what is a postpartum doula?
As a Certified Postpartum Doula I enter every home with the goal of decreasing stress and increasing parent’s confidence. I provide non-medical physical, emotional, and practical support after the birth of your baby. I offer instruction in newborn care and breast/body-feeding, help with self care recovery techniques for birthing parents, and try to create a nourishing postpartum environment. I can be a sounding board for a parents’ questions, concerns, aches and pains. I get to share new families’ joys, while also listening to and normalizing their hardships. If a challenge is outside of my scope of practice, I work with clients to find the best resources that the larger perinatal community has to offer.
Benefits of hiring a postpartum doula
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Better for your baby.
Experienced guide through lactation/ feeding journey.
Early infant-parent bonding.
Greater understanding of newborn emotional and physical needs and behavior.
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Better for you.
Less parental exhaustion, frustration, and apprehension.
Holistic recovery from birth.
Early recognition of signs of postpartum mental health challenges and immediately available patient advocacy.
Prepare for returning to work with less anxiety.
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Better for your loved ones.
Gentle, educated guidance for partners.
Help organizing your loved ones as a team of caregivers to better support you.
A third party paying for doula services gives friends and relatives a way significantly help, even from afar.
You deserve a doula!
Typical postpartum doula assistance, advice, teaching:
Overnight care to maximize your sleep.
Postpartum recovery and birth parent care.
Newborn care. Such as bathing, cord care, swaddling, soothing, sleep.
Nonjudgmental baby feeding support led by your choices.
Breast/Chest/Body feeding instruction and support. (I am also a Certified Lactation Specialist.)
Get to know your baby’s milestones, abilities, personality.
Recognizing and mitigating postpartum mental health issues.
Help in organizing your team of support around your needs (partners, family, friends, health care providers, etc.)
Patient advocacy: Accompany family to medical appointments. Brainstorm questions for IBCLC, doctors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, etc. Communicating with healthcare professionals.
Light household cleaning, laundry, etc.
Sibling care.
Cooking and prep.
Running errands.
Providing information on local parenting resources.
Listening and processing!