Protect and Support: Doulas as the First Line of Defense in Lactation Care

Doulas are uniquely positioned to be a critical first line of defense in protecting and supporting lactation from pregnancy through postpartum. This webinar will explore the essential role doulas play in providing early breastfeeding education, offering immediate postpartum lactation support, and advocating for families' feeding goals, especially within systems that often overlook or delay lactation care.

Participants will learn how doulas can:

-Educate and empower families prenatally with accurate, evidence-based breastfeeding information

- Support and protect milk supply immediately after birth

-Bridge gaps in care by identifying barriers, challenging myths, and ensuring timely referrals to lactation professionals

Learning Objectives:

-Identify key ways doulas can provide or connect families to prenatal breastfeeding education and set the foundation for successful lactation.

- Describe strategies doulas can use to protect milk supply and feeding goals immediately after birth, including advocacy in healthcare settings.

-Demonstrate how doulas can combat breastfeeding myths, support informed decision-making, and facilitate timely referrals to lactation professionals postpartum.

Shonte’ Terhune-Smith is an International Board-Certifi ed Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who has worked diligently in Genesee County to increase breastfeeding rates through her private practice, You Overcoming Lactation Obstacles (YOLO). She has experience on hospital birthing units, pediatric and obstetric clinics and with WIC, providing breastfeeding education and skilled support. Shonte’ facilitates local support groups, works with community partners, provides birth doula services, and works as a childbirth educator, all while serving as a co-founder of Southeast Michigan IBCLC’s of Color. Shonte’ has worked with hundreds of families providing education, support, and empowerment to breastfeed successfully. Normalizing breastfeeding is her passion, with the goal of providing culturally competent care for all families. The busy wife and mother to four breastfed children understands that there can be struggles with breastfeeding but that with the right support, the struggles can be overcome.

The virtual session is free to attend and a certificate of attendance is available.