Advanced Lactation Program · Online
Become the best lactation specialist you can be
with Paola as your mentor.
Advanced Lactation Program: Clinical Skills & Private Practice Tools. An intensive online program with self-paced learning and group 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.
60 CERPs earned
IBLCE-approved
60
CERPs
60+
Hours of continuing education
5
Clinical Modules
One Bonus Business Module
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
If you are looking to…
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 in 2025
… then perhaps this is your sign to take that next step.
What you will get
Everything included in your enrollment
60+ hours of lactation-specific education
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).
A private community + group mentoring
Get access to a private community of healthcare professionals where you share resources and experiences with each other. Group mentoring through a private group with your mentor and fellow students to share your progress, stay accountable, network and find inspiration — connecting for a lifetime.
Extended learning
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.
Certificate of completion
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 group 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
After completing the program you will:
Treat patients with confidence
Be a reliable resource for your patients and other lactation consultants
Be recognized in your field as a tongue-tie savvy practitioner
Create life-changing lactation care plans for your patients
Educate patients with a wealth of knowledge
Be ready to launch your private practice or to level-up your existing business so you can reach 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.
About your mentor
Meet Paola
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 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.
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.
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.
What our students say
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
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
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, Canada
What patients say about our graduates
The proof is in the care they give
Mila Mendez, CBS
(They/Them) · Breastfeeding Specialist · Postpartum Doula in Training · 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.
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 Aguanno, RN
(She/Her) · Registered Nurse · Lactation Intern
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 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…
Why wait?
$750
USD
Your enrollment includes:
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
Additional conferences with guest speakers
Certificate of completion you can apply toward IBCLC certification or recertification