The Lactation Department of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers a bi-annual internship to individuals who are preparing to take the
International Board Lactation Consultant Exam. When accepted, the internship offers 100 hours of direct patient care observerships at CHOP’s Philadelphia campus. In September 2023, lactation consultant Divya Umashankar of MGM Healthcare Hospital & Joseph Nursing Home in Chennai, India, was selected for one of the internships. She participated in an observership with the Lactation Department from September 3rd, 2023, to December 1st, 2023.
Divya began her career by receiving a degree in electronics, but after personal struggle with lactation and lack of resources available to her in India, she decided to pursue a career in lactation. For the last eight years, she has supported mothers and babies in their breastfeeding journey. Initially, Divya volunteered in public health centers and government hospitals while she completed her course training in lactation. Later, she had the opportunity to travel to different communities to continue her work with breastfeeding and chest-feeding dyads. “[Traveling] was always my area of interest… because I truly believe that breastfeeding involves a lot of cultural aspects, which interfere with breastfeeding outcomes.” Divya travelled to different states in India to observe, learn, and support families belonging to different communities. With the experience Divya was able to gain, Divya began work in two private hospitals and one nursing home in her state as a visiting lactation professional.
Divya was curious to learn how breastfeeding support is provided in other countries. She wanted to learn how breastfeeding, and lactation is funded by governments and protected by policy, what credentials are required and how the support system is, and the protocol followed in simple to complex cases of lactation difficulties. She was reading about opportunities in the U.S. when she cam across CHOP’s International Visiting Provider Program. Divya, under the Lactation Department, was able to observe a tram of IBCLC’s providing support to critically ill babies and families every day.
“My biggest learnings at CHOP have been respecting bodily autonomy of every parent, mandatory antenatal sessions for all parents, and curating a personalized lactation plan of care of complex cases.” While observing with the Lactation Departmental at CHOP, Divya had the opportunity to observe morning huddles where staff would divide cases equally so to provide quality care to each patient. She rounded to wards including the Special Delivery Unit, Intensive Care Unit, and Cardiac ICU. She also observed the entire milk banking process, from collection, record keeping, pasteurization, to dispatch. Finally, she was able to gain knowledge and awareness of different policies surrounding lactation and breast/chest feeding, making insurance coverage available for lactation services, and creating accessibility to breast pumps, which she plans to implement in hospitals in India.
“CHOP had been one of my biggest learning opportunities which I thoroughly loved. Being away from home & family for 3 months was my biggest fear and CHOP made me feel home every day. Every family I met, was a ray of hope, that no matter how difficult the situation is, when there is support & belief, anything is possible."
"Thanking the entire team of CHOP’s Lactation Department, most importantly Ms. Meghan & Ms. Rachelle who stood by with so many opportunities to learn while I was there, and the Global Pediatric Education Team for making the process easy for me.”
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The Lactation Department of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers a bi-annual internship to individuals who are preparing to take the
International Board Lactation Consultant Exam. When accepted, the internship offers 100 hours of direct patient care observerships at CHOP’s Philadelphia campus. In September 2023, lactation consultant Divya Umashankar of MGM Healthcare Hospital & Joseph Nursing Home in Chennai, India, was selected for one of the internships. She participated in an observership with the Lactation Department from September 3rd, 2023, to December 1st, 2023.
Divya began her career by receiving a degree in electronics, but after personal struggle with lactation and lack of resources available to her in India, she decided to pursue a career in lactation. For the last eight years, she has supported mothers and babies in their breastfeeding journey. Initially, Divya volunteered in public health centers and government hospitals while she completed her course training in lactation. Later, she had the opportunity to travel to different communities to continue her work with breastfeeding and chest-feeding dyads. “[Traveling] was always my area of interest… because I truly believe that breastfeeding involves a lot of cultural aspects, which interfere with breastfeeding outcomes.” Divya travelled to different states in India to observe, learn, and support families belonging to different communities. With the experience Divya was able to gain, Divya began work in two private hospitals and one nursing home in her state as a visiting lactation professional.
Divya was curious to learn how breastfeeding support is provided in other countries. She wanted to learn how breastfeeding, and lactation is funded by governments and protected by policy, what credentials are required and how the support system is, and the protocol followed in simple to complex cases of lactation difficulties. She was reading about opportunities in the U.S. when she cam across CHOP’s International Visiting Provider Program. Divya, under the Lactation Department, was able to observe a tram of IBCLC’s providing support to critically ill babies and families every day.
“My biggest learnings at CHOP have been respecting bodily autonomy of every parent, mandatory antenatal sessions for all parents, and curating a personalized lactation plan of care of complex cases.” While observing with the Lactation Departmental at CHOP, Divya had the opportunity to observe morning huddles where staff would divide cases equally so to provide quality care to each patient. She rounded to wards including the Special Delivery Unit, Intensive Care Unit, and Cardiac ICU. She also observed the entire milk banking process, from collection, record keeping, pasteurization, to dispatch. Finally, she was able to gain knowledge and awareness of different policies surrounding lactation and breast/chest feeding, making insurance coverage available for lactation services, and creating accessibility to breast pumps, which she plans to implement in hospitals in India.
“CHOP had been one of my biggest learning opportunities which I thoroughly loved. Being away from home & family for 3 months was my biggest fear and CHOP made me feel home every day. Every family I met, was a ray of hope, that no matter how difficult the situation is, when there is support & belief, anything is possible."
"Thanking the entire team of CHOP’s Lactation Department, most importantly Ms. Meghan & Ms. Rachelle who stood by with so many opportunities to learn while I was there, and the Global Pediatric Education Team for making the process easy for me.”
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