We had the good fortune of connecting with Albina Tzipporah Sukhodolsky and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Albina Tzipporah, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve been a speech-language pathologist for 13 years, with the last eight dedicated to working as a pediatric feeding therapist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital. Recognizing the scarcity of feeding therapists specializing in neonates, and knowing that most work in hospitals, I launched my own business. I frequently receive calls and texts from parents struggling with feeding their newborns, prompting me to take action. Often, babies who face feeding challenges in the hospital require outpatient feeding therapy upon discharge. However, there were limited options for preemie feeding therapy, which led me to provide this essential bridging care.

What should our readers know about your business?
I became a pediatric feeding therapist quite by chance. While working with adult patients in the hospital, I discovered my passion for assisting individuals with dysphagia, supporting their fundamental human right to eat. When my manager suggested I consider working in the NICU, I was unaware of what it would involve. However, after a year of intensive training and learning, I started a feeding program at my hospital. This experience ignited a deep passion in me for maternal health, breastfeeding, and empowering parents to confidently feed their premature infants. The NICU is a place no one anticipates being in, and during such times of upheaval and shock, I strive to introduce light, normalcy, and a bond between mother and child. I educate families on wholesome methods to connect, care for, and feed their babies. As a parent of three children, ages 15, 7, and 4, I understand the complexities of feeding children. Determined to breastfeed all 3 children with various breastfeeding difficulties, I sought private help to succeed.

My business is dedicated to support parents because a child’s ability to thrive hinges on proper nourishment. Feeding is a significant milestone upon which all other aspects of life depend. I love feeding babies, but it’s crucial that the parents feel confident feeding their baby since they are the caregivers. It’s a challenging skill that is never taught. We just expect parents to figure it out and sometimes they do. But when there are feeding challenges, it can take over their life.

In terms of starting my practice, actualizing an LLC took years because I felt hindered by fear. My advice to others is to inquire, seek a kind and supportive mentor, and do something small each day to advance your business. This could involve informing a friend about your venture, posting on social media, googling information, or offering to speak at events. The initial step is to make your presence known, even if it means giving your time for no cost.

Despite my initial reservations about becoming a “business” person, I have a career that is incredibly fulfilling with no “red tape”. It’s true what they say: when you love what you do, it never feels like work!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We could hike up Squaw Peak Mountain in the morning or begin our day with a yoga session. After yoga, we might enjoy brunch at Kitchen 18 in Scottsdale. Then, we could rent a cabin in Flagstaff, Sedona, or Heber, Arizona, where the weather is wonderfully cool. I adore being in nature, cooking, and engaging in deep conversations. I’ve also relished the spa experiences at Montelucia and Hyatt hotels. It’s a delightful way to relax and recharge for life.

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 owe my success to a robust support system. My immigrant family arrived in America in 1990 and diligently worked their way up. Many family members are business owners but I’m the first to complete both an undergraduate and a graduate program. I never envisioned myself as a business owner. However, a lunch with Dr. Cristina Carballo, a neonatologist and former medical director at our hospital, changed that. She had been the medical director when I began my career as a pediatric feeding therapist. We developed a strong bond and professional relationship, and she valued my insights on the infants’ feeding progress in our unit. After retiring due to her husband’s tragic death, we met for lunch one May afternoon. She inspired me to start my own business, emphasizing the demand for my expertise beyond the hospital. It took years, but her encouragement ignited the spark that led me here.

Website: www.littleeatstherapy.com

Instagram: littleeatstherapy

Image Credits
2 professional images – one of my profile and the other of my family was shot by Chrissy from Let Me See You Sparkle

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