Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Tennessee

Explore your state's policies: 2026 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap - Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center

Key Takeaways

Investing in the prenatal through age three period matters because the science shows these years set the foundation for lifelong health, so policy should target this window deliberately. States can learn from peers because policies that succeed in similar regional and cultural contexts, such as Kentucky's child care subsidy for educators, offer tested models Tennessee can adapt. Broad economic supports like paid leave, tax credits, and higher wages affect multiple outcomes at once, including birth outcomes, which makes them high-impact investments for families. Tennessee's minimum wage of $7.25 suppresses earnings across the workforce, so raising wages would both reduce family poverty and improve maternal health outcomes. Many effective programs in every state are underutilized simply because families and communities are unaware of them, making public education a practical first step toward better outcomes.

Quotable Moments

"The science of the developing child, as Jack Shonkoff from Harvard says, was screaming at us."

"Child care is what we call a failed market. We simply cannot produce enough of child care at a price that families can afford."

"And you have 18 years to save for your kids to go to college, and you have 18 seconds to get your kid on a wait list once you find out that you're pregnant."

"We're really trying to make it so that every kid gets off to this healthy start and thrives and reach their optimal potential."

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

• HEART RESERVE website
• Build My Heart Story — the free online tool for organizing health history and questions before an appointment.
• My Heart Story — one-page printable worksheet
• Your Health Story After the NICU — direct printable handout
• NICU mothers’ resource page and online worksheet
• Peter and Maurice — our family’s blog, sharing our twin pregnancy, fetal surgery and NICU journey.
• My HEART RESERVE podcast on Spotify
• Instagram: @herheartreserve
• My LinkedIn profile

Key Takeaways

Adverse pregnancy outcomes are now recognized as legitimate cardiovascular risk factors; knowing your pregnancy history is essential for lifelong heart health monitoring and prevention strategies.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women—surpassing all cancers combined—yet remains underdiagnosed and undertreated due to lack of awareness about pregnancy-related risk factors and symptom recognition.

Prevention is actionable and powerful; small lifestyle modifications (increased fiber, weight training, sleep, stress management) can significantly alter cardiovascular prognosis without requiring dramatic life changes.

Baseline health assessments in younger years (20s-30s) provide critical reference points for detecting changes and enabling earlier intervention, shifting focus from preventing death to building reserve for quality of life at 80.

Community support and open communication—from family members checking in on new mothers to clinicians asking "How do you feel?"—can identify overlooked cardiac symptoms in postpartum women who prioritize babies over their own health.

Quotable Moments

"Heart disease is the number one killer of women, more than every cancer combined. And we're all very good at getting our mammograms and getting our pap tests. But many of us don't realize that heart disease is really the number one killer."

"Pregnancy is your body's very first stress test. The strain that puts on our body and on our heart, if there is any underlining issue, pregnancy will 100% bring it out."

"Acknowledging these risk factors is not a sentence for heart disease. If you know that you have these risk factors, it doesn't automatically mean that you're doomed and you're going to develop heart disease. Knowledge is power."

"Building muscle is what provides this protection and what gives us this reserve. And then not only just to live the life we want, but if devastating things happen, it is this muscle reserve that is going to help us and get us through these difficult times."

Show Notes by Barevalue.

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

Exclusive Human Milk Diet for Extremely Premature Infants: A Novel Fortification Strategy That Enhances the Bioactive Properties of Fresh, Frozen, and Pasteurized Milk Specimens

Beyond Necrotizing Enterocolitis Prevention: Improving Outcomes with an Exclusive Human Milk–Based Diet

Exclusive human milk diet is associated with lower risk of motor function impairment at three years of corrected age

An exclusively human milk-based diet is associated with a lower rate of necrotizing enterocolitis than a diet of human milk and bovine milk-based products

Research findings infographic

Key Takeaways

Human milk is a complex living substance with irreplaceable bioactive components—not merely a nutritional source. Education about milk's protective and developmental benefits must precede feeding decisions.

Early, consistent breastfeeding support (skin-to-skin, first oral feeding at breast, supplementation at breast) significantly improves maternal success rates compared to delayed introduction or bottle-feeding protocols.

Human milk-based fortifiers represent a clinical advancement allowing premature infants to receive complete nutrition while preserving bioactive factors present in human milk, unlike cow milk-based alternatives.

Shared decision-making and trauma-informed care practices—asking families about pre-NICU feeding goals rather than imposing directive protocols—increase maternal milk production and breastfeeding continuation rates.

Systemic NICU change requires sustained leadership buy-in, frontline champion support, ongoing staff education, and policy alignment with stated values; knowledge alone does not guarantee behavioral change.

