The Doula Who Didn't Know What to Do When Her Client Couldn't Latch
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
She had been a doula for three years. She had supported dozens of births. She knew how to hold space, how to advocate, how to read a room. But when her postpartum client called her in tears because her baby could not latch — she froze.
Not because she did not care. Because she had never been trained for that moment.
THE GAP NOBODY TALKS ABOUT
Birth worker training is rich in labor support, comfort measures, and postpartum emotional care. What it often does not include is substantive lactation education. And yet, breastfeeding questions are some of the most common things doulas get asked — in the hospital room, at the two-day home visit, in the 2am text message.
Your clients expect you to know. And most of you want to know. You just were not taught.
WHAT CHANGES WHEN YOU HAVE THE TRAINING
When you understand how milk supply works, you can reassure a mama without overstepping. When you recognize latch mechanics, you can spot a problem early and make an appropriate referral. When you have lactation language in your toolkit, you become a more confident and complete support person for your families.
That is not scope creep. That is competency.
BREASTWORK FOR DOULAS WAS BUILT FOR THIS
Breastwork for Doulas is my signature training for birth workers who want to show up more fully for the families they serve. It covers the fundamentals of lactation, common challenges, how to support without overstepping, and how to communicate effectively with IBCLCs and other providers.
You became a doula because you wanted to make a difference. Let lactation training be the next layer of that commitment.
Enrollment is open. Secure your spot at the link in bio.
With Gratitude,
Tiffani Dickerson RN IBCLC
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