IABLE’s 7.5-hour basic breastfeeding training for providers (curriculum here) instructs participants on prenatal breastfeeding education, intrapartum and early postpartum support, and differential diagnosis and management of the most common breastfeeding problems encountered by primary care providers. These problems include evaluation and management of low milk production, breast/nipple pain, the use of medications during breastfeeding, complications in the early postpartum period, and breast pump counseling.

This course is an excellent primer for physicians in practice, and especially suitable for medical students and residents during a breastfeeding medicine elective or rotations involving lactating dyads. We offer this course at a significant discount to health professional trainees. IABLE is happy to arrange invoicing for academic departments or other institutions that would like to cover groups of physicians/providers or students/physicians in training.

Enroll in the eCourse version

This 30-hour intensive breastfeeding and lactation medicine course is designed for healthcare professionals intending to enhance their support for breastfeeding families and/or those who are beginning their journey to specialize in breastfeeding and lactation medicine. The course covers core topics and offers flexible learning options. Participants who enroll in the entire Core Content have 3-year access to the course materials, which can be completed through eCourse modules (recordings from the January 2025 live webinar) and/or the annual live webinar (next scheduled for January 2026).

Participants can begin the e-Course modules immediately upon enrollment. Completion of Core Content is a prerequisite for participating in Deep Dive. Register for the Core Content eCourse here.

Can I purchase just a few of the Core Content sessions, or must I purchase the entire bundle?
You have the option to purchase all sessions of Core Content as a bundle, or each session individually.

Do I need to finish all of the sessions in Core Content to earn educational credits?
You will earn credits separately for each session you complete, no matter if you purchase individual Core Content sessions or the Core Content Bundle.

How long do I have access to Core Content sessions?
If you purchase individual sessions and not the entire bundle, you have access to the sessions for one year or until you finish the purchased sessions. In other words, once you finish a session, you no longer have access.

If you purchase the entire bundle, we provide access to the sessions for 3 years, including the sessions you’ve finished. Access includes annual updates to the lectures.

Can I finish Core Content sessions before the next live Core Content Webinar?
Yes, those who purchase the Core Content Bundle can finish all Core Content sessions before the next live webinar in January. Even if you finish the e-courses, you can join live in January, because the sessions are updated each year. After the January week-long webinar, your sessions will be updated with the new versions. You will have access to all Core Content sessions for 3 years from the date you purchased the Core Content Bundle.

Do I need to finish Core Content before I start Deep Dive?
Yes, IABLE requires that participants finish Core Content before starting Deep Dive. A solid understanding of Core Content is essential for maximizing your learning experience in Deep Dive.

For Deep Dive 2026, which starts in April 2026, you would need to complete Core Content eCourse 2025 or 2026.

What is Deep Dive?

Deep Dive is an expansive cross-disciplinary Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine Curriculum, designed to comprehensively cover requisite knowledge for physicians and other providers who intend to practice Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine. This is a 2-year curriculum comprised of blended learning for physicians and other providers. The monthly core topics are clinically focused and align with the North American Board of Breastfeeding & Lactation Medicine’s (NABBLM) blueprint for their board certification examination. Deep Dive is an Accredited Program to prepare for the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (NABBLM) Examination.

When does Deep Dive start?

Deep Dive begins with completion of the IABLE Core Content of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine eCourse. Core Content must be completed before Deep Dive begins April 1st, 2026. Upon signing up for Deep Dive, you will receive access to either 2025 or 2026 Core Content sessions to finish the course before April 1st, 2026.

Deep Dive orientation is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 from 5:00-8:00pm CST, and we strongly encourage all participants to attend.

Are There Any Educational Requirements for Me to Enroll in Deep Dive?

There are no specific prerequisites for breastfeeding medicine training. Core Content and Deep Dive programs are structured to begin with foundational concepts of breastfeeding and lactation medicine, progressively covering more advanced topics. The subject matter experts and instructors responsible for developing and updating the content assume that participants are healthcare professionals including physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, or physician assistants, who possess clinical experience in patient evaluation, differential diagnosis, and treatment.

Finishing IABLE’s Core Content of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine 2025 or 2026 is required to begin Deep Dive in April 2026.

Can I purchase Deep Dive without paying for Core Content?

We do not have separate pricing for people who have completed Core Content before 2025. Everyone who signs up for Deep Dive 2026-2028 will have ongoing access to all Core Content lectures for 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 which are updated annually. If you purchased Core Content 2025 or 2026 separately and have decided to enroll in Deep Dive 2026, we can credit your purchase of Core Content towards the cost of Deep Dive 2026.

