Advanced Lactation Program · Online
Advanced Lactation Program: Clinical Skills & Private Practice Tools. An intensive online program with self-paced learning and one-on-one mentoring, where you will gain all the clinical skills and knowledge you need to provide excellent care to your patients and to level-up your lactation practice.
An intensive online program with self-paced learning and one-on-one mentoring, where you’ll gain the clinical skills and knowledge to provide excellent care to your patients and level-up your lactation practice.
IBLCE CERP Preferred Provider™
60 CERPs earned
IBLCE-approved
CERPs
Clinical Modules
Hours of Continuing Education
One Bonus Business Module
About the program
As a doctor with knowledge of breastfeeding, Paola always assumed she’d be well-prepared to breastfeed her baby when the time came. However, she encountered unexpected challenges that made breastfeeding more complex than she had anticipated. Despite seeking help from various health professionals, she ultimately had to independently research and address her breastfeeding difficulties. With unwavering support from her husband and access to different resources, she was able to successfully overcome her obstacles.
As a doctor with knowledge of breastfeeding, Paola always assumed she’d be well-prepared to breastfeed her baby when the time came. However, she encountered unexpected challenges that made breastfeeding more complex than she had anticipated.
With unwavering support from her husband and access to different resources, she was able to successfully overcome her obstacles — and it led her to recognize the vital role of lactation specialists in maternal and child health care.
As much as she loves one-on-one mentoring, Paola’s availability became very limited for one-on-one clinical mentoring. Despite this limitation, she still really wanted to help more people who needed her advice.
She saw that teaching other healthcare workers about breastfeeding would have a greater impact, so she became an IBCLC mentor to help others become lactation consultants, and has mentored students for years.
As much as she loves one-on-one mentoring, Paola’s availability became very limited. So she created this mentorship program — equipping professionals with advanced clinical skills and the tools for running a successful private practice.
So she decided to create this amazing mentorship program, offering professionals not just advanced clinical skills, but also equipping them with the necessary tools for running a successful private practice. This program empowers lactation consultants to excel not only in their careers but also as savvy business owners.
It’s one thing to find educational training but a completely different story when you actually start seeing patients on your own and you face the challenges of a private practice! Charting, insurance, creating treatment plans, time management, balancing work and family life, and spending thousands of dollars in continuing education to keep up with all the changes in the lactation world.
“It’s one thing to find educational training but a completely different story when you actually start seeing patients on your own and face the challenges of a private practice.”
This experience led Paola to recognize the vital role of lactation specialists in maternal and child health care. Consequently, she undertook training to become a lactation specialist herself, identifying the need for improved education and updated practices within the field. She saw that teaching other healthcare workers about breastfeeding would have a greater impact. She then became an IBCLC mentor to help others become lactation consultants and she has been a mentor for years now.
Her training program emphasizes essential subjects to fully equip specialists in this rewarding profession. This program will help you support patients individually, lead breastfeeding groups, and teach breastfeeding classes. Plus, you can complete the lessons online whenever you want, at your own speed!
Provide top-notch care that makes you the lactation consultant everyone recommends
Start your private practice or level up your existing business
Have more clarity and confidence when providing care
Take bigger leaps and achieve your goals this year
… then perhaps this is your sign to take that next step.
Content outline
Weight gain of the breastfed baby, how to interpret growth charts
Early supplementation and low milk supply. Investigating low milk supply. Syndrome of decreasing milk supply
Supplementation. Assisted nursing. Bottle-feeding skills.
Optimizing Pumping: breast pumps, pump settings, flange fitting, creating pumping plans
Infant oral anatomy and diagnostic skills for tongue-ties and oral dysfunction
Oral habilitation and bodywork as part of the lactation care plan: when and how to incorporate it to our treatment plan
Optimal Timing for Frenectomies: How to create a treatment plan for tongue-tied babies & how to provide adequate lactation support pre and post frenectomy
Bottle refusal and non-latching babies. Working with fussy babies. Oral aversion.
