Lactation Counselor Training Course
Become a confident, knowledgeable lactation counsellor equipped to support families through every stage of the breastfeeding journey. This comprehensive training covers breast anatomy, milk supply management, infant feeding mechanics, and professional ethics. Whether you're entering the field or expanding your clinical skills, this course gives you the practical tools to make a real difference.
What you will learn:
This course takes you through the full scope of lactation counselling, from the biology of milk production and infant oral anatomy to hands-on latch correction and supply troubleshooting. You will learn to recognise and manage common complications such as mastitis, blocked ducts, and nipple pain, and to support special populations including preterm infants and mothers with medical conditions. The curriculum also covers motivational interviewing, culturally responsive communication, and professional ethics so you can conduct effective, client-centred consultations. You will gain practical knowledge of pumping strategies, workplace lactation programmes, and community outreach. By the end, you will be prepared to practise with clinical confidence and professional integrity.
How you study in practice Lactation Counselor Training Course
How you practise Lactation Counselor Training Course
For companies looking to train their teams
With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your company and its specific needs.
Course content
8 Chapters • 36 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)
Chapter 1HideHide detailsSee detailsFoundations of Lactation and Breastfeeding
Foundations of Lactation and Breastfeeding
Lesson 1 • Breast Anatomy and Physiology
Covers internal breast structures, glandular tissue, and ductal systems relevant to milk production. Establishes anatomical vocabulary used throughout the course.
Lesson 2 • Infant Feeding Norms and Patterns
Establishes normal newborn feeding frequency, duration, and hunger cues. Prepares counselors to distinguish normal variation from clinical concern.
Lesson 3 • Composition of Human Milk
Details macronutrients, bioactive components, and immunological factors in human milk. Provides evidence base for counseling on milk's superiority over substitutes.
Lesson 4 • Milk Synthesis and Secretion
Explains endocrine and autocrine control of milk synthesis, including prolactin and oxytocin roles. Connects hormonal mechanisms to practical feeding guidance.
Chapter 2HideHide detailsSee detailsInfant Oral Anatomy and Feeding Mechanics
Infant Oral Anatomy and Feeding Mechanics
Lesson 1 • Suckling Mechanics and Milk Transfer
Explains the suck-swallow-breathe cycle and intraoral pressure dynamics during breastfeeding. Links mechanics to observable feeding behaviours counselors assess.
Lesson 2 • Identifying Oral Anatomical Variations
Covers tongue-tie, lip-tie, high palate, and micrognathia and their impact on feeding. Prepares counsellors to recognise when referral to specialists is warranted.
Lesson 3 • Oral Structures Supporting Suckling
Reviews infant palate, tongue, jaw, and cheek anatomy as they relate to latch and suction. Grounds mechanical assessment in anatomical understanding.
Lesson 4 • Neurological Reflexes in Infant Feeding
Describes rooting, suckling, and swallowing reflexes and their developmental timeline. Connects reflex maturity to feeding readiness assessment.
Chapter 3HideHide detailsSee detailsLatch, Positioning, and Milk Transfer
Latch, Positioning, and Milk Transfer
Lesson 1 • Assessing Milk Transfer Clinically
Introduces pre- and post-feed weights, infant output tracking, and feeding observation tools. Connects assessment data to counselling decisions and referral thresholds.
Lesson 2 • Principles of Effective Latch
Defines deep latch criteria, asymmetric latch technique, and signs of adequate attachment. Provides the clinical standard against which all latch assessments are measured.
Lesson 3 • Correcting Common Latch Problems
Addresses nipple pain, clicking sounds, and breast refusal as symptoms of latch dysfunction. Provides step-by-step correction strategies counsellors can apply in sessions.
Lesson 4 • Breastfeeding Positions and Holds
Teaches cradle, cross-cradle, football, and laid-back positions with indications for each. Equips counsellors to match position to maternal and infant anatomy.
Chapter 4HideHide detailsSee detailsMilk Supply Management
Milk Supply Management
Lesson 1 • Establishing Supply in the Early Weeks
Covers skin-to-skin contact, early initiation, and frequent feeding as supply-building foundations. Establishes the critical window for supply programming in the first two weeks.
Lesson 2 • Pumping and Milk Expression
Covers manual expression, electric pump use, flange fitting, and storage guidelines. Prepares counsellors to support parents who rely on expressed milk.
Lesson 3 • Oversupply and Forceful Letdown
Identifies signs of hyperlactation and its impact on infant comfort and feeding behaviour. Teaches block feeding and positioning strategies to regulate excess supply.
Lesson 4 • Strategies to Increase Milk Supply
Reviews power pumping, breast compression, galactagogues, and demand-feeding protocols. Provides a tiered intervention framework from behavioural to pharmacological support.
Lesson 5 • Recognising Low Milk Supply
Distinguishes perceived from actual low supply using objective indicators and maternal history. Prevents unnecessary supplementation by accurate supply diagnosis.
Chapter 5HideHide detailsSee detailsCommon Breastfeeding Complications
Common Breastfeeding Complications
Lesson 1 • Nipple and Breast Pain Conditions
Covers sore nipples, nipple vasospasm, and Raynaud's phenomenon with differential diagnosis. Connects pain aetiology to targeted counselling and medical referral decisions.
Lesson 2 • Flat and Inverted Nipples
Assesses nipple protractility and its effect on infant latch and feeding success. Provides practical interventions to support effective attachment despite nipple variation.
Lesson 3 • Nipple and Breast Infections
Addresses bacterial and fungal nipple infections, including candidiasis, and their clinical presentation. Guides counsellors on when to recommend medical treatment while continuing breastfeeding.
Lesson 4 • Engorgement, Blocked Ducts, and Mastitis
Distinguishes physiological engorgement from pathological blocked ducts and mastitis. Provides management protocols from conservative measures to medical escalation.
Chapter 6HideHide detailsSee detailsSpecial Populations and Clinical Scenarios
Special Populations and Clinical Scenarios
Lesson 1 • Infant Medical Conditions Affecting Feeding
Covers hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycaemia, cleft palate, and Down syndrome as feeding challenges. Prepares counsellors to support breastfeeding within medically complex infant care plans.
Lesson 2 • Maternal Medical Conditions and Lactation
Reviews how diabetes, thyroid disorders, PCOS, and breast surgery affect milk supply and composition. Equips counsellors to set realistic expectations and coordinate with medical teams.
Lesson 3 • Breastfeeding Multiples
Addresses simultaneous and sequential feeding of twins and higher-order multiples. Provides supply management and scheduling strategies specific to multiple-infant families.
Lesson 4 • Breastfeeding the Preterm Infant
Covers kangaroo care, gavage feeding, and transitioning preterm infants to direct breastfeeding. Addresses the unique supply and transfer challenges in neonatal intensive care settings.
Lesson 5 • Medications and Substances During Lactation
Provides a framework for evaluating medication safety during breastfeeding using evidence-based resources. Counsellors learn to advise parents without overstepping prescribing boundaries.
Chapter 7HideHide detailsSee detailsLactation Counselling Skills and Communication
Lactation Counselling Skills and Communication
Lesson 1 • Culturally Responsive Lactation Support
Addresses cultural beliefs, family dynamics, and community norms that influence breastfeeding decisions. Prepares counsellors to provide respectful, individualised support across diverse populations.
Lesson 2 • Conducting a Lactation Consultation
Structures a complete consultation from intake through documentation and follow-up planning. Integrates clinical assessment with counselling skills into a coherent session format.
Lesson 3 • Motivational Interviewing in Lactation
Applies motivational interviewing principles to breastfeeding ambivalence and behaviour change. Teaches counsellors to elicit intrinsic motivation without coercion.
Lesson 4 • Client-Centred Counselling Framework
Introduces active listening, open-ended questioning, and reflective responses as core counselling tools. Establishes the relational foundation for all lactation support interactions.
Lesson 5 • Supporting Parental Mental Health
Identifies perinatal mood disorders, feeding-related grief, and breastfeeding trauma as counselling considerations. Teaches appropriate support boundaries and mental health referral pathways.
Chapter 8HideHide detailsSee detailsProfessional Practice and Ethics in Lactation
Professional Practice and Ethics in Lactation
Lesson 1 • Confidentiality and Documentation
Covers client privacy obligations, secure record-keeping, and appropriate information sharing. Ensures counsellors meet professional and regulatory documentation standards.
Lesson 2 • Continuing Education and Professional Growth
Outlines pathways for credential maintenance, advanced certification, and professional development. Motivates counsellors to pursue lifelong learning and contribute to the field.
Lesson 3 • Ethical Principles in Lactation Practice
Applies beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice to lactation counselling scenarios. Develops ethical reasoning skills for navigating complex client situations.
Lesson 4 • Evidence-Based Practice in Lactation
Teaches critical appraisal of lactation research, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines. Counsellors integrate current evidence into practice and communicate it to clients.
Lesson 5 • Scope of Practice and Professional Roles
Defines the lactation counsellor role relative to IBCLCs, nurses, and peer supporters. Clarifies boundaries that protect clients and maintain professional credibility.
Your valid completion certificate
This course is for you:
Doulas and birth workers: ready to add lactation support to their services.
Pediatric nurses: seeking deeper breastfeeding knowledge beyond basic clinical training.
New mothers: passionate about peer support after their own breastfeeding experiences.
Community health workers: serving underserved families who lack access to specialists.
Career changers: drawn to maternal and infant health from unrelated professional backgrounds.
Midwives: wanting structured lactation credentials to complement their existing scope.
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