Reviews

5 star rating

Breastfeeding Truly is the First Movement Milestone!

Macy Bassler

This was a wonderful and insightful class! It was so great being able to connect some dots between family goals for feeding and how I as a physical therapist might help educate families on more targeted movement interventions that make a differenc...

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This was a wonderful and insightful class! It was so great being able to connect some dots between family goals for feeding and how I as a physical therapist might help educate families on more targeted movement interventions that make a difference for breastfeeding outcomes. Highly recommend this course for any PT working with infants!

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Course curriculum

Designed for Physical Therapists desiring to expand their lactation expertise and collaboration

    1. Breastfeeding is Movement Course

    2. Breastfeeding is Movement Course Quiz

Approved for 1.5 PT CEUs in Ohio with PT Approval #23S2954

  • $80.00
  • 2 lessons
  • 1.5 hours of video content
  • 6 months of access!

Course Description and Objectives

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding as a foundation for wellness and prevention. Many infants experience difficulties initiating and maintaining breastfeeding due to factors that a physical therapist is well suited to address including breastfeeding dysfunction associated with plagiocephaly, torticollis, ankyloglossia, and other neurodevelopmental impairments. Physical therapists have a unique understanding of musculoskeletal and neuromotor development that can be used to enhance this first movement milestone. This session will focus on the physical therapy professional’s role in helping families achieve breastfeeding success and how to collaborate with lactation consultants in their local communities. Explanation of the physiology and biomechanics of breastfeeding, and how physical therapists can identify and treat impairments that impede the movement needed for this process will be provided.

  • Identify breastfeeding as a movement milestone and at least 3 reflexive, active and postural components necessary for functional breastfeeding/chestfeeding

  • Discuss neuromotor deficits that can interfere with breastfeeding and interventions that can improve the movement needed to breastfeed

  • Recognize the physical therapy professional’s role in facilitating breastfeeding function

  • Identify levels of lactation care and how to reciprocally collaborate within the maternal and infant healthcare team

Buy $80.00

Instructor

Allyson Wessells, PT, IBCLC

Allyson is a physical therapist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and co-owner of Nurture Columbus, in Columbus, Ohio. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Ohio University in 1997, and Master of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University in 1999. After having a child in 2007, she volunteered as a La Leche League leader. She discovered a love for supporting new parents but a gap in lactation care, which led her to become an IBCLC in 2014. Her clinical approach to identifying and overcoming feeding challenges is unique with physical therapy foundations in posture, movement and reflexive function. Through presentations she endeavors to engage IBCLCs to know more about movement as related to human lactation, and PTs to learn about breastfeeding/chestfeeding as related to human development. As past-president (2019-2021) of the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association, she also advocates for equitable access to and health plan coverage for lactation care. Speaking engagements include APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Ohio Physical Therapy Association, United States Lactation Consultant Association, GOLD Online Learning, Ohio Lactation Consultant Association. Publications include co-authorship in the Journal of Human Lactation (2022), American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing (2021), and Clinical Lactation (2020).