Michigan Breastfeeding Network presents FREE Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinars that launch on the third Tuesday of the month at 8am EST. Webinars are available to watch whenever and wherever for up to 1 year after the initial air date. In order to qualify for continuing education, we ask that you register through GoToWebinar with the below links, watch the webinar in its entirety, and complete the post-webinar survey in its entirety. Within 24-48 hours after watching the webinar, you will get a link to the post-webinar survey. Certificates for those who watch a webinar on their own time and complete the post-webinar survey in its entirety will be distributed within 45 days. If you have any questions, please email hello@mibreastfeeding.org.

Available Webinars

**Please note that the registration links are intended for individual viewing. If you are interested in watching a webinar as a group, please reach out to hello@mibreastfeeding.org for more information.

Registration opens on November 16th at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Human Lactation Behind Bars” – registration opens soon!

Presenter: Elon Geffrard, BS, CLC, ICCE, CD(DONA)

Description: Participants can expect to understand the particulars of giving birth and lactating while incarcerated. Attendees will gain insight regarding the context of birth and support for incarcerated people in Michigan and hopefully gain tools to advocate for the rights of this unique population in their respective communities.

Objectives:

• Understand the high risk nature of pregnancy while behind bars
• Explore the challenges of immediate postpartum recovery including human lactation
• Assess the conditions that would be helpful in creating more equitable opportunities for new parents behind bars and support their infants.
• Consider opportunities to advocate for incarcerated persons lactation needs/rights

Approved for 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 Community Health Worker CEU, 1 Certified Health Education Specialist CECH, and 1 CME until November 16, 2022. CERP approval pending.

Registration opens on October 19th at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Cultivating a New Culture” – click here to register

Presenter: Lindsey McGahey, IFSD, IBC, BE and Kiara Baskin, CD, CLC

Description: Revisiting and reclaiming lactation practices for Black and Indigenous communities must happen in order to address systemic racism and ongoing health inequities for families. Lactation is traditional practice in both Black and Indigenous communities despite years of oppressive policies that work to sever families from their ancestral knowledge. This presentation is from the perspective of Black and Indigenous birth and breastfeeding workers as they share their experiences serving in their communities.

Objectives:

• Understand the historical implications and traumas that have a direct effect on birth, breastfeeding, and parenting outcomes in Black and Indigenous communities.
• Using an empathetic lens, examine clinical and community practices to better serve Black and Indigenous families.

Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 Community Health Worker CEU, 1 Certified Health Education Specialist CECH, and 1 CME until October 19, 2022.

Registration opens on September 21st at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Expanding Expectations and Building Resiliency: Empowering Parents for Successful Breastfeeding” – click here to register

Presenter: Lindsey McGahey, IFSD, IBC, BE

Description: This presentation will focus on intentional and realistic practices for families and lactation supporters to improve lactation experiences. We will examine the intersecting elements of traditional care, families, community, clinical care, and beyond to protect breastfeeding.

Objectives:

• Enriching lactation support during pregnancy to strengthen innate knowledge of not only what is possible but what is traditionally and biologically normal in the spirit of prevention.
• Using language, bravery, tradition, story telling, community and science as a foundation in resiliency and addressing difficult topics in lactation.
• Empowering parents by returning the power of lactation and informed decision making back to birthing families through validation of bodily competency, literacy, sovereignty, autonomy, intuition, tradition, and scientifically accurate, evidence based resources.
• Furthering the protection of breastfeeding by lifting lactation support in community and beyond. Honoring birthing families in the center of policy and legislation in a culturally sensitive way that validates our LGBTQIA2S+ kin.

Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 Community Health Worker CEU, 1 Certified Health Education Specialist CECH, and 1 CME until September 21, 2022. 

Registration opens on August 17th at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Bodyfeeding is a Political & Cultural Act” – click here to register

Presenter: Mariposa

Description: When working with families, it is vital to respect and use language that honors the experience of the lactating parent. This presentation will include: an introduction to gender neutral language; how to use gender neutral language when working with birth and body feeding folks; and why pronouns are important in birth work in order to avoid misgendering parents and invalidating their experiences. Centered on the experience of a Two Spirit, non-binary lactating parent, this presentation will examine the intersection of political and cultural issues of racism, sexism, and patriarchy.

