AAPMD Infant Feeding + Family Wellness Section
Functional infant feeding. Supporting families. Fostering wellness.
INFANT FEEDING + FAMILY WELLNESS
Who We Are
AAPMD’s IFFW Section unites healthcare professionals who are dedicated to nurturing families during the most formative stages of a child’s life.
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The Infant Feeding and Family Wellness Collaborative of AAPMD unites healthcare professionals dedicated to nurturing families during the most formative stages of life. We advance clinical excellence in functional infant feeding and oral development, support perinatal mental health, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure infants and families thrive. This interdisciplinary collaboration builds bridges between IBCLCs, nurse practitioners, dentists, ENTs, pediatricians, SLPs, OTs, and mental health providers to promote continuity of care for families during the perinatal and infant stages. The foundation of airway health and craniofacial development begins in infancy. Functional infant feeding, oral anatomy, and perinatal mental health directly influence not only early growth but also long-term health outcomes. By establishing the Infant Feeding and Family Wellness Collaborative, AAPMD expands its continuum of care, strengthening its role as the leader in airway, function, and family-centered wellness.
Section Leader
Trish Wierenga, APRN, FNP-BC, IBCLC, RLC, PMH-C
Trish Wierenga has been an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in central Illinois since 2011 and a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner since 2021. She is also one of only a few practitioners in Central Illinois certified in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International.
More on Trish Wierenga
Trish is a member and the current Chairperson of the International Affiliation of Tongue Tie Professionals (IATP), a member of the Central Illinois Breastfeeding Task Force (CIBTF), and is a former member of the Board of the Illinois chapter of Postpartum Support International (PSI).
She has spoken at conferences locally and internationally on the role of the IBCLC and in the assessment and management of tongue and lip tie issues in relation to breastfeeding challenges as well as the impact of feeding difficulties on perinatal mental health.
What We Do
We are a trusted hub where clinical expertise and compassionate care come together, providing families the foundation for lifelong health.
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We are a trusted hub within AAPMD where clinical expertise and compassionate care come together, providing families with the foundation for lifelong health. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, we bridge the gap between infant feeding, airway development, family wellness, and perinatal mental health.
How We Do It
We are dedicated to fostering clinical leadership, provide education and training, family and community support, and research and advocacy.
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Clinical Leadership – Advance evidence-based assessment and management of oral function, infant feeding, and ankyloglossia. Establish best practices for pre- and post-release care.
Education & Training – Provide high-quality professional education on oral function, feeding, and perinatal family health. Support mentorship, case study exchange, and collaborative learning.
Family & Community Support – Elevate awareness of perinatal mental health and its role in infant feeding and wellness. Develop family-friendly resources to support parents during feeding challenges and transitions.
Research & Advocacy – Encourage and disseminate research on functional infant feeding, oral development, and perinatal family wellness. Advocate for recognition of infant feeding and perinatal support as essential to airway and lifelong health.