CDA Celebrates National Lactation Month – The Accessible Lactation: Milk Magic Educator Program

It is Lactation Month and Community Doula Alliance is proud to highlight The Accessible Lactation: Milk Magic Educator Program, our lactation education program in partnership with Nurturely! 

What is the Milk Magic Educator Program?

The Milk Magic Educator Program was developed by Nurturely to provide accessible lactation education to birth workers and families in Central Oregon. This program was developed to:

• Mobilize breastfeeding advocates and enthusiasts

• Address many systemic barriers to lactation education and support in the Black, Latine, and Indigenous communities

• Provide instant access to the tools needed to provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate breastfeeding education and support in your own community

  This effort is part of grant-specific funding from Trillium Community Health Plan to improve education resources and access to lactation/feeding support for families.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Both Baby & Mother

1.  Nutrition

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. As the baby grows, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet the baby’s nutritional needs.

      2. Protection

Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.

     3. Antibodies

Breast milk shares antibodies from the mother with her baby. These antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses.

     4. Convenience

Mothers can breastfeed anytime and anywhere. Mothers can feed their babies on the go without worrying about having to mix formula or prepare bottles. When traveling, breastfeeding can also provide a source of comfort for babies whose normal routine is disrupted.

The Benefits for Maternal Health

Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother too! Breastfeeding can reduce the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

For postpartum recovery, the hormone oxytocin, released during breastfeeding, helps the uterus contract to its pre-pregnancy size and reduces bleeding. Additionally, it helps calm the nervous system through skin-to-skin contact and can build a stronger maternal-infant bonding experience. A study in 2023 found that the psychological benefits include “focused attention and relaxation, akin to a meditative experience, which can effectively alleviate sadness and anxiety” (Modak, 2023).

The Impact of CDA Doulas Becoming Milk Magic Educators

As part of the partnership, we recruited 10 community doula members of our Diverse Doula Program, who are also childbirth educators, lactation coalition ambassadors, student IBCLCs, Certified Lactation Counselors, and others, to be selected to participate in the program which includes lactation equity peer educator training by Nurturely and providing education to at least 10 people in their communities every month from January to October 2025. 

The Milk Magic Educators are connecting with current doula clients, pregnant people, lactating people, community groups (church groups, cultural community groups, etc. ), and families interested in learning more about lactation and newborn feeding skills. Some of activities they engage in to facilitate the lactation education are prenatal visits with existing clients, hosting events at Black Parent Initiative, partnering with Nurturely ambassadors, tabling at Virginia Garcia Reproductive Health Clinic, hosting lactation workshops at CDA, having intentional conversations with new parents and other activities.

The following data is a snippet of their hard work over the last 8 months:

• 832 people educated about lactation in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties
• 513 of Hispanic/Latine background
• 162 of African-American/Black background 
• 24 teens/highschool students
• 17 people over the age of 50

From the evaluation surveys completed throughout the program, The Milk Magic Educators report that the Nurturely Lactation Equity Coalition Training curriculum has helped them provide virtual one-on-one classes, through in-person consultations, improve their current practice, learn and grow in confidence with lactation, and expand the communities they are able to support. Their training and lactation education efforts have helped them support their community with resources and information including the benefits of human milk, breast/chest feeding, skin to skin practices, newborn bonding, and comfort techniques. 

Additionally, many of them have shared that participating in this program contributes to a boost in their confidence as educators, an increase in their lactation knowledge base, and the awareness of racism and barriers to lactation support. Other feedback they shared about this program’s influence on their practice includes being able to build community and serve their communities more inclusively, to earn more income, and to feel more supported in their work overall.

Happy National Lactation Month from CDA!

Sources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, September 23). Breastfeeding frequently asked questions (FAQ). https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/php/faq/faq.html
• Modak, A., Ronghe, V., & Gomase, K. P. (2023). The Psychological Benefits of Breastfeeding: Fostering Maternal Well-Being and Child Development. Cureus, 15(10), e46730. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.46730