AWHONN Insights Podcast

In recognition of National Diaper Need Awareness Week and the start of a new school year, we discuss the nationwide issues of diaper need and period poverty. Dr. Tabitha Poole and Lacey Gero are passionate about these issues and share the stats and resources from the National Diaper Bank Network and the advocacy on basic needs informed care. Listen to find out how you can be a changemaker in this space.

Tabitha Poole, DNP, RNC-OB, C-EFM

Dr. Tabitha Poole has dedicated her career to Obstetrics and Neonatal care. She has extensive experience in these areas and currently serves as the director of Women’s Services at a hospital in central Texas as well as a clinical instructor for obstetrics in a BSN program.

Driven by a deep passion for human rights and health equity, Dr. Poole actively contributes to this cause through her clinical practice, leadership, advocacy work, and education provision. As a forever student, she continuously seeks to expand her knowledge and skills in order to better serve and advocate for her patients and the community. Dr. Poole serves on multiple AWHONN committees and is an AWHONN SIG chair and co-leader of her local chapter.

Lacey Gero, MPH, CHES

Lacey Gero is the Director of Government Relations at the National Diaper Bank Network, where she passionately advocates for policies that alleviate diaper need and period poverty in the United States. With a background in public health and a deep commitment to social justice, Lacey leverages her expertise in legislative processes and community engagement to collaborate with state governments, lawmakers, and basic needs banks.

The post Addressing Diaper Need and Period Poverty appeared first on AWHONN.

Join us as we talk to Angie and Kate, two nurses who became maternal health advocates after surviving their own harrowing birth-related complications. You’ll learn what it’s like to sometimes know too much, how peer support for birth trauma survivors can impact recovery, and what nurses can do to save lives.

Kate McMeekin, WHNP-BC 

Kate McMeekin is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) specializing in OBGYN. After giving birth to her first son at 29 weeks due to preeclampsia with HELLP syndrome, Kate went back to school to become a nurse. She spent several years working in the ED and PACU. During her second pregnancy, she was diagnosed with placenta accreta, requiring a cesarean hysterectomy. This inspired her to become a WHNP, where she cares for women during the prenatal and postpartum period.

Kate’s an active board member of the National Accreta Foundation, a Patient Family Partner with MoMMa’s Voices, and a member of the Colorado MMRC. She’s currently pursuing a post-graduate certification as a psych mental health nurse practitioner to better serve patients with perinatal mental health disorders.

Angela Lee, RN, BSN, C-EFM

Angie Lee is a seasoned nurse with over 16 years of experience. Although she initially started in a medical surgical unit, her passion steered her toward opportunities in women’s and children’s health.

After 1.5 years in the field, Angie embraced the adventure of travel nursing for a year. In 2012, she found her home in labor and delivery at Novant Health-Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Throughout the years, Angie’s dedication and expertise flourished, leading her to serve as a preceptor and eventually as team lead in 2017.

Angie experienced postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and recognizes the imperative need for enhanced assessments to promptly detect bleeding. As a PPH survivor, her mission has become to ensure all patients receive the quality care they deserve, emphasizing the swift identification of any potential issues.

The post Nurses Turned Advocates: Surviving and Thriving After Birth Trauma appeared first on AWHONN.

In this episode, we dive into the complex world of maternal mental health with a spotlight on postpartum depression and anxiety and the challenges of sleep deprivation. Join us as we explore the emotional and physical toll that new motherhood can bring and uncover practical strategies for the support and care of postpartum families.

Adrienne Griffen, MPP 

Adrienne Griffen is the Executive Director of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA). It’s a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the mental health of mothers and childbearing people in the United States with a focus on national policy and health equity.

MMHLA advocates for improved maternal mental health care and serves as a trusted source of information related to maternal mental health. MMHLA’s advocacy efforts have led to almost $200 million in federal funding for maternal mental health programs at the national and state levels.

Adrienne serves on the National Maternal Mental Health Task Force and on the Boards of Directors of the Marce Society of North America, and the Mental Health Liaison Group. She also founded Postpartum Support Virginia, which she led for ten years, building a statewide network of support groups and maternal mental health coalitions that have helped thousands of new mothers.

The post Leading the Charge to Improve Maternal Mental Health appeared first on AWHONN.

