By Debbie Schumacher

Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan literally cried over her own spilt milk as she tackled breastfeeding.

“While breastfeeding is natural, it is not intuitive. Imagine my devastation when immediately after such a pumping session, I spilled the milk all over the floor. Yes, I cried over it,” she recalled.

Determined, she sought help from a lactation consultant, like the lactation team at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, who provided the personalized supports she needed to successfully continue breastfeeding her son, Jackson and later her daughter, Samantha, who was born prematurely. Although McClellan was the first person in her immediate family to breastfeed, she was committed to her choice due to its numerous health benefits.

“Despite the challenges of my full-time legal and part-time legislative duties, including early morning pump sessions, I was determined to give my son and daughter a healthy start,” McClellan said.

Personal experiences as a working, breastfeeding mother showed McClellan the importance of having personal and workplace support for new mothers. In the state senate and now in the U.S. House of Representatives, she has worked on legislation to protect the right to breastfeed and provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding people

 
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan’s daughter, Samantha, was born prematurely. Personal experiences as a working, breastfeeding mother to Jackson and Samantha showed McClellan the importance of resources for new mothers. (Contributed photo)

McClellan also transformed her office to become a supportive space for many working mothers. Karah Gunther, VCU Health’s vice president of External Affairs and Health Policy and 2023 Breastfeeding Champion, recalls McClellan opening her office as a lactation and milk storage place.

“She has done this for countless women in government, and we are all grateful,” Gunther said.

These are some of the reasons why McClellan is one VCU Health’s 2024 Breastfeeding Champions – individuals recognized during Breastfeeding Awareness Month for championing, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding. These champions not only empower parents but also advocate for policies, legislation, supportive workplaces and gender equitable social norms. This year’s theme was “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all,” focusing on survival, health and wellbeing.

“I am honored to receive the Breastfeeding Champion Award from VCU Health and proud to be part of this group of fellow champions,” McClellan said.

The 2024 Breastfeeding Champions include lawmakers, clinicians, and nonprofits. (Tom Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Breastfeeding requires both dedication and support. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding for six months. However, studies show many families do not breastfeed for as long as they want to, indicating a need for stronger support systems, especially in the workplace.

Human milk feeding for infants provides essential antibodies that can reduce the risk of infections, diabetes and cancer. Additionally, breastfeeding helps moms recover more quickly from childbirth and lowers their risk of breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes, heart disease and postpartum depression.

This year’s Breastfeeding Champions event highlighted VCU Health’s commitment to community service, collaboration and promoting greater health equity. As the only Baby-Friendly designated hospital in the Richmond area, VCU Health’s OB-GYN Department and Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU's (CHoR) pediatric care team are trained in best practices that encourage and promote breastfeeding for our patients and team members.

"We're passionate about helping families (the patients we serve and our employees) give their infants the best start in life which, for most babies, includes getting their nutrition from human milk. From education to overcoming feeding challenges, our team walks alongside families each step of the way," said Shari Barkin, M.D., physician in chief of CHoR, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, as well as a pediatrician and mom of three grown kids, all of whom were breastfed.

VCU Health Chief Nursing Executive Tina Mammone, Ph.D., R.N., welcomed attendees and shared supportive messages, including a message from Virginia’s First Lady Suzanne Youngkin. Kathryn Zimmerman, Assistant Secretary Health and Human Resources, read the Governor’s Proclamation, which acknowledges the benefits of breastfeeding benefits and supports related initiatives in the commonwealth of Virginia and Mayor Levar Stoney’s Proclamation of Richmond as a “Breastfeeding family friendly community.” Karen Shelton, M.D., State Health Commissioner, discussed the state of the commonwealth regarding breastfeeding.

Vice President of Operations at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Jeniece Roane, Ph.D., RN, introduced this year’s champions and highlighted their advocacy efforts:

• Julia Baldwin, nurse clinical coordinator, mother infant unit, VCU Health
• Leslie Fehan, certified nurse midwife and lactation consultant, VCU Health
• Beth Gabriel, speech language pathologist, NICU, VCU Health
• Amelia Grover, M.D., breast surgeon, VCU Health
• Phillip Kum-Nji, M.D., pediatrician, CHoR
• Robin Lawson, women’s health nurse practitioner, lactation consultant, VCU Health
• Leslie Lytle, executive director, Nurture and RVA Breastfeeds
• Bethany Loving, nurse clinician, mother infant unit, VCU Health
• U.S. Representative Jennifer McClellan
• Kayla McClure, registered nurse, outpatient prenatal care, VCU Health
• Linda Meloy, M.D., pediatrician, CHoR
• Elias Neujahr, president, Childrens Hospital of Richmond
• Meghan Noonan, certified nurse midwife and lactation consultant, VCU Health
• Tara Serrano, nurse clinician, mother infant unit, VCU Health
• Katherine Wilson Thompson, lactation consultant, Virginia Department of Health, Southwestern Virginia
• State Delegate Kathy Tran

From left to right: Sharon Cone, Ph.D., RNC, NNP, nursing director of the Women and Infants’ Health; Valerie Colman, RN, MSN, lactation consultant; and Jeniece Roane, Ph.D., RN, Vice President of Operations at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. (Tom Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

The event ended with a presentation of a Breastfeeding Champion Lifetime Achievement award and a commendation letter from Stoney to Valerie Coleman, RN, MSN, recognizing her decades of passion and dedication for breastfeeding best practices with our patients and community. Among her many accomplishments are her leadership of the hospital’s Baby Friendly designation, promotion of our international board-certified lactation consultants, leadership of family life education and creation of this Breastfeeding Champions event.