Lactation for Doulas

Who this is for

Birth doulas, postpartum doulas, newborn care specialists, childbirth educators, new parent educators, and community birth workers who need a stronger lactation foundation without seeking a clinical lactation credential.

What you will learn

• Clearly distinguish doula lactation support from clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and IBCLC practice.
• Explain breast/chest anatomy, lactation hormones, lactogenesis, supply-and-demand, milk removal, and common normal variation.
• Prepare families prenatally for feeding, including informed choice, realistic expectations, skin-to-skin, hand expression awareness, and support planning.
• Recognize newborn feeding cues, normal frequency, cluster feeding, output, weight and jaundice concepts, and red flags requiring pediatric or lactation evaluation.
• Provide consent-based, hands-off coaching for positioning and latch and know when direct observation is insufficient and referral is needed.
• Describe common early challenges and provide supportive, non-diagnostic measures while escalating pain, trauma, infection, poor transfer, inadequate intake, and complex situations.
• Teach pumping, milk handling, bottle feeding, formula preparation, supplementation, and donor-milk context accurately and without judgment.
• Adapt support for cesarean, separation, NICU, prematurity, multiples, induced lactation, relactation, tandem feeding, loss, weaning, and suppression.
• Use culturally responsive, disability-inclusive, LGBTQ+ affirming, trauma-informed, and weight-neutral communication.
• Evaluate sources, use current evidence, document within scope, and build strong IBCLC/pediatric referral relationships.

Entry & readiness

Doula training or equivalent perinatal foundations recommended; orientation and feeding-scope agreement; IBCLC mentor for assessed feeding practice.

How learning works

Planned delivery combines sequenced instruction, guided independent study, applied assignments, case work and competency assessment, with verified practice where required. Online lessons are self-paced, with access opening on the date above. Live-session arrangements and practice requirements will be confirmed before paid enrollment opens.

Practice & application

20 directly supervised lactation-support hours with at least four consenting families under an IBCLC or another appropriately licensed and qualified lactation professional. Include intake, observation, education, referral and follow-up. Record only feeding-specific work. Simulation remains instructional and does not replace these hours.

Completion requirements

Complete all required modules, assignments and practice. Attend at least 90% of live instruction and make up missed learning; all safety and skills sessions are mandatory. Pass the final knowledge assessment at 85% with every critical item correct. Pass the separate performance assessment and portfolio at 17/20 or higher, with at least 3 in each dimension and no critical error. Final evidence must be accepted before an award is issued.

Scope & credential clarity

A doula may provide general feeding education, emotional support, positioning suggestions, cue recognition, practical help, and resource referral. This course does not prepare the learner to diagnose low supply, oral restriction, mastitis, allergy, dehydration, jaundice, poor weight gain, or other conditions; perform clinical feeding assessments; prescribe pumps, shields, herbs, medications, or supplementation volumes; or represent themself as an IBCLC or other licensed clinician.

The Daisy Academy award reflects the Academy’s own competency requirements. It does not confer licensure or automatically establish external accreditation, insurance recognition or third-party certification.