Dalton (GA) - Breastfeeding Techniques for Professionals and Advocates was presented today by Catherine Watson Genna, BS, IBCLC, as part of the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition Annual Conference at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton.

Catherine Watson Genna, BS, IBCLC, presented Breastfeeding Techniques for Professionals and Advocates at the Annual Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition Conference"I’ve found in my 20 years in this field that babies are competent," said Genna. "They’re smart and they know what they’re doing, and if we work with them, breastfeeding is so much less frustrating for everybody."

Genna has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in private practice in New York, NY since 1992. She has a special interest in the anatomical, genetic and neurological influences on infant sucking skills, and writes and speaks on these topics. She serves as associate editor of Clinical Lactation, a breastfeeding publication.

Genna has performed research using ultrasound and cervical auscultation (listening with a stethoscope) to study sucking and suck-swallow coordination in infants with ankyloglossia, more commonly known as tongue-tie. Her clinical photographs have been published in both lay and scholarly venues.

She is the author of Supporting Sucking Skills in Breastfeeding Infants (Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2008) and Selecting and Using Breastfeeding Tools (Hale Publishing, 2009).

According to Patty Spanjer, president of the breastfeeding coalition, "When it comes to breastfeeding, one of the most important things you can do is educate the educator."

Over 260 professionals who educate breastfeeding mothers attended the conference, including physicians, nurses, lactation consultants, dietitians, certified nurse midwives, La Leche League Leaders, WIC staff, nutritionists and nurse practitioners.

Carol Hendrix, WIC breastfeeding coordinator for the North Georgia Health District, said, "This conference was an excellent opportunity for lactation professionals in this area to hear about and discuss different aspects of helping mothers overcome barriers and issues that they face when breastfeeding."

To learn more about breastfeeding or about this year’s conference, log onto to the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition’s website at www.nwgabfcoalition.com.

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