Diana West, BA, IBCLC

about Diana West

Diana West, BA, IBCLC, is a popular speaker at professional and parenting conferences. She genuinely enjoys speaking to both small and large audiences and has received consistently high scores on evaluation feedback. Her presentations are practical, well-organized, highly informative, and entertaining. She uses high-quality, vivid Powerpoint presentations, providing her own laptop and LCD projector upon request. Having participated in organizing conferences herself, she is highly flexible and empathetic to the pressure and requirements of conference planners. She provides paperwork and responds to communications promptly. She is available to speak in most locations, both in the US and internationally.

official bio

SHORT: Diana West is an IBCLC in private practice, co-author of the 8th edition of "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding," "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk," and "Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Procedures." She is the author of the "Clinician's Breastfeeding Triage Tool" and "Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery." LONG: Diana West is an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in private practice, co-author with Teresa Pitman and Diane Wiessinger of the 8th edition of La Leche League International's "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding." She is also co-author with Lisa Marasco of "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk" and Dr. Elliot Hirsch of "Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Procedures." She is the author of the "Clinician's Breastfeeding Triage Tool" and "Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery." She has a bachelor's degree in psychology, is a La Leche League Leader, a website developer, and administrator of the popular BFAR.org, LowMilkSupply.org, and LactSpeak.com websites. She lives with her three sons and one husband in the picturesque mountains of western New Jersey.

presentations

Diana West is pleased to provide presentations on the following topics to professional and parenting conferences. Presentations on other topics may be available upon request and subject to sufficient development lead-time. (For CERP topics, required paperwork will be provided promptly to meet CERP deadlines)

Breastfeeding After Cosmetic Breast Surgery
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

A comprehensive discussion of breast augmentation and reduction surgeries and their impact upon lactation; discussion of incidence, motivations, surgical techniques, implications for lactation, psychological factors, breastfeeding management, and resources. Note: This is Diana's hallmark presentation based on her seminal work in this field.

Using Technology in Your Lactation Consultation Practice
60 - 75 minutes
CERP

A discussion of the newest technologies for reaching and communicating with breastfeeding mothers and for managing a lactation consultation practice, both hospital-based and private practice.

Helping Millennial Moms Breastfeed
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

A discussion of effective methods to interact with the new generation of breastfeeding mothers, known as "Millennial Moms," who have vastly different needs and communication styles from those who typically counsel them.

Making More Milk (or) New Methods of Increasing Milk Production
75 - 90 minutes
CERP

SHORT DESCRIPTION: A discussion of innovative new methods to increase milk production.

LONG DESCRIPTION: With new research and innovations in the lactation field, there are now many more ways to increase milk production than in previous years. This talk presents the most promising of these new methods, with information about targeting the method to the underlying problem.

Assessing Low Milk Production
60 - 75 minutes
CERP

SHORT DESCRIPTION: A detailed discussion of maternal and infant breastfeeding assessment targeted to uncovering causes of low milk production.

LONG DESCRIPTION: This talk discusses what should you look for when assessing a mother and her baby to determine if she�s making enough milk, if the baby is getting enough, and what might be causing a supply or intake problem.

Maternal Causes of Low Milk Production
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

A discussion of maternal causes for low milk production and treatments that target those causes.

Infant Causes of Low Milk Production
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

A discussion of infant causes for low milk production and treatments that target those causes.

Surprising Causes of Low Milk Production
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

A discussion of newly discovered and lesser known causes of low milk production.

Counseling Mothers About Low Milk Production
60 - 75 minutes
CERP

A discussion of counseling methods that are sensitive to the emotional journey and special needs of mothers who have low milk production.

Overcoming Breastfeeding Ambivilence
60 - 75 minutes
CERP

SHORT DESCRIPTION: A discussion of ways to talk to mothers about breastfeeding that is encouraging and persuasive without coercion.

LONG DESCRIPTION: It can be difficult to know how to talk to mothers who are ambivalent about breastfeeding. This talk presents effective communication methods that help mothers explore their concerns and reach a more confident perspective about breastfeeding.

Identifying, Assessing, and Infant Treating Tongue Tie
75 - 90 minutes
CERP

A detailed discussion of identification, assessment, and treatment of anterior and posterior variations of infant ankyloglossia.

Raising Boys
60 - 90 minutes

A discussion of the ways in which boys differ from girls and how to parent them in a way that helps them develop into their best selves.

Helping Breastfeeding Working Mothers
60 - 90 minutes
CERP

A discussion of innovative methods to help mothers who work outside the home continue to breastfeed successfully.