Learning Outcomes: 

After completion of course participants will be able to- 

• Examine the importance of breastfeeding as a reduction in total costs of healthcare as implicated by improved maternal health outcomes, immunologic and developmental benefits for infants as well as the social and economic benefits for families and society.
• Compare the percentages of breastfeeding rates across different years and review trends and goals as identified by Healthy People 2020 influencing changes in breastfeeding practices.
• Examine the benefit of interdisciplinary roles including occupational and speech therapy involved in supporting breastfeeding, emphasizing collaborative care across healthcare professions.
• Point out the red flags and treatment options for breastfeeding dyads including adequate intake as evidenced by bowel output, and signs and symptoms of low blood sugar amongst other concerns so that the OT/SLP practitioner can determine when a dyad should be referred for additional or emergent care.
• Defend the use of frenotomy for success of breastfeeding through the examination of case studies so that the OT/SLP practitioner may select and justify appropriate treatment recommendations for the dyad.

Meet Our Presenter:

Anna Giannobile Dearman, MBA, MOT, LOTR, CLC attended Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and graduated in 2012 with a Master of Occupational Therapy. Anna is a Feed the Peds and TOTs trained therapist. She also holds the Tethered Oral Tissues and Therapeutic Bottle Feeding Badges offered by the Lactation OT. She’s taken additional coursework through Beames CST. She is a Certified Lactation Counselor and is a candidate to sit for the IBCLC exam. She has her own private practice, Prosper Therapy and Feeding Solutions, located in Monroe, LA, that services northeast and central Louisiana. She has provided successful feeding therapy intervention to hundreds of families in her area.