Microbiome Courses

29/08/2026

Join us for Microbiome For Midwives Bootcamp:
Live & online 7-11 September 2026.
>>> https://microbirth.teachable.com/p/midwifebootcamp

This is a 5-day PRACTICAL implementation Bootcamp aimed at midwives and any health professional with clinical responsibilities.

It's designed to help YOU understand what YOU can actually do in practice to support a baby’s microbiome.

• LIVE & online: 7–11 September 2026

• Five practical days.

• Five focused topics.

• Five opportunities to think about small changes you could make in your maternity practice.

• ONE GOAL: To turn the latest evidence-based microbiome science into everyday maternity care.

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On the Bootcamp, you'll learn 5 things YOU can do to support the baby's microbiome:

• DAY 1: The Health Of The Vaginal Microbiome
• DAY 2: Getting Labour Started Well
• DAY 3: Avoiding Unnecessary Interventions
• DAY 4: Seeding The Infant Skin Microbiome
• DAY 5: Supporting Breastfeeding Initiation

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Every day from 7-11th Sept, you will have:

✓ DAILY Short science lesson
✓ DAILY Teaching video
✓ DAILY Practical worksheet
✓ DAILY Clinical resources
✓ Set of Parent handouts
✓ DAILY Live Zoom Q&A and discussion with a Midwifery Lecturer and midwife

The live calls are an important part of the experience because you don't just learn the information - you get to discuss how it might translate into real maternity practice.

Hope you can join us. Click the link to find out more!

7-11th Sept 2026. 5 Practical Days. 5 Powerful Changes. Join experienced Midwife and Educator Dr Michelle Irving for a 5 Day Online Bootcamp designed to help you integrate practical evidence-based microbiome-mindful care into your midwifery practice.

26/08/2026

Join us for Microbiome for Midwives 5 day bootcamp.

Find out more >>> https://microbirth.teachable.com/p/midwifebootcamp

• LIVE & online: 7–11 September 2026

• Five practical days.

• Five focused topics.

• Five opportunities to think about small changes you could make in your maternity practice.

• ONE GOAL: To turn the latest evidence-based microbiome science into everyday maternity care.

Hope you can join us.

Toni & the team

26/08/2026

If you are a midwife or clinician who cares for women during pregnancy, birth and beyond, know that every decision you make matters. Let's start building healthier beginnings together.

Join us for Microbiome For Midwives Bootcamp: 7-11 September 2026.

Find out more >>> https://microbirth.teachable.com/p/midwifebootcamp

This is a 5-day practical implementation bootcamp designed to help YOU understand what YOU can actually do in practice to support a baby’s microbiome.

• LIVE & online: 7–11 September 2026

• Five practical days.

• Five focused topics.

• Five opportunities to think about small changes you could make in your maternity practice.

• ONE GOAL: To turn the latest evidence-based microbiome science into everyday maternity care.

Hope you can join us.

26/08/2026

MICROBIOME for MIDWIVES✨ Practical Bootcamp ✨7-11 Sept
🌍https://microbirth.teachable.com/p/midwifebootcamp

• 7–11 September 2026
• Five practical days.
• Five focused topics.
• Five opportunities to change your maternity practice

20/08/2026

We've created a FREE Microbiome Birth Cheat Sheet!

It's a quick, easy-to-use guide you can share with parents you support.

Download it now (it's free)
>>>

Your Free Birth Cheat Sheet: Resource For Parents & Professionals

15/08/2026

NEW 2026 STUDY: If Dads are more involved with supporting breastfeeding, can this increase likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months?

The answer from a new study was...
YES. (Obviously…)

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THE FINDINGS:
Higher breastfeeding involvement by Dads, and stronger father-baby attachment, were both associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months, and a longer breastfeeding duration.

The study was by Yorganci et al., 2026, Journal of Human Lactation (2026).

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MY TAKE HOME MESSAGE:

The results of this study are not that surprising (to me at least).

But what was surprising was the level of Dad being involved really made a difference to the whether or not the Mum was exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months, and to the total duration of breastfeeding.

