At Radical Milk, Rachael Dehe provides lactation consultation services and expert feeding advice for parents who are breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combi-feeding or pumping, as well as offering 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 individualised care tailored to a family’s unique needs, using a combination of the latest evidence-based care techniques and her expertise to create a bespoke plan that works for everyone. Here she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind Radical Milk, her biggest breakthrough, and the pros and cons of running her own business.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I am deeply inspired by the strong women in my life, my best friends, and particularly my mom and grandma, who both worked in women’s health. Growing up, watching them care for birthing people in such a vital and empathetic way always fascinated and empowered me. Another source of inspiration came about through my studies; I have always had an interest in nutrition and learning how foods nourish our bodies. While studying nutrition, I discovered a deep admiration for the magical science of breastmilk, the ways that it adapts for each individual child, how breastmilk interacts with and promotes a diverse microbiome and how beneficial breastmilk can be for the health of both parent and baby!
As my career started, I worked at various hospitals in the US and the UK alongside some of the most brilliant minds. I found that parents are some of the most selfless people and am perpetually inspired by their drive to do best for their babies. There truly 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’m so pleased to be able to contribute to birthing people’s well-being and make a real difference, every day.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Much has changed in the nine years since I started working with birthing people! I’ve developed a vast knowledge in my niche field, but more importantly I’ve paid close attention to the areas where parents feel care could be improved in my industry. For years I’ve listened to parents explaining that they’ve felt a lack of expertise from their healthcare providers in the fields of infant feeding and lactation education. This is also visible on a larger scale societally, for example: judgement for public breastfeeding, poor parental leave policies and general misinformation.
I’ve worked in many settings during my career, including hospitals, birthing centres, and even attending home births. The biggest lesson I’ve taken away is that people yearn to be seen and heard. They do not desire to be a “number” in the system. Thus, personalisation has become the foundation for my practice. There is no such thing as a silly question, nor any concern too small – if my clients are worried about it, it’s important and we will find a solution!
I tapped into the tried and tested approaches from both my nutrition and organisational psychology studies to shape my business approach. It has been important to me to start small, ensuring I could deliver personal and high-quality experiences to my clients.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Starting out, my primary focus was on developing a solid foundation. I knew I wanted my business to revolve around advocating for women and birthing people, but I spent time researching, planning, and learning the specific needs of these groups. The unfortunate truth is that women and minority groups often receive unsatisfactory treatment in our current healthcare system, thus I have made it a personal mission to support those most at risk. I have undertaken trauma-informed care training and a ‘mental health first-aider’ course. It is important that I am continually learning ways to better support BAME and other minority groups who are at the highest risk of injury while pregnant, birthing, and during the postpartum period. Another universally underserved group are those who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community who I aim to serve and hold space for as an ally. Additionally, I was diagnosed earlier this year with ADHD and have worked hard to create a safe space for neurodiverse parents too.
The biggest breakthrough for me was realising how important it is to create an environment that fosters both empowerment and comfort. All women and birthing people need to feel seen, be heard, and actively supported. By offering personalised, holistic support tailored to parents’ needs, I am able to set myself apart and care for others in the ways 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 taught me just how crucial it is to maintain a healthy work-life balance. I work a four-day week and I protect my downtime like my life depends on it! I prioritise 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 my brain, I try to get in some time on the pitch, playing football three times a week. Alongside the hard work, prioritising ourselves ensures that we can always give as much as we can to our jobs. This ensures that our personal lives are as fulfilling as our professional ones.
