Functional Nutrition for Reflux, Digestion, Gut Dysbiosis, and
Food Allergies
A Holistic Approach for the Breastfeeding Dyad
Supporting Parent and infant nutrition is Key to long term health Outcomes.
Learning Objectives for this Functional Nutrition Course
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Identify the organs involved in digestion and their unique functions.
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List 3 ways that maternal nutrient deficiency influences the infant.
- Identify how maternal GI dysfunction contributes to infant GI dysfunction.
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Define the difference between IgE allergies, food sensitivities, and intolerances.
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Identify common symptoms of food intolerance in breastfed infants.
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Recognize how maternal nutritional patterns during pregnancy impact postpartum recovery and milk quality.
- Identify the impact of breastmilk and formula on the infant microbiome.
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Describe how maternal stress levels impact digestion, milk supply, and maternal mental health.
- List the nutrients most commonly depleted in mothers during the postpartum period.
- Identify signs of food reactivity, dysbiosis, and nutrient deficiency based on client reports and stool analysis.
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Identify signs that warrant referral to a medical or nutrition provider.
AOTA Approved Provider &
ASHA CE Approved Provider
HERE'S WHAT WIlL BE INSIDE
RECORDED VIDEO LESSONS
13 HANDOUTS
6 meal plans + LOW-RISK interventions
Module 1: 3 minutes
Introduction
- Learning Objectives
- Course Overview
- Introductions and Disclosures
Module 2: 3 hours 2 minutes
Welcome to the Gut
Understand the Gut-Brain-Breast Connection
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Understand how the maternal and infant microbiomes shape immune development, digestion, and clinical outcomes.
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Identify red flags in infant stool, reflux, constipation, and growth patterns — and know when to help and when to refer.
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Follow the “Journey of Food” from bite to bowel and discover how dysfunction at each stage shows up in both mom and baby.
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Learn the key questions to ask and labs to consider when assessing gut health in lactation & infant care.
Module 3: 1 hour 33 minutes
The Immune System &
Food Reactivity: Allergy, Sensitivity, Intolerance
Allergies, Sensitivities, and Intolerances — What Every Lactation & Feeding Provider Should Know
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Learn how to differentiate between food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances in breastfeeding infants.
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Support families through maternal elimination diets with confidence (when, how long, and strategies to reintroduce).
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Understand the roots of eczema, colic, and food-triggered symptoms as well as how to integrate immune support into your feeding care plan.
Module 4: 2 hours 30 minutes
Pregnancy Through Delivery
Supporting Healthy Beginnings Through Nutrition
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Explore a wide range of prenatal dietary patterns — including vegan, vegetarian, Mediterranean, paleo, low-carb, and elimination diets — and learn how to make flexible, nonjudgmental recommendations that work for today’s families.
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Understand key nutrients that support fetal development, lactogenesis, and postpartum healing.
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Explore the nuances of probiotic use for both mother and infant: when they help, when to pause, and how to choose strains that actually make a difference.
Module 5: 1 hour 22 minutes
Postpartum 0-3 Months
Fueling Recovery, Milk Production & Infant Growth
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Understand breast anatomy, lactation physiology, and how maternal nutrition influences breastmilk composition.
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Identify common nutrient deficiencies in moms and babies as well as actionable ways to optimize recovery and feeding success.
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Gain tools to help you counsel families on the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding while creating space for informed decision-making and personalized support during the first 3 months.
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Explore nutritional strategies for both mom and baby, including red flags for digestion, growth, and development
Module 6: 1 hour 4 minutes
Postpartum Months 3-6
Caring for the Postpartum Body as Needs Evolve
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Learn how postpartum nutritional needs shift in response to changes in blood sugar balance, micronutrient status, and hormonal changes.
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Recognize signs of disordered eating and eating disorders in the perinatal period and learn how to respond with compassion, clarity, and appropriate referrals.
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Explore common challenges during the 3–6 month stretch including fatigue, mood shifts, shifting milk supply, and how to support families navigating this complex stage.
Module 7: 2 hours 23 minutes
Case Studies
Real Families. Real Complexity. Real Clinical Tools.
