Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD, RN, IBCLC

Biography:

Dr. Kelly McGlothen-Bell is an Assistant Professor at UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing. As a nurse scientist, Dr. McGlothen-Bell is dedicated to understanding and resolving perinatal-infant health disparities in underrepresented groups, particularly among mother-infant dyads impacted by substance use disorders and preterm births. Dr. McGlothen-Bell uses interdisciplinary research, bio-behavioral methodologies, and community-engaged strategies to define and explore health priorities that can be remedied through culturally appropriate and sustainable health solutions. Her program of science focuses on understanding the relationship between infant feeding behaviors and readiness in high-risk infants and attunement between the primary caregiver and child during infancy and toddlerhood. The culmination of these findings contributes to the development of evidence-based interventions geared toward improving parental engagement and pediatric feeding success in marginalized populations. Dr. McGlothen-Bell has published numerous peer-reviewed articles related to developmental strategies for high-risk infants. She has also presented her work at conferences nationally and internationally. Dr. McGlothen-Bell has received numerous awards to include the 2019 National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) Mentee/Mentor Grant Award. She was also selected as a 2019-2020 Academy Jonas Nurse Policy Scholar.

Abstract: Empowering Breastfeeding in Women Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Call for Policy Change

Inequitable access to mother's milk often disempowers those who may benefit the most from it's' benefits. Moreover, suboptimal breastfeeding has the potential to negatively impact the health and well-being of future generations to come. Mother's own milk is internationally accepted as the most optimal source of nutrition for infants, yet breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among minority populations (i.e., women with opioid use disorders [OUDs]) continue to lag significantly behind that of the general population. The implications of the current U.S. opioid crisis and its increasing influence on women of reproductive age presents important considerations for the ways women and infants may receive inequitable access to breastfeeding and the benefits of mother's milk. In this presentation, learn the keys needed to empower lactation support providers to advocate for the use of scientific evidence that informs breastfeeding practices for women receiving MAT for OUD.