Dr. Kimarie Bugg DNP, MPH, IBCLC, FAAN

Kimarie Bugg, DNP, MPH, IBCLC, FAAN, is a nurse, public health leader, and nationally recognized advocate for maternal and infant health equity. She is a founder and Development Director of Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) and a founding leader of Reaching Our Brothers Everywhere (ROBE), organizations committed to advancing breastfeeding equity, birth justice, safe sleep and community-based support for Black families. Dr. Bugg has led national, state, and community initiatives focused on breastfeeding, fatherhood engagement, perinatal health, and systems change, with work spanning hospitals, public health programs, academic partnerships, and grassroots community networks. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, Mama Bugg is widely known for building culturally centered, evidence-based strategies that strengthen families and improve outcomes across the perinatal continuum.

Session

More Than Birth Support: What Doulas Need to Know About Lactation Across the Perinatal Journey

Doulas are trusted partners for families, yet their role in lactation support is often underrecognized and insufficiently integrated into systems of care. Drawing from lessons learned through the Mississippi CHAMPS Doula project and the NICU for Families project with University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, this session will explore the lactation knowledge doulas need to better support families from pregnancy through the 4th trimester, including in complex settings such as the NICU. Participants will gain practical insight into preparing families for breastfeeding, supporting early lactation, addressing common problems, recognizing when additional clinical support is needed, and strengthening collaboration with healthcare teams to improve family-centered outcomes.