20 Hour Breast/Chestfeeding Course: Foundational Concepts

This comprehensive, interactive online course provides the latest evidence-based foundational concepts in breastfeeding and lactation. It is designed for students seeking to enhance their understanding of the basics of lactation and to effectively support breastfeeding families throughout their feeding journey. The course fulfills the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of a minimum of 20 hours of lactation-specific education and equips participants with practical skills to help families achieve their feeding goals. Grounded in the Baby-Friendly Initiative, the curriculum integrates a Family-Centered Care approach and applies a Trauma-Informed lens across all modules.

This course is primarily self-paced. Students will have up to one month to complete it, though it can be finished in as little as two to three days (approximately 20 hours).

Students will have continuous access to their dedicated Registered Nurse (RN) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) instructor and will benefit from an interactive learning experience that includes:

• A 3-hour instructor-led live online collaborative session featuring interactive case studies and guided learning
• An additional 3-hour live online presentation session where learners present on common breastfeeding tools and techniques with instructor feedback and discussion
• 18 PowerPoint presentation modules with supplementary materials available for print or download
• Discussion forums, activities, and quizzes designed to help students apply their knowledge throughout the course
• Access to the IBCLC instructor via email for the duration of the month and at live online sessions. Students can also arrange a meeting with the instructor during the month they are registered to review material that they would like more explanation on.

Upon successful completion, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Douglas College Continuing Education Department.

Course objectives/learning outcomes

At the end of the course, successful learners will be able to:

• Provide support to families through their breastfeeding journey, including acute or chronic issues
• Identify ways to promote, protect and support breastfeeding
• Understand the importance of breastfeeding
• Understand the anatomy and physiology involved in lactation
• Assess breastfeeding position & latch.
• Utilize effective breastfeeding & lactation techniques, assessment and breastfeeding counseling skills
• Support and assess milk production: expectations and challenges
• Review childhood development as it relates to lactation
• Utilize cultural and gender appropriate family-centered-care principles
• Use evidence-informed practice to manage acute and chronic breastfeeding challenges
• Understand scope of practice, when to refer, and collaboration with other health/other care providers
• Aware of local community resources including clinical support as well as other health equity support
  Establish breastfeeding as a cultural norm and utilize the revised Baby Friendly Initiative’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
• Discuss health implications of prescribed medications and recreational substances on breastmilk/breastfeeding; apply harm reduction principles as applicable.

Course content

• Historical overview of breastfeeding
• Importance of breastfeeding, properties of human milk and the influence on infant development including the implications of not breastfeeding
• Anatomy and physiology of the breast and milk production
• Influence of pregnancy, labour and birth on early establishment of breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding positions including latch theory and practice
• Breastfeeding challenges: early, acute and chronic
• Relational practice and counselling techniques for breastfeeding vulnerable groups such as Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ2+, New Canadians and Refugees.
• Examining practice with the Baby Friendly Initiative including the newly revised Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
• Protection, promotion and support of ALL breastfeeding mothers

Meet the Instructor

Harpreet (Harp) Dhatt is a Registered Nurse (RN) and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with nearly 15 years of experience in maternal-newborn and lactation care. She holds a Master Degree with a focus on Healthcare Leadership and is deeply committed to lifelong learning and professional growth.

Throughout her career, Harp has supported families across diverse maternal and newborn settings—including hospitals, clinics, and home environments—gaining valuable insight into both well-resourced communities and those where lactation support is limited. Her passion for the social determinants of health and their impact on breast/chestfeeding continues to guide her practice and advocacy. In her current role, she supports regional initiatives within the health authority by providing lactation education to healthcare providers, contributing to policy development and updates, and creating accessible resources for patients and families.

As an educator, Harp’s teaching philosophy emphasizes a student-centered and reflective approach. She strives to empower future healthcare professionals to provide skilled, confident, and compassionate lactation support. Outside of her professional life, Harp enjoys traveling, exploring new food, and spending quality time with loved ones.

*No prerequisites

Technical Requirements for Success - important information

We strongly encourage registrants to attend the live sessions.

Please note that Live Session 2 Presentation Day will be recorded for any registrants that really cannot attend. An alternative method for submitting the presentation can be arranged in consultation with the instructor.