The Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care (TIPQC) presents Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Tennessee. This podcast is a discussion with medical providers and other industry experts on all aspects of perinatal health.
Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care (TIPQC) seeks to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants in Tennessee by engaging key stakeholders in a perinatal quality collaborative that will identify opportunities to optimize maternal and infant outcomes and implement data-driven provider- and community-based performance improvement initiatives. Visit www.tipqc.org for more information on our improvement work in Tennessee.
No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Tennessee Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.
TIPQC is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee. This podcast is brought to you through a cooperative agreement with the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM).
Connect with us:
www.tipqc.org
www.facebook.com/tipqc1
www.twitter.com/TennesseePQC
www.instagram.com/tipqc1
www.youtube.com/channel/UCOZ0gpRWzimImh5XfsQdcvg/
EO: 235 Human Milk for Babies with Dr. Sandra Sullivan
Exclusive Human Milk Diet for Extremely Premature Infants: A Novel Fortification Strategy That Enhances the Bioactive Properties of Fresh, Frozen, and Pasteurized Milk Specimens (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjournals.sagepub.com%2Fdoi%2F10.1089%2Fbfm.2022.0254%3Fcf-mal-redirected%3Dtrue%26&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C1c65fa190b214602e9d908df20c2184c%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639265690183334253%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Jity7TnjKFx1fTSuOHa6%2FnMBiKX%2BdhVIeY8t8y6CTWg%3D&reserved=0)
Beyond Necrotizing Enterocolitis Prevention: Improving Outcomes with an Exclusive Human Milk–Based Diet (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjournals.sagepub.com%2Fdoi%2F10.1089%2Fbfm.2015.0134&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C1c65fa190b214602e9d908df20c2184c%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639265690183387466%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PeaasqCsCFec%2Fng65hj%2BE0CaR2ByUGKrxVJ9l2qJWsE%3D&reserved=0)
Exclusive human milk diet is associated with lower risk of motor function impairment at three years of corrected age (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41372-025-02296-z&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C1c65fa190b214602e9d908df20c2184c%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639265690183430696%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ry1EaAkvBpeASx8ov6IXrt0ys%2Finme3rpFeYuucHbhk%3D&reserved=0)
An exclusively human milk-based diet is associated with a lower rate of necrotizing enterocolitis than a diet of human milk and bovine milk-based products (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpeds.com%2Farticle%2FS0022-3476(09)01085-3%2Ffulltext&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C1c65fa190b214602e9d908df20c2184c%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639265690183466486%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=i5zNXrBVlzU1iP98moOiZt17uPWUTz9B0yXRV5DGv0M%3D&reserved=0)
Research findings infographic (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.prolacta.com%2Fen%2Fresource-library%2Fstepping-stones%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C1c65fa190b214602e9d908df20c2184c%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639265690183500670%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qa5vtxlcOBBnUjsYTK6PxwnPblkVYtp5Jq0zKOCkTcc%3D&reserved=0)
Key Takeaways
Human milk is a complex living substance with irreplaceable bioactive components—not merely a nutritional source. Education about milk's protective and developmental benefits must precede feeding decisions.
Early, consistent breastfeeding support (skin-to-skin, first oral feeding at breast, supplementation at breast) significantly improves maternal success rates compared to delayed introduction or bottle-feeding protocols.
Human milk-based fortifiers represent a clinical advancement allowing premature infants to receive complete nutrition while preserving bioactive factors present in human milk, unlike cow milk-based alternatives.
Shared decision-making and trauma-informed care practices—asking families about pre-NICU feeding goals rather than imposing directive protocols—increase maternal milk production and breastfeeding continuation rates.
Systemic NICU change requires sustained leadership buy-in, frontline champion support, ongoing staff education, and policy alignment with stated values; knowledge alone does not guarantee behavioral change.
Quotable Moments
"Human milk is not just a nice-to-have. It is nutrition, protection, and a relationship all at once."
"It is something that we cannot replicate yet. And we are finally understanding how much we have to learn from human milk and how much better the mother's milk is than anything else that we can provide."
"You can't really put human milk in one bucket. It does many things. And there are growth factors. There are live cells. There are bioactive factors that help other factors do things, not just protein, carbohydrates, and fat."
