Courses

Breastfeeding in Special Circumstances: Care for Infants with Medical Needs

Program Date: 30 July 2025

Publication Date: 30 July 2025

Continuing Education Credits: Nurse Contact 1.5 CE; Dietitian 1.5 CPEU

Course Description

In this course, Stephanie Merlino Barr, MS, RDN, LD, Lexis Schaefer, RN, BSN, IBCLC, and Andrea Mangino, MS, CCC-SLP, review the nutritional and immunological components of human milk and evaluate their specific benefits for medically fragile infants; discuss the progression of infant feeding skills; and describe breastfeeding strategies and considerations for infants with special medical conditions (e.g., short bowel syndrome, congenital heart failure).

Course Objectives
  • Review the nutritional and immunological components of human milk and evaluate their specific benefits for medically fragile infants.
  • Discuss the progression of infant feeding skills.
  • Describe breastfeeding strategies and considerations for infants with special medical conditions (e.g., short bowel syndrome, congenital heart failure).

Performance Indicators: 5.2.7, 9.1.1, 9.2.1

Activity Code: 189159

Course Instructor Bio(s)

Stephanie Merlino Barr, MS, RDN, LD

Neonatal Dietitian, MetroHealth Medical Center 
Adjunct Lecturer, Case Western Reserve University 
Cleveland, OH, USA 

Stephanie Merlino Barr, MS, RDN, LD, is a Neonatal Dietitian in the Department of Pediatrics at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, OH. Stephanie is also a doctoral candidate at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine’s (CWRU SOM) Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences. Her research focuses on early life nutrition interventions and their relationship with growth and body composition outcomes in premature infants. Stephanie is also an Adjunct Instructor at CWRU SOM’s Department of Nutrition, where she teaches a graduate-level course on human lactation. Stephanie is an editor of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Pocket Guide to Neonatal Nutrition 3rd Edition, published in July 2022, and a contributor to the Academy’s online Pediatric Nutrition Care Manual.

Lexis Schaefer, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Lactation Consultant 
MetroHealth Medical Center 
Cleveland, OH, USA 

Lexi Schaefer is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Registered Nurse with a special interest in the field of Neonatology. Lexi received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with Honors and Research Distinction from The Ohio State University. While studying nursing, she developed a passion for working with vulnerable infants and an enthusiasm for incorporating evidence-based practices. She began her career at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where she worked as a nurse in a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Witnessing firsthand the benefits that breast milk provided to medically fragile infants, she took an interest in lactation in the NICU.

Lexi adapted the role of Breastfeeding Champion in her unit and worked closely with the lactation team to increase awareness and support for breastfeeding in her unit. Lexi received countless hours of hands-on breastfeeding support at her hospital and pursued further education to enhance her knowledge and skills in lactation support. In 2020, Lexi received IBCLC certification and transitioned to the role of lactation specialist at MetroHealth. Working alongside a multidisciplinary team, Lexi has grown lactation support in the NICU and helped countless mothers and infants achieve their breastfeeding goals despite challenges faced in an intensive care unit.

Andrea Mangino, MS, CCC-SLP

Manager, Speech Pathology 
Cohen Children’s Medical Center 
Queens County, NY, USA 

Andrea Mangino, MS, CCC-SLP, is the Manager of Pediatric Speech Language Pathology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and LIJ Hearing and Speech Center. While there, she developed and continues to improve the pediatric inpatient and outpatient feeding and swallowing program. Andrea is a pediatric specialist in feeding and swallowing disorders with advanced training in clinical/instrumental assessment and managing infant and pediatric dysphagia. She is recognized as an expert in swallowing/feeding across the continuum of pediatric settings, including neonates, medically fragile infants, and children with tracheostomy. Andrea provides lectures on topics including neonatal and pediatric dysphagia and feeding in the NICU, as well as related topics, including speech and swallowing for patients with craniofacial anomalies.

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Category
CE CPEU Neonatal Inpatient Nutrition

Abbott Nutrition’s Provider Statement for Nursing CEs:

Abbott Nutrition Health Institute is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing Provider #CEP 11213.

Abbott Nutrition’s Statement for Dietitian CPEUs:

This educational activity has been prior-approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR credentialed practitioners will receive the specified continuing professional education units (CPEUs) for completion of this program/material.