Clinical Management of Breast Pain: engorgement, oversupply, ductal narrowing and mastitis spectrum.
Clinical Management of Nipple Pain: how to investigate the causes and how to treat it. Nipple healing. How to adapt the care plan to the parent’s goals and tolerance
Naturopathic Approaches to Mastitis
Therapeutic Breast Massage
Therapeutic Ultrasound for Clogged Ducts
Weaning: from the theory to the practice: different approaches and how to create plans
Starting Solids: how to educate and guide parents on balancing breastfeeding, supplementation and solid meals; meal balancing and meal planning
Sleep & Well-being in the breastfeeding dyad: normal infant sleep, parent expectations and how sleep consultants can support families as a whole with a holistic approach
Creating Individualized Lactation Care Plans
Strategies to Provide Virtual Support
Home Visits: everything you need to know to provide high-quality at-home support
In-Clinic Consultations: office setup and logistics
Charting templates for initial and follow-up consultations, consent forms, strategies to collect payments and using the right software
Insurance
Words Matter: The Power of Inclusive and Expansive Language in Supporting Lactating Parents
Business Coaching: goal mapping, accountability and building a team
Me.E.O. – Be the CEO of Your Life! – By Carla Catherwood
Finances: service fees, setting financial goals, income planning and money management
Marketing: ads and strategies to bring more leads
Selling Online Courses
Teaching Group Classes
Managing Support Groups
Leadership
Mentoring: how to become a mentor, how to build a mentorship plan, contract template and tips on how to run your programs
Tap any module to see what’s covered.
Every lecture is approved for individual Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
What you will get
This course covers more than half of the required training for the IBCLC exam, and these hours count for the exam. It awards 60 CERPs (Continuing Education Recognition Points) approved by IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners).
Get access to a private community of healthcare professionals where you share resources and experiences with each other. Connect with your mentor and fellow students through a private group to share your progress, stay accountable, network and find ongoing inspiration.
Access to the recorded lessons for 6 months so you can re-watch as needed and take your time learning at your own pace! Plus, you will get additional conferences with guest speakers.
Earn a certificate of completion with 60 CERPs approved by IBLCE — apply the 60+ hours toward the IBCLC exam’s 95-hour requirement, or use the CERPs toward your recertification.
Paola is fluent in English and Spanish; all educational sessions and support in this program will be provided fully in English. Additional one-on-one mentoring is available separately in both languages according to the mentee’s preference.
This program is designed with 6 weekly modules to ensure a structured learning experience. With a generous 6 months of access, you have the flexibility to watch the lessons at a pace that suits you best. Most students find themselves completing the program comfortably within 2-3 months’ time.
The transformation
Treat patients with confidence
Create life-changing lactation care plans for your patients
Be a reliable resource for your patients and other lactation consultants
Educate patients with a wealth of knowledge
Be recognized in your field as a tongue-tie savvy practitioner
Be ready to launch or level-up your private practice toward financial independence
Be fully equipped to switch from one-time consultations to offering life-changing extended follow up for long-time patients that you will guide from pregnancy to weaning.
Be ready to launch your private practice or to level-up your existing business so you can reach financial independence
About your mentor
Physician · IBCLC · Lactation Mentor
IBLCE CERP Preferred Provider™
Paola is an Internationally Educated Physician, specializing in Breastfeeding & Lactation Medicine, currently enrolled in the LILAC Fellowship (Lessons in Lactation Advanced Curriculum), a highly regarded two-year advanced fellowship in Breastfeeding & Lactation Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, USA.
She’s also a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, the gold standard certification for health professionals working with breastfeeding families. She holds a Diploma in Pediatric Nutrition and a Diploma in Perinatal & Pediatric Clinical Nutrition. She’s consistently expanding her expertise through ongoing continuing education.
She’s a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant — the gold standard certification for professionals working with breastfeeding families — and holds diplomas in Pediatric and Perinatal Clinical Nutrition.
She’s also certified as a Sleep & Wellbeing Specialist and a Baby-Led Weaning Educator, with additional training in Pumping & Feeding Gear, Infant Craniosacral Therapy, and Oral Habilitation.
She’s also certified as a Sleep & Wellbeing Specialist, and a Baby-Led Weaning Educator. She has additional training in Pumping & Feeding Gear, Infant Craniosacral Therapy and Oral Habilitation. She also possesses extensive clinical experience in assessing Oral Ties and Dysfunction.
She’s been an IBCLC mentor for many years, thoughtfully guiding students toward IBCLC certification and supporting their clinical and professional growth, with more than 25 graduated and currently active mentees so far.
In her practice, she collaborates closely with pediatricians, pediatric dentists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, osteopaths and healthcare providers from many different areas to ensure comprehensive care for her patients.
What our students say.
All lessons were honestly all so helpful!!! My favourite thing about the program was putting the educational pieces together to assist with the formation of care plans – the 1:1 mentorship and just knowing I can reach out for further guidance is so comforting! Also so helpful were the various platforms Paola trialed for her practice & what she found most useful! Her personal experience adds so much to valuable learning! I went into private practice without mentorship- my biggest regret is that I didn’t have this information & support before I started! Paola’s knowledge & practical application to practice makes this one of the most influential courses I have ever taken!
Melissa Treur, RN, IBCLC
B.C., Canada
I mentored under Paola to gain more experience with a wider range age of babies and wow is Paola ever knowledgeable!!! Prior to mentoring with her I had taken the Gold lactation academy and had worked as a postpartum nurse and NICU nurse but it wasn’t until working with Paola that I felt like I gained the confidence to be able to help with truly complex situations. She is such an amazing teacher and takes the time to make sure to answer any of your questions in depth. Highly recommend mentoring under Paola if you are working towards your IBCLC or even if you are already an IBCLC but seeking more valuable knowledge.
Maya Ida, RN
Victoria, B.C., Canada
Paola is an outstanding mentor with a wealth of information that needs to be shared with as many people as possible! I am honoured to have been able to work along side her over the past few months. It was an honour to complete my clinical hours with her. She was genuinely invested in the growth and development of my practice and learning. She truly put her heart in to making my time at Mamas Au Lait the best possible experience. Thank you for taking me under your wing Paola.
Deena Zacks, IBCLC
New York, USA
Find a great mentor who believes in you; your life will change forever! -Bill Walsh It’s been 8 months since I found my lactation mentor, Paola Vallarino, at Mamas Au Lait, and everything started to change! I made the decision that in 2024 I would focus on achieving this journey that sparkles in my heart and soul. Now, I am so happy I have completed one more step with a heart full of gratitude and hope. More to come! I’m so grateful to have found such an amazing mentor!
Luciana Lima, RN, IBCLC
Toronto, ON, Canada
The program was excellent – I learned so much! Paola was right that even though I had taken a previos course, her program was very helpful on top of what I previously learned. It filled in a lot of the gaps and was very practical, while the course I took previously was oriented mainly to content from the textbook (I know this is important too).
Mary Davis, BScN
Mississauga, ON, Canada
Paola is my current Mentor for the IBCLC Mentorship / internship program and she is very knowledgeable, with high level updated science based experience and ensures you fully understand everything and responds to every question you have. She really cares and commits as a Mentor. I feel im great hands with my training journey thanks to her and her amazing team.
Melisa Lopez, CBS
Toronto, ON, Canada
What patients say about our graduates
Mila Mendez, CBS
Breastfeeding Specialist · Lactation Intern
“Our session helped me feel more confident and grounded with restarting breastfeeding, and I was grateful for the resources provided.” — Wei F.
“Thanks to their support, we overcame various health and lactation issues and started exclusively breastfeeding by the third month.” — Lela R.
