Health Educator
Babies Born Healthy/ Univ. of Alabama Birmingham
Whitney is a native-born Marylander, having lived in the DMV region her entire life. She began her journey into lactation support after noticing a lack of options in her immediate area (Prince George’s County, MD, a largely Black population), as well as providers that looked like her. She became a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist in 2019 and certified as an IBCLC in fall of 2021. She created her practice, The Mama’s Dula to give a platform to issues surrounding the perinatal period- focusing on family, breastfeeding, and mental health. Currently, she works for the Babies Born Healthy Program in Montgomery County (MD) as a lactation consultant and health educator, providing prenatal breastfeeding education and postpartum support. Her advocacy focuses on closing the gaps in maternal/infant mortality, increasing Black breastfeeding rates and education, and increasing the number of lactation professionals of color and underrepresented communities. In January 2020, she was appointed to the inaugural Advisory Board for USLCA, working to improve support, access, and equity for all lactation professionals. She believes that breast/ chestfeeding is a community duty- a parent is as successful as the support around them. In addition to her community and public health duties, she is a current Board Member and past President of the Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition, an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. currently serving as chapter March of Dimes/ Birth Equity Coordinator, and an experienced speaker and panelist in the birth and lactation field. She is currently pursuing graduate studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in maternal child health leadership and policy. Whitney is an avid traveler with her aircraft mechanic husband, and the proud mom of two exclusively breastfed children.