Lactation Consultant, Perinatal Patient Advocate & Disability Consultant
Consulting for Families and Perinatal Professionals
A specialized resource for disabled, chronically ill, and high-risk people, and for the doulas, midwives, lactation consultants, physicians, and healthcare teams who support them.
Supporting disabled, chronically ill, and high-risk families, as well as the professionals who care for them, through personalized preparedness planning for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and infant feeding.
This work centers preparation as the foundation of safety, dignity, and informed decision-making. Support is individualized and built around a person's specific condition(s), disability, health concerns, communication needs, and risk factors, with a focus on reducing risk through planning, education, accommodation identification, and clear communication.
Ziah McKinney has been a Patient Advocate since 2007 and a Doula since 2017
Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)
Birthing Advocacy Doula Training Full Spectrum Doula (BADT-FSD)
Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Educator (EBB CBE)
Accessible Pregnancy Action Plan (APAP) Trained
SAFE Infant and Young Children Feeding in Emergencies Specialist (IYCF-E)
Ehlers-Danlos Society EDS ECHO Clinician's Advocacy Training 150+ hours
Services include:
In-depth research on your or your client’s disability or health conditions
Consultation and information gathering from relevant specialists
Prenatal visits focused on risk identification and mitigation
Optional support during a perinatal provider appointment to help your medical team fully understand your needs available in the Atlanta area or via virtual meetings with your provider
A customized, medically informed birth plan formatted as a clear checklist for midwives or hospital staff
Documentation of accommodations, medications, dietary needs, and communication supports/AAC
Creation of a Accessible Pregnancy Action Plan (APAP) to include in medical records
This process ensures that your care team is informed, prepared, and aligned before labor begins to protect people’s dignity, safety and autonomy.
Lactation Consultant & Peer Infant Feeding Support Specialist
Ziah McKinney is a disability-informed lactation consultant and peer support specialist with 20+ years of community-based lactation experience. They provide compassionate, individualized infant-feeding support throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the feeding journey.
Their training includes Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) Nourishing Resilience Certificate, BADT Full Spectrum Doula training with an emphasis on infant feeding, Evidence Based Birth® childbirth education, and 150+ hours through the Ehlers-Danlos Society ECHO program. Their work is informed by extensive peer lactation experience and a deep understanding of EDS/HSD and chronic health conditions. Her Infant Feeding Guide for EDS/HSD Parents, began in 2017, is in its 4th edition.
Ziah specializes in supporting disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, and EDS/HSD parents with infant feeding and lactation. Care considers the whole person—including pain, fatigue, mobility, sensory needs, autonomic symptoms, positioning, physical limitations, and the realities of parenting in a disabled or chronically ill body.
As a full-spectrum doula, Ziah also brings experience supporting pregnancy, birth, postpartum adjustment, and the transition into parenthood. Their approach is collaborative and peer-centered, honoring each family's expertise, autonomy, culture, and lived experience.
Whether a family is breastfeeding, chestfeeding, pumping, combination feeding, using donor milk or formula, or navigating relactation or changing feeding goals, Ziah provides practical, accessible, adaptable support without requiring families to fit a standardized model of care.
Areas of Specialized Support
Infant-feeding education during pregnancy
Lactation and peer infant feeding support
Disability, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and EDS/HSD informed care
Breastfeeding, chestfeeding, pumping, and combination feeding
Infant feeding support for disabled parents
Full spectrum pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support
Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) Nourishing Resilience Certificate of Completion through SAFE Infant Feeding
Evidence informed childbirth education and informed decision making
Adaptations for pain, fatigue, mobility, sensory, and positioning challenges
Home setup support and light construction for accessibility
“Working with Ziah was one of the best decisions I made during my pregnancy. As someone with a disability and multiple health conditions, I was worried about constantly having to explain my needs to different providers. Ziah took the time to research my conditions, identify accommodations, and help me create a plan for my prenatal appointments, birth, postpartum, and infant feeding that actually fit my situation. Because of her support, I went into appointments, birth, and early parenthood feeling informed, prepared, and confident instead of overwhelmed. Her focus on preparation made a huge difference for both my family and me, and helped me feel respected, safe, and heard throughout the process.”
“I regularly recommend Ziah to clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or other complex needs. Her ability to understand even the smallest details of families’ unique needs and prepare for situations that often get overlooked. Her planning, research, and advocacy support help create smoother communication and better outcomes. She’s an incredible resource for both families and birth professionals.”