The annual conference of the Association of Lactation Consultants of Ireland is on Friday 28thand Saturday 29th September at the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. The date, as usual, coincides with National Breastfeeding Week and this year’s keynote speaker is renowned international speaker and author Cathy Carothers, IBCLC. Booking is available here and the timetable is here.
Cathy is co-director of EVERY MOTHER, INC, past President of the International Lactation Consultant Association, and Chair- Elect of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. An experienced trainer and speaker, she has provided training programs in every U.S. State and Territory, and several foreign countries. She is a Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association, and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1996. She is the mother of 5 breastfed children.
Other speakers at the conference on Friday will include an acupuncturist and North Dublin Public Health Nurses. There will be workshops on topics such as dealing with non-latching babies, structural issues and breastfeeding, difficult emotions in private practice, counselling and nipple trauma. On Saturday, there is another full line-up including breastfeeding and bereavement and perinatal mental health.
Lunch and refreshments are included in the registration fee. The prices are €170 for ALCI members (for both days) or €130 (for one day) and €220 for non-members (for both days) and €180 for non-members (for one day). Full-time undergraduate students, in relevant professions, may register for a fee of €60 per day. 9.75 IBLCE CERPs and NMBI CMUs have been awarded.
As part of the conference, two Annual Scholarships will be awarded to help first-time IBLCE candidates. This year for the first time, ALCI are offering a third scholarship for a member who is re-certifying. The application is here: ALCI Scholarship Application 18.
Conference participants are invited to submit research and practice posters for display, discussion, and awards. The application is here: ALCI Poster Application 2018.
With 8 plenary presentations, 4 workshops and a few surprise ‘nuggets’ over the 2 days, plus research posters, networking, new product information, craft stalls and much more, the ALCI Annual Conference is the premier event for health workers and volunteers involved in assisting breastfeeding families in Ireland.