Top 3 Ways Doulas Can Support Lactation (Without Being Lactation Consultants)

Written By BADT

by Jessykah Aytch aka Ayaana Imani

For the majority of my doula career, I felt sorely inadequate as a resource for lactation support simply because I didn’t know what to say or do as a childfree auntie with no personal lactation knowledge or experience. My lack made me feel inferior.

To prevent birth workers who aren’t well versed in lactation from feeling incompetent like I did for the last eight years, let me share some tips that I wish I had known! I hope these help you feel like a knowledgeable lactation resource, even without being a certified lactation consultant*.

You can be bomb as f*ck in supporting breast/chestfeeding without having to become a certified lactation consultant. Intrigued? Keep reading friend; I've got some game-changing tips for you. Even if you already incorporate these tips into your support and services, let this blog confirm that you’re already doing phenomenal, impactful work.

* As you may know, the road to becoming an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) is often paved with barriers, challenges, and roadblocks for many people, specifically BIPOC, queer, gender-expansive, and lower-income individuals. I remember wanting to further my lactation knowledge and skills only to be met with financially inaccessible training, lengthy curriculum requirements, and human lactation programs at institutions that felt unsafe for someone like me.

Top 3 Ways Doulas Can Support Lactation

1. The relationship you’ve built is solid enough to positively impact your client’s lactation journey.

Let this section reassure you, even if you know nothing about lactation. What you can do and the support you provide are already enough. The relationship you’ve built with the family you’re serving makes you a trusted figure who is looked upon to hold space and provide encouragement and support.

Did you know that lack of support from family and friends is one of the top reasons people discontinue their lactation journey?

Lucky for you, nonjudgemental, positive support and continuous encouragement often make an invaluable impact on a family’s lactation journey. 

On several occasions, I remember hearing “I could not have done this without you” from a parent while they were comfortably feeding their baby human milk during a postpartum appointment.

I would shrug off the affirmation like rain rolling off my shoulder. I thought nothing of it because my internal dialogue told me I didn’t know enough.

Never underestimate how receiving love and encouraging messages during a vulnerable moment can keep the light of hope lit. Parents need this care while figuring out how to do this new, challenging thing. Be there to listen to their concerns, offer reassurance, and remind them they’re doing a fantastic job.

Sometimes, all it takes is a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on to help a struggling parent persevere through those challenging early days.

As a doula, I’ve also recognized how important it is to make space for encouraging your folks and families to prioritize self-care. Being there to remind them to stay hydrated, eat nutritious meals, accept help, and get plenty of rest whenever possible is also pretty impactful. The focus typically shifts completely from them to their new little human. Remind them that taking care of themselves isn’t selfish; it’s necessary for their well-being and ability to care for their baby. 

2. Master the Basics.

As doulas, our superpower lies in empowering our clients with knowledge. Having a personal expectation to be a lactation expert isn’t helpful or realistic. However, in many ways, you can learn and become confident in offering basic lactation support. A few ways you can master the basics are:

  • Encourage Skin-to-Skin Contact: Skin-to-skin isn’t just for the delivery room; it’s essential for nursing. Encourage your families to spend as much time as possible skin-to-skin with their babies in those crucial early days and weeks. Not only does it help regulate the baby’s temperature and heart rate, but it also promotes bonding and stimulates milk production.

  • Master the Latch: Spend time learning about proper latch technique and then teach folks how to identify an effective latch. This helps to solve many issues that cause sore and damaged nipples. Show your families how to hold their baby in a way that supports a deep comfort latch to maximize milk removal. A good latch can make all the difference between a pleasant breastfeeding experience and a painful one.

  • Read/Study the ABM Protocols: What are the ABM protocols? I’m glad you asked. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a worldwide organization of physicians dedicated to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding and human lactation. This organization has created a series of protocols that serve as guidelines for caring for lactating people and infants. The ABM protocols are updated regularly to present the most relevant and accurate information. In the protocols, you can find treatment recommendations for common challenges such as engorgement, nursing pain, etc.

  • Read lactation books and peer-reviewed lactation journals: During my human lactation program, a lactation consultant with 20+ years of experience recommended that students read The Breastfeeding Answer Book by La Leche League International from cover to cover. This book is a 680-page lactation bible filled with information on everything from lactation and contraception to feeding multiples and induced lactation. She mentioned, “If you read this book twice, you’ll know everything you need to know plus some,” so I share the same with you. I’ve found this book to be beneficial. Choose whichever lactation book best aligns with you and dive into the content.

    Another less-utilized resource outside of academia is peer-reviewed journal publications. Articles are great for finding the latest, medically accurate information. If you want to keep your information current, I highly recommend regularly searching Google Scholar and creating Google Alerts for lactation articles.

  • Attend conferences and workshops: Attend as many lactation events as possible to network and soak up new information. More nursing and lactation conferences are cropping up each day. Many of them offer discounted rates for people who need more accessible pricing or opportunities to serve in exchange for having registration fees covered.

    With a little research, you can find conferences and volunteer opportunities to better afford the costs. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Human Lactation Pathway 2 Program is hosting its inaugural Uplifting Black and Brown Lactational Success conference (Be sure to follow @ncat_humanlactation for updates!)

  • Troubleshoot Common Issues: Nursing can come with its fair share of challenges, from engorgement to nipple pain. While we may not be lactation consultants (if that’s your desired goal), we can still help troubleshoot common breastfeeding issues. We can offer suggestions for alleviating discomfort, such as cool compresses or regular milk removal, and refer clients to lactation consultants when necessary. 

3. Build a Support Network and Know When to Refer Out:

As birth workers, we typically are tapped into the community. If you haven't already, keep a resource list of trusted lactation consultants and clinics.

N.C. A&T State University has a FREE Lactation Clinic that offers in-person and virtual lactation consultations for anyone who would like lactation support. Help your folks build a support network of other lactating parents and communities who can offer advice such as the Mahogany Milk Support Group founded by Janiya Mitnaul Williams, MA, CLC, IBCLC. Not only is this an online group of fellow nursing parents, but IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) of color are available to answer questions and assist people in booking one-on-one consultations if necessary.

Additionally, the group offers encouragement and solidarity. Whether through local lactation support groups or online communities and forums, connecting with like-minded people going through similar experiences can be incredibly empowering.

Remember, it’s not about having all the answers; it’s about being a supportive force for your folks and families every step of the way.

By empowering them with knowledge, offering emotional support, and helping them troubleshoot common issues, you can make a world of difference in their lactation journey.

Don’t underestimate your impact as a trusted support person, you are more than enough.


Hey, BADTies and friends! My Mama named me Jessica Aytch. I prefer the spelling Jessykah and I also go by Ayaana Imani (which means “a beautiful flower with faith”) I’m a Black, pansexual femme, and cisgender woman. I’m a full spectrum doula, childbirth educator, sex educator, certified 200 RYT yoga teacher, certified life coach, and lactation counselor currently working as the clinic coordinator of the N.C. A&T State University Free Community Outpatient Lactation Clinic which is housed in the Human Lactation Pathway 2 Program. I began my birth work journey as a birth doula in 2015, first working with teenage parents and serving as a teen parent mentor. A few years later, I was trained as an abortion doula by trans abortion activist and doula named Ash Williams, then trained twice as a full spectrum doula through BADT and DTI (Doula Training International) and trained as a Midwife’s/Birth Assistant through the Mocha Midwifery Collective. Most recently in May of 2023, I graduated from N.C. A&T State University’s Human Lactation Pathway 2 Program and I sit for the IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) exam in April of this year. Find me on TikTok!

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