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Breastfeeding Support Consultants
Center for Lactation Education


BSC's Short Study Lactation Courses


Clinical Short Subjects

BSC’s Clinical Short Subjects are a series of short-answer questions which target information the clinician needs to know about the subject. The questions originated in the text, Clinical Experience in Lactation: A Blueprint for Internship, by Linda Kutner and Jan Barger and are used with their permission.

Simply indicate on the order form the subjects you wish from the Short Subject Menu. You will receive your questions by e-mail. E-mail your answers to BSC, receive at least 70%, and receive CERPs for those you pass. It’s as easy as that!

The following texts will assist you in answering the questions:
  • Counseling the Nursing Mother, Lauwers and Shinskie, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2000.
  • Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, Riordan and Auerbach, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 1999.
  • Breastfeeding: A guide to the medical profession, Lawrence and Lawrence, Mosby, 1999.
Short Subject Menu

  • 800 Adolescent mothers ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 801 Ankyloglossia ► 1 L-CERP
  • 802 Biting ► 1 L-CERP
  • 803 Bottles and nipples ► 1 L-CERP
  • 804 Breast surgery ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 805 Breastfeeding positions ► 1 L-CERP
  • 806 Cleft lip and palate ► 1 L-CERP
  • 807 Colicky, fussy infant ► 1 L-CERP
  • 808 Cup, spoon and tube feeding ► 1 L-CERP
  • 809 Dehydration in the infant ► 1 L-CERP
  • 810 Down syndrome ► 1 L-CERP
  • 811 Engorgement ► 1 L-CERP
  • 812 Finger feeding ► 1 L-CERP
  • 813 Flat or inverted nipples ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 814 Food intolerance ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 815 Fractured clavicle ► 1 L-CERP
  • 816 Hyperbilirubinemia ► 1 L-CERP
  • 817 Hypertonia ► 1 L-CERP
  • 818 Hypotonia ► 1 L-CERP
  • 819 Induced lactation ► 1 L-CERP
  • 820 Lactose overload ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 821 Latch-on problems ► 1 L-CERP
  • 822 Mastitis ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 823 Maternal medications ► 1 L-CERP
  • 824 Nipple shields ► 1 L-CERP
  • 825 Nursing multiples ► 1 L-CERP
  • 826 Oversupply ► 1 L-CERP
  • 827 Plugged ducts ► 1 L-CERP
  • 828 Poor weight gain and FTT ► 1 L-CERP
  • 829 Postpartum depression ► 1 L-CERP
  • 830 Premature infant ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 831 Relactation ► 1 L-CERP
  • 832 Sleepy infant ► 1 L-CERP
  • 833 Slow weight gain ► 1 L-CERP
  • 834 Sore nipples ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 835 Sucking problems ► 1 L-CERP
  • 836 Weaning ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 837 Working mothers ► 2 L-CERPs
  • 838 Yeast infection / thrush ► 2 L-CERP

  • To order your own Short Subjects, simply:
    • Cut and paste the titles into a return e-mail
    • Insert your VISA or MasterCard number and expiration date for payment of $20 per CERP
    • Click “Send” to e-mail your order to BSC
    • You will receive your questions by return e-mail
    • E-mail your answers to BSC, receive at least 70%, and we will e-mail your CERPs to you.
      It’s that easy!


      Course 914:  Blueprints Didactic Course

      The Blueprints Didactic Course will help you gain in-depth knowledge of maternal and infant conditions that impact lactation. You will engage in exercises regarding 44 separate conditions. Topics for the Clinical Short Subjects were taken from this text.

      Required Text
      The course utilizes the text, Clinical Experience in Lactation: A Blueprint for Internship. The text is available for purchase from the BSC business office. This revolutionary resource identifies all the basic essential areas of experience the lactation consultant needs. Course assignments will utilize the data sheets that accompany each maternal and infant condition in the text.

      Guided by an IBCLC
      The Blueprints Didactic Course provides personalized guidance by a BSC instructor with over ten years of experience as an IBCLC. As you complete the maternal and infant didactic exercises in the text, your work will be reviewed and you will receive feedback and advice from your instructor.

      The Course in a Nutshell
      The Blueprints Didactic Course consists of 20 maternal conditions and 24 infant conditions. The conditions are grouped conveniently into four separate units. The course provides 76.8 CEUs/L-CERPs.

      Maternal Unit One / 16 Hours
      • Flat nipples
      • Yeast
      • Mastitis
      • Plugged ducts
      • Sore nipples
      • Inverted nipples
      • Engorgement
      • Breast augmentation
      • Breast reduction surgery
      • Oversupply

      Maternal Unit Two / 16 Hours
      • Returning to work
      • Relactation
      • Induced lactation
      • Nursing multiples
      • Immediate weaning
      • Postpartum depression
      • Teen mothers
      • Weaning at under six months
      • Weaning an older infant
      • Medications
      Infant Unit One / 16 Hours
      • Ankyloglossia
      • Cleft lip and/or palate
      • Down syndrome
      • Fractured clavicle
      • Increased body tone
      • Biting
      • Hyperbilirubinemia
      • Low body tone
      • Sleepy infant
      • Suckling problems
      • Alternative feeding methods
      Infant Unit Two / 16 Hours
      • Colicky/fussy/high need
      • Dehydration
      • Poor weight gain/ FTT
      • Latch-on problems
      • Preterm infants
      • Slow weight gain
      • Lactose overload
      • Food intolerance
      • Cradle hold
      • Transverse hold
      • Clutch (football) hold
      • Lying down
      • Positioning for multiples
      1998 Tuition and Fees
      Course 914 Blueprints Didactic Course $810
      Clinical Experience in Lactation $58 BR>
      To enroll: Click here Application


