Frequently Asked Questions:

🌿 BIRTH SUMMIT 2026

📅 25–28 May 2026 | 100% Virtual | Global Access

Q. Who is hosting Birth Summit 2026?

A: Birth Summit 2026 is hosted by The Microbiome Plan 2026, the virtual conference held by Toni Harman and Alex Wakeford. Toni and Alex are the filmmakers behind the award-winning documentary MICROBIRTH. Toni and Alex, and their company Alto Films Ltd, are completely independent. We have no affiliations with, and receive no income from, any other organisation or company.

Q. When is the event?

Monday 25th May to Thursday 28th May.

Doors open on Monday 25th May at 4am Pacific Time, 7am Eastern Time, 12 noon UK time.

Each day during Birth Summit 2026, you'll have access to 4 expert presentations for 24 hours.

Q. Can I have longer access?

Yes, if for Standard (USD$67), Bursary (USD $27) or Premium (USD $147) tickets - you get ONE YEAR ACCESS

STANDARD

USD $67: 10 HOURS CPD/CE (for waged professionals)

Includes ONE YEAR ACCESS to the conference recordings + 10 Hours CPD/CE which may be accepted for 10 CERPs by IBLCE + transcripts + audio + certificate for USD $67.

PURCHASE FOR USD $67 ON THIS LINK >>> CLICK HERE <<<

BURSARY

USD $27 10 HOURS CPD/CE (for unemployed, students, low-waged (in your opinion), or if you are from a low-income country)

Includes ONE YEAR ACCESS to the conference recordings + 10 Hours CPD/CE which may be accepted for 10 CERPs by IBLCE + transcripts + audio + certificate for USD $27.

PURCHASE BURSARY TICKET FOR USD $27 ON THIS LINK >>> CLICK HERE <<<

PREMIUM

USD $147 - with 27 HOURS CPD/CE (for waged professionals)

Includes ONE YEAR ACCESS to the conference recordings + Bonus Breast Milk & Infant Microbiome Course + 27 Hours CPD/CE which may be accepted for 27 CERPs by IBLCE + transcripts + audio + certificate for USD $147.

PURCHASE FOR USD $147 ON THIS LINK >>> CLICK HERE <<<

Q. Can I use CPD credits for IBLCE Recertification?

IBLCE® CERP Recertification Information: For full details, please see the IBLCE® Commission Guidelines (links below)

https://ibclc-commission.org/step-1-prepare-for-ibclc-certification/lactation-specific-education/

https://ibclc-commission.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025_December-23_Individual_CERPs_Guide_FINAL.pdf

CERP QUICK SUMMARY:

If the USD $67 (STANDARD) or USD $27 (BURSARY) or $147 (PREMIUM With Bonus Course) tickets are purchased on or after January 1st 2026, according to the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE®) Individual CERPs Guide For Recertification, Section IIIA, education that has been awarded educational credit by another board or organization may be counted as CERPs.

The conference replays (aka Birth Summit 2026) have been awarded 10 HOURS CPD/CE continuing education credits from Australian College of Midwives (ACM) and Midwifery Education Accreditation Countil (MEAC).

10 Hours CPD/CE = which may be accepted as 10 CERPs by IBLCE.

With a USD $147 ticket: The bonus Breast Milk & Infant Microbiome course has been approved for 17 Hours CPD/CE by Australian College of Midwives (ACM) and Midwifery Education Accreditation Countil (MEAC)

Each 1 Hour CPD credit may be accepted as 1 CERP by IBLCE.

1 Hours CPD/CE = which may be accepted as 10 CERPs by IBLCE.

Bonus Course = An extra 17 Hours CPD/CE = which may be accepted as 17 CERPs by IBLCE

Conference + Bonus Course Total = 27 Hours CPD/CE which may be accepted as 27 CERPs by IBLCE

With a USD $147 ticket:

CERP Information for BIRTH SUMMIT 2026 (aka MICROBIOME PLAN 2026 Conference) + Bonus Breast Milk & Infant Microbiome Course

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®)

Lactation specific education:

• Includes in-person presentations, online education, distance learning and independent study modules.
• Education may be from an IBLCE® verified Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERP) Provider, but it is not required to be.
• Education is to be on topics that are specific to lactation and breastfeeding, examples of which can be found on the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline.
• One education hour for 60 minutes of education.

