Neurodiverse Lactation
Experiences, Aversion, and Strategies for Feeding Management
In this self-paced continuing education course, you'll explore the intersection of neurodiversity and lactation, including sensory aversion, the lived experiences of neurodivergent parents and clinicians, and evidence-informed feeding management strategies.
10.5 hours, 1.05 AOTA CEUs, 1.05 ASHA CEUs
Support neurodivergent clients through lactation with clinical clarity
Ready to get started?
Learning Objectives for Neurodiverse Lactation:
Participants will be able to:
- Identify the types of neurodiversity that impact the breast/chestfeeding experience
- Describe the challenges faced by neurodivergent lactating individuals during the breast/chestfeeding process
- Identify adaptations and strategies to improve the breast/chestfeeding experience for neurodivergent clients
- Describe support systems that contribute to lactation success in neurodivergent populations
HERE'S WHAT'S INSIDE
RECORDED VIDEO Lessons
PDF Downloads
Recources
Let's Look Inside the Course
You won’t have to rush through this course. It’s self-paced, online continuing education for busy healthcare professionals. You can re-watch the modules as you expand your understanding of bottles and bottle feeding.
Module One (1 hour 27 minutes)
Introduction
- Neurodiversity Terms & Definitions
- Executive Functioning
- Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
- Theory of Mind
- Masking
- Regulation
Module two (3 hours 40 minutes)
The Neurodiverse Parent
- Autism
- ADHD/AuDHD
- Sensory Processing
- Strategies for Supporting the Parent
- Aversions (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex, Breastfeeding Aversion Response, and History of Abuse)
Module three (4 hours 19 minutes)
The Neurodiverse Infant
- Reflexes
- Support Systems
- Weaning and Feeding Challenges
Module four (1 hour 4 minutes)
The Neurodiverse Healthcare Provider
Understanding the neurodivergent experience of lactation allows you to provide support that's actually effective
Course Instructor
Julie Matheney, MS, CCC-SLP, CLEC, IBCLC
Julie is a licensed speech pathologist (CCC-SLP), certified location educator counselor (CLEC), and international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). Julie works exclusively with mother-infant pairs prenatally and during the first year postpartum.
Prenatally, she educates and empowers her clients with evidence-based information about lactation, breastfeeding, and bottle feeding so they can understand normal/typical behaviors and when to ask for help.
Postpartum, she offers a holistic and integrated approach to lactation support and feeding therapy to help families reach their infant feeding goals.
Instructor Disclosures
AOTA Approved Provider & ASHA CE Approved Provider
Enroll NowFrequently Asked Questions
Who is this bottle feeding course intended for?
This bottle feeding course is designed for:
- Occupational Therapy practitioners (OT and COTA)
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP)
- Physical Therapy practitioners (PT and PTA)
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC)
- Other professionals such as Physicians (MD and DO), Nurses (RN), Nurse Practitioners (NP), Physician Assistants (PA), and more.
Are there prerequisites for this course?
There is no required coursework needed prior to enrolling in this course.
Can I count this course toward my 90 hours of lactation-specific education?
Absolutely! Please review the IBCLC Commission page for further details on lactation-specific education hours. To receive credit for completion, the course must be completed with 100% watch time and each participant will need to complete a post-assessment with a passing score of at least 80% to ensure all learning objectives are met.
Information about AOTA CEUs
This course is approved for 0.9 AOTA CEUs for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants. Participants will be required to:
- Complete the course in its entirety (100% of the course watched)
- Complete a multiple-choice post-assessment with a passing score of at least 80% (untimed test)
Information about ASHA CEUs
This course will be available for 0.9 ASHA CEUs on September 29, 2025. To receive ASHA CEUs, participants will be required to:
- Ensure you are eligible to receive ASHA CEUs! Click here for more information
- Complete the course in its entirety (watch time is tracked by the learning management system)
- Complete the multiple-choice post-assessment with a passing score of at least 80% (untimed test, 3 retakes)
- There is no option for partial credit
Information about CEUs for Physical Therapists
APTA does not approve individual companies and you will need to check with your individual state for online course requirements. To best prepare you can save the following:
- The certificate of completion that will be provided
- List of references
- A copy of the assessment questions
How long will I have access to the course?
6 months from the purchase date.
What is your refund/cancellation policy?
Refunds must be requested within 14 days of purchase by emailing [email protected]. A full refund is available if no modules have been started. A partial refund is available once ANY portion of the course has been viewed. The amount refunded is at the sole discretion of The Lactation OT LLC. There is no refund available after 14 days of purchase OR if module one has been completed. Recipients will receive acknowledgment of refund requests within 3 business days. If the request is valid per the terms listed above, the refund will be processed within 7 business days. If for any reason the course is canceled by The Lactation OT before the course is started, a full refund will be provided.
How do I request special accommodation?
Please send us an email at [email protected] at least 14 days before starting the course with further details of your request.
Understanding infant skills and bottle nuances allows you to make informed, unbiased recommendations.