Working with Stephanie on my fourth baby was a true game changer. Previous LCs took on a very medical approach to everything related to breastfeeding and gave me very narrow options and looked out mostly for the baby gaining weight. Stephanie, however, looks out for baby AND mom and this stood out to me right away. She is supportive, professional, and provides a peace of mind that no other LC ever has. Her knowledge also goes beyond breastfeeding. She is well acquainted with pumping, bottle paced feeding and weaning. I don’t have words to express my immense gratitude for Steph and I will for sure be referring all of my mom friends to Steph!
— Yolo L.
Stephanie Aguanno, RN
Registered Nurse · Lactation Intern
I cannot emphasize enough how important it was for me, my partner and our newborn baby to work with Mila Natasha Mendez at Mamas au Lait. Thanks to their support, we were able to overcome various health and lactation issues and start exclusively breastfeeding by the third month. Mila is caring and supportive. Although we worked online, I didn’t feel the distance of remote communication. I felt safe and warmly welcomed in our exchange.
— Lela R.
“Stephanie looks out for baby AND mom — supportive, professional, and gives a peace of mind no other LC ever has.” — Yolo L.
“She was very approachable and proactive in finding solutions, even without my asking. I’d highly recommend her.” — Patricia S.
(They/Them) · Breastfeeding Specialist · Postpartum Doula in Training · Lactation Intern
(She/Her) · Registered Nurse · Lactation Intern
I had an initial prenatal consultation with Mila, who was very warm, friendly and knowledgeable. Our session helped me feel more confident and grounded with restarting breastfeeding again, and I was grateful for the resources provided after our discussion.
— Wei F.
Stephanie helped me improve things quickly and in a non judgemental manner. She was very approachable and proactive in finding solutions, even without my asking for it. It was really a pleasure to work with Stephanie and I’d highly recommend her.
— Patricia S.
If this is just what you need…
Join us now · Full program access
$750
USD
one-time payment
60+ hours of lactation-specific education — 60 CERPs approved by IBLCE
All 5 clinical modules + the bonus business module (Level-Up Your Private Practice)
Access to a private community to share resources and experiences
Learning Community, networking and accountability with your mentor and peers
6 months of access to re-watch the recorded lessons at your own pace
Your enrollment includes:
Additional conferences with guest speakers
Certificate of completion you can apply toward IBCLC certification or recertification
Prefer to pay in CAD? Reach out and we’ll be happy to assist you.
If you prefer to pay in CAD, please reach out and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Good to know
Yes. The program is designed to provide the lactation-specific education and clinical knowledge required for IBCLC exam eligibility and currently includes 60 CERPs.
Yes — the 60+ hours count toward the IBCLC exam’s 95-hour requirement, and if you’re already an IBCLC, you can use the 60 CERPs toward your recertification.
Both! IBCLCs gain advanced clinical skills to level up their practice, and those working toward certification get more than half the education hours needed to apply for the IBCLC exam.
The program currently provides 60 CERPs.
Following the outline, you’ll spend over five hours a week for six weeks, but you have 32 weeks total. Most students take 12–24 weeks at 1–2 hours a week.
Both! You get Paola as your mentor plus insights from peers in a private group, along with two individual mentoring sessions.
Yes — a certificate of completion with 60 CERPs approved by IBLCE, applicable toward the IBCLC exam’s 95-hour requirement.
This is an advanced program, so you’ll need 35 additional lactation education hours to meet the full 95-hour requirement. Use your 1:1 mentoring session with Paola for personalized guidance on your pathway.
Of course! Additional one-on-one sessions are available for an additional fee, based on availability — reach out for more information.
Not an absolute requirement, but graduates and current students receive priority for mentorship placements.
No — you can apply to the Clinical Mentorship at any time due to the waitlist. The Advanced Lactation Program is the recommended first step, and students/graduates get priority for selection.
You can access the course for up to 32 weeks to review lessons, download PDFs, and take the final test. Most students complete it in 12–24 weeks.
No. A healthcare background can be an asset, but we’ve had successful students from many professional backgrounds as well as students with no prior healthcare degree.
Advanced clinical skills, a supportive community and the business tools to build a practice you love.
IBLCE CERP Preferred Provider™
