2026 IMPACT DOULA TRAININGS - COMMUNITY BREASTFEEDING WELLNESS ADVOCATE TRAINING
Community Breastfeeding Wellness Advocate Workshop, August 24
A one day (6hr) in person comprehensive training for certification as a community breastfeeding wellness advocate.
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Where Every Drop Of Support Matters.
Empowering Doulas to Empower Families.
Time and Location:
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August 24, 2026, 9:00a - 4:00p
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TBD
Breastfeeding is more than a way to feed a baby — it is the beginning of nourishment, bonding, healing, and community connection. Yet many families struggle to reach their initiation and feeding goals because of barriers such as lack of support, misinformation, or systemic inequities after birthing in a hospital setting.
Black women are offered formula 9x more than white mothers. Our Community Breastfeeding Wellness Advocate workshop was created to bridge this gap. Designed especially for doulas and aspiring birth workers who are often the first line of defense after birth, this program equips you with the knowledge of first milk (colostrum) production and benefits, hands on skills, and advocacy tools to better support families to increase breastfeeding initiation rates after delivery into the early days of feeding as a tool for formula prevention. COLOSTRUM IS MILK!!
What You’ll Learn
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The physiology and stages of lactation and how milk is made.
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How to recognize feeding cues and normal newborn patterns.
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Hand expression and massage techniques for breast health and wellness
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Practical skills: positioning, latch basics, hand expression, and comfort techniques.
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Peer counseling skills: active listening, encouragement, and referral practices.
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Trauma-informed and inclusive approaches to feeding support.
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Community advocacy: how to build support networks and address systemic barriers.
Who This Training Is For
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Aspiring and practicing doulas who want to expand their skills.
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Community caregivers and birth workers committed to breastfeeding equity.
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Those passionate about offering holistic, culturally respectful, and nonjudgmental support to families.
Your Impact
The maternal-infant health system isn't just broken. You're building new infrastructure, not patching the old one.
When you become a Community Breastfeeding Wellness Advocate, you don’t just gain new skills — you help reshape the culture of infant feeding in your community. You become a bridge between families and resources, ensuring that no parent feels alone in their feeding journey.
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Workshop Goals
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Strengthen knowledge of lactation physiology, newborn feeding cues, and common challenges.
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Build confidence in hands-on and verbal breastfeeding support.
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Honor cultural traditions and community-based approaches to infant feeding.
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Equip doulas and birth workers with advocacy, resources, and trauma-informed care tools.
Schedule Outline
Session 1: Lactation Foundations
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Anatomy & physiology of lactation: how milk is made and maintained.
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Golden hour and importance of early initiation.
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Positioning and latch basics (art expression with dolls/breast models).
Session 2: Supporting Families in Real Life
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Reading baby’s cues vs. clock feeding.
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Identifying normal feeding patterns in the first days/weeks
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Common challenges (engorgement, cracked nipples, mastitis, tongue tie).
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Gentle troubleshooting vs. when to refer to an IBCLC or provider.
Session 3: Cultural Wisdom & Community Support
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Traditional breastfeeding practices from diverse cultures.
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Barriers and systemic issues (formula marketing, racism in health care, lack of paid leave).
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Building a supportive breastfeeding ecosystem: doulas, peer counselors, lactation consultants, family members.
Session 4: Trauma-Informed & Inclusive Lactation Support
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Supporting families with histories of trauma, loss, or medical complications.
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Inclusive language for LGBTQ+ and non-traditional families.
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Empowering parents through choice, not pressure.
Session 5: Tools, Advocacy & Integration
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Comfort measures: hand expression, breast massage, herbal & holistic supports.
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Knowing scope of practice: doula vs. IBCLC
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Advocacy for equitable breastfeeding policies in hospitals and workplaces.
Where every dr p matters!!
The Structure: Seeds to Grow
Nourish
You'll receive in-depth education covering a wide range of topics related to breastfeeding including the importance of colostrum, early initiation, latch and positioning basics, newborn feeding cues and behaviour in the early days, and the Golden Hour.
Support
Through interactive workshops, role-playing exercises, and simulated birth scenarios, you'll gain practical experience in providing physical, emotional, and educational support during the postpartum period. This hands-on training will prepare you to effectively advocate for individuals in hospital settings.
Advocacy
In community, this hands-on training will prepare you to effectively advocate for equitable and accessible breastfeeding policies in hospitals and workplaces while providing culturally competent support and trauma informed care.
Why This Training Matters
Colostrum is MILK! Colostrum has an abundance of benefits that sets the foundation for a baby's gut health into adulthood. Be equipping newer or aspiring doulas and maternal health professionals about colostrum and how it supports the initiation of breastfeeding, families thrive when they feel supported, informed, and connected. By training as a Community Breastfeeding Wellness Advocate, you will:
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Gain confidence in guiding families through early initiating challenges.
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Learn how to empower families with evidence-based, culturally sensitive care.
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Become a trusted community resource while knowing when and how to collaborate with IBCLCs and healthcare providers.
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Help create healthier outcomes for parents and babies through compassionate, equitable support.
Begin your lactation journey with us today by enrolling in our next workshop!!