Breastfeeding Management & Health Equity Advocate

Dr. Natashia L. Conner, PhD, MPhil, MS, BS, AAB, IBCLC, CHES, is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and health equity strategist whose work bridges clinical practice, research, and advocacy. Her expertise in breastfeeding management is grounded in both her lived experience and her academic scholarship, with a focus on dismantling systemic barriers that impact Black maternal-infant health.
Her research, Black Mothers’ Birthing Center Experiences and Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices, explores how institutional bias, discrimination, and inequitable care environments influence breastfeeding initiation and duration among Black families. Findings from her work highlight the need for culturally responsive lactation support, equitable healthcare policies, and stronger advocacy within birthing centers to improve exclusive breastfeeding outcomes.
Breastfeeding & Lactation Consultation Services
Why Black Breastfeeding Matters
Breastfeeding is a cornerstone of maternal and infant health, yet stark racial disparities persist in its initiation and continuation. Black mothers continue to have the lowest rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the United States. National data show that only 69.5% of Black mothers initiate breastfeeding, compared to 85.9% of White mothers. By three months, exclusive breastfeeding drops to 36.0% among Black mothers compared to 53.0% among White mothers, and at six months, just 17.2% of Black mothers continue exclusively breastfeeding compared to 29.5% of White mothers (Beauregard, Hamner, Chen, Avila-Rodriguez, Elam-Evans, & Perrine, 2019).
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These disparities are not the result of individual choice alone but are shaped by systemic barriers, including inequities in maternity care, limited access to culturally responsive lactation support, discriminatory hospital practices, and broader social determinants of health. Addressing these inequities is essential not only to improve breastfeeding outcomes for Black families but also to advance racial justice, reduce infant mortality, and strengthen community health.-Conner, N.L.
Breastfeeding Consultations Services
Breastfeeding education is an essential step in preparing for your new baby and navigating the journey of feeding and bonding. We provide comprehensive breastfeeding support tailored to meet the unique needs of every family. Our services are designed to empower parents with knowledge, confidence, and practical skills. Whether you are preparing during pregnancy, experiencing challenges in the early weeks, or seeking guidance to continue breastfeeding long-term, we offer personalized care and evidence-based strategies to support you every step of the way.
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Our breastfeeding services include:
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Prenatal Education – Preparing expectant parents with the tools, techniques, and confidence to begin breastfeeding successfully.
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Postpartum Support – One-on-one consultations to address latching, positioning, milk supply concerns, and individualized feeding plans.
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Exclusive Breastfeeding Guidance – Helping families reach their goals for exclusive breastfeeding with culturally responsive, equity-centered support.
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Community & Group Education – Workshops and group sessions designed to foster learning, peer support, and awareness of breastfeeding equity.
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Organizational Training – Culturally competent breastfeeding education and policy development for healthcare providers, workplaces, and community organizations.
Our approach centers families—especially Black and marginalized communities—by providing compassionate, culturally aware support that not only promotes successful breastfeeding but also advances health equity.
Human Lactation & Maternal Child Health Research
Our mission is to advance breastfeeding equity by combining media advocacy and community-centered research. We recognize that breastfeeding disparities—particularly among Black/African American families—are not simply a matter of individual choice, but the result of structural barriers, systemic inequities, and limited representation in health research.
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Our research services are designed to generate evidence that informs action, shapes policy, and transforms systems of care. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, we investigate the social, cultural, and institutional factors that impact breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and duration. We translate research into storytelling and advocacy tools that elevate community voices, challenge systemic racism, and shift the narrative on Black maternal-infant health.
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Our research services include:
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Community-Based Research – Engaging families and communities as partners to ensure their voices drive the work.
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Policy & Systems Analysis – Identifying gaps in breastfeeding equity and informing solutions that address structural barriers.
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Program Evaluation – Assessing the effectiveness of breastfeeding interventions, initiatives, and organizational practices.
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Media & Narrative Advocacy – Transforming research findings into accessible, equity-focused campaigns that inspire change.
Our overarching goal is to influence the social and political environment where breastfeeding decisions are made, ensuring policies, practices, and programs reflect justice, equity, and the lived experiences of Black families.