About the lactation otÂ
At The Lactation OT, our courses are curated for occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, and other perinatal professionals seeking lactation-specific knowledge and skills to help families reach their feeding goals. Our continuing education courses provide high-quality, evidence-based learning experiences that promote lactation-informed care and support interdisciplinary providers in advancing their careers, including those pursuing the IBCLC credential.
Where OT and Lactation Meet
 As occupational therapists, we’ve found that the OT framework aligns seamlessly with supporting the breastfeeding dyad. Infant feeding, manual techniques, mental health, health management, and nutrition all fall within our scope, making lactation care a natural fit.
Breastfeeding is a co-occupation, and with our foundation in task analysis, infant development, and sensory processing, OT practitioners are uniquely positioned to specialize in lactation when supported by the right continuing education.
Want to explore how this fits within the OTPF-IV? Check out our introductory course (0.1 AOTA CEU).
Ready to begin your lactation journey? Download the free guide to get started.
About Our On-Demand, Lactation-Specific CEUs
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The Lactation OT learning platform is designed to make continuing education more accessible, flexible, and high-quality for busy professionals. Our self-paced, on-demand courses are built with consistency in mind—offering evidence-based content from a range of expert instructors, along with downloadable handouts to support different learning styles.
We understand the challenges of fitting continuing education into real life. That’s why each course comes with 6 months of access—no travel, no missed work, no need to step away from family responsibilities.
Our mission is to reduce the financial and logistical barriers often tied to specialized training, while building a community of thoughtful, inspired professionals committed to advancing lactation-informed care within therapy disciplines.
About The Co-Founders
Meet Dairian Roberts
MS, OTR/L, IBCLC, PMH-C /Â Owner, humbled by motherhood
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Dairian holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2013.
Her journey into maternal health began after the birth of her first child. She started her practice in 2017 with traditional postpartum care. In 2018, Dairian founded her practice, integrating her expertise as an occupational therapist with a focus on maternal health. In 2020, she became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Her practice now offers a unique blend of occupational therapy and lactation with specialties in mental health and manual therapy.
A passionate advocate for Black maternal health equity, Dairian is committed to empowering families through culturally congruent, evidence-based care that supports holistic well-being.
Dairian resides in Los Angeles, California, with her husband, two children, and their family pet, Fire Dragon—a bearded dragon lizard.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” -Maya Angelou
dairian is an instructor for the following courses
Maternal Health Foundations: Supporting Birth, Breastfeeding, and Postpartum Recovery
0.5 AOTA CEU
Meet Marissa Yahil
MSOT, OTR/L, IBCLC /Â Owner, Lactation & Development Resources
From a young age, Marissa was exposed to an alternative way of thinking about health and wellness through her parents’ wellness-focused marketing company. Marissa attended Brandeis University where she dedicated her studies to Psychology and Public Health with an emphasis on maternal/child health and child development. During and after college Marissa worked with children 0-5 years old both privately with families and at a child development center.
Ultimately, Marissa earned her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at Salus University. While in graduate school, Marissa was fortunate to participate in fieldwork at the Breastfeeding Resource Center in the greater Philadelphia suburbs. It was there that she learned that breastfeeding does not seem to come easily (or go as planned) for the majority of families.
Partnering with families to meet their lactation and infant feeding goals has become Marissa’s passion and life work. She is so honored to be able to combine her knowledge and skills in order to offer a unique approach to resolving lactation and infant feeding difficulties.
Marissa lives in Dallas, TX, is married to her college sweetheart, and is the mother of two beautiful children, a daughter — Aurora, and a son — Ezra.
marissa is an instructor for the following courses
Functional Nutrition for Reflux, Digestion, Gut Dysbiosis, and
Food Allergies
1.2 ASHA CEUs, 1.2 AOTA CEUs