"If you want to breastfeed, we basically take that as we're going to do everything we can to help you be successful at breastfeeding. And if you want to introduce bottles later, that's fine. You'll have that opportunity. But in order to be successful at breastfeeding, you have to be
successful at breastfeeding. It's really hard to learn two things at once."
"Human milk for human babies. It's that simple."
Show Notes by Barevalue.
No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.
2 Oct 2026
EO: 234 Recognizing and Responding to Domestic Violence for Healthcare Providers with Heather Hermann
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1‑800‑799‑SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788 (US) or use local emergency services if you’re in immediate danger.
Client Materials - https://ofs.nashville.gov/client-materials/ (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fofs.nashville.gov%2Fclient-materials%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C230164b725664bec6cba08dee99bd401%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639205052707493404%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jUGtvJstRVGtWHbnb3E9b6nytVO8qdR4JzPhQ%2BzjSSY%3D&reserved=0) This includes local and state contact information, but it also includes a library of every material we have created for survivors and loved ones
https://ofs.nashville.gov/get-to-know-us/what-we-do/training-and-outreach/ (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fofs.nashville.gov%2Fget-to-know-us%2Fwhat-we-do%2Ftraining-and-outreach%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C230164b725664bec6cba08dee99bd401%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639205052707533701%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=k%2Btq8ZEYd21HBQC9srne3nUAKgHRX4ocTOP56gQU6zY%3D&reserved=0) this includes all of our training tools and information to access on demand resources
https://www.womenslaw.org/about-abuse/helping-others/doctors-and-health-care-workers (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.womenslaw.org%2Fabout-abuse%2Fhelping-others%2Fdoctors-and-health-care-workers&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C230164b725664bec6cba08dee99bd401%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639205052707561279%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=heiqQK7KAMiiabMBuE2vVfv2%2Bkd6siP3xppduEjhZYU%3D&reserved=0) additional resources specifically for healthcare providers
HARK Scale - https://cde.nlm.nih.gov/formView?tinyId=Xk5t0lqFz (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcde.nlm.nih.gov%2FformView%3FtinyId%3DXk5t0lqFz&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C2871b02f15f64e79f4b008df18070896%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639256090956557641%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=X87QqnOqO%2BXCJEKKky0YJnAufT9fs7Xc3B60E7BQkTM%3D&reserved=0)
WEB Screening - https://dbhds.virginia.gov/library/mental%20health%20services/scrn-pw-web.pdf (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdbhds.virginia.gov%2Flibrary%2Fmental%2520health%2520services%2Fscrn-pw-web.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C2871b02f15f64e79f4b008df18070896%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639256090956608241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6N2uSEaG3hojNhAI7R%2Ff6Csjmv4bARjN1QR%2F%2BSfqlYE%3D&reserved=0)
Key Takeaways
Interpersonal violence is pervasive and multifaceted—multiple forms often coexist in a single survivor's experience, requiring providers to look beyond physical injuries and ask about isolation, control, and reproductive coercion.
Healthcare settings offer unique opportunities for early intervention because survivors frequently seek care for pregnancy, injuries, or health complications without formally reporting abuse to law enforcement.
Effective screening requires normalizing conversations about safety for all patients using routine, non-judgmental language and ensuring privacy by speaking with patients alone, without partners or untrained interpreters present.
Providers need not be domestic violence experts—their role is to create safe space, listen without judgment, validate experiences, and make warm referrals to specialized local and national resources.
Breaking isolation is one of the most powerful interventions; simply letting someone know they are believed, not alone, and that support exists can diminish an abuser's control and plant seeds for future safety planning.
Quotable Moments
"Interpersonal violence can take a variety of forms. They can include domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking. I think one of the most important things to understand is that these forms of violence don't necessarily happen in isolation."
"Pregnancy can be a particularly vulnerable time for someone experiencing intimate partner violence. Abuse may begin during pregnancy or an existing pattern of abuse may escalate."
"Healthcare settings are often one of the few places where survivors have an opportunity to speak with someone privately and to access support that is confidential."
"Our goal isn't for you to be a domestic violence or interpersonal violence expert. It's not even for you to get someone to disclose abuse during a particular appointment. It's really about creating an environment where patients feel safe and supported."
"Just planting that seed, opening that door, letting someone know that we're there."
No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.
