Meet Jada Wingo-Metcalf | Certified Breastfeeding Specialist + Postpartum Doula

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jada Wingo-Metcalf and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jada, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
The Milk + Honey Co. is a mobile lactation and postpartum service that provides education and support to increase community awareness around breastfeeding and offer beneficial resources to postpartum families to decrease high maternal and infant mortality rates here in Georgia. With these resources we introduce mothers/caregivers, especially Black mothers which have the lowest breastfeeding rates, to the benefits of human milk for their babies through breast and/or chest feeding and donor milk. Breastfeeding is a familial legacy that should be passed down from mothers to increase the generational health of families as well. By doing the work in our community to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates we also hope it encourages communities which include these same breastfeeding mothers and healthcare providers of color to consider a career in lactation to complete the continuum of care through updated evidence based lactation information through our Facebook community group Future IBCLCs of Color.

What should our readers know about your business?
What sets my business apart from others is the ability to come in the comforts of your home and connect with vulnerable mothers in their environment that are chartering unknown territories such as birth, babies and breastfeeding. By building maternal confidence mothers and birthing persons are able to advocate for themselves to make informed decisions. I am most proud of the moms when they find their own rhythm and transition smoothly into a thriving postpartum journey. Starting a business is not easy and it takes a certain mental capacity to keep going especially if you do not have the staff to assist. I have had highs and lows which comes with the territory of being self employed. Staying connected with like minded individuals and networking with birth working professionals helps to keep me engaged, informed and motivated. The biggest lesson I have learned along the way is to believe highly in myself and to just do it. Even if you’re afraid…do it scared. The Milk +Honey Co brand allows mothers to navigate parenthood fearlessly and connect with other mothers to find their ‘Breast Friend” for life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta has many festivities to offer especially when the weather warms up. I love to eat at new restaurants and they pop up quite often here, attend festivals, concerts and pop markets/shops for unique finds from local artists and businesses. But first, FOOD, I love La Petite Marche and the Atlanta Breakfast Club for breakfast or brunch. We would visit the touristy places in Atlanta like the Aquarium. I love nature so we would have to visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and few plant shops. If kids are involved we have to go to the Fun Spot for go cart racing. and visit some of our big parks like Centennial Park or Piedmont Park to ride bikes or scooters. For extreme fun we would visit an Escape Room and if we are feeling athletic the Bad Axe Throwing and Skydiving. The most interesting people to me are those that are completely different from me and my norms, I like learning new things. I like to have fun in an accepting and inclusive environment.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this to an awesome breastfeeding organization called RO.S.E. who gave me the opportunity to become a breastfeeding specialist and future IBCLC through a scholarship. Also, the wealth of knowledge given in our community Facebook group called Future IBCLCs of Color, which is dedicated to increasing the number of IBCLCs in the United States which is currently less than 2 percent. This group is run by myself and Admins that are IBCLCs or aspiring to become IBCLCs like myself, Nichelle Clark, IBCLC, Courtney Polk, IBCLC, Evonne Smith, IBCLC, Mireya Gonzalez, CLC, Raven DeAria, CBS, Evonne Smith, IBCLC and Whitney Dula, CLC.

Website: www.milkandhoneycoatl.com

Instagram: @themilkandhoneycompany

Facebook: facebook.com/milkandhoneycoatl

Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/ghhIz0_e349KpvPRzeNXLA

Image Credits
All images were taken at a Milk +Honey Co class or client home.