1 E-CERP + 1 CEU

The Elephant Often Ignored: Bias & Politics of Artificial Infant Supplementation

Dr. Sekeita Lewis-Johnson, DNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC
Course description
The risks of formula supplementation are well known. The mantra “Breast is Best” has been a resounding cry since the late 19th century when infants were notably dying from diarrhea. Human milk feeding is an infant rights issue because it saves lives and provide optimal nutrition for best life span health outcomes. The rise of the global Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative has demonstrated that best practices that support human milk feeding improve health outcomes. However, non-compliant best practice may contribute to human milk diet inequities which can be classified as food oppression.

Many studies have attempted to address human milk barriers and racial disparities based on the lactating individual’s family, culture, and environment. Many healthcare workers strive to mitigate the effects of artificial feeding. However, actionable and measurable behaviors of bias, discrimination, and politics of non-medically indicated artificial infant supplementation is left out of major conversations of reconciliation of inequities.

In this presentation, you will learn about the latest evidence regarding bias, discrimination and politics of artificial human milk substitutes. You will also learn about current research that demonstrates how bias and politics influence and undermine exclusive human milk diets as often desired and intended by many parents.
Meet the Instructor

Sekeita Lewis-Johnson, DNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC

Dr. Sekeita Lewis-Johnson is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Birth Doula. She is the Accredited Provider Program Director and an Instructor for Lactation Education Resources.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in December 1997 from Michigan State University. From there she went to live in Washington D.C. where she participated in a maternal-child fellowship program geared towards new graduates entering specialties. For the past 23 years, her primary focus has been labor and delivery and maternal-child nursing. She has experience as a Nursing Instructor teaching at various hospitals in the Metro-Detroit area. On May 2, 2019, Dr. Lewis-Johnson graduated from Wayne State University where she earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree and Nursing Education Certificate.
She is one of the Founding Members of Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color and Mama’s Mobile Milk. She is owner of Mommy and Me Lactation Consulting, LLC, and serves as a Board Director for The United States Breastfeeding Committee. She sits on The Maternal Infant Health, Health Equity Action Committee for the State of Michigan, and is a member of The Michigan Milk Collective. She serves her community by volunteering on the Beloved Community Initiative Leadership Team in Farmington Hills, Michigan and Birth Detroit which is the first free-standing birth center in Detroit. 

Dr. Lewis-Johnson has received multiple awards during her career. Upon graduating from MSU’s College of Nursing, she was the recipient of the “Outstanding Undergraduate Nursing Award”. This year she is the recipient of two awards: “The Award of Excellence” from the United States Lactation Consultant Association and “The Alumni Service Award” from The College of Nursing at Michigan State University. She is a national speaker with an international audience. She also provides health equity training to local municipalities per request.  

Dr. Lewis-Johnson is an avid advocate for equitable and just policies and practices especially related to black maternal-child health disparities. Passionate about maternal-child health and breastfeeding, she provides lactation and doula services within Metro-Detroit and surrounding areas. Her main goals are to prevent obstetrical harm, and to assist families to achieve their desired feeding goals. She believes that breastfeeding self-efficacy, along with skilled and timely lactation support are key to breastfeeding success. Dr. Lewis-Johnson is married to a Spartan and she is a proud mother of 3 children, one of which who graduated from MSU’s College of Social Work in May of 2021.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Learners say 

Dr. Lewis-Johnson presented multiple examples of evidence of bias and concisely broke down the research. Her lecture was engaging and informative and I deeply appreciated listening to her speak and learning from her.

Jessica Kielbasa, IBCLC

I am so full of emotion, like a great book or movie that leaves you frozen and speechless at its conclusion. I'm honored to hear Dr. Lewis-Johnson speak, more grieved for black and brown families, and challenged to bolster my response to mitigate bias in the breastfeeding world.

Sarah Hogan, IBCLC

Beautiful and important insights to help guide us into doing and being better. 

Tanay Lynn Harris, CBS, CPE, PD

I appreciate her thorough research, ability to weave together statistics with personal, as well as unwavering commitment to making lactation care more accessible for all. Great session. 

Jennifer Hafele, M.Ed., IBCLC

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Knowledge Gap
There is a knowledge gap regarding sociodemographic and clinical distinctions that exist between newborns receiving different types of lactation support, milk types, and feeding recommendations.
Objectives

01

Analyze discrepancies of best practice of human milk feeding at respective institutions.

02

Practice mindfulness & support regarding optimal nutrition support for newborns and lactating families.

03

Proactively acknowledge and address biases at point of occurrence using evidence to support.
IBLCE Content Outline
I. A6 Milk banking - formal and informal
V. 12 Cultural competency
VII. C5 WHO code - advocacy and policy
VII. E2 Advocate for compliance with World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes (WHO Code)

Course Lessons

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