Objectives:

• Examine the cultural and political implications of lactation.
• Recognize the importance of culturally-sensitive lactation care and support.
• Incorporate gender inclusive language in your lactation work.

Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 Community Health Worker CEU, 1 Certified Health Education Specialist CECH, and 1 CME until August 17, 2022. 

Registration opens on July 13th at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Breastfeeding Fundamentals and the Workplace” – click here to register

Presenter: Tameka White, CLS

Description: The State of Michigan currently has zero legislative protections for lactation in the workplace. The Fair Labor Standards Act does provide some accommodations but does not go far enough. This webinar will discuss the vital change in legislation, policy, and workplace culture needed to ensure infants receive human milk as a human right. Additionally, and of equal importance, how we provide equitable support to lactating families, while working and waiting for the world to change.

Objectives:

• Identify the direct connection between a person’s workplace environment and their decision to breastfeed.
• Recognize how legislative protections would help to decrease modification or cessation of exclusive breastfeeding.
• Adjust the ways in which we support families to be more equitable.

Approved for 1 E-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 Community Health Worker CEU, 1 Certified Health Education Specialist CECH, and 1 CME until July 13, 2022. 

Registration opens on June 15th at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Bmadzewen yawen I Mbish Water is Life” – click here to register.

Presenter: Bethany Earl, RN, CNM, MSN

Description: Traditional practices are important to the identities of Indigenous families and their communities and the role of infant feeding is central to parenting. Traditional knowledge shared by Indigenous Elders is essential to sustaining traditional feeding practice and life-giving human milk. This webinar will have a primary focus on the importance of water on life in general and, in particular, how it affects breast milk. The presenter will include traditional teachings on the interconnectedness of water on all things in life hence the important phrase: water is life, all life.

Objectives:

• Learn about water and its overall effect on all life.
• Learn traditional teachings regarding water in all lifeways and its particular importance to human milk.
• Understand the interconnection of all life and water, including maternal infant health.
• Brief discussion on current issues surrounding water and its overall effects on all of us.

Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified health education specialist CECH, and 1 CME until June 15, 2022. 

Registration opens on May 18th at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Beyond the Birth Suite: The Importance of Black Doulas in Pursuit of Maternal Infant Health Equity” – click here to register.

Presenter: Kiara Baskin, CD, CLC

Description: Maternity care in the United States is characterized by racial and income disparities and, as a result, we continue to see poor maternal and infant outcomes. During this presentation, we will discuss the current state of maternity care, the history of obstetrics and gynecology, and the research surrounding doula support in pursuit of maternal-infant health equity.

Objectives:

• Understand the current state of maternity care within the United States
• Describe the role of a doula as a member of the maternal care team and their scope of practice
• Understand the doula client relationship and the impact made on birth and postpartum outcomes as a result

Approved for 1 R-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified health education specialist CECH, and 1 CME until May 18, 2022.

Registration opens on April 20th at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Dismantling Racism and Implicit Bias in Breastfeeding and Human Lactation” – click here to register.

Presenter: TaNefer L. Camara, MS-HCA, IBCLC

Description: Despite rising trends in initiation of breastfeeding rates, disparities persist in initiation and duration for certain racial and ethnic groups, particularly among African Americans. While breastfeeding is often painted as a personal choice there are many factors that influence one’s decision, plan, and initiation and duration. This webinar will address how racism, specifically anti-Black racism is the root cause of disparities in breastfeeding and lactation. I will debunk the theory of implicit bias and expose how racism in its many forms shows up in lactation practice. Case studies and parent narratives will be used to highlight the insidious ways breastfeeding is casually disrupted and undermined by medical providers, nurses, and others who interface with birthing and lactating people. We will end with recommendations for identifying racism, addressing implicit bias, and how to support and affirm Black, Indigenous and people of color in breastfeeding/chestfeeding and lactation.

Objectives:

• Define two types of racism.
• Identify casual or subtle ways that racism and implicit bias is displayed in lactation practice.
• Enumerate three ways to practice anti-racism when supporting BIPOC breast/chestfeeding folks.

Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified health education specialist CECH, and 1 CME until April 20, 2022.

Registration opens on March 16 at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Serving Indigenous Families in Lactation” – click here to register.

Presenter: Meredith Kennedy, Aadizookewinini

Description: Michigan has over 80,000 Indigenous people, many who identify as Anishinaabe. How much do you really know about working with the Anishinaabe? Come enhance your understanding about historical barriers to working with the Anishinaabe while learning resources to help you understand how to work with Anishinaabe families within breastfeeding spaces. Let’s explore Mino-Bimaadizwin, The Good Life, to strengthen understanding and improve experiences for our communities.

Objectives:

• Define Indigenous peoples in Michigan and recognize the Three Fire Tribes – the Anishinaabe.
• Summarize three historical barriers when working with some Indigenous peoples – understand historical trauma via US policies that affects working with Indigenous families today.
• Describe Mino-Bimaadizwin, The Good Life, tenets of working with Indigenous Communities, specifically Anishinaabe families.
• Understand the community and tradition with connection.
• Reflect on oral history as a guide for some thoughts on delivery and looking into your own communication and practice.
• Recognize resources in your community to build Trust, Love, and Respect.

Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified health education specialist CECH, and one CME until March 16, 2022.

Registration opens on February 16 at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Queer Like Radical: Affirming Abundance with Newborn/Infant Feeding” – click here to register.

Presenter: Etecia Brown, BA, CD

Description: This presentation will center Queer Black Indigenous birthers and aims to provide accessible knowledge about breastfeeding and chestfeeding for queer birthers and families including: common newborn/infant feeding challenges that affect the queer birthers and non-synthetic tools for supporting healthy milk supply. This presentation will also cover the historical and political nuances of breastfeeding in the Black community.

Objectives:

• Name two ways to incorporate inclusive language into practice.
• Identify strategies for diverse families to achieve their breast/chestfeeding goals.
• Recognize the importance of cultural humility in lactation care.

Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 dietitian CPEU, 1 community health worker CEU, 1 certified health education specialist CECH, and one CME until February 16, 2022.

Registration opens on December 15th at 8am EST to watch whenever and wherever.

“Equitable Milk Sharing: The Risks and Burdens of Food Insecurity” – click here to register.

Presenter: Tameka Jackson-Dyer, IBCLC, CHW

Description: Inspired by lessons gathered from community work done during the COVID-19 pandemic, this presentation critically examines the history of milk sharing and its modern implications for Black women and babies. The dangers of homemade formula versus home pasteurization of human milk and ways to safely milk share will be discussed. This presentation will consider which populations carry the risks and burdens of supplying donor human milk and which most often receive the benefits of donor human milk both historically and currently.

Objectives:

• Understand the history of milk sharing.
• Learn how to safely support milk sharing.
• Consider potential medical, social, and economic vulnerabilities of both donor and recipient mother–infant dyad and mechanisms for reducing vulnerabilities.
• Examine the equity and fairness of milk sharing through allocation and access to donor milk and develop safeguards to prevent exploitation of lactating parents donating and selling milk.

Approved for 1 E-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, and 1 dietitian CPEU until December 15, 2021.

“A Look Inside the NICU: How to Best Support Families” – click here to register.

Presenter: Shatoria Townsend, MPH, CLC

Description: Webinar participants will receive an inside look at the experience of our presenter and how her journey has led to the road of advocacy and education for those currently facing a NICU stay. As a Black woman, she faced several obstacles that were compounded by the trauma endured from being in the NICU. This presentation will share techniques and information vital for any person who is facing the walls of a NICU whether parent or peer or professional breastfeeding supporter. The NICU is not a place of luxury nor an experience a parent is anticipating. An infant’s NICU stay is not always due to a premature birth but can be a result of birth complications at any age of gestation. This presentation will uncover the NICU experience through the eyes of a parent.

Objectives:

• Identify reasons why an infant may enter the NICU.
• Understand the importance of human milk in the NICU.
• Learn how to best support birthing persons in the NICU.
• Implement techniques to advocate for families while in the NICU and understand why it is important to do so as a breastfeeding supporter.

Approved for 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, and 1 dietitian CPEU until November 17, 2021.