When most people hear the word doula, it is the birth doula that first comes to mind. She who is right there by the mother's side to help her welcome her baby into the world. She provides highly individual support during labor, offers reassurance to the partner and shows them to they can best support mom, and is basically a personal walking talking childbirth education teacher for the parents as they journey through labor and birth.
Yes, birth doulas are amazing. We have been shown to decrease your likelihood of cesareans, epidural use, and often lead to shorter labors with happier moms. But there is also another kind of doula out there that has an entirely different role than that of the birth doula. She is the postpartum doula.
Just as birth doulas are there to be your personal cheerleader and gentle guide through labor and birth, postpartum doulas share some similar roles. But instead of seeing you through labor and birth, postpartum doulas are there for you in the first few days and weeks after baby is born.
We work with a family to determine what kinds of support they may need in the postpartum period, and come up with a schedule that will best serve the family. Typically when I work as a postpartum doula, I will make 2-3 hour vists a few times a week. And what exactly happens at these visits?
Your postpartum doula will come in, ask you how everything is going, see if you've showered, eaten, and rested yet, and if your haven't she will support you so you can do these basic tasks. As parents may recall, the first few weeks home with a newborn can be a flurry of sleep deprivation, round the clock feedings, and an upheaval of the routine that was in place before baby arrived.
What does your postpartum doula NOT do? Well, she's not a babysitter, so she won't just watch baby while you go grocery shopping. Her role is to help facilitate the connections within the family. And while she will have no problem carrying baby in a sling while you shower, rest, or eat, her main goal will be to help strengthen your bond with your baby, not to care for your baby instead of you. This is sometimes in direct opposition to what you may come to expect with guests who visit you after baby comes home. Sometimes guests will want to hold baby the whole time they are over. Your postpartum doula will say, no, you hold your baby, and let's see how we can make that experience more enjoyable for both you and baby.
Postpartum doulas are also not baby nurses. We will not take over full care of your baby for you. We will gladly demonstrate some great tips and tricks on infant care. We will help walk you through diaper changes, burping, baths, and feedings. But the ultimate goal will always be to instill confidence in the parents so they no longer need a postpartum doula.
The role of a postpartum doula is fluid, but in general, she provides emotional support, research-based information on newborn care, light cooking and cleaning (sweeping and snacks-yes, toilet scrubbing and 4 course meals-no), feeding assistance and support, and postpartum comfort measures.
Postpartum doulas have been shown to decrease the incidence of postpartum mood disorders in both mom and dad, and a stronger bond within the whole family.
Who wouldn't want a postpartum doula, to make their postpartum period as wonderful and sacred as it should be?
Yes, birth doulas are amazing. We have been shown to decrease your likelihood of cesareans, epidural use, and often lead to shorter labors with happier moms. But there is also another kind of doula out there that has an entirely different role than that of the birth doula. She is the postpartum doula.
Just as birth doulas are there to be your personal cheerleader and gentle guide through labor and birth, postpartum doulas share some similar roles. But instead of seeing you through labor and birth, postpartum doulas are there for you in the first few days and weeks after baby is born.
We work with a family to determine what kinds of support they may need in the postpartum period, and come up with a schedule that will best serve the family. Typically when I work as a postpartum doula, I will make 2-3 hour vists a few times a week. And what exactly happens at these visits?
Your postpartum doula will come in, ask you how everything is going, see if you've showered, eaten, and rested yet, and if your haven't she will support you so you can do these basic tasks. As parents may recall, the first few weeks home with a newborn can be a flurry of sleep deprivation, round the clock feedings, and an upheaval of the routine that was in place before baby arrived.
What does your postpartum doula NOT do? Well, she's not a babysitter, so she won't just watch baby while you go grocery shopping. Her role is to help facilitate the connections within the family. And while she will have no problem carrying baby in a sling while you shower, rest, or eat, her main goal will be to help strengthen your bond with your baby, not to care for your baby instead of you. This is sometimes in direct opposition to what you may come to expect with guests who visit you after baby comes home. Sometimes guests will want to hold baby the whole time they are over. Your postpartum doula will say, no, you hold your baby, and let's see how we can make that experience more enjoyable for both you and baby.
Postpartum doulas are also not baby nurses. We will not take over full care of your baby for you. We will gladly demonstrate some great tips and tricks on infant care. We will help walk you through diaper changes, burping, baths, and feedings. But the ultimate goal will always be to instill confidence in the parents so they no longer need a postpartum doula.
The role of a postpartum doula is fluid, but in general, she provides emotional support, research-based information on newborn care, light cooking and cleaning (sweeping and snacks-yes, toilet scrubbing and 4 course meals-no), feeding assistance and support, and postpartum comfort measures.
Postpartum doulas have been shown to decrease the incidence of postpartum mood disorders in both mom and dad, and a stronger bond within the whole family.
Who wouldn't want a postpartum doula, to make their postpartum period as wonderful and sacred as it should be?