How is Deep Dive structured?

Each participant should anticipate approximately 6 hours of learning each month, through a combination of small group work, independent learning activities, and large group webinar discussions with subject matter experts. The large group webinar discussions are scheduled for the 4th or last Wed evening of each month, 6:30-8:00pm CST, other than when there are holidays. Although live attendance will be strongly encouraged, the sessions will be recorded. The following is the list of dates for the group webinar discussions:

2026 – 4/26, 5/31, 6/28, 7/26, 8/30, 9/27, 10/25, 12/6
2027 – 1/31, 2/28, 3/28, 4/25, 5/30, 6/27, 7/25, 8/29, 9/26, 10/31, 12/5
2028 – 1/30, 2/27

What about clinical mentoring?

Participants of Deep Dive will be encouraged to simultaneously work with a mentor who is a Board-Certified (or Board-Eligible) Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine specialist, to gain clinical experience and fulfill the NABBLM mentoring requirements for board certification. NABBLM has not yet established their criteria for clinical mentoring.

Cost

The cost includes the 5-day Core Content Course via Webinar in January 2026, and access to Core Content 2025 eCourse for 3 years. Completion of Core Content is required for Deep Dive participation.

Payment for Deep Dive can be in 2 payments – $1800 for the first year, and the balance will be due March 1st, 2027. Early bird pricing is not applied to the payment plan options.

Registration will close at 11:59PM CST March 18th, 2026.
You must be logged in to receive the member discount.
Early bird pricing ends at midnight (CST,UTC,GMT-6) January 4th, 2026.

Cost: IABLE Premium Members
$3000 early bird/ $3500 regular
2-Payment Option – $2000 (early bird) or $2500 for Year 1
($1000 balance due March 1st 2026)

Cost: Non-Members
$3070 early bird/ $3570 regular
2-Payment Option –$2070 (early bird) or 2570 for Year 1
($1000 balance due March 1st 2026)

Membership

All participants will be granted an IABLE Premium Membership for the 2-year duration of Deep Dive. Information about our Premium Membership is here.

Scholarships

IABLE has a limited number of scholarships for health professional students in training, or for those who live and work in countries that qualify for equity pricing. If interested, please apply here.

Monthly Modules

Low Milk Production
Medical Breast Pathology
Surgical Breast Pathology
Infant Oromotor
Peripartum Management
Infant Growth
Research
Mental Health
Lactation Induction
Prematurity
Infant Illness
Hospitalization
Laws and Policies
Contraception and Fertility
Substance Use Disorder
Multiples/Overproduction
Milk Properties and Banking
Health Equity
Patient Education
Feeding Behavior/FPIAP
Maternal/Parental Health

This symposium is designed for health professionals who currently practice breastfeeding medicine, or who plan to in the future. Its learning format allows for in depth discussions among participants on innovative strategies to manage various complex breastfeeding medicine problems. We also build in social time to connect on a deeper level and form long lasting friendships. It really has been a blast!

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with our course registrations (if you’ve attended any of our events you’re already signed up)!

Registration is now open for the Sept 10-12th conference in Annapolis, Maryland!

These monthly webinars feature a presenter leading a case discussion on a breastfeeding medicine topic. This learning format allows participants to share their experiences and ideas on strategies to evaluate, diagnose, and /or manage various complex breastfeeding medicine problems. This case series is conducted at a physician/provider level and is suitable for anyone who works directly to support lactating dyads. Info/Registration

The Little Green Book of Breastfeeding Management for Physicians and Other Healthcare Providers, now in its 8th edition (2023), is a pocket-sized reference manual for the most commonly asked questions that breastfeeding families have throughout the course of lactation. The book covers a broad range of topics including components of breastmilk and prenatal support, optimal breastfeeding management early postpartum, followed by problems and special conditions encountered by most primary care providers who care for breastfeeding dyads. Order here.

IABLE publishes 2 podcasts each month, the LactFact podcast and the Breastfeeding Medicine Podcast. The LactFact podcast is a short summary of a recent policy statement or peer reviewed research that has an impact on best practices in the care of breastfeeding/lactating families.

The Breastfeeding Medicine podcast is longer and highlights recent and intriguing research about human milk and clinical lactation.

• Listen on our Website

• Listen/Subscribe on Spotify

• Listen on YouTube

• Please join our Breastfeeding Medicine Podcast facebook page to share comments and questions!

Why? See our membership page for all the benefits! The IABLE listserv is a one-of-a-kind resource. Experienced physicians, other providers, lactation consultants and others will help with questions or clinical cases. It is a marvelous way to learn from others from around the globe.