Failing Systems, Not Failing Mothers: Reclaiming Mental Health in Lactation Care with Cierra Murphy-Higgs

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Cierra Murphy-Higgs, M.Ed, IBCLC, didactic coordinator for the Pathway 2 program at North Carolina A&T State University and a perinatal behavioral health coach. Cierra shares how her own postpartum struggles led her into the world of lactation and mental health advocacy. Drawing from her experience as a high school counselor turned lactation consultant, she offers powerful insights into the link between perinatal mental health and infant feeding—and how lactation professionals can be better equipped to recognize and support families through it.Cierra’s Journey into Lactation and Mental HealthCierra shares how:Her traumatic postpartum experience in early 2020 sparked a passion for advocacy and support.She found community and education through Instagram, which eventually led her to pursue the IBCLC pathway.Her previous work as a high school counselor naturally integrated into her lactation practice as she noticed mental health struggles at the core of many consults.The Link Between Feeding and Mental HealthCierra explains:Unmet feeding goals and infant feeding challenges can worsen symptoms of postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, or PTSD.Mental health symptoms don’t always look like sadness—hypervigilance around pumping, obsessive logging, and intrusive thoughts are red flags.Lactation consultants must recognize how our language can affirm or harm, and why offering a bottle isn’t “just” a feeding option—it can trigger shame.Clinical Tools and Community ConnectionsThey discuss:How lactation consultants are uniquely positioned to catch early mental health symptoms—often before OBs or pediatricians do.Why warm handoffs to perinatal mental health providers are essential.The value of screening tools like the PHQ-9 and trusting your gut when a client seems overwhelmed.Trauma-Informed, Culturally Competent CareCierra outlines:Black birthing people experience the highest rates of perinatal mental health disorders and the least access to support—due to mistrust, systemic racism, and real fear of punitive responses.Representation matters. So do community partnerships. Working with local churches, doula collectives, and trusted organizations helps bridge the gap.It’s not just about individual education—it’s about healing generational harm, rebuilding trust, and empowering entire families.Local Impact and National ImplicationsMargaret and Cierra explore:The ripple effect of peer counseling, community classes, and representation in lactation education.How grassroots programs in Greensboro are building trust and increasing breastfeeding rates.Why workforce development and mentorship—especially for aspiring IBCLCs of color—are key to equity in lactation care.Advice and Action for IBCLCsCierra encourages listeners to:Educate yourself on perinatal mental health—you don’t need to be a therapist, but you do need to know the signs.Map your referral network. Know who to call, what groups exist, and how to do warm handoffs.Take care of yourself. Burnout is real in this work, and we can’t pour from empty cups.Guest Info:Cierra Murphy-Higgs, M.Ed, IBCLC, is the didactic coordinator for the Human Lactation Pathway 2 program at North Carolina A&T and serves as a perinatal behavioral health coach with Family Well Health. She is a passionate educator, advocate, and public speaker working at the intersection of lactation, equity, and mental health.📧

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