What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?
A Postpartum Doula combines their training in postpartum physiological care, newborn development and feeding, and mental health with a warm and reassuring presence to help you care for your body and your baby after birth.
Our postpartum team is eager to support your transition home as you recover and learn to care for your baby. Some families wonder how they can use their time during their postpartum doula sessions.
Here are some ideas:
Care for your postpartum body - ask your doula any questions you have about your recovery.
Infant feeding - get support in breastfeeding, bottle feeding or combination feeding; ask questions about your breast pump and bottles; and get ideas for feeding positions and burping baby.
Infant care - get ideas for infant sleep and soothing and tips for bathing your baby
Self care - your doula can take care of your baby so you can shower, sleep, eat or join our postpartum peer circle (please note that an adult other than the doula needs to be in the house with your baby - even if sleeping). The doula can also join you on a walk or sit outside for some fresh air.
Baby products - get support on baby wearing (those front packs can be tricky), changing station set-up, and other baby products that you have questions about.
Infant development - postpartum doulas can discuss infant development and ways to stimulate and engage with your baby.
Overnight shifts - this is a great time to catch up on sleep! If you are breastfeeding, the doula can be responsible for diaper changing and getting your baby back to sleep. If you are bottle feeding, you can let the doula take full responsibility for those eight hours! Doulas can also fold baby clothes and wash bottles during those hours.
Something that set us apart from other postpartum doulas is that we work as a group practice, so you will get to know and learn from several different postpartum doulas in our group. In addition, we are not a concierge doula company - we don't provide around the clock long-term care. We work with clients specifically during the first six weeks after their birth when new patterns are being established. We want to help you build your skills and create healthy routines so that when our time with you is over you feel ready to move forward as a new parent with confidence.
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