Quotable Moments

"Human milk is not just a nice-to-have. It is nutrition, protection, and a relationship all at once."

"It is something that we cannot replicate yet. And we are finally understanding how much we have to learn from human milk and how much better the mother's milk is than anything else that we can provide."

"You can't really put human milk in one bucket. It does many things. And there are growth factors. There are live cells. There are bioactive factors that help other factors do things, not just protein, carbohydrates, and fat."

"If you want to breastfeed, we basically take that as we're going to do everything we can to help you be successful at breastfeeding. And if you want to introduce bottles later, that's fine. You'll have that opportunity. But in order to be successful at breastfeeding, you have to be

successful at breastfeeding. It's really hard to learn two things at once."

"Human milk for human babies. It's that simple."

Show Notes by Barevalue.

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1‑800‑799‑SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788 (US) or use local emergency services if you’re in immediate danger.

1. Client Materials - https://ofs.nashville.gov/client-materials/ This includes local and state contact information, but it also includes a library of every material we have created for survivors and loved ones
2. https://ofs.nashville.gov/get-to-know-us/what-we-do/training-and-outreach/ this includes all of our training tools and information to access on demand resources
3. https://www.womenslaw.org/about-abuse/helping-others/doctors-and-health-care-workers additional resources specifically for healthcare providers

HARK Scale - https://cde.nlm.nih.gov/formView?tinyId=Xk5t0lqFz

WEB Screening - https://dbhds.virginia.gov/library/mental%20health%20services/scrn-pw-web.pdf

Key Takeaways

Interpersonal violence is pervasive and multifaceted—multiple forms often coexist in a single survivor's experience, requiring providers to look beyond physical injuries and ask about isolation, control, and reproductive coercion.

Healthcare settings offer unique opportunities for early intervention because survivors frequently seek care for pregnancy, injuries, or health complications without formally reporting abuse to law enforcement.

Effective screening requires normalizing conversations about safety for all patients using routine, non-judgmental language and ensuring privacy by speaking with patients alone, without partners or untrained interpreters present.

Providers need not be domestic violence experts—their role is to create safe space, listen without judgment, validate experiences, and make warm referrals to specialized local and national resources.

Breaking isolation is one of the most powerful interventions; simply letting someone know they are believed, not alone, and that support exists can diminish an abuser's control and plant seeds for future safety planning.

Quotable Moments

"Interpersonal violence can take a variety of forms. They can include domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking. I think one of the most important things to understand is that these forms of violence don't necessarily happen in isolation."

"Pregnancy can be a particularly vulnerable time for someone experiencing intimate partner violence. Abuse may begin during pregnancy or an existing pattern of abuse may escalate."

"Healthcare settings are often one of the few places where survivors have an opportunity to speak with someone privately and to access support that is confidential."

"Our goal isn't for you to be a domestic violence or interpersonal violence expert. It's not even for you to get someone to disclose abuse during a particular appointment. It's really about creating an environment where patients feel safe and supported."

"Just planting that seed, opening that door, letting someone know that we're there."

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

Main website: https://www.tn.gov/health/nbs.html

Prenatal Education Flipbook English- https://navigatenbs.expectinghealth.org/tennessee-edit-expecting-health-english-final_prenatal-flipb/full-view.html

Prenatal Education Flipbook Spanish- https://navigatenbs.expectinghealth.org/tennessee-edit-expecting-health-spanish-june-1-2021-final_pi/full-view.html

Refusal Education Flyer for families and healthcare providers: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/2025-notcom/NBHS%20refusal%20form.pdf

Training request form: If a provider office would like to collect newborn screening blood spot, I can provide them training and obtain supplies: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/program-areas/newborn-screening/NBS-Visit-Request-Form.pdf

Key Takeaways

Newborn screening is a critical three-part process that identifies serious metabolic, cardiac, and hearing conditions within the first 24-36 hours of life, enabling early intervention that can dramatically improve outcomes.

Prenatal education about newborn screening is significantly more effective than postnatal education, as families retain information better before labor and delivery when they are not fatigued or medicated.

Accurate documentation on newborn screening filter paper forms—including correct pediatrician contact information and current addresses—is essential for timely notification and follow-up of abnormal results.

Healthcare providers should approach hesitant families with calm, accurate information rather than shame or legal threats, recognizing that refusal often stems from exhaustion and lack of understanding rather than firm conviction.

Confirmatory testing through hemoglobin electrophoresis is necessary for any positive hemoglobin results, particularly for college athletes, as newborn screening results alone are insufficient for clinical decision-making in older children and adolescents.

