Presentation Information

Trauma-Informed Lactation Care: Principles to Foster Safety and Reduce Harm

• Speaker: Catharine McDonald , MS, NCC, LPC, PMH-C
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits:

Abstract:

Trauma-informed care strategies are shifting the lens in many areas of health care, driven by the realization that trauma is common, enduring, and manifests in a variety of ways. Moreover, trauma responses can and do occur in both health care professionals and their clients. Lactation specialists should be aware of and sensitive to the many ways trauma may manifest to avoid perpetuating harm and optimize care of self. In this presentation, established trauma-informed principles will be applied to the field of lactation care.

Attention will be paid to sources of trauma that may impact human milk feeding, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intergenerational trauma, sexual assault, and birth or NICU trauma. Participants will gain an understanding of foundational principles of trauma-informed care that can be translated to a variety of practice settings. Lactational professionals will come away from this presentation with enhanced awareness about the impact of trauma and concrete strategies to foster safety for both their clients and themselves.