Join us during National Breastfeeding Month as we delve into the world of infant feeding with two leading experts who overcame breastfeeding challenges. We’ll discuss their passion for infant feeding and skin-to-skin care, how they’ve achieved career success in clinical practice and publishing, and their solution-oriented visions for the future of infant feeding.

Britt Pados, PhD, NNP, IBCLC 

Dr. Pados is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, and Certified Trauma-Informed Professional at Infant Feeding Care in Massachusetts. She provides care to infants who are struggling with breastfeeding and bottle-feeding difficulties. She also owns Infant Feeding Labs, an independent lab that tests flow rates of infant bottle nipples/teats. Her research has focused on feeding infants and young children, including those with medical complexity, assessment of feeding disorders, and gastrointestinal symptoms. She’s a mom of three, including a set of twins who were born prematurely and a full-term baby who experienced bottle-feeding aversion.

Gloria Dudney, RN, IBCLC, RLC

Gloria has been practicing Maternal and Child Nursing for 31 years and became board-certified as a Registered Lactation Consultant following a challenging breastfeeding journey with her own child. As Director of Lactation Services for East Tennessee State University Health, she provides prenatal and postpartum lactation consults as well as clinical rotations for resident physicians in the OB and Pediatrics departments. Gloria advocates for risk-appropriate lactation care with a focus on prenatal preparation for the infant feeding journey and speaks nationally on these topics. Her vision statement is, “If mom’s ok, everybody’s ok.” Her mission statement is, “Make mom ok.”

The post Navigating Infant Feeding and Overcoming Breastfeeding Challenges appeared first on AWHONN.

Join us as we discuss perinatal mood disorders and their impact on pregnant and postpartum people. Tune in to hear about resources available for those in need, perinatal yoga as a coping tool, and foundational support to help parents achieve their optimal mental health status. Our guests from the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for POC Postpartum Support International share tips for how you can support your patients experiencing PMAD.

Andrea Clark Horton 

Andrea Clark Horton is the Director of the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color. She’s an attorney and ordained minister and counselor who’s passionate about the holistic well-being of God’s people especially those in marginalized communities. As Staff Chaplain for Women’s Health at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, she cared for the spiritual and emotional needs of families experiencing pregnancy complications, infant loss, and terminal illness in adults. Her work with women in this setting introduced Andrea to a passion for researching and understanding what role narrative and storytelling play in black women’s mental and emotional health and well-being.

Currently enrolled a PhD Student in Religion and Psychology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Andrea is training to become a licensed clinical professional counselor. In years past, she’s served with the Chicago Board of Education and directed an outreach program serving homeless and disconnected young adults in Chicago and Evanston, IL. She’s also a past recipient of the National Bar Association’s Nation’s Best Advocates 40 Under 40 Award. Her first book, HERstory, Volume 1: She is Strong was released in 2022.

Patience Riley, NCC, LPC, PMH-C

Patience Riley is the Communications Manager for the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color. She’s also a Licensed Professional Counselor certified in Perinatal Mental Health, RETAIN Certified Parental Leave Coach, certified in perinatal yoga, and a 200-hr yoga teacher trainee working with clients in Georgia and Nebraska. Patience shares her expertise through her blog WHOA MAMA and has been featured on other media outlets such as Vanity Fair London, Vogue Singapore, The Wall Street Journal Podcast, and Military Families Magazine.

The post The Impact of Perinatal Mood Disorders appeared first on AWHONN.

Maternal Levels of Care requirements vary across different states. Tune in to learn about navigating rules, strategies for implementing and sustaining quality initiatives, and effective engagement of staff and physicians. You don’t want to miss this episode recorded live during the 2024 AWHONN Convention with a group of dedicated nurse leaders and an AWHONN Board member.

Debbie Ketchum, DNP, MAOM, RN, NEA-BC, RNC-MNN, C-EFM 

Dr. Debbie Ketchum is a transformational Doctor of Nursing practice leader with an extensive maternal/child nursing and leadership background spanning nearly three decades. She began her nursing career as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Army and has worked at large academic, rural settings and ambulatory primarily focusing on obstetrics, the care of women and children, and leadership.

Lauren Kennedy, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM   

Lauren Kennedy has been an obstetrical nurse for over 35 years. She has been an bedside nurse in L&D, Antepartum and a teen pregnancy clinic. She has worked as a charge nurse, preceptor, childbirth educator, Antepartum supervisor & L&D educator. Her current position is Perinatal Quality and Safety for Medical City Dallas. Lauren is also an AWHONN chapter leader for the DFW Metroplex area. 

