About

April Fogleman, Ph.D., IBCLC, RD, is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences department at North Carolina State University. She teaches courses related to Nutrition, including Public Health Nutrition, Introduction to Human Nutrition, Public Health Perspectives in Infant Nutrition, Clinical Concepts in Infant Nutrition, and Maternal and Infant Nutrition, instructing approximately 500 students annually, encompassing both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her primary passion is teaching and mentoring students, complemented by her involvement in research aimed at improving maternal and infant health care through evidence-based protocols and policies. Dr. Fogleman's research interests focus on enhancing support for appropriate infant feeding practices. She has contributed to the field through her leadership roles, including serving as past-chair of the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition and as a previous board member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, both non-profit organizations. Her professional memberships include the North Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), and the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition Science from North Carolina State University, an M.S. in Nutrition Science from the same institution, a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a Nutrition Concentration, and is a registered dietitian and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Computer Science
• Biochemistry
• Animal science
• Chemistry
• Multimedia
• Biology
• Environmental health
• Human–computer interaction
• Psychology
• Pediatrics
• Medical education
• Social psychology
• Demography
• Food science

Selected publications

• Immersive Videos Improve Student Self-Efficacy in Clinical Lactation

  The Journal of Perinatal Education · 2023

  • Computer Science
  • Multimedia
  • Medical education
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Breastfeeding Support Resources, Breastfeeding Initiation, and Infant Mortality Rates in North Carolina and Georgia

  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · 2023

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Demography
  • Environmental health
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Hybrid Flexible (HyFlex) Instruction in Nutrition Education: What, How, Why and When to Use?

  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · 2023-07-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A qualitative study exploring teachers’ beliefs regarding breastfeeding education in family and consumer sciences classrooms

  International Breastfeeding Journal · 2022-09-21 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Research shows that elementary and secondary school children have considered infant feeding choices for when they become parents and are interested in learning about breastfeeding in school. Despite recommendations to include infant feeding education in secondary school classrooms, teachers' practices and attitudes regarding this topic have been the subject of minimal research. The purpose of this study was to explore North Carolina, USA, family and consumer sciences teachers' infant feeding education practices and their views on incorporating breastfeeding education in the curricula of family and consumer sciences classes that cover topics related to parenting and nutrition. METHODS: The study used a purposive sample of 19 teachers who participated in semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews exploring their attitudes and practices relating to infant feeding education. We transcribed and analyzed the interviews using the constant comparative method through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behavior by examining the participants' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls. RESULTS: Teachers had predominantly positive attitudes towards the inclusion of breastfeeding education in high school parenting, child development, and nutrition courses, citing the need to normalize breastfeeding and support students' ability to make informed choices when they become parents. Teachers' subjective norms included concerns about parents' and administrators' views on the appropriateness of the content and apprehension about negative student responses. Perceived behavioral controls included student maturity, teachers' own experiences and comfort with infant feeding, and the view that curriculum guidelines limit content selection. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study can be used in the development and implementation of secondary school education programs that increase knowledge about infant feeding and positive attitudes towards breastfeeding for all members of the community. Teachers' concerns need to be addressed in the implementation of these programs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Qualitative Study Exploring Teachers’ Attitudes towards Breastfeeding Education in Family and Consumer Science Classrooms

  Research Square · 2021-09-27

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Background : Research shows that some school-aged children have considered infant feeding choices for when they become parents and are interested in learning about breastfeeding in school. Despite recommendations to include infant feeding education in secondary school classrooms, teachers’ practices and attitudes regarding this topic have been the subject of minimal research. The purpose of this study was to explore North Carolina (NC) family and consumer sciences (FCS) teachers’ infant feeding education practices and their views on incorporating breastfeeding education in the curriculum. Methods : The study used a purposeful sample of 19 teachers who participated in semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews exploring their attitudes and practices relating to infant feeding education. We transcribed and analyzed the interviews using the constant comparative method through the lens of the theory of planned behavior. Results : Teachers had predominantly positive attitudes towards the inclusion of breastfeeding education in high school parenting, child development, and nutrition courses, citing the need to normalize breastfeeding and support students’ ability to make informed choices when they become parents as justification. Teachers’ social norms included concerns about parents’ and administrators’ views on the appropriateness of the content and apprehension about negative student responses. Perceived behavioral controls included student maturity, teachers’ own experiences and comfort with infant feeding, and the view that curriculum guidelines limit content selection. Conclusions : The results of this study can be used in the development and implementation of secondary school education programs that increase knowledge about infant feeding and positive attitudes towards breastfeeding for all members of the community. Teachers’ concerns should be addressed in the implementation of these programs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Associations Between Light Exposure During Pumping and Holder Pasteurization and the Macronutrient and Vitamin Concentrations in Human Milk

  Journal of Human Lactation · 2020 · 10 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Food science
  • Chemistry
  • Animal science

  BACKGROUND: During pumping, storage, and pasteurization human milk is exposed to light, which could affect the concentrations of light-sensitive vitamins. Currently, milk banks do not regulate light exposure. RESEARCH AIM: The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of light exposure during pumping, storage, and pasteurization on (1) macronutrients, (2) select water-soluble vitamins, and (3) select fat-soluble vitamins. METHODS: , retinol, γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, and β-carotene. RESULTS: = 0.66µg/L). No other tested nutrients were affected by light exposure. CONCLUSIONS: concentrations may degrade below the current Adequate Intake recommendations for infants 0-6 months of age, increasing the risk of insufficient vitamin supply to the exclusively human milk-fed infant. Thus, pumped or processed human milk should be protected from light to preserve milk vitamin concentrations.

  PublisherDOI

• Exploring North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Education Practices

  Journal of Human Lactation · 2019-08-14 · 2 citations

  articleSenior author

  Background The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF recommend that secondary schools include infant feeding education in the curriculum. However, little attention has been given to the study of educators’ views and practices regarding infant feeding education. Aims The aims of this research were to (1) explore North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers’ attitudes towards infant feeding education in secondary schools and (2) describe North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers’ infant feeding education practices. Methods Researchers conducted interviews ( N = 19) and a survey ( N = 137) using a sequential mixed methods design. The constant comparative method was used to analyze interview transcripts. Subsequently, a 33-item survey was developed to assess teachers’ attitudes and practices, and this survey was tested for validity and reliability. Results The majority of participants supported including infant feeding ( n = 119, 86.9%) and breastfeeding ( n = 116, 84.7%) education in high school. Approximately half of the participants supported including infant feeding ( n = 71, 51.9%) and breastfeeding ( n = 64, 46.7%) education in middle school. Participants reported that they taught infant feeding at both levels; topics taught included complementary foods, patterns of infant feeding, and the safe preparation of infant formula. Breastfeeding content was covered primarily in the high school Parenting and Child Development course. Conclusions North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences teachers have positive attitudes towards teaching about breastfeeding at the secondary school level. Content about infant nutrition and breastfeeding is currently included in courses that cover child development and human nutrition.

  PublisherDOI

• Nutritional Comparison of Raw, Holder Pasteurized, and Shelf‐stable Human Milk Products

  Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition · 2018-08-01 · 24 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: We aim to assess the nutritional composition of shelf-stable (SS) human milk and compare the nutritional profile to Holder pasteurized (HP) and raw human milk from the same pool. METHODS: Milk samples from 60 mothers were pooled. From this pool, 36 samples were taken; 12 samples were kept raw, 12 samples were HP, and 12 samples were retort processed to create an SS product. Samples were analyzed for percent fat, percent solids, total protein, lactose, amino acids, and thiamine. RESULTS: Percent fat, percent solids, and lactose were similar between raw, HP, and SS samples. Total protein was statistically increased in SS samples when compared to raw (P = 0.005) and HP (P < 0.001) samples, but protein differences were not clinically relevant (raw = 15.1 mg/mL, HP = 14.8 mg/mL, and SS = 15.8 mg/mL). Lysine was the only amino acid impacted by processing, and its destruction increased as heat increased (raw = 0.85 mg/100 mL, HP = 0.77 mg/100 mL, SS = 0.68 mg/100 mL). Total thiamine was significantly decreased in SS samples (0.14 mg/L; P < 0.01) when compared with raw samples (0.24 mg/L) and HP samples (0.26 mg/L). CONCLUSIONS: Macronutrient content is relatively unaffected by processing; Holder pasteurization and retort processing maintain similar fat, lactose, and total protein levels. Lysine and thiamine were significantly decreased by retort processing, but not by Holder pasteurization. Thiamine losses are clinically significant, and fortification may be necessary if SS donor milk is a long-term feeding choice.

  PublisherDOI

• North Carolina Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers' Infant Feeding Education Practices and Attitudes: A Mixed Methods Study

  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · 2018-07-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• A pilot study on nutrients, antimicrobial proteins, and bacteria in commerce‐free models for exchanging expressed human milk in the USA

  Maternal and Child Nutrition · 2018-12-01 · 14 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Expressed human milk can be donated or sold through a variety of channels, including human milk banks, corporations or individuals, or peer-to-peer milk sharing. There is a paucity of research regarding the nutrient and bioactive profiles of expressed human milk exchanged through commerce-free scenarios, including peer-to-peer milk sharing. The study objective was to evaluate the macronutrient, antimicrobial protein, and bacteria composition in expressed human milk acquired via commerce-free arrangements. Expressed human milk samples were collected from the following commerce-free scenarios: milk expressed for a mother's or parent's own infant (MOM; N = 30); unpasteurized milk donated to a non-profit milk bank (BANKED; N = 30); milk expressed for peer-to-peer milk sharing (SHARED; N = 31); and health professional-facilitated milk sharing where donors are serologically screened and milk is dispensed raw (SCREENED; N = 30). Analyses were conducted for total protein, lactose, percent fat and water, lysozyme activity, immunoglobulin A (IgA) activity, total aerobic bacteria, coliform, and Staphylococcus aureus. No bacterial growth was observed in 52/121 samples, and 15/121 had growth greater than 5.0 log colony-forming units/mL. There was no evidence of differences by groups (p > .05) in lactose, fat, water, lysozyme activity, sIgA activity, aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and S. aureus. Mean protein values (95% confidence interval) were 1.5 g/dL (1.4, 1.6) for BANKED, 1.4 g/dL (1.3, 1.5) for MOM, 1.6 g/dL (1.5, 1.7) for SCREENED, and 1.5 g/dL (1.4, 1.6) for SHARED, which was not significantly different (p = .081). This research contributes to growing literature on the risks and benefits of uncompensated, peer-to-peer milk sharing.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Ronald S. Cohen

  Stanford University

  23 shared

• Jeffrey C. Allen

  17 shared

• Maryanne T. Perrin

  University of North Carolina at Greensboro

  16 shared

• Montana Wagner‐Gillespie

  12 shared

• Pauline Sakamoto

  12 shared

• L. Suzanne Goodell

  North Carolina State University

  9 shared

• Olivia Mayer

  9 shared

• Ellen Chetwynd

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  7 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences

  North Carolina State University

  2008

• M.S., Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences

  North Carolina State University

  2003

• B.S., Food Science

  North Carolina State University

  2001

Awards & honors

• CALS Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor (2020)
• NC State University and College of Agriculture and Life Scie…