      "Mini" Courses Focus on Specific Areas
      Courses 931 to 940
      These courses require reading from the most recent editions of the texts below. Students in any of the mini courses pay a one-time $35 application fee in addition to the stated tuition. Select topic areas in which you need to brush up. You will receive personalized feedback from one of BSC's experienced instructors.
      • Lauwers, Judith and Debbie Shinskie, Counseling the Nursing Mother: A Lactation Consultant's Guide, Boston, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2000.
      • Lawrence, Ruth: Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession, St. Louis, C.V. Mosby, 1999.
      • Riordan, Jan and Kathleen Auerbach. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, Boston, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 1999.

      931 Management of Breastfeeding
      You will review the historical aspect of practices that have evolved into modern breastfeeding management. You will learn elements of breastfeeding assessments and documentation, as well as appropriate management strategies. Hospital practices that can interfere with breastfeeding will be viewed from the perspective of making necessary changes. You will study establishment and maintenance of milk production and ways to help the mother identify if she needs to institute measures to increase production. Finally, you will study the various problems that may arise in the early days and weeks of breastfeeding, with an eye toward symptoms, causes, consequences, and treatment. 20 Contact Hours/24 L-CERPs. Tuition $220.

      932 Mechanics of Breastfeeding
      You will examine the anatomy and pysiology of lactation, including the role of hormones. You will learn the significance of positioning and latch-on in breastfeeding management, as well as the role of the milk ejection reflex. You will study anatomical issues such as nipple type and other factors that can impact breastmilk production. You will study the manner in which the baby suckles at the breast, as well as what to do for infants who have sucking problems. And you will gain an understanding of milk synthesis and secretion at various levels of lactation. 15 Contact Hours/18 L-CERPs. Tuition $180.

      933 Special Breastfeeding Mothers and Infants
      You will study some of the special circumstances involving both breastfeeding mothers and their infants. This includes learning how to assist mothers of preterm infants and other infants with special needs. You will study the various maternal infectious diseases, as well as chronic conditions in both the infant and mother, and which conditions contraindicate breastfeeding. You will learn how to advise mothers about breastfeeding when either the mother or baby are ill. And, you will address ways to support working mothers, mothers of multiples, and adolescent mothers with breastfeeding management. 20 Contact Hours/24 L-CERPs. Tuition $220.

      934 Infant Assessment and Behavior
      You will gain an understanding of what is required for an infant assessment as well as ways to address various infant conditions. You will study the causes and treatment for low weight gain, failure to thrive, and dehydration in infants. You will learn to distinguish between the four types of jaundice and which type is an issue for breastfeeding. You will identify growth and developmental issues in toddlers. You will study crying, sleep, and weight gain, as well as other developmental factors, behavior, and cues as they relate to breastfeeding. And, you will review the appropriate method of introducing solid foods into the infant's diet and ways to identify food intolerance in infants and assist mother's in finding solutions. 20 Contact Hours/24 L-CERPs. Tuition $220.

      935 Scientific Aspects of Human Milk
      You will study the major components of human milk and the ways in which human milk protects the infant against allergies and diseases. You will address the role of the lactation consultant in counseling mothers about drugs and other contaminants in human milk. And, you will learn the differences between human milk and artificial baby milk, as well as the hazards of feeding babies artificial baby milk rather than human milk. 20 Contact Hours/24 L-CERPs. Tuition $220.

      936 Breastfeeding Devices and Feeding Alternatives
      You will study the various devices used in the lactation field for assisting mothers with breastfeeding. You will learn the appropriate use of breast pumps and other breastfeeding items. You will study the parameters for the use of donor human milk for babies. You will address counseling techniques to use with mothers who wish to induce lactation. And, you will learn how to employ the various alternative feeding methods appropriately. 10 Contact Hours/12 L-CERPs. Tuition $110.

      937 Communication and Counseling Skills
      You will study your role in helping mothers with breastfeeding. You will learn effective counseling and adult learning techniques for use in consultations, including how to ssist women in making informed decisions. You will learn how to counsel breastfeeding women on dietary and exercise matters, as well as contraception, as they pertain to lactation. You will learn how to provide appropriate teaching and advice to pregnant and breastfeeding women. You will study parenting and family issues, as well as variations due to culture and economics. You will cover issues from postpartum depression through weaning, and how to counsel mothers in these instances. And, you will address your role with mother-to-mother support groups and referring mothers to them. 20 Contact Hours/24 L-CERPs. Tuition $220.

      940 IBCLC Ethics and the Law
      NEW!! Learn professional responsibilities regarding informed consent. Study the profession’s standards of practice and code of ethics. Review elements of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and its subsequent WHA resolutions. Learn how to minimize exposure to litigation and how to integrate professional ethics into practice. 12 Contact Hours/14.4 L-CERPs. Tuition $120.


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