Allison Rodriguez, MS, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM 

Allison Rodriguez has been a nurse for 17 years. She spent the majority of her years as a labor and delivery nurse and has worked as a perinatal nurse educator for the last seven years. Allison has taught nursing students in the academic setting as well as new and experienced nurses at the bedside. Allison is passionate about improving maternal outcomes and enjoys teaching and inspiring nurses to grow in their career.

Angela Jaynes, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CPLC 

Angela Jaynes has a background as a labor and delivery nurse and currently works as a clinical educator for labor and delivery and mother baby nurses. Angela is passionate about inspiring clinical excellence and has goal to improve maternal morbidity and mortality through quality education. Angela also has a passion for patients that have experienced perinatal loss and teaches Resolve Through Sharing several times a year. 

Heretha Hankins, MSN-ED, RNC   

Heretha Hankins an experienced professional nurse leader and educator. She completed her ADN degree at Austin Community College then earned her MSN degree with a specialty in Education from Walden University. She has spent the last 2 decades of her 30+yr career in Women’s Health.

The post Do You Know Your State’s Maternal Levels of Care Requirements? appeared first on AWHONN.

An AWHONN Board Member joins this panel of changemakers from the Collaborative for Alcohol‐Free Pregnancy, NP’s, Midwives, and Nurses partnering to prevent FASDs at the 2024 AWHONN Convention. Together, we learn more about neurodiversity, living with FASD, and implementing evidence-based care practices that reduce stigma and educate about the risks of substance and alcohol use while pregnant. Join us as we delve into the complex nature of people; then add your name to the champion list.

Co-host: Jessica Irrobali, MSN, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, C-EFM and Kimber Stovesand, RN, BSN

Dr. Mary Dawn Koenig

Dr. Mary Dawn Koenig is an AWHONN Board Member and Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. She’s been active in the care of pregnant people for over 27 years. The overarching aim of her research is to improve maternal and child health outcomes, specifically by studying how these outcomes are affected by the bidirectional relationship between nutritional status and the development and function of the body’s immune and inflammatory response. Dr. Koenig has served as an AWHONN abstract reviewer and corresponding and panel member of the Research Advisory Panel. She’s also volunteered as a community advisory board member for the March of Dimes. Dr. Koenig works with the community organization NewMoms where she develops programming related to nutrition, meal planning, and stress reduction techniques.

Regina Schumaker 

Gina Schumaker is an advocate who experiences Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). She was unaware of having this disability until receiving the diagnosis at the age of 50. She had long blamed herself for her challenges, but now that she understands she has a brain-based disability, she’s much more forgiving of herself. Gina utilizes the variety of available strategies that help her and advocates so that clinicians and the general public can learn how to work with someone with a brain-based difference. She’s making that happen as a Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the Alaska Center for FASD.

Lily Bastian, CNM

Lily Bastian dedicates her practice to providing comprehensive midwifery care to all individuals. She clinically teaches Student Nurse-Midwives, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners and OBGYN Residents. Lily’s research interests include the evaluation of psychosocial issues with young people living with HIV, trauma-informed care, sexual and reproductive health, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) prevention. She earned her Master’s in Nursing with a Specialty in Certified Nurse-Midwifery (CNM) from the Yale School of Nursing and holds a Bachelor Degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Alexandra Edwards, MA, MPH

Alexandra Edwards is a senior research professional with the Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services at the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Among her current projects, she manages the Women’s Health Nurses and Midwives Collaborate for Alcohol-Free Pregnancy which aims to increase awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and the promote evidence-based strategies to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies to advanced practice nurses, women’s health nurses, and midwives. Her research interests include the relationship between health, disease and culture, culture-based perceptions of health and disease, and health communication.

The post Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – The Nurse’s Role appeared first on AWHONN.

Dr. Nastassia Harris’ passion and commitment as a nurse and IBCLC is inspiring. She shares her motivation to advocate for black moms and babies and steps to empower those in her Essex County, NJ community. Tune in for how you can best connect moms, birthing people, and babies to local resources that support positive health outcomes.