Each 1 Hour CPD credit may be accepted as 1 CERP by IBLCE, total 27 CERPs.

Q. What CPD has been approved for BIRTH SUMMIT 2026 (aka MICROBIOME PLAN 2026 CONFERENCE)?

A. 10 HOURS CPD ENDORSEMENT Australian College of Midwives (APPROVED)

10 HOURS CPD/CE Applied for from Midwifery Educational Accreditation Council (APPROVED)

These are 10 Hours CPD/CE accepted by ACM, MEAC, NMC, and many doula and childbirth education organisations (please check with your provider) - including:

• Australian College of Midwives (ACM)
• Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC)
• National Midwifery Council (NMC)
• Lamaze International
• CAPPA
• ICEA
• DONA International
• BirthWorks International
• 10 CERPs may be accepted by IBLCE

Q. What are the IBLCE® CERP Categories for the Microbiome Plan 2026 conference?

A. CERP Categories for Microbiome Plan 2026 Conference

Detailed Content Outline

I. Development and Nutrition

A. Infant

2. Food intolerances/allergies

·      Ariangela Kovic, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan, Microbiologist & Computational Biologist

·      Interview: Early Priming Of The Infant Immune System To Prevent Allergies

·      Willem De Vos, Professor, Microbiology, Wageningen University & Finland Academy Professor at Helsinki University

·      Interview: The Disappearing Infant Microbiome: Loss of Bifidobacteria, Causes, and Restoration Strategies

TOTAL: 1 HOUR

3. Infant anatomy and anatomical/oral challenges

·      Rodney Dietert, Emeritus Professor of Immunotoxicology, Cornell University

·      Presentation: Revisiting the Completed Self Hypothesis and the Microbe-Driven Path to a Healthy Life

TOTAL: 1 HOUR

8. Nutritional requirements – including preterm

·      Rajinder Gulati, Pediatrician and national trainer for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)

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

·      Raymond Kiu, Computational and experimental microbiologist, University of Birmingham

·      Presentation: Impact Of Early Life Probiotic Treatment On Gut Microbiome And Resistome Of Preterm Infants

·      TOTAL: 1 HOUR

I. Development and Nutrition

B. Maternal

3. Composition of human milk

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

·      Interview: The Chemistry Of Human Milk

·      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

·      TOTAL: 1 HOUR

V. Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology

B. Birth practices

·      Molly O'Brien, Midwife and Educator, Biomechanics of Birth

·      Workshop: Born To Move: Why Movement Matters In Pregnancy And Birth

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

·      Presentation: Mother-To-Infant Microbe Seeding: More Than Meets The Eye

·      TOTAL: 1 HOUR

VI. Techniques

A.    Effective milk transfer (including medically-indicated supplementation)

·     Dee Bell, IBCLC and Founder, The Infant Feeding Academy

·      Interview: Strategies to help breastfeeding after formula supplementation in hospitals.

·      Marcin Pekalski, Immunologist, University of Oxford

·      Presentation: Human Milk, Probiotics And Weaning

TOTAL: 1 HOUR

B. First hour

·      Martina Donaghy, Midwife & International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

·      Workshop: How To Support Skin-To-Skin And Breastfeeding After C-section

·      Kathryn Stagg, IBCLC, Responsive Parenting Twins

·      Workshop: Establishing Initiation of Breastfeeding With Preterm Babies and Multiples

TOTAL: 1 HOUR

H. Skin-to-skin (kangaroo care)

·      Nils Bergman, Neuroscientist & Public Health Physician

·      Presentation: Zero Separation has science, evidence and policy: now what?

·      Francis McGlone, Professor of Neuroscience. Manchester Metropolitan University

·      Interview: Skin-to-skin And Gentle Stroking Touch For The Infant

TOTAL: 1 HOUR

VII. Clinical Skills

B. Education and Communication

4. Educating mothers and families

·      Carol Phillips, DC, Chiropractor and craniosacral therapist

·      Workshop: Dynamic Body Balancing Utilizes A Biomechanical And Craniosacral Approach To Restoring Balance Within The Body Of A Mother And Her Newborn.

