Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes (Coursera)

Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes (Coursera)

Ensuring adequate nutrition is essential for infants to reach their full potential, as early-life nutritional imbalances and deficiencies may result in detrimental and often irreversible adverse health consequences. "Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes" focuses on the important aspects of human milk composition, human lactation, breastfeeding practices, and the use of breastmilk substitutes.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

In addition to the theoretical and practical aspects of infant nutrition, we also provide the latest research findings and international recommendations in this field in order to improve the health of children around the world. Additionally, you will get a glimpse of various infant feeding experiences of parents from different parts of the world.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Welcome to Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes

WEEK 2
Unit 1: Breastmilk Composition and Health Benefits
In this unit, we will focus on the anatomy and physiology of human lactation along with various health benefits that breastfeeding provides to both mothers and infants, and the myriad of components that make human milk such a unique nature masterpiece.

WEEK 3
Unit 2: The Practice of Breastfeeding
In this unit, we will explore the practical aspects of breastfeeding. For example, how to achieve a proper position and latch, the various challenges that may arise, and the role of healthcare professionals in supporting a successful and comfortable breastfeeding journey for the family. Additionally, we will look at breastfeeding statistics worldwide, concluding that breastfeeding is not a one-woman job, but a collective effort that requires participation and support of the whole society.

WEEK 4
Unit 3: Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS)
In this unit, we will discuss the criteria for choosing the right breastmilk substitute (BMS) required for the proper growth and development of infants who are fully or partially formula-fed. In addition, we will demonstrate the adequate procedure for the preparation of bottles and a correct bottle-feeding technique, which are also applicable for feeding breastmilk to an infant through a bottle. Towards the end, we will provide an overview of the regulations in place to prevent the inappropriate promotion of BMS, which may undermine breastfeeding.

WEEK 5
Key Messages & Final Words

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Alimentación y dietética para una vuelta al mundo a vela (Coursera) Coursera
University of Barcelona

Alimentación y dietética para una vuelta al mundo a vela (Coursera)

Comer bien en una vuelta al mundo no es tarea fácil . Aprenda cómo equilibrar alta nutrición con practicidad mientras navega alrededor del mundo. Este curso pretende introducirte en el mundo de la preparación de los deportistas que participan en regatas de navegación transoceánica, como la Barcelona World Race.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Life 101: Mental and Physical Self-Care (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Life 101: Mental and Physical Self-Care (Coursera)

This course will cover various topics that would teach students healthy lifestyle choices, the importance of mental and physical health and self-care. For each topic, an evidence-based lecture that would include scientific evidence will be presented and then students will be provided practical methods to practice what they have learned from the lectures. One of the main goals of this course is to inspire students to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Science of Fat Metabolism (Coursera) Coursera
National Academy of Sports Medicine

Science of Fat Metabolism (Coursera)

The term “fat” can be applied to several aspects of health and fitness, from macronutrients in food to tissues in the body, to molecules in the blood. The consumption of fat can be a complex topic due to many different things: fat types, their health effects, the ways fats are metabolized and stored, etc. This course provides a greater understanding of fat-related concepts including the fats consumed in various diets, the physiology of fats within the body, in addition to ways fats are absorbed, stored, and utilized as fuel.

Nov 9th 2026
1 Week
Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy (Coursera) Coursera
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy (Coursera)

Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy offers an overview of the latest research findings and international recommendations on a variety of nutrition-related aspects and outcomes of pregnancy. Ensuring a healthy nutritional status and lifestyle prior to and during pregnancy is one of the best ways to help support the healthy growth and development of the unborn child. We will look at how a healthy diet and lifestyle should ideally be achieved prior to conception and provide recommendations for pre-conception counselling of women.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado System

Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children (Coursera)

Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what interventions you performed and why you did them.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Understanding Obesity (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Understanding Obesity (Coursera)

In this course, we’ll look at the facts and misconceptions around obesity and discuss key physiological and psychological concepts around the brain’s control of appetite and body weight. We’ll consider the biological and environmental pressures that make it easy to gain weight (and hard to lose it!). Most importantly, we'll give you the opportunity to reflect on your own knowledge and assumptions around the subject.

Nov 2nd 2026
4 Weeks
Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2 (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2 (Coursera)

This course, Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2, addresses public health issues of people affected by disasters, both natural or conflict-related. It discusses the many changes that occur in people’s lives when they are uprooted by a disaster, including many important topics related to humanitarian crises, such as when there is an epidemic a public health emergency; what do we mean with the humanitarian development nexus; what are the basics of disaster epidemiology and surveillance; humanitarian principles; and other very relevant topics. We will explore what humanitarian interventions could look like if we want to mitigate the effects of disasters.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Unravelling solutions for Future Food problems (Coursera) Coursera
Universiteit Utrecht

Unravelling solutions for Future Food problems (Coursera)

Our society depends on the availability of food and accessibility to it. According to the United Nations nearly 800 million people are hungry and on the other hand, over 650 million people are obese. While many people in developing countries experience food shortage, in industrialized countries people are throwing food away. These facts show how paradoxical and complex the world’s food problem is.

Nov 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Healthy Practices: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Community and Family Participation (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado System

Healthy Practices: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Community and Family Participation (Coursera)

In this course you will find a comprehensive overlook of healthy practices in public schools in the USA, including: physical activity and nutrition in the school setting. We will review the basics of some of the regulatory programs found in the United States that support healthy students through nutrition education and nutrition programs. You will be able to explain some of the nutritional components such as, alternatives to the use of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. Many of these principles can be applied to students in schools throughout the globe.

Nov 2nd 2026
4 Weeks
Stanford's Short Course on Breastfeeding (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University

Stanford's Short Course on Breastfeeding (Coursera)

Stanford's Short Course on Breastfeeding was designed for new mothers and the people who support them. This engaging, one-week learning experience, provides participants with everything they need to know to more successfully establish breastfeeding – or support a new mother who has decided to breastfeed. We created the course because we recognize that there is a very small window in which successful, exclusive breastfeeding can be established, and that many new mothers are mastering this skill during a busy and sometimes stressful time.

Nov 16th 2026
1 Week
Actualización en el manejo del paciente con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Actualización en el manejo del paciente con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (Coursera)

Este curso está diseñado para ofrecer información actualizada sobre el manejo del paciente con diabetes mellitus tipo 2, con la finalidad de mejorar su atención médica. El curso está dirigido a médicos y profesionales sanitarios que tienen contacto con pacientes diabéticos; con ello, se busca disminuir la morbimortalidad de esta enfermedad y mejorar la calidad de vida de quienes la padecen.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks