Breastfeeding Month Provider Feature: Jason H. Kennedy

In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, PAGNY is proud to feature Jason H. Kennedy, MS, RN, CNM, Midwife at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx.

We sat down with Jason to learn more about his career in midwifery and what motivates him to provide care. Here's what he said:

PAGNY: Why did you choose a career in Midwifery?

Jason: I have always been drawn to caring for those identifying as women, their families, and their communities since undergrad nursing school and later as a Labor and Delivery nurse in a large academic university hospital in Manhattan.

PAGNY: What drives you to care? What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Jason: While gaining experience in obstetric nursing, I had many opportunities to witness how OB/GYN care was provided and what it didn’t need to be. I saw that women were not cared for from a whole person-centered perspective, but rather from a medical, problem-centered view. This drove me to pursue my Master of Science in Nurse Midwifery from New York University and later start my journey as a midwife to be able to provide the care I believe all those identifying as women, their families, and communities deserve.

I love that I get to work as a Staff Midwife at North Central Bronx Hospital, and I am proud to help engage, educate, and empower women and their families to participate and be leaders in their own care through informed and shared decision-making.

PAGNY: What are some breastfeeding resources or programs that H+H/North Central Bronx provides for new mothers?

Jason: Unfortunately, a lack of breastfeeding education and resources can be a big challenge for people who desire to feed their baby breast milk. Some people may feel that they can’t produce enough breast milk for their baby, feel pressured, and resort to formula feeding. North Central Bronx Hospital is committed to increasing the quality of care of those we serve and, in particular, the quality of Women’s Health care by recently attaining The Joint Commission Perinatal Care Certification, as well as our re-designation as Baby-Friendly by Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (or BFHI, an international program that advocates for breastfeeding and requires policies that enhance mother-baby bonding, offer optimal care for infant feeding and ensure a baby’s nutritional needs are adequately met). Both certifications prove the importance of providing high-quality care to women, including those who desire to feed their babies breast milk.

NCB has many resources and programs to engage, educate, and empower those desiring to feed their baby breast milk, such as education by Nurses, Midwives, and others during prenatal visits. We also provide breastfeeding education, information, skills fairs, and giveaways during World Breastfeeding Week. There are breastfeeding telephone warm lines for information and help during the postpartum and prenatal periods, including access to IBCLC-certified lactation consultants after the baby is born. NCB also ensures access or referral to lactation consultants as needed; in addition, most of the Nurses on the postpartum unit have their certificate for lactation counseling (or CLC). At NCB, even the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Chinyere Anyaogu is certified as an IBCLC.

PAGNY: Does the OBGYN department offer inclusive breast/chestfeeding support to queer or non-gender-confirming parents?

Jason: North Central Bronx Hospital, its staff of OB/GYN and Midwifery Department Providers, Nurses, and other patient care providers support all those planning or interested in feeding baby human breast milk, whether it is by breast, chest, or expressed.

PAGNY: What are you most proud of from your time here at PAGNY and H+H/North Central Bronx?

Jason: On reflecting on what makes me proud to be at North Central Bronx Hospital as a Staff Midwife, it's when I have people come back to me for their care each year or when they become pregnant again with their next child. It makes me feel I’m doing something right.

PAGNY: What is one goal you’re excited to accomplish with the Midwives team next year?

Jason: As a midwife who is also a man, I hope to continue to serve as a strong role model for men and others, acting as support partners in the labor room as well as during the postpartum period.