Keynote – General Session: 10:20-11:20 a.m. MT – Morning Session

Looking Beyond The Latch

Lactation providers often spend more time with families than pediatricians and see infants across multiple developmental stages, placing them in a key position to identify concerns and make timely referrals that support both feeding success and overall growth. This session focuses on recognizing signs—rather than diagnosing—conditions that require referral, including torticollis, a common congenital muscular issue affecting up to 1 in 6 newborns, and its impact on feeding. It also reviews CDC developmental milestones at 3, 6, and 9 months, outlines how to refer families to early intervention programs for developmental concerns, and emphasizes building interdisciplinary networks. The goal is to increase providers’ confidence in spotting physical and developmental red flags, understanding their anatomical basis, and creating effective referral plans to ensure infants receive appropriate care.

BIO:  Emma Burress is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), originally from Cape Town, South Africa. Emma’s interest in maternal child health began during her public health studies where she focused on children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and blossomed as she completed her training to become a Doula and Childbirth Educator. Emma worked as a volunteer doula at her local hospital and her experiences with birthing families drove her to pursue her lactation education. 

Emma is dedicated to supporting pregnant and postpartum families though her work as the Clinical Coordinator of NC A&T’s Pathway 2 Graduate Certificate in Human Lactation.  In her current position she contributes to educating and mentoring the next generation of IBCLC professionals. Emma is able to combine her academic studies in Anatomy, Public Health and Lactation as well as her experience in academic programming to provide clinical skills education and manage the clinical partnerships of the program.

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BONUS SESSION:

August 25, 2026 – Lactation, Late Nights, and Leveraging AI: Naya, a New Member of the Care Team

SPEAKER: Sonal Patel, MD

The 4th trimester is a critical yet under-supported period marked by intense physical, emotional, and relational changes for birthing parents and their families. Breastfeeding and lactation challenges often peak during this time—frequent feeds, pain, supply concerns, and conflicting advice—while families simultaneously navigate sleep deprivation and limited access to real-time professional support. This session introduces Naya, an AI-powered 4th-trimester companion curated by Dr. Patel, as an innovative adjunct to traditional postpartum and lactation care. We will explore how Naya can provide evidence-informed, on-demand guidance around breastfeeding, newborn behavior, and parental wellbeing, while reinforcing safe boundaries and the central role of human clinicians. Finally, we will discuss ethical, equity, and practical considerations in integrating AI into postpartum care—highlighting where it can extend the village around new families, and where human touch remains irreplaceable.

BIO:Sonal Patel, MD. She is a pediatrician, neonatologist, & breastfeeding specialist whose education has been centered on infant nutrition with its impact on development and maternal wellbeing in the 4th trimester. She founded NayaCare in 2018. NayaCare is a home health clinic focused on improving postpartum care. She has written several articles on this subject, published in Scary Mommy, Kevin MD, and Colorado Sun. She wrote her first book, The Doctor and Her Black Bag, which examines maternal mortality in historical and personal context and solutions to reduce maternal mortality. She is a TEDx speaker: The Economics of the 4th Trimester. She is also the co-founder and co-executive director of Center for 4th Trimester Care, a physician-led national nonprofit organization challenging the status quo of maternal healthcare. She has co-created a breastfeeding toolkit helping mothers of premature babies achieve their breastfeeding goals: Small Steps, BIG Gains. Lastly, since 2018, she has been a member of Good Business Colorado, a nonprofit helping small businesses have a voice in policy. She lent her voice to passing FAMLI, paid family and medical leave in Colorado.

nayacare.org

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Breakout Session Speakers

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BREAKOUT #1

1 A. Non-Latching Babies: Intervention Strategies & Counseling 

SPEAKER: Catherine Watson Jenna, BS, IBCLC

abstract coming soon

BIO: See above – Keynote speaker

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1 B. Session title coming soon

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1 C. Session title coming soon

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BREAKOUT #2

2 A. Understanding Infant Feeding: Breast vs. Bottle 

SPEAKER: Catherine Watson Jenna, BS, IBCLC

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BIO: See above – Keynote speaker

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2 B. Session title coming soon

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2 C. Session title coming soon

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BREAKOUT #3

3 A. Session title coming soon

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3 B. Session title coming soon

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3 C. Session title coming soon

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