Tennessee families with positive newborn screening results have access to five major genetic endocrine and hematology centers that provide expedited specialty care and family-to-family support networks.

Quotable Moments

"Early testing for early identification that leads to early intervention" — Hilary Freiman, on the fundamental benefit of newborn screening

"All of the families in both our focus group and these different studies and papers said that they wished that they had received education prenatally and wished that their prenatal provider or OBGYN would have provided some information beforehand" — Hilary Freiman, on the importance of prenatal education

"We do not press charges, nor have I heard of a hospital system pressing charges" — Hilary Freiman, clarifying that despite legal language on refusal forms, the newborn screening program does not prosecute families who refuse screening

"If we identify these infants early and provide early intervention, they can go on to live a near normal life" — Hilary Freiman, on the lifechanging impact of newborn screening even for rare conditions

Show Notes by Barevalue.

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

www.TNTrafficSafety.org (links for training classes)

www.CarSeatSafety.kids - all Things Child Passenger Safety for CPS week - calendar of events, FAQs, Ages, Stages, TN Law, etc.

This episode of Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby Tennessee features Julie Brewer from the Tennessee Occupant Safety Center discussing child passenger safety during Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week. Julie shares her 20-year journey in traffic safety and injury prevention, explaining the role of child passenger safety technicians and the four-day national certification process. The conversation focuses on common car seat installation mistakes, developmental stages for transitioning between rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster seats, and how parents can access professional car seat fitting assistance to ensure optimal protection for their children.

Key Takeaways

Proper car seat installation requires attention to three critical elements: using the top tether strap, ensuring snug harness fit, and locking the vehicle seatbelt in a fixed position to reduce crash injuries.

Parents should prioritize manufacturer instructions and avoid rushing children through car seat stages; rear-facing provides optimal protection for the head, neck, and spine regardless of age.

Child passenger safety technicians receive comprehensive national training covering vehicle systems, car seat mechanics, and communication skills across a four-day certification course.

Certified fitting stations and community outreach events provide accessible resources for parents to gain hands-on education and confidence in protecting their children during vehicle travel.

Quotable Moments

"I love the idea of helping kids stay safe."

"You don't know what you don't know."

"By fixing those three things, it would really reduce a lot of risk in the crash."

Show Notes by Barevalue.

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

[email protected] | Website: MyMilkBank.org

Key Takeaways

Donor human milk is medicine, not merely nutrition—it clinically reduces serious complications in preterm infants and serves as a critical bridge when mothers' own milk is unavailable or delayed.

Financial barriers should never prevent access to donor milk; organizations must implement sliding-scale fees and seek philanthropic support to ensure equitable access across all socioeconomic levels.

Donor screening and collection processes must prioritize convenience and flexibility—offering seven-day availability and flexible scheduling increases participation and expands the milk supply available to vulnerable infants.

Milk banking requires rigorous safety protocols including health verification, lab work, pasteurization, and third-party bacteriological screening to ensure a safe, regulated product for vulnerable populations.

Strategic partnerships with healthcare facilities, community organizations, and philanthropic donors are essential to sustain and expand milk banking services across regional and multi-state networks.

Quotable Moments

"For premature and medically vulnerable infants, donor milk is more than just nutrition, it's medicine."

"Up to 60% of moms that have babies in the NICU do not have enough milk to provide to their baby. And so that's where donor milk plays such a key part in providing a bridge and a safe bridge as a viable source of nutrition."

"We never want, as I said, for families to not be able to access milk because of financial situations."

"Having donor human milk in well-baby nurseries promotes breastfeeding. It has been shown to improve breastfeeding rates moms are able to breastfeed longer because they're able to establish their supply."

"Everyone's familiar with blood banking and understands its impact, but very few people understand what milk banking is about and our impact."

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

A secretsafeplacetn.org

The 24/7 Tennessee statewide Safe Haven helpline is 1-866-699-7233 and the National Safe Haven helpline is 1-888-510-2229.

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free, confidential, and here to help, 24/7 and the number is 1-833-TLC-MAMA.

Postpartum support internatioal warmline is Call PSI HelpLine:

1-800-944-4773

#1 En Español or #2 English

Text “Help” to 800-944-4773 (EN)

Text en Español: 971-203-7773

Key Takeaways

Tennessee's Safe Haven Law provides a legal, anonymous, and compassionate option for mothers unable to care for newborns, protecting both infants from abandonment and mothers from prosecution when surrendered within 45 days at designated facilities.

The surrender process prioritizes maternal choice and dignity through trained staff, private rooms, comprehensive information packets, and support resources, recognizing the emotional complexity of the decision.

Over 1,500 accessible facilities statewide—including hospitals, police stations, fire departments, and urgent care clinics—ensure geographic availability, with a 24/7 helpline and online locator tool for mothers seeking assistance.

Legal protections include a 30-day reclamation window for both mother and father, with matching ID bracelets enabling identification if either parent changes their mind and contacts DCS.

Mothers in crisis should know that safe haven surrender is not about "giving up" but about choosing life and safety for their newborn while accessing maternal support resources and mental health services.

Quotable Moments

"Safe haven isn't about giving up, but it is about choosing life for your newborn child."

"If there is a mother out there that is listening, maybe you are facing a crisis and you feel desperate and you're convinced that there isn't another way, there isn't another option. I hope that you hear this message that there is a safe and compassionate option awaiting you."

"The surrender would need to take place at a designated safe haven facility. And the baby would need to be surrendered to a staff member of that facility. So mom cannot pull up to the facility in her car and place the baby and a baby carrier on the sidewalk."

Show Notes by Barevalue.

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

TN Breastfeeding Hotline 1-855-4BF-MOMS (1-855-423-6667)

@drsarahbetheriksen on instagram, facebook and Youtube

@flow.breastfeeding on instagram and facebook

Key Takeaways

Breastfeeding medicine is now a formal, board-certified medical specialty requiring a two-year fellowship, distinct from lactation consulting and offering diagnostic and prescriptive capabilities.

Normal milk supply (25-30 ounces daily) rarely includes large surplus; families should be reassured that "having just enough" is the most common and appropriate production level.

A comprehensive diagnostic approach to breastfeeding challenges requires examining maternal medical history, medications, birth circumstances, and physical findings alongside infant assessment.

Prenatal breastfeeding education and establishing a support plan before challenges arise significantly reduces stress and improves outcomes when difficulties occur postpartum.

Partner support is the strongest predictor of breastfeeding success; including partners in clinical visits and ensuring their understanding of the feeding plan is essential.

The mental health and overall well-being of the parent must take priority; feeding method should support rather than undermine the parent's ability to enjoy and connect with their baby.

Quotable Moments

"A normal milk supply is normal. And that is between about 25 and 30 ounces per day for a term baby or one week old."

"The most important thing a baby needs is a mentally and physically healthy parent who can provide a safe and nurturing relationship with them."

"Partner support is the strongest predictor of meeting breastfeeding goals."

"We have so many tools now that are just right at our disposal. We really have access to that information very quickly."

"It's one of the most important things families can do because it gives us an opportunity to prepare them proactively for challenges that they may face."

Show Notes by Barevalue.

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.

ABM protocol

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #21: Breastfeeding in the Setting of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder (Revised 2023)

Infant Risk Center

Tennessee Breastfeeding Hotline at 1-855-4BF-MOMS (1-855-423-6667)

Post Partum Support International

Breastfeeding is not contraindicated for mothers in stable medication-assisted treatment; modern ABM protocols support initiation with appropriate multidisciplinary follow-up including SUD care, lactation, and mental health services.

Breast milk's unique benefits for opioid-exposed infants—including colostrum's protective properties and comfort during withdrawal—make it particularly valuable; however, exclusive breastfeeding may not be realistic given these infants' high metabolic needs, requiring planned supplementation.

The amount of MAT transferred through breast milk is negligible and not bioavailable; educating mothers and families on this fact directly counters the primary misconception preventing breastfeeding initiation.

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders require careful assessment; breastfeeding can support recovery or worsen mental health depending on individual circumstances—flexible, individualized approaches prioritize maternal wellbeing as essential to infant wellbeing.

Accessible resources (Infant Risk Center, Tennessee Breastfeeding Hotline, LactMed, insurance-covered in-home lactation visits) enable clinicians without IBCLC support to make evidence-based decisions; establishing hospital protocols and escalation pathways prevents outdated blanket restrictions.

Quotable Moments

"My main goal is helping women to be the best mother that they can be. I want to decrease stigma and definitely improve child outcomes."

"Breast milk is what will comfort those symptoms. That in the early days, that colostrum is such a protective factor. It's thick, it's rich, it coats the intestine, and it's so easy to digest that it requires less work of the gut."

"You can't give from an empty cup. And you've got to take care of yourself and your baby needs a completely healthy mom, mentally and physically."

"Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing... MAT allows these women to lead normal, happy lives. It's what helps them be a good mother."

Show Notes by Barevalue

No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.