Lactation frustration the mother of invention

Making sidelines pay

Doctors who branched out beyond running their practice tell why they did it, how they did it, and what you should know before you do it.
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Name: Lennox McNeary Keyes, MD

Specialty: Physical medicine along with rehabilitation

Location: Roanoke, Va.

Company: Milkin' Cookies, which sells lactation cookies that help increase breast milk production. The recipe was developed by Dr. McNeary Keyes and Cheri Wiggins, MD, who also specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation in Twin Falls, Idaho. The cookies are prepackaged and made with ingredients such as brewer's yeast, flaxseed, wheat germ and oatmeal. They can be ordered only through the company's website .milkin-cookies.com/.

Annual revenue: The company, which started in April 2010, had about $30,000 in revenue the first year.

Why she started the business: The two physicians launched Milkin' Cookies when they were new mothers working for the same company in Virginia and struggling with breastfeeding.

The cookies come in two flavors --cranberry almond oatmeal and oatmeal chocolate chip.

Dr. McNeary Keyes said they tried to cut out as much sugar and fat as they could and didn't use any preservatives, medicinal herbs or pharmaceuticals. Yet they wanted the cookies to taste good. Each cookie has 190 calories, 10 grams of fat and three grams of fiber.

"There is an old wives' tale that says to use beer to increase milk production. We used brewer's yeast, and it worked," she said.

She said one cookie a day usually is sufficient to increase milk supply by a couple ounces. The business has many competitors.

Why she still practices: Dr. McNeary Keyes said she does rehabilitation work with people with brain, spinal cord and other injuries, which she finds rewarding. "I love my job. I love my patients," she said. "I worked too hard to get here."

Words of wisdom: "Expect a challenge and make sure you have a supportive spouse," Dr. McNeary Keyes said.