Co-host: LaShea Haynes, M.Ed, MSN, AGCNS-BC, APRN, RNC, C-EFM

Dr. Nastassia Harris:

Dr. Nastassia Harris is a registered nurse and IBCLC with more than 19 years of experience in perinatal care, specializing in improving Black maternal and infant health. She founded The Perinatal Health Equity Initiative in 2018, to promote equitable healthcare practices. She’s also engaged in advocacy through the Jegna Council and Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Her research highlights critical issues like implicit bias and obstetrical violence and has been published in Health Affairs and JOGNN. Major media outlets such as PBS and CNN recognize her groundbreaking work. Dr. Harris stands as a beacon in eliminating racial disparities through her expertise and passion in maternal and infant health advocacy and she’s the recipient of the AWHONN 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Award.

The post When Nursing Meets Reproductive Justice, A Community-Based Approach appeared first on AWHONN.

Advocate for patients by centering their needs and asking how they want to receive care. Dr. Tracey Vogel supports nurses in shifting their thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors to better advocate for patients and their needs. This episode packs tools into your toolbox!

Co-host: Jennifer Peterman, BSN, RN, IBCLC

Dr. Vogel’s family story used with permission

Dr. Tracey Vogel:

Dr. Vogel speaks nationally and internationally about birth trauma and the need for trauma awareness in obstetrics and promotes medical “centers of excellence” in providing trauma-informed care for obstetric patients. In the hospital setting, she evaluates quality assurance processes, educates and trains nurses, residents, and medical students, and creates care plans for high-risk obstetric patients including those with prior sexual trauma, opioid tolerance, substance use disorders, and mental health concerns. Dr. Vogel is on the governor’s HEAL PA Taskforce that seeks to make Pennsylvania a trauma-aware state. She received her MD from the University of Pittsburgh and finished her anesthesia training, including a fellowship in obstetric anesthesiology at Stanford University.

Other Resources

The post Effective, Trauma-Informed Perinatal Care appeared first on AWHONN.

Nurses Cheniqua Morales and Tenesia Richards were both determined to be successful. Here’s how their journeys collided to bring forth joy in leadership despite the obstacles. Your village will not let you fall!

Co-hosts: Jamie Agunsday, MA, MSN, RNC-OB and Kimber Stovesand, RN, BSN

Cheniqua Morales, BSN, RN, RNC-MNN, C-EFM, C-ONQS:

Cheniqua Morales is a perinatal patient safety nurse at New York Presbyterian’s Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. For more than a decade, she’s served as an obstetrical nurse in quality and safety, direct clinical care, and as a community outreach leader in New York City.

She holds multiple certifications with the National Certification Corporation including Obstetrical & Newborn Quality and Safety, Maternal Newborn Nursing, and Electronic Fetal Monitoring. Cheniqua’s passion for empowering nurses and love of teaching has led her to enroll with SUNY Empire State College where she is currently earning her master’s degree in nursing education. She’s an active AWHONN member and a 2022-2023 graduate of the Emerging Leaders Program. Her leadership roles include AWHONN Section Advisory Member, New York City Chapter Leader, Emerging Leader Mentor, OPS Instructor, and EFM Instructor.

Cheniqua’s passion for nursing and equitable outcomes drive her career path, however, work-life balance is an essential core value. She protects her time to create beautiful memories with her daughter, friends, and family. She receives inspiration from spending quality time traveling the world, exploring the beauty of New York City, or planning family game nights because she’s intentional about making space for those people most important in her life.

About Tenesia Richards, EMPA, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, CCE, C-EFM: 

Tenesia Richards transitioned from clinical nursing to community outreach at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, driven by a desire to address health disparities. With a background in Labor & Delivery nursing and a master’s in public administration, she founded initiatives like Health Equity Alliance 4 Life (HEAL) to tackle maternal health inequities.

As a Clinical Community Outreach Coordinator, Tenesia orchestrates outreach programs to enhance healthcare quality and diminish disparities in underserved communities. Her journey from volunteer nurse to community leader embodies her commitment to bridging the gap between hospitals and communities, emphasizing the importance of addressing social determinants of health and racial disparities in maternal health care.

Tenesia is a 2022-2023 graduate of AWHONN’s Emerging Leader Program and currently serves on the national AWHONN Membership Committee. Together with her colleague Cheniqua Morales, she has launched the AWHONN NYC Chapter, aiming to further the mission of combating the maternal health crisis in NYC by fostering collaboration and connection among nurses.

The post Valuing the Village In Black Nursing Leadership appeared first on AWHONN.