the article.

    3. Reference the article as you answer the questions.

    4. Pay attention to keywords in the question prompt to help in locating the article section which contains the answer.

    5. Reference the learning objectives of the study module in order to answer questions.

    You will have two attempts to achieve a passing score of 70% on this module.

    Expires: 22 September 2025

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Disclosures: ILCA accepts no commercial support for continuing education activities. The activity planners have no conflicts of interest to declare.

    The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

    CERPs: ILCA is an approved provider of Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). (CLT-108-7).

    ANCC: ILCA is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval Number ILCA-P0286. Accepted for BRN credit by the Board of Registered Nursing.

Popular Modules

  • Includes Credits

    Breastfeeding challenges are prevalent particularly in the early stages after birth. According to a study published in Pediatrics 2013, 92% of women studied in the United States experienced breastfeeding challenges, including problems with latching, breastfeeding pain and milk quantity concerns. Breastfeeding is a physiological function of all mammals and once the basics are understood, supporting mothers and babies in the early stages becomes much easier. This documentary will explore how competent infants are at locating the breast and latching. Infants are hardwired to breastfeed, just like other mammals, and have inborn feeding behaviors that are easy to observe. This documentary is the lactation consultant's experience comparing her clients in Vancouver, Canada with rural areas of Iran. This education can help to demonstrate a new possibility for health care providers by offering simple and effective breastfeeding support.

  • Includes Credits

    Sustainable Maternity: Traditionally, Breastfeeding consultants have had abundant scientific evidence about the risks of not breastfeeding. Both risks for the baby and the mother, in the short and long term. As important as these are, we seem not to be able to attract a society that feeds on breast milk substitutes and believes that this causes no harm. The main objective of my presentation is to give the lactation consultant another area of evidence related to the current and vital issue of caring for the environment. During my presentation we will walk through the different areas of concern, beginning with the effects on land, erosion, deforestation, lowered productivity and biodiversity. Additionally, we will explore the huge water footprint in the manufacture of dry milk and water pollution. We will then touch on antibiotic use in cattle and the secondary effects on humans. More environmental impact topics will include air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, packaging, use of plastics, transportation, as well as the waste derived from the extra menstrual periods and lack of birth control. Breast milk is a valuable renewable natural resource, and is the most ecological existing food source. It is produced and delivered to the consumer in the same place, without using other resources, does not cause contamination and helps to ensure the nutrition of the weakest and poorest, when food security has become a concern.

  • Includes Credits

    After completing this study module, the learner will be able to: 1. Define Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool (Neo EATBreastfeeding) reference values for infant breastfeeding behavior in full-term, healthy infants less than 7 months old 2. Explain the intended creation and use of the NeoEAT Breastfeeding Tool