What is a Postpartum Doula?

Emotional Support

That Doula validates the new parents' feelings and help them to navigate the 4th trimester with ease.

Evidence-Based Information and Support 

That Doula helps with soothing techniques, breastfeeding or bottle feeding support, and explains normal newborn behavior.

Practical Support

That Doula helps with light housework, meal prep, making sure the birthing person has sustenance to help them recover.  

Partner and Sibling Support 

That Doula answers questions and assists with care of the older children to provide the birthing person time to care for the new baby.

Postpartum support has been proven to help with self confidence and lower the risk of postpartum depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. It also increases the success of breastfeeding and decreases the likelihood of abuse. Birthing people and their families find the support helpful in finding their way in the beginning months.

Every doula does things differently. I work both day and night shifts. 

My minimum night shift is 9 hours. Minimum day shift is 5 hours.

• Helping with night time feedings, which consists of bottle feeding or bringing the baby to you if nursing⁣  
• Changing diapers  
• Meal prep⁣  
• Laundry⁣  
• ⁣Unloading or loading the dishwasher⁣
• Snacks for primary parent  
• Non-judgmental support ⁣  
• Giving the baby a bath⁣  
• Taking the dog out in the morning, if you have one ⁣  
• Answering any questions you may have⁣

Activities performed the shift vary from client to client. Every family has different needs and different comfort levels. Some clients only want the doula to focus on the baby. Everyone’s well-being and the client’s main priorities always come first.⁣

• Mothering the mother ⁣  
• Providing evidence-based information on physical and emotional recovery from birth, coping skills for you, infant feeding, and other infant care⁣  
• Offering non-judgmental support⁣  
• Providing newborn education⁣  
• Validating you, help you find your way and nurture your parenting style
• Assisting with newborn care⁣  
• Assisting with family adjustments, including sibling care.⁣  
• Helping managing family and friends. That Doula can be the go between person, so family and friends can better support you and your family the way YOU wish to be supported. ⁣  
• Performing light household tasks, like laundry and emptying the dishwasher ⁣  
• Preparing meals and snacks. That Doula can help set up a meal train.⁣  
• Caring for the baby so you can nap⁣  
• Helping with infant products.
• Making appropriate referrals when needed⁣  

⁣…and so much more! ⁣

It is out of a postpartum doula’s scope to help families if the parent (main client) and/or supporting adult/partner is not present. If neither are present, this temporarily changes the doula’s title to a nanny.

There are a lot of factors that go into this, and it’s a case by case basis. 

The main thing for setting a beginning time is knowing when you would ideally like to go to bed. Subtract 30-45 min from that time, and that is when That Doula should arrive. The 30-45 min gives us time to talk and time to get situated before you head to bed. 

The end time of the shift is dependent on when you wake up and the needs of the family. Take into account the time you generally wake up and add whatever time is needed to get ready, have breakfast, and feel ready to start the day. We should also have time to talk about how the baby handled the night before she leaves.