KIMBERLY CONGDEN

Kimberly Congden, MSN, RN, IBCLC, is dedicated to supporting families through their breastfeeding journeys. Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is the Assistant Nurse Manager of Lactation Services and Parent Education at Baystate Medical Center, CHAMPS National lead at the facility, and a passionate advocate for maternal-child legislation in the state of Massachusetts.

Kim began her career in the Davis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA, where she worked as a staff nurse for 22 years. After taking on an additional role in the lactation department and becoming an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2009, Kim assisted lactating mothers in both the NICU and OB postpartum floors until she became a full-time manager of the Lactation Services and Parent Education department in 2014.

Kim now manages a skilled team of IBCLCs, lactation counselors, and parent educators who provide postnatal education and support to new parents. She educates nurse and physician staff on breastfeeding skills and practices and collaborates with Clinical Practice Committees on hospital policies. Additionally, Kim and her team provide limited outpatient lactation appointments, but the need is great. She is actively championing the opening of an Outpatient Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic at Baystate.

Kim’s work in maternal-child health extends beyond the hospital. She and a small team from the Baystate NICU collaborated with a local State Representative to draft a bill in support of state insurance covering hospital-grade breast pumps for mothers of high-risk infants and other lactation challenges. The bill has been moving forward and is getting closer to passing into law.

“I am honored to be allowed to participate in some of the most intimate and vulnerable moments of a family’s early parenting journey,” shares Kim. “I will never tire of watching a mother’s joy when she realizes she has met her goal to nourish her infant like she has dreamed. It is moments like these that motivate me to continue to advocate for all families in every way possible.”

Thank you, Kim, for your tireless dedication to maternal-child health and lactation services. We are honored to recognize you as our CHAMPion of the Week!