How Doulas Can Support the First Latch

I’ll never forget one birth I attended as a doula. The labor and delivery nurse noticed my sweatshirt said “Doula, IBCLC”and said, “Oh, you’re a lactation consultant? That’s fantastic! Now YOU can handle the first latch.”

 

It was kind of funny in the moment. But looking back, it was very telling. She openly admitted that helping mothers with the first breastfeeding latch wasn’t her strong suit. She also added that doulas don’t usually help much either.

 

I was shocked.

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When I started talking to other doulas about this, I realized how common it is for doulas to default to nurses for the first latch — standing by, cringing, while the same subpar advice gets repeated over and over again:

“Sit up straight.”
“Cradle hold.”
“Wait for baby to open wide.”
“Smoosh.”

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One time, I watched a nurse tell my client, “You just gotta smoosh her on,” while grabbing the back of the baby’s head and physically forcing the baby into the breast. This is no different than when a nurse tells a mother she has to push on her back. Yet in this scenario, most doulas I work with admit they freeze. In the pushing scenario? They shine.

 

 

Why doulas don't know how to help moms get a good first latch

It’s not that doulas stop caring.

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It’s that a lack of confidence in breastfeeding support skills tells them:

• This doesn’t feel right

• This isn’t the best way to get a latch

…but they don’t know how to facilitate another way.

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Without a framework, doulas are left watching something they know isn’t ideal, unsure how to intervene without overstepping or offering advice outside their scope.

 

 

Why Reflexive Breastfeeding Changes Everything

Doulas who learn how to facilitate reflexive breastfeeding have significantly more confidence and success supporting the first latch.

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When the first latch goes well:

• Maternal confidence increases

• Subsequent latches are more likely to be positive

• Pain and frustration are reduced early

• Breastfeeding feels collaborative instead of combative

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But here’s what most doulas miss: A good latch isn’t about whether it looks like a good latch. It’s about how it’s working — and whether the mother is working with her baby’s physiology or against it.

 

 

Three Things Doulas Should Know to Support the First Latch

Doulas who complete Breastfeeding Beyond the Birth Plan consistently teach their clients these three principles during the first latch:

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1. Positioning matters — but not the way you’ve been taught

It’s not about cradle vs. football hold. It’s about infant alignment.

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Understanding the cardinal rules of infant positioning during feeding is crucial, and those same rules apply to everyfeeding position. When alignment is off, latch struggles follow — no matter how wide the mouth opens.

 

 

2. Reflexive latching beats forceful techniques every time

You can show moms how to work with their baby’s design and natural feeding reflexes to sequence latching so it feels comfortable and intuitive. Or they can battle their baby.

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Only one of those options builds confidence and protects breastfeeding long term.

 

 

3. Latch assessment is about the whole picture

Assessing a latch isn’t just about:

• A wide-open mouth

• Areola in the mouth

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It’s about:

• Baby’s overall alignment

• Latch comfort

• Latch efficiency

• Lip seal or grip

• Cheek tension and compensations

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Doulas who can recognize the signs of an inefficient latch early can help protect mothers from pain, frustration, and unnecessary supplementation.

 

 

Better First Latches Protect the Breastfeeding Relationship

When doulas help their clients implement reflexive latching with optimal positioning — and can confidently recognize when a latch isn’t working — they can:

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• Reduce latching pain

• Increase maternal confidence

• Support more successful early breastfeeding experiences

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This is powerful support that stays firmly within a doula’s scope — when taught correctly.

 

 

Advanced Breastfeeding Education for Doulas

Inside Breastfeeding Beyond the Birth Plan, doulas learn:

• Common barriers to a good latch

• How to encourage reflexive breastfeeding

• The LATCH Technique for successful early breastfeeding

• How to help clients avoid unnecessary formula — even under pressure

• How to protect milk supply when supplementation is needed

• Expert frameworks for helping mothers assess whether they are facing true supply issues or normal early breastfeeding patterns

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If you’re tired of surface-level breastfeeding facts and want expert support frameworks — without becoming a lactation professional — Breastfeeding Beyond the Birth Plan is advanced lactation education designed specifically for doulas who want to support breastfeeding confidently and ethically.