Doulas play a critical role in supporting families. We support families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. As doulas, we offer emotional, physical, and informational support during one of the most exciting but vulnerable times. Becoming a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor can help doulas provide more support to the families they serve.
At the International Doula Institute, we offer a self-paced Certified Breastfeeding Counselor course designed by an IBCLC. This certification equips doulas to help their clients have a smoother transition from pregnancy to feeding.
So, why should doulas become Certified Breastfeeding Counselors?
Enhancing Support During the Golden Hour
The first hour after birth, often referred to as the “golden hour,” is a crucial time for establishing breastfeeding. During this time, babies often use their natural feeding making it easier to practice a proper latch.
Doulas who are also certified breastfeeding counselors can provide hands-on guidance. Helping families ensure proper latching techniques, optimal positioning, and troubleshoot early breastfeeding challenges can improve breastfeeding rates. This immediate support can make a significant impact on long-term breastfeeding success.
Building Confidence and Reducing Stress
New parents often face anxiety and uncertainty when it comes to breastfeeding. A doula who is also a certified breastfeeding counselor can offer expert advice and reassurance. Helping families navigate the early days of breastfeeding can help parents feel confident in their ability to breastfeed.
By offering evidence-based guidance and practical support, doulas can build parental confidence and reduce stress. Even the most ideal postpartum experience can still be stressful, so reducing stress is important.
Parents given evidence-based information and support are more likely to reach their personal breastfeeding goals. The International Doula Institute knows that most families who do not reach personal breastfeeding goals struggled because of a lack of support and accurate information.
Preventing Common Breastfeeding Challenges
Breastfeeding comes with its fair share of challenges, including latch issues, low milk supply, nipple pain, and engorgement. As a doula, if you are also a CBC, you have the skills to identify early signs of trouble. You can help offer solutions and offer options for solutions before issues become more difficult.
Proactive support can prevent unnecessary formula supplementation, help maintain the breastfeeding relationship and improve overall maternal and infant health outcomes. Please note that unnecessary supplementation is not to be confused with situations where it can become necessary. When we provide parents with evidence-based information about feeding, just like with birth, they can make informed decisions that work best for their family.
Doulas Who are Certified Breastfeeding Counselors Provide Continuity of Care
Families often experience fragmented care between healthcare providers, lactation consultants, and other support networks. As a doula, if you are also a CBC, you can bridge this gap in care. Being able to provide continuity of care for your families can help them feel more comfortable and supported during the postpartum period.
Feeling more supported and confident in their care can help more families reach their personal breastfeeding goals. Trust can be such an important part of having a positive postpartum experience.
Expanding Your Own Opportunities
When you become a CBC, you open new opportunities for yourself. You can provide standalone lactation support, hold breastfeeding support groups and classes, and even partner with healthcare facilities.
Diversifying your services improves the care for the families you serve. However, it also increases the opportunities you have to expand your services.
Promoting Long-Term Health Outcomes
As doulas, we know evidence supports our role in improving birth outcomes. We also know that research shows breastfeeding has both short and long-term health benefits for both the baby and the birthing person.
When you become a CBC, you can help improve the long-term health of the families you serve through helping them reach their breastfeeding goals. In helping the families you serve, you get to be part of the overall societal impact of increasing breastfeeding rates and duration.
For doulas committed to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care, becoming a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor is a natural and valuable step. Empower yourself to offer informed, compassionate lactation support, while making a lasting impact on the families you serve. Ready to get started? Register today!
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...