UMMC Grin Big Project

NICU Lactation Champion Training and Resources
Let’s GRIN BIG for babies!

Join our team – we need your help! ⬇

IABLE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to optimize the promotion and support of breastfeeding for families in the outpatient sector. IABLE is dedicated to building Breastfeeding Knowledgeable and Supportive Medical Systems and Communities through:

Education of medical staff, providers, and other outpatient community breastfeeding supporters
Guidance in the development and sustainment of breastfeeding support networks within medical systems
Collaboration of breastfeeding support between hospitals, outpatient medical systems and community institutions for collective impact
Provision of educational resources for breastfeeding educators, such as sharing of educational materials, creation of audiovisual media, and tools for community supporters that promote consistent, evidence-based support of breastfeeding dyads

You can watch the full video with more details by clicking here!

Become a NICU Lactation Champion and immerse yourself in a lactation program specifically designed for babies in the ICU. As a healthcare professional who cares for babies and their families, you can become a knowledgeable and trusted lactation resource that will improve outcomes for tiny humans. Help families provide their babies with the best medicine nature provides.

What is a Lactation Champion?

A core group of trained and certified NICU professionals (Health care professionals including nurses, registered dieticians, therapists, etc) knowledgeable and competent in providing basic lactation support for NICU families
Complete a specialized training specific to preterm and ill infants in the ICU
Training includes breast anatomy, the unique physiology of secretory activation, human milk health benefits, manual expression and breast pump techniques, and methods for human milk expression including establishment and maintenance of human milk volumes
The training and certification: A 5.5-hour didactic asynchronous e-course accessed via Lactation Champion website
This Lactation Champion website with resources, links to handouts for families, and videos (below)
Pre- and post-test
2-hour in-person training (pump use, breast steps, latching, questions)
Skills check-off competency evaluation
Lactation Champion encounter within EPIC (standardized note, dot phrase)
Lactation Champion lapel pins that can be worn on badges to recognize expertise in lactation
NICU Lactation Champions Graduation Ceremony!
A gift of appreciation

Register for the specialized NICU Lactation Champion Training

Take the Basics of Breastfeeding Support for the NICU or PICU Dyad eCourse by registering HERE.

Contact us

Are you a healthcare professional who wants to learn more about how to optimize milk production and care for families on their breastfeeding journey? Are you from another department or institution? Please reach out here! We would love for you to join the course. Let’s all work together to improve the health of Mississippi babies!