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

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

TOTAL: 1 HOUR

5. Educating professionals, peers, and students

·      Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research, Western Sydney University

·      Interview: A Roadmap For Change In Maternity Care

·      Michelle Irving, Lecturer in Midwifery, Bournemouth University

·      Presentation: The Microbiome Matters! What Midwives, And Other Maternity Care Workers, Can Do To Protect It.

TOTAL: 1 HOUR

TOTAL: Which may be accepted as 7 L-CERPs, 3 R-CERPs by IBLCE

Q. What CPD has been approved for BONUS BREAST MILK & INFANT MICROBIOME COURSE?

👉 With a USD $147 ticket:

BONUS Course 17 Hours CPD/CE which may be accepted as 17 L-CERPs by IBLCE for Breast Milk & Infant Microbiome Course (with ONE YEAR ACCESS)

Approved for 17 HOURS CPD Endorsed by Australian College of Midwives (ACM) and 17 Hours CPD/CE approved by Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC).

These are 17 Hours CPD/CE accepted by ACM, MEAC, NMC, and many doula and childbirth education organisations (please check with your provider) - including:

• Australian College of Midwives (ACM)
• Midwifery Educational Accreditation Council (MEAC)
• National Midwifery Council (NMC)
• Lamaze International
• CAPPA
• ICEA
• DONA International
• BirthWorks International
• Which may be accepted as 17 L-CERPs by IBLCE

Q. What are the IBLCE® CERP Categories for the Bonus Breast Milk & Infant Microbome Course?

A. Breast Milk and the Microbiome

17 CPD Hours – approved BY ACM & MEAC

Which may be acccepted as 17 L-CERPs by IBLCE in the following categories as outlined by IBCLC-Commission Detailed Content Outline:

International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.

Detailed Content Outline

I. Development and Nutrition

A. Infant

2. Food intolerances/allergies

·      Session 6: Infant Immune Training

·      Session 6: Further Learning: Infant Immune Training

·      2 HOURS

3. Infant anatomy and anatomical/oral challenges

·      Session 5: HMOs and Microbes In The Infant Gut

·      Session 5: Further Learning: HMOs and Microbes In The Infant Gut

·      2 HOURS

4. WHO guidelines for introducing complementary foods

·      Session 9: HMOs and Infant Formula

·      Session 9: Further Learning: HMOs and Infant Formula

·      1 HOUR

6. Milk banking – formal and informal

·      Session 8: Expressed Milk and Donor Milk

·      1 HOUR

7. Normal infant behaviours

·      Session 6: How HMOs Affect Infant Body Systems

·      Session 6: Further Learning: How HMOs Affect Infant Body Systems

·      2 HOURS

11. Term development and growth

·      Session 8: Further Learning: The Protective Power of Breast Milk

·      1 HOUR

B. Maternal

3. Composition of human milk

·      Session 1: Introduction to human milk

·      Session 1: Further Learning: What is in human milk?

·      Session 2: Microbes in Human Milk

·      Session 2: Further Learning: Microbes in Human Milk

·      Session 3: HMOs in Human Milk

·      Session 3: Further Learning: HMOs in Human Milk

·      6 HOURS

4. Maternal anatomical challenges

·      Session 4: Variations of HMOs in Different Mothers

·      Session 4: Further Learning: Secretors versus Non-secretors

·      2 HOURS

Total 17 HOURS = Which may be accepted as 17 L-CERPs by IBLCE.

Q. Do I need to install any special software?

A. NO. You do not need to download or install any software to participate in our conference. You only need to have access to the Internet.

Q. Can I get a Group Discount?

A: For groups of 10 or more, a 30% discount is available.

Contact us HERE

Q. Can I be an affiliate of Birth Summit 2026?

A: Yes, absolutely! We offer a 30% affiliate fee for any sales that you generate!

Contact us HERE

Q. What if I have another question?

A. A: For any other questions or inquiries, contact: Toni Harman, Producer/ Director, MICROBIRTH contact us here