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EP03: Mammary Magnificence: Breast Development

Breast development and lactation: understanding postnatal breast growth, puberty changes, and preparation for breastfeeding

Explore breast development from embryology from embryology through pregnancy, lactation, involution and menopause, with a focus on anatomy, physiology, growth, and hormonal influences to support informed, evidence‑based breastfeeding care.

Course Learning Outcomes

Critically analyse breast structure and function across the lifespan to inform evidence-based clinical assessment and lactation management decisions.
Critically analyse factors influencing breast development across the lifespan to inform evidence-based clinical assessment and lactation management.
Critically evaluate endocrine regulation of lactation to analyse hormonal mechanisms underpinning breastfeeding physiology and clinical presentations.
Critically evaluate evidence-based protocols for induced lactation and relactation to develop individualised management strategies for diverse clinical contexts.
Critically compare pharmacological and physiological lactation suppression methods to inform evidence-based clinical recommendations and risk-benefit counseling.

IBLCE® Detailed Content Outline

Every module maps directly to the IBLCE® Detailed Content Outline, building your knowledge progressively from foundational science through to clinical application.

This course covers the following IBLCE® DCO items. The applicable Lactation (L), Ethics (E) and Related (R) hours are shown against each heading.

A. Infant

B. Maternal

A. Infant

1. Feeding behaviours at different ages

2. Food intolerances/allergies

3. Infant anatomy and anatomical/oral challenges

4. WHO guidelines for introducing complementary foods

5. Low birth weight and very low birth weight

6. Milk banking - formal and informal

7. Normal infant behaviours

8. Nutritional requirements - including preterm

9. Preterm development, growth, and behaviours (including late preterm)

10. Skin tone, muscle tone, reflexes

11. Term development and growth

12. WHO growth charts with gestational age adjustment

13. Stooling and voiding

B. Maternal

1. Breast development and growth (typical and atypical)

2. Breast surgery

3. Composition of human milk

4. Maternal anatomical challenges

5. Maternal nutritional status

6. Nipple structure and variations

7. Nipple modifications (e.g., piercings, tattoos)

A. Physiology of Lactation

B. Endocrinology

A. Physiology of Lactation

1. Relactation

2. Infertility issues

3. Inducing lactation

4. Pregnancy and breastfeeding - tandem

5. Multiples (e.g., twins, triplets)

B. Endocrinology

1. Hormonal influence of milk production

2. Diabetes

3. Maternal hormonal disorders (e.g., pituitary, thyroid, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

4. Maternal autoimmune disorders

5. Newborn hypoglycemia

A. Infant

B. Maternal

A. Infant

1. Ankyloglossia

2. Cleft lip and palate

3. Congenital anomalies (e.g., gastrointestinal, cardiac)

4. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), reflux

5. Hyperbilirubinemia

6. Infant neurological disabilities

7. Small for Gestational Age (SGA), Large for Gestational Age (LGA)

8. Infant acute disease (e.g., infectious, cardiac, metabolic)

9. Vertically transmitted infections (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis B)

10. Esophageal atresia

11. Inborn error of metabolism

12. Infant cancer

13. Infant GI anomalies

B. Maternal

1. Abscess

2. Milk ejection reflex dysfunction

3. Maternal acute disease (e.g., infectious, cardiac, metabolic)

4. Maternal chronic disease

5. Maternal disability (physical and neurological)

6. Mastitis

7. Milk supply, low or over

8. Nipple and breast conditions

9. Nipple pain and trauma

10. Post-partum hemorrhage

11. Pre-eclampsia / pregnancy induced hypertension

12. Maternal cancer

1. Alcohol

2. Nicotine and tobacco

3. Cannabis

4. Medications (e.g., prescriptions, over-the-counter, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, aids to labor and delivery)

5. Drugs of abuse

6. Contraception

7. Galactagogues

8. Gel dressings/nipple creams

9. Herbs and supplements

10. Chemotherapy/radiation therapy/radioactive scans

1. Transition to parenthood

2. Birth practices

3. Foods to eat/avoid that influence lactation

4. Employment - beginning or returning to work

5. Family lifestyle

6. Identifying support networks

7. Maternal mental health

8. Maternal psychological/cognitive issues

9. Breastfeeding dyad relationship

10. Safe sleep

11. Weaning

12. Cultural awareness

Course Content

Welcome