Two OTs Are Changing The Way Hospitals Support Breastfeeding: Here's What Their Research Shows

Were you asked if you wanted to breastfeed?Emily sits down with Dr. Julia Farrell (OTD, IBCLC, OHSU Doernbecher, Pacific University adjunct) and Dr. Jairrah Godsil (OT, IBCLC, Children's Mercy Hospital) to talk about their mixed-methods research study on how occupational therapists support direct breastfeeding for medically complex infants. Julia and Jairrah share what pulled each of them into lactation work, walk through their survey and focus-group findings, and unpack the three major themes that emerged: holistic intervention, clinical challenges, and role expansion. The conversation covers what "direct breastfeeding" actually means clinically, why bottle-feeding swallow studies don't translate to breastfeeding safety, the systemic gaps that lead to missed breastfeeding opportunities, and what expecting parents can do to advocate for themselves before and during birth.Key Topics CoveredHow Julia and Jairrah's individual research interests (feeding therapist education and medically complex dyads) merged into one combined studyThe finding that OTs with breastfeeding certifications were significantly more likely to intervene at the breast — and what that says about gaps in standard allied health trainingTheme 1 — Holistic InterventionTheme 2 — Clinical ChallengesTheme 3 — Role ExpansionMissed breastfeeding opportunities: the systemic and logistical reasons babies and parents miss early feeding windows, from lack of a documented feeding plan to delayed skin-to-skin after cesarean birthPractical advice for expecting parents: making a breastfeeding plan (including a backup plan), and considering colostrum harvesting in pregnancyGuest BiosDr. Jairrah Godsil, OT, IBCLC is an occupational therapist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who specializes in neonatal intensive care (NICU), and infant feeding/breastfeeding. She provides occupational therapy services in the neonatal, cardiac, and pediatric intensive care units and inpatient/outpatient swallow studies at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 2012, Master of Occupational Therapy in 2015 at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UT Health), and Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Creighton University in 2023. She actively volunteers for the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) and serves as the AOTPAC Ambassador of Kansas. She actively participates in research to support neonatal development and feeding. She is inspired to help others and has had experience with breastfeeding and feeding issues.  Dr. Julia Farrell, OTD, IBCLC has practiced as an occupational therapist for 28 years. Julia has specialized in supporting families whose children have pediatric feeding, eating, and swallowing disorders since 2004 and has been an IBCLC since 2018. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics’ Institute on Development and Disabilities at Oregon Health and Science University’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. In her academic work, she is instructor of record for the breastfeeding elective at OHSU’s School of Medicine and an adjunct instructor at Pacific University’s Occupational Therapy School. Clinically, she works in the Multidisciplinary Feeding Clinic Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, where she prioritizes supporting parent-child interactions to bolster parental confidence and self-efficacy in safely and responsively feeding their child. In addition to her paid positions, Julia volunteers with Feeding Matters and serves as the Legislative and Advocacy Co-Chair for the Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon.