Jennifer McAllister, MD, IBCLC
- Medical Director, West Chester Hopsital Special Care Nursery
- Medical Director, University of Cincinnati Newborn Nursery
- Medical Director, Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) Follow-Up Clinic
- Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
- jennifer.mcallister@cchmc.org
- Board Certified
About
Biography
I am a pediatrician with special interests in newborn care, breastfeeding and follow-up care for infants with prenatal opioid exposure. I enjoy working with new parents and their infants as they start their journey into parenthood. It's a time of significant change as families experience the challenges that come with having a new baby.
In my practice, I approach patients as if I'm speaking to my own family and friends. I enjoy discussing shared experiences while also providing evidenced-based practices. Often, I see my role as an educator. I strive to be approachable as I want parents to feel comfortable bringing forth any questions and concerns.
As an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), I love helping families with the successes and sometimes difficulties that come with breastfeeding. I also direct the Cincinnati Children’s Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) Follow-Up Clinic, which provides care for infants and children exposed to opioids prenatally. In my clinical research, I focus on the short- and long-term medical and developmental outcomes of prenatal opioid exposure.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors with my family and participating in triathlons.
MD: University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, 2007.
Residency: Pediatrics, University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 2010.
Certification: Pediatrics, 2010.
Interests
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; newborn care; breastfeeding
Services and Specialties
Interests
Follow up care of infants treated for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Research Areas
Locations (2)
Insurance Information
Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.
Publications
Breastfeeding and Developmental Outcomes in Infants with Prenatal Cannabis Exposure: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2025.
Barriers and Facilitators to Exclusive Breastfeeding in Cincinnati Latina Women. Clinical Lactation. 2025; 16(3-4):188-206.
Pediatricians' Attitudes Toward and Use of Terminology About Mothers With Opioid Use Disorder. Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2025; 19(6):646-654.
Early childhood growth following prenatal opioid exposure and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. Pediatric Research. 2025; 98(4):1395-1402.
Reducing Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Frenotomy Practice. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2025; 20(10):715-721.
Effects of Prenatal Opioid Exposure on the Brain and Neurodevelopment. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2025; 72(5):805-823.
The Impact of Frequency of Cannabis Use on Hypertensive Disorders During Pregnancy. Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2025; 19(5):611-614.
Instrument-based vision screening and outcomes in young children following prenatal exposure to buprenorphine or methadone: a retrospective cohort study. Journal of AAPOS. 2025; 29(4):104259.
A neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: Diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 2025; 109:107471.
Maternal Perception of Infant Sleep and Bonding in Opioid Use Disorder. Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2025; 19(1):83-88.
From the Blog
Podcast | Infant Series: Tongue Ties and Feeding Concerns
Jennifer McAllister, MD, IBCLC4/26/2024
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