WBWC is happy to announce Jacquana Smith as its new Director of Lactation. Jacquana brings both her knowledge (degrees in psychology and public health) and her “latched-on personal experience” to Chapel Hill. A 29-year-old mother of four children — ages 7, 5, 3, 1 — Jacquana has been nursing babies nonstop since her first child was born. “I have literally been lactating since May 2012,” Jacquana said. “I hit seven years nursing this month!” Born in New York City, and raised in a small town in Ohio. Jacquana’s focus on families grew while earning her B.A. degree in psychology at the University of Cincinnati and continued while obtaining a master’s degree in public health. Jacquana’s passion is deeply rooted in research, education, and planning. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), she is passionate about lactation and the need for equality and dismantling systemic issues that prevent babies from access to human milk. She has a passion for fighting for inclusion of all families and dedication to infant feeding and birth justice. Jacquana serves as the Conference Program Coordinator 2020 for the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA). She has served as a La Leche League leader on the USA council, and Director of La Leche League USA Breastfeeding Helpline. Jacquana and her husband, Myrell, met at the sweet age of 16 and enjoy exploring museums, homeschooling, and trying new foods with their four kids, Malia, Olivia, Laila, and Mattias. Jacquana sees not just WBWC patients, but can see any mom in the community who needs help with breastfeeding support through WBWC’s Mother Infant Lactation Center (MILC). Jacquana is very interested in community building, bridging the gap in outcomes and making sure all families have the support they need to meet their own breastfeeding goals via an evidence-based care approach. Jacquana is also teaching community educational classes including “Breastfeeding Basics” and “Express Yourself”, a class on pumping and returning to work. She will also be training IBCLC students going through the Mary Rose Tully Training Initiative at UNC. She wants to increase support and education of those in marginalized and underserved communities, when it comes to human milk feeding. “My aim is to support the bigger initiative to dismantle inequalities and reproductive oppression, so that families can feel empowered to make healthy decisions for themselves and their children.” Jacquana’s public health studies included a focus in maternal and child health. She … Read More

By Rebecca Costello, IBCLC, MPH As many of you already know, I am leaving WBWC in mid-May. I’m both so sad to leave such a special place, but also happy to moving closer to family in upstate New York. When I started at WBWC, I had been a lactation consultant for several years already, but all of that experience was in a hospital setting. I felt confident about supporting families days 0-4 after birth, but what about day 5, or day 365, or day 723? I had so much to learn when I started working here, and every single family I have worked with has taught me something. So while patients often thank me for help, really it should be turned around. So THANK YOU to the families who have been so generous in sharing their lives and their struggles, and putting their trust in us here.  I am proud that our lactation team has not only provided excellent care to our patients, but also participates in lactation advocacy, research, and leadership. We have grown so much in the past five and a half years. I am thrilled about my successor, Jacquana Smith – she is bringing so much passion and energy to this role, and I know she is going to do great things here and that you will love getting to know her.  My colleagues here at WBWC – LCs, midwives, nurses, lab, front desk, boutique, everyone! – have also taught me volumes, and have also been the most supportive and dedicated and funny group of co-workers I could imagine. I wish I could take WBWC with me when I move, and a piece of my heart will always be here!