at Radical MilkRachael Dehe provides lactation counseling and expert feeding advice for breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combination breastfeeding or pumping parents, as well as support services for parents-to-be. She is dedicated to providing families with the support and guidance they need to grow and thrive as they navigate their feeding journeys. She uses her wealth of knowledge and experience to provide personalized care tailored to a family’s unique needs, using a combination of the latest evidence-based care techniques and her expertise to create a personalized plan that works for everyone. Here she talks to The Natural Parent magazine about the passion behind Radical Milkher biggest achievement and the pros and cons of running her own business.
The passion: What inspired you to create your business?
I am deeply inspired by the strong women in my life, my best friends, and especially my mom and grandmother, who both worked for women’s health. Growing up, watching them take care of birthing humans in such a vital and compassionate way has always fascinated and empowered me. Another source of inspiration came through my studies. I have always been interested in nutrition and learning how food nourishes our bodies. While studying nutrition, I discovered a deep admiration for the magical science of breast milk, the ways it is customized for each individual child, how breast milk interacts with and promotes a diverse microbiome, and how beneficial breast milk can be to health both of the parent as well as the baby!
As my career began, I worked in various hospitals in the US and UK alongside some of the brightest minds. I have found that parents are some of the most selfless people and are constantly inspired by their desire to do the best for their babies. There really are no “patients” more dedicated than new parents! This led me to dive deep into this field and eventually start my own business, Radical Milk Lactation Consulting. I am so happy that I can contribute to the well-being of people being born and make a real difference, every day.
The launch: How did you get started in the first place?
A lot has changed in the nine years since I started working with people giving birth! I have developed a huge amount of knowledge in my specialist area, but more importantly I have paid particular attention to the areas where parents feel care could be improved in my industry. For years I have heard parents explain that they felt a lack of expertise from health care providers in the areas of infant feeding and lactation. This is also visible on a wider societal scale, for example: public breastfeeding crisis, poor parental leave policies and general misinformation.
I have worked in many settings during my career including hospitals, birthing centers and even home births. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that people long to be seen and heard. They do not wish to be a “number” in the system. Thus, personalization has become the foundation for my practice. There is no such thing as a stupid question, no such thing as a concern too small ā if my clients are concerned about it, it is important and we will find a solution!
I used the tried and tested approaches from both my nutrition and organizational psychology studies to shape my business approach. It was important to me to start small, ensuring that I could offer personal and high quality experiences to my clients.
Innovation: What has been the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Starting out, my main focus was to develop a solid foundation. I knew I wanted my business to revolve around advocating for women and birthers, but I spent time researching, planning and learning about the specific needs of these groups. The unfortunate truth is that women and minority groups often receive unsatisfactory treatment in our current health care system, so I have made it a personal mission to advocate for those most at risk. I have attended trauma care training and a ‘mental health first aid’ course. It is important that I am constantly learning ways to better support BAME and other minority groups who are at the highest risk of injury during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Another globally underserved group is those who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community who I aim to serve and hold space as an ally. Additionally, I was diagnosed earlier this year with ADHD and have worked hard to create a safe space for neurodiverse parents as well.
The biggest discovery for me was realizing how important it is to create an environment that promotes both empowerment and comfort. All women and birthers need to feel seen, heard and actively supported. By offering personalized, holistic support tailored to the needs of parents, I am able to differentiate myself and care for others in the way they need. There really is no “one size fits all” in healthcare!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Balance is incredibly important to me and completing a master’s degree in Organizational Psychology has taught me how important it is to maintain a healthy work-life balance. I work a four day week and protect my downtime like my life depended on it! I prioritize having structured time off to recharge and spend with my family, which includes my husband Charlie and our two kitties, Benny and Gravy. For my body and brain, I try to get some time on the field, playing soccer three times a week. Along with hard work, prioritizing ourselves ensures that we can always give our best to our work. This ensures that our personal life is as fulfilling as our professional life.
