Hidden Gems: Meet Maya Radoccia-Kennen of High Country Lactation Care, Inc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Radoccia-Kennen.

Hi Maya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a new mom in my early 20s in rural AZ, I quickly realized Northern Arizona was a desert for maternal support, specifically lactation support. As I struggled to breastfeed my son in the early weeks and months, I had no one to turn to. With a lot of luck, I could continue for several months. But when I had to return to work, I gave up on breastfeeding because I had no access to a decent breast pump and no clue how to continue to work and feed my baby. Twenty-plus years and two more kids later, this is still one of my deep parenting regrets. For many years, I found a way to support new parents as a social worker with new families. When social services burnout overcame me, my passion for breastfeeding emerged. It took five years to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. This is the highest certification in the field and has prepared me to support families through even the most complex breast/chest feeding challenges. I have practiced for almost 15 years in private, hospital, and nonprofit settings.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My passion for my practice has paved the road to becoming a successful Lactation Consultant, but the speed bumps have been plentiful. When President Obama passed healthcare reform, lactation support services became billable to many private insurance plans. This made lactation care accessible to most folks with private insurance. However, Arizona Medicaid still does not reimburse IBCLCs for lactation support. As we know, rural Arizona communities are typically at least 50% low-income. This has made practicing in my community financially challenging. This care gap sparked me and colleagues to start a nonprofit lactation support center in northern Arizona.

We’ve been impressed with High Country Lactation Care, Inc., but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
High Country Lactation Care, Inc. (HCLC) is a small nonprofit based in Flagstaff serving Northern Arizona. Our mission is to provide skilled lactation support services to anyone in the region, regardless of ability to pay. HCLC explicitly serves low-income and uninsured/underinsured new families by providing no/low-cost services with an IBCLC. We are the only such organization in the region. All health authorities globally and in the US agree that providing human milk to infants optimizes health outcomes for infants and lactating parents. And yet, there are many barriers for US families, such as pain when feeding, poor management of milk production, having to return to work, and many others. Many of these challenges are preventable or easily managed with education and support from a skilled IBCLC. Families seek our services either in preparation for having a new baby or if they experience challenges with breast/chestfeeding a baby.

Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor in lactation support can be challenging because our workforce is relatively small. I have made it my mission to stay connected with anyone in my community who also offers lactation support services or is interested in entering the field. I have mentored several students over the years and have spearheaded lactation professional community coalitions. During my normal day-to-day practice, I share my assessments and plans with other healthcare providers who might be involved with the family. This legitimizes my entire profession’s place on the healthcare team. I am constantly asking for clinical advice from my professional peers. Creating these networking opportunities has been vital for my growth and helps us learn from each other, ultimately improving the care we give our clients. Practicing in a vacuum can be dangerous and lonely.

Pricing:

• $0-$150 depending on income

Contact Info:

• Website: www.highcountrylactation.org
• Instagram: @highcountrylactation
• Facebook: High Country Lactation Care

Image Credits
Portrait photo courtesy of Denice Arnett, birth photographer www.denicedoula.weebly.com @denice_doula on Instagram