The Association of Lactation Consultants of Ireland is delighted to announce that its’ Annual All Ireland Conference will take place this year on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th September at the beautiful Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa in Limerick. The date, as usual, coincides with National Breastfeeding Week and this years’ keynote speaker is renowned international speaker and author Lisa Marasco, IBCLC. Booking is available here and the timetable is here.
Lisa has been working with breastfeeding mothers for over 30 years and has been an IBCLC since 1993. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development with specialisation in Lactation and was designated a Fellow of ILCA in 2009. Her thesis on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Breastfeeding was the first to investigate infertility-related causes of low milk production. Lisa is a co-author of The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk, a contributing author to The Core Curriculum for Lactation Consultants, and a new Cochrane Collaborative author. She lives in Santa Maria, California, and works as an IBCLC for the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, while she continues to research, write and speak. In addition, Lisa is an Associate Area Professional Liaison La Leche league of California/Nevada, and serves on the Breastfeeding Coalition of Santa Barbara County. Topics that Lisa will be speaking on at the ALCI conference include hormonal imbalances and milk supply, the Cochrane review on galactagoges, ‘The Milk Making Factory’, and how to know when things are heading south.
Other speakers at the conference will include Nicola O’Byrne IBCLC, Margaret Murphy IBCLC, UMHL Clinical Skills Facilitator Cliodhna O’Sullivan and Coombe Hospital IBCLCs Mary Toole and Meena Purushothaman. Friday afternoon will be taken up with valuable workshops; Lisa Marasco IBCLC will facilitate a workshop on lesser known ideas for increasing milk supply, Sue Jameson IBCLC will present a workshop on Private Practice and Avoiding the Pitfalls and Caoimhe Whelan IBCLC will shed light on becoming an IBCLC from a non-medical background.
Handouts, lunch and refreshments are included in the registration fee and delegates will be entitled to a 15% discount on treatments at the hotel spa. The prices are €160 for ALCI members (for both days) or €120 (for one day) and €210 for non-members (for both days) and €170 for non-members (for one day). Full-time undergraduate students, in relevant professions, may register for a fee of €40 per day. 6.25 L CERPs and 4.25 E CERPs have been awarded. NMBI CMUs have been applied for.
As part of the conference, two Annual Scholarships will be awarded to help first-time IBLCE candidates. Here is the ALCI Scholarship Application. Conference participants are invited to submit research and practice posters for display, discussion, and awards. Here is the ALCI Poster Application 2017.
With 8 plenary presentations, 3 workshops and a few surprise ‘nuggets’ over the 2 days, plus research posters, networking, new product information, craft stalls (artist Marta O’Leary, Seoidin Jewellery, Bia Beauty Skincare products and Hancock Glass Breast Bowls) and much more, the ALCI Annual Conference is the premier event for health workers and volunteers involved in assisting breastfeeding families in Ireland.
