What is an integrative lactation and feeding specialist (ILFS)? What is a lactation doula?
At the core of my lactation practice is my training with Manhattan Birth. A Manhattan Birth-trained IFLS takes a whole person, whole family approach to assisting new parents with learning to feed their newborns. With current recommendations in mind about exclusive nursing, the ILFS recognizes that the health and adjustment of the person doing the feeding is not included in the current recommendations. ILFSs work with each family as its own specific, individual case. They help the family to discover and overcome their unique challenges to have the healthiest possible, most satisfying feeding relationship between parent(s) and baby(s). Most lactation training identifies “normal” and then identifies “variations.” The ILFS recognizes what is normal to a medical organization may, in fact, be a variation to any family. Each family is the expert on their own set of “normal”. It is the goal of the ILFS to assist families in becoming experts in how their own new or growing families work.
A lactation doula works with families from before birth or adoption through the initial postpartum period to provide lactation and feeding education, support the family in choosing how to feed their baby, give immediate support with feeding after birth or adoption, and help the feeding relationship become established in the fourth trimester. Working with a lactation doula, rather than waiting to hire a lactation counselor when problems arise, can help ensure families have the full scope of information to make informed choices about what feeding will look like for them.
What is a full-spectrum doulA?
Full-spectrum doulas do more than just assist during pregnancy and birth: they’re trained to provide emotional and physical support, practical and logistical support, and resources in a wide range of contexts, including conception, loss, abortion, birth, surrogacy, adoption and postpartum. Full-spectrum doulas also provide continuous support during labor and birth and in the immediate postpartum hours.
Doulas aren’t medical professionals, and we don’t provide clinical care, but studies have shown that having a doula by your side during pregnancy and birth can improve your birth outcome. Individuals using doulas are four times less likely to have a low birth weight baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication involving themselves or their baby, and significantly more likely to initiate feeding with their body.
Beyond birth outcomes, having a doula by your side can help you navigate the complex worlds of getting pregnant, grieving a loss, finding care providers, inducing lactation, feeding a baby and interacting with others about your family building intentions, questions and experiences.