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Case Study 1: Bloody Stool, Elimination Diet, & Maternal Microbiome
An exclusively breastfed infant with visible blood in stool leads to maternal elimination, stool changes, and gut support. -
Case Study 2: Reflux, Arching, Oral Dysfunction, & Hypothyroidism
A baby with reflux and oral dysfunction improves only after the mother’s hypothyroidism is treated. -
Case Study 3: Eczema, Food Reactivity, & Poor Weight Gain
Chronic eczema and slow growth raise concerns about food allergies and feeding adequacy. -
Case Study 4: Spit-Up, Maternal GI Symptoms, & Oversupply
An infant with frequent spit-up and a mother experiencing GI distress prompts exploration of oversupply, milk composition, and maternal microbiome.
Module 8: 3 minutes
Conclusion
- Wrap Up
- Post-Test Assessment
- Feedback Survey
enhance your knowledge to better support families
enroll nowCourse Instructor
Amy Spindel, MSHN, MSSW, BCHN, AFMC
Amy is a master’s-level functional and holistic nutrition professional and the founder of Food With Thought Nutrition, a virtual practice specializing in gut health, microbiome rebalancing, and the complex physiological patterns contributing to chronic health concerns in women as well as children. She has a particular focus on applying functional nutrition to breastfeeding dyads in order to help infants resolve gut concerns through their moms’ breastmilk.
She holds a Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition from Hawthorn University and a Master of Social Work from Columbia University. Amy is certified in Applied Functional Medicine through the School of Applied Functional Medicine and is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition through the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. She is also among a select group of practitioners worldwide certified in Microbiome Analysis through the Microbiome Restoration Center.
Amy’s clinical approach centers on root-cause resolution of complex and chronic health concerns through a multidisciplinary and integrative lens. Known for her ability to synthesize diverse case information into a coherent picture of dysfunction, she designs stepwise, personalized plans to help clients unravel persistent symptoms and restore physiological balance. Her ongoing professional development spans a broad range of areas including mental health, trauma, nervous system regulation, culinary arts, gluten-related disorders, elimination diets, hair mineral tissue analysis and mineral rebalancing, autoimmunity, safe supplement use, mycotoxins, heavy metals, parasitology, hormones, and more.
Amy also serves as Director of Scientific and Clinical Education at the School of Applied Functional Medicine, where she supports advanced practitioner training through curriculum development. She is the lead nutritionist for Phoebe: Expectant Parenting and Postpartum Support, and is a respected speaker, mentor, and course creator in the field of functional nutrition.
Her earlier career as a behavioral and family therapist continues to inform her client-centered, systems-oriented, whole-person approach while her training in culinary arts enhances her ability to provide practical, individualized dietary support. Outside of clinical work, Amy enjoys gardening, family bike rides, and playing the flute.
Disclosures
Course Instructor
Marissa Yahil, MSOT, OTR/L, IBCLC
Marissa is the Founder and Clinical Director of Lactation & Development Resources and is the Co-Founder of The Lactation OT (an online continuing education platform).
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 (MSOT) 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 loves combining her knowledge and skills in order to offer an integrated and holistic approach to resolving lactation and infant feeding difficulties.
Marissa is an avid lifelong learner. The families she supports are her greatest teachers, and she is always engaged in a multitude of continuing education opportunities.
Marissa lives in Dallas, TX, is married to her college sweetheart, Uri, and is the mother of two beautiful children, a daughter — Aurora, and a son — Ezra.
Disclosures
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this functional nutrition course intended for?
- Occupational Therapy practitioners (OT and COTA)
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP)
- Physical Therapy Practitioners (PT and PTA)
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC)
- Registered Dietitians
- Functional Medicine Practitioners
- Functional Nutritionists
- Physician
- Physician Assistant
- Nurse Practitioner
- Registered Nurse
Are there prerequisites for this course?
Beyond the professional licensure, there is no required coursework needed prior to enrolling in this course.
As a practitioner, 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 1.2 AOTA CEUs. 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 1.2 ASHA CEUs. 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 for Physical Therapists about PT CEUs
APTA does not approve individual companies and you will need to check with your 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?
There will be 6 months of access 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.