25 Sept 2026
EO: 233 Newborn Screening with Hilary Fryman
Main website: https://www.tn.gov/health/nbs.html (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tn.gov%2Fhealth%2Fnbs.html&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C2c9b18f6df004e8bb87208df18cbf88f%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639256936657514511%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PkS473nFjasRzNvRfVreyH2HgvzAV4EjuAz%2BfQ%2Fqug8%3D&reserved=0)
Prenatal Education Flipbook English- https://navigatenbs.expectinghealth.org/tennessee-edit-expecting-health-english-final_prenatal-flipb/full-view.html (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnavigatenbs.expectinghealth.org%2Ftennessee-edit-expecting-health-english-final_prenatal-flipb%2Ffull-view.html&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C2c9b18f6df004e8bb87208df18cbf88f%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639256936657596111%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ryJObXMZ36yBnz7jqePJVnBIkcwdNhh3np5vP5MZBsg%3D&reserved=0)
Prenatal Education Flipbook Spanish- https://navigatenbs.expectinghealth.org/tennessee-edit-expecting-health-spanish-june-1-2021-final_pi/full-view.html (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnavigatenbs.expectinghealth.org%2Ftennessee-edit-expecting-health-spanish-june-1-2021-final_pi%2Ffull-view.html&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C2c9b18f6df004e8bb87208df18cbf88f%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639256936657665448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kPPfStmWlTO848RJeFbciXEFarPrflv1dstpSHIMrM4%3D&reserved=0)
Refusal Education Flyer for families and healthcare providers: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/2025-notcom/NBHS%20refusal%20form.pdf (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tn.gov%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Ftn%2Fhealth%2F2025-notcom%2FNBHS%2520refusal%2520form.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C2c9b18f6df004e8bb87208df18cbf88f%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639256936657753680%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=L2g08vHEZ8%2BNQCvGZQw85w37k6TuFCMZweeUJE87XXo%3D&reserved=0)
Training request form: If a provider office would like to collect newborn screening blood spot, I can provide them training and obtain supplies: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/program-areas/newborn-screening/NBS-Visit-Request-Form.pdf (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tn.gov%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Ftn%2Fhealth%2Fprogram-areas%2Fnewborn-screening%2FNBS-Visit-Request-Form.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cbrenda.barker%40vumc.org%7C2c9b18f6df004e8bb87208df18cbf88f%7Cef57503014244ed8b83c12c533d879ab%7C0%7C0%7C639256936657822775%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=fPvVxCrsbyNSg9jUHJTldpZgxIgb%2FJzjkh4OoQvGH9o%3D&reserved=0)
Key Takeaways
Newborn screening is a critical three-part process that identifies serious metabolic, cardiac, and hearing conditions within the first 24-36 hours of life, enabling early intervention that can dramatically improve outcomes.
Prenatal education about newborn screening is significantly more effective than postnatal education, as families retain information better before labor and delivery when they are not fatigued or medicated.
Accurate documentation on newborn screening filter paper forms—including correct pediatrician contact information and current addresses—is essential for timely notification and follow-up of abnormal results.
Healthcare providers should approach hesitant families with calm, accurate information rather than shame or legal threats, recognizing that refusal often stems from exhaustion and lack of understanding rather than firm conviction.
Confirmatory testing through hemoglobin electrophoresis is necessary for any positive hemoglobin results, particularly for college athletes, as newborn screening results alone are insufficient for clinical decision-making in older children and adolescents.
Tennessee families with positive newborn screening results have access to five major genetic endocrine and hematology centers that provide expedited specialty care and family-to-family support networks.
Quotable Moments
"Early testing for early identification that leads to early intervention" — Hilary Freiman, on the fundamental benefit of newborn screening
"All of the families in both our focus group and these different studies and papers said that they wished that they had received education prenatally and wished that their prenatal provider or OBGYN would have provided some information beforehand" — Hilary Freiman, on the importance of prenatal education
"We do not press charges, nor have I heard of a hospital system pressing charges" — Hilary Freiman, clarifying that despite legal language on refusal forms, the newborn screening program does not prosecute families who refuse screening
"If we identify these infants early and provide early intervention, they can go on to live a near normal life" — Hilary Freiman, on the lifechanging impact of newborn screening even for rare conditions
Show Notes by Barevalue.
No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.
Who has been a guest on Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Tennessee
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Jona Bandyopadhyay
LaToshia Rouse
Robert Taylor
Rachel Hanson
Kristyn Byrd
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
10 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
87
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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