Our Providers

Jessica Peterson, owner of Milk Stories, shown here with short dark hair smiling and pointing at a small crocheted item she is holding in her right hand. She is sitting on a table in a bright room with a beige couch and large window.
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Mom of Two

Hi, I'm Jessica.

My biggest dream as a child was to become a mother. And I made that dream come true- twice! What I hadn't dreamt about was feeling lost, confused, frustrated and overwhelmed.

Sure it was joyful, rewarding, awe-inspiring too, but I hadn't anticipated how much time, energy and problem solving my very first job as a mother would require; I had to feed my baby and I had to do it well.

I ultimately breastfed my daughters for almost 4 years combined. It certainly wasn't easy, but I realized it was the support and company of other moms and professionals I trusted that made me believe I could do it, and figure things out when I had doubts or challenges.

Milk Stories owner Jessica Peterson shown here with short dark hair and a green shirt looks at a pink stencil template with various circular cutouts, sitting at a table in a bright room.
That was a turning point.

With more than a decade of experience as an occupational therapist (OTR), I decided to return to school (yet again!) to find my passion and purpose to work with moms. In the fall of 2023, I graduated with my post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD).

It was also during this time that I realized my passion in lactation.

In 2022, I began working exclusively with moms and babies as an occupational therapist and realized that much had changed with the Pandemic— where there once was opportunity for community and support for those earliest months of motherhood, there was now more isolation. This made breastfeeding an especially lonely, confusing, and difficult experience for many.

To specialize in maternal health and lactation as an occupational therapist, I have consumed over 1,500 hours of professional development, training and observation (and counting!), ultimately becoming an International Board Certified lactation Consultant (IBCLC), with a Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C).

All those letters are a fancy way of saying my life's work is advocating for and encouraging moms and babies everywhere– and I'm 100% dedicated to the cause.

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Jessica Peterson playing with a baby who is lying on a play mat in a cozy, brightly lit room. Jess is smiling and holding the baby's hands.

BA in Psychology, University of California Riverside 2009

MS in Occupational Therapy, San Jose State University 2011

Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), Boston University 2023

Certified Occupational Therapist Jessica Peterson of Milk Stories working with a baby on a beige couch.
Specialized Training & Certificates

  • International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) IBLCE

  • Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) ALPP

  • Certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) PSI

  • Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) Infant Massage USA

  • Tummy Time Method! Certified Professional: Michelle Emanuel, OTR/L, IBCLC, CST, NBCR

  • Flange Fitting for Clinical Practice: Babies In Common

  • The Vaughan Approach: Pediatric Bodywork, Craniosacral (CST) and Lymphatic Drainage

  • Sensory Beginning Master Course

  • Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Michelle Emmanuel

  • B.Mentored Trained Therapist

  • Reflexive Infant Feeding: Beyond the Tongue

  • The Therapist's Role in Treating Plagiocephaly Without a Helmet: Baby Begin

  • When Babies Can't Suck: An Advanced Course for Therapists

  • Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Certificate

  • Lactation Therapy: Advanced Clinical Skills Workshop, Breast Massage and Lymphatic Drainage with Maya Bolman

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Jessica Peterson OTD, OTR, IBCLC — Milk Stories' Owner

Maya Misikoff OTD, OTR, RN, IBCLC shown here smiling with blonde hair, sitting on a light green couch. She is resting her chin on her hand, wearing a beige top.

Hi, I'm Maya.

I'm an infant occupational therapist (OTR), registered nurse (RN), lactation counselor (CLC), and mom. I've spent my career supporting families through some of their most vulnerable and transformative moments.

After welcoming my son in 2024 and navigating our own breastfeeding journey, I gained a deeper understanding of the beauty and complexity of early parenthood.

I began my work as a registered nurse, with experience in critical care, perinatal, and mental health settings. These experiences shaped how I view both infants and parents — as individuals whose physical and emotional needs are deeply intertwined.

During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to expand my perspective by pursuing education in occupational therapy, where I specialized in neonatal therapy. Since then, I've loved integrating these two lenses to support families in a comprehensive, developmentally informed way.

I've also contributed to NICU research exploring how early sensory experiences impact infant development and maternal mental health, which continues to guide my work.

My practice sits at the intersection of feeding, early development, and parental mental health. I'm especially passionate about supporting breastfeeding dyads so families can feel confident, connected, and supported as they find their own path forward.

BA in Nursing, University of Texas at Austin

MS in Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University

Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), Boston University 2023

Maya Misikoff of Milk Stories sitting on a mint green sofa with a wooden wall in the background. She is smiling and casually resting her arm on the sofa armrest. She has blonde hair and is wearing a beige top and white pants,
Maya Misikoff of Milk Stories in Austin TX. She has long blonde hair and is holding a baby, who is looking at the camera with a curious expression, while sitting on her knees on a patterned floor in a cozy room, others smiling in the background.
Specialized Training & Certificates

  • International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) IBLCE

  • Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) ALPP

  • Infant Driven Feeding: Advanced Oral Feeding Practices in the NICU - Dr. Brown’s Medical

  • Supporting Oral-Motor Skills in the Infant: Assessment, Adaptation, and Remediation - The Lactation OT

  • Bodywork for Better Breastfeeding - The Lactation OT

  • Torticollis from NICU Through the First Year: More Than Just a Twisted Neck - National Association of Neonatal Therapists

  • Pediatric NDT Intensive Handling Intervention Course Developed by Gail Ritchie

Maya Misikoff OTD, OTR, RN, IBCLC

Services We Offer Through Milk Stories

LACTATION SUPPORT‍ ‍| INFANT FEEDING THERAPY‍ ‍| OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY‍ ‍| MATERNAL HEALTH

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