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NOTE THIS STATISTIC: Every 1-point increase in Dad’s involvement was associated with 3.1% higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding.

If we want to improve rates of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months (or longer)....

We need to support the ongoing involvement of Dads, and partners, in breastfeeding.

And involve more Dads, and other partners too, in breastfeeding education.

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WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE....

Dads and partners....

> Invited to attend breastfeeding education classes
> Are given evidence-based resources aimed specifically at Dads (or partners)
> Encouraged to be part of breastfeeding discussions, together with the mothers, with health care providers and lactation professionals.
> Making sure Dads and partners are seen, heard and supported - along with all mothers.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.



You can read more about the study on my new Substack post
CLICK LINK IN BIO

I'll also post a link to the post in the comments

05/08/2026

New 2026 Study: Babies who "breast crawl" during skin-to-skin in the first hour are more likely to effectively breastfeed

27/05/2026

TODAY you can watch 4 brilliant presentations on the science of human milk - all for FREE! https://birthsummit.com

Each presentation is available to watch for free for 24 hours.

BREASTFEEDING AND THE MICROBIOME
👉Rajinder Gulati, Pediatrician and national trainer for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)

Presentation: Human Milk: The Complete Bioactive Ecosystem for Infant Health

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👉Jennifer Smilowitz, Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis

Presentation: Human Milk: the Biological Model For Understanding Prebiotics And Probiotics In Infancy

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👉Bruce German, Professor and Director of the Foods for Health Institute at the University of California Davis

Masterclass Interview: The Chemistry Of Human Milk

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👉Dawn Whitten, Naturopath, Herbalist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Presentation: Probiotics For Breastfeeding Women - Which Probiotic, When, Why And Why Not!

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All for FREE!
Go to https://birthsummit.com

21/05/2026

Gentle reminder…. So you don’t miss out!
Doors open to BIRTH SUMMIT 2026 this Monday 25th May.
🔗 Register now: https://birthsummit.com

If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time (and it’s FREE!)

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What is BIRTH SUMMIT 2026?

From Monday to Thursday next week…

You’ll have free access to 16 powerful presentations from our 2026 conference exploring one of the most important topics in modern maternity and infant health:

🌿 The microbiome

👶 Birth + early-life development

🧠 Stress, immunity & resilience

🤱 The science of human milk

✨ The future of microbiome-informed care

­👇👇👇👇

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Who are the Speakers?

BIRTH SUMMIT 2026 brings together leading researchers, clinicians, midwives, and educators including:

👉 Nils Bergman, Neuroscientist & Public Health Physician

👉 Rodney Dietert, Emeritus Professor of Immunotoxicology, Cornell University

👉 Debby Bogaert, Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh

+ 12 other brilliant speakers

You’ll also be invited to:

🎤 LIVE Q&A with Professor Rodney Dietert on Monday 25th May

🎤 LIVE Q&A with Midwife Michelle Irving on Thursday 28th May

If you care about birth, babies, breastfeeding, microbiome science, or the future of maternity care, you do not want to miss this.

And the best part?

🪙It’s completely FREE to attend.

👉 Register now before the summit begins:

https://birthsummit.com

15/05/2026

Dr Nils Bergman’s presentation at BIRTH SUMMIT 2026 is absolutely unmissable - and you can watch it for free 25-28 May 👇👇👇

Dr Bergman gives a brilliant explanation of why undisturbed immediate skin-to-skin contact is so critical for brain development.

And he explains why the first hours after birth shape resilience, stress regulation, immunity, and even lifelong health. 🌿

I think it could completely change the way you think about birth and newborn care!

✨ Powerful science of skin-to-skin contact

🧠 Stress + brain development

👉How YOU can bring this to your practice

✨ For me, this is one of the standout talks at the Summit

🗓 25–28 May

💻 FREE & online

Hope you can join us.

👉 Sign up now (and please do share):

https://birthsummit.com

P.S. Ever seen Dr Nils Bergman speak at a conference? What did you think?