KRYSTAL DUHANEY

“ My inspiration came from my very own breastfeeding journey. When deciding to breastfeed my first child, I was faced with so many difficulties and was provided very little to no assistance."

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do?

A. Hi, I am Krystal Duhaney, CEO of Milky Mama, a Registered Nurse, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, a Mother of two (one of my favorite titles), and a wife. I created Milky Mama to be a hub for support and education for budding families looking to breastfeed. I enjoy helping mothers and families everywhere explore feeding options for their children and receive community support during the most beautiful time of their life. After struggling to breastfeed with my first child, I understood the need for Milky Mama and was determined to create a more successful breastfeeding journey for my second time around and others. Since creating our Milky Mama community brand, I have crafted a delicious and nutritious range of lactation cookies, brownies, lemonades, smoothie mixes, and herbal supplements which are made from high quality ingredients tailored to meet the nutritional and developmental needs of breastfeeding mothers and infants. I am committed to empowering mothers with knowledge that allows them to make informed decisions about their maternal health.

Q. What motivated you to want to be an entrepreneur?

A. My overall intention for Milky Mama is to help breastfeeding and pumping mothers worldwide (to date we have helped 1 million mothers) by providing a platform where they have 24-hour access to resources and a community to assist them in their journey. My inspiration came from my very own breastfeeding journey. When deciding to breastfeed my first child, I was faced with so many difficulties and was provided very little to no assistance. I was discouraged by my nurse when I expressed my difficulties. She simply advised me to stop against my strong desire and understanding health benefits of breastfeeding.

Q. Can you tell us about Milky Mama and how your business got started?

A. After having my second child and returning to work, I struggled with my milk supply and realized that there were very few resources for breastfeeding mothers in the same predicament. I knew then that I had to come up with a solution that would help to increase my milk supply. Using my knowledge as a Registered Nurse and love for baking, I developed a milk-making cookie recipe and fell in love with the results. My lactation cookies dramatically increased my supply. Soon after, I decided that I could not keep my discovery a secret and had to share this with other mothers who were going through a similar situation. So, in November of 2015, Milky Mama was born. Today, Milky Mama’s product line includes delicious Lactation Cookies, Brownies (which are my favorite), Emergency Brownies, Lactation LeMOOnade, Lactation Smoothie Mix, and Herbal Supplements. Along with offering tasty treats and beverages, Milky Mama has also generated a following of women who help support each other and other women on their journey. Milky Mama facilitates weekly Live social media chats, an online breastfeeding course, virtual lactation consultations, and a lactation support group.

Q. If there was 1 message you could really drive home (about lactation) what would it be?

A. Educate your family and close friends especially the BIPOC community on the breastfeeding journey and the health benefits. We find that the older generation may not be as informed about breastfeeding or the benefits.

Q. What are some common misconceptions (about breastfeeding) you would like to debunk?

A. Many mamas-to-be think that their breastfeeding journey will be smooth sailing, but that is not always the case. Although breastfeeding is a natural process, it is also a learned skill for you and your baby. All babies are born with the reflex to root for their mother’s breast. But mothers need to know proper positioning techniques and signs of a correct latch. This requires a lot of patience, time, and bonding with your baby.

Q. Tell us about your breastfeeding support group?

A. It was also important for me to create a village of support because I needed it and I craved it. Having the extra support is so vital. It is heartwarming and a huge passion of mine to give breastfeeding support. I receive so many responses from customers sharing their experience and because they eat my treats, they are going strong with lactation. It is so amazing what a little extra support can do.

Q. What challenges do you face as a woman owned business in the medical industry?

A. Coming from the medical industry myself there are very few challenges I face. My focus is on the mothers and families that I assist and making sure that I am providing them with a wealth of knowledge and support.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. Social Media Links:  milkymamallc  milkymamallc  milkymama1