THE LATCH TO SYSTEMS FRAMEWORK™
From Babies to Systems
Developed by Jasmine Hammonds, Founder of The Obsidian Milk Collective
WHAT IS THE LATCH TO SYSTEMS FRAMEWORK™
The Latch to Systems Framework™ is a model that examines how infant feeding outcomes are shaped—not just at the point of the individual—but across systems.
It challenges the idea that breastfeeding success or failure begins and ends with the latch.
Instead, it positions lactation as a function of:
access
healthcare systems
workforce representation
policy
and historical context
The problem was never just the latch.
The solution cannot be either.
The Latch to Systems Framework™ illustrates how infant feeding outcomes are shaped across interconnected levels—from individual experience to policy and health outcomes.
why this framework exists
Lactation is often treated as an individual responsibility.
Families are told:
to try harder
to seek support
to make informed choices
But what happens when:
support is unavailable
care is unaffordable
providers are inaccessible
systems are fragmented
or history has shaped mistrust and inequity
This framework exists to name a truth:
Feeding outcomes are shaped by systems—not just individual behavior.
THE CONTINUUM: FROM LATCH TO SYSTEMS
The Latch to Systems Framework™ moves across five interconnected levels:
-
The point of contact.
positioning
milk transfer
pain, latch, supply
immediate postpartum support
This is where most lactation conversations begin.
But it is not where they should end.
-
What surrounds the individual.
availability of lactation professionals
affordability of care
access to pumps and supplies
transportation and scheduling
continuity of care
Without access, knowledge cannot be applied.
-
Where care is structured.
hospital practices
discharge processes
referral systems
provider training
integration into maternal and infant healthcare
Systems determine whether care is consistent—or fragmented.
-
What is funded, covered, and prioritized.
Medicaid coverage for lactation services
insurance reimbursement
workplace protections
public health investment
legislation and advocacy
Policy shapes what is possible.
-
What we ultimately see.
breastfeeding initiation and duration
maternal and infant health outcomes
chronic disease risk
disparities across race and geography
Outcomes are not random.
They are produced.
HOW THE FRAMEWORK IS APPLIED
The Latch to Systems Framework™ is not theoretical.
It is used to:
design programs that address structural barriers
guide funding decisions and resource allocation
inform policy advocacy efforts
shape workforce development strategies
reframe lactation as essential healthcare
CENTERED, NOT LIMITED
This framework centers Black families in Alabama and the Deep South because that is where gaps in care are most visible.
This is not about exclusion.
It is about clarity.
By building solutions in communities most impacted by inequity, we create systems that are stronger and more effective for everyone.
WHAT THIS FRAMEWORK REQUIRES
Improving latch alone is not enough.
Lactation justice requires:
accessible, affordable care
a representative and supported workforce
integrated healthcare systems
policy that reflects the value of human milk
sustained investment in community-rooted solutions
THE ROLE OF THE OBSIDIAN MILK COLLECTIVE
Through The Obsidian Milk Collective, the Latch to Systems Framework™ is operationalized across:
education and narrative change
lactation access funding
workforce development
policy and advocacy
strategic partnerships
OMC exists to build the infrastructure that ensures this framework is not just understood—but implemented.
FINAL STATEMENT
Lactation is not optional support.
It is health infrastructure.
The problem was never just the latch.
The solution cannot be either.
The Latch to Systems Framework™
Developed by Jasmine Hammonds, Founder of The Obsidian Milk Collective