Post Partum Doula Services:

 

The role of a Postpartum Doula is to provide nurturing guidance to the new or growing family.  She gives quality, non-intrusive physical, emotional, and educational support according to the needs of the family.  She acts as a quiet presence in the home, offering non-judgmental encouragement throughout the transition once the baby has arrived. 

 

Breastfeeding Support

• Guidance and instruction on basic breastfeeding

• Help with breastfeeding issues, such as shallow latch

• Provide comfort measures for painful breasts and nipples

• Guidance on positioning

• Offer education about benefits of breastfeeding and breastmilk

• Educate family members on ways to support the breastfeeding mother

• Guidance and support for bottle-fed infants

• Postpartum Doula has been specially trained by DONA to address breastfeeding needs

 

Pumping Support

• Instruction for use of breast pump

• When to use a pump

• Why to use a pump

• Instruction on safe milk storage

 

Bottle Feeding

• Choosing the best bottle and formula

• Positioning and holding techniques

• Burping and gas relief

Caring For Your Newborn

• Guidance in basic baby care including baths, diapering, burping, umbilical care, and swaddling

• Teaching recognition of infant cues and communications

• Basic infant massage instruction to promote bonding

• Advice on nursery organization

• Help with baby wearing (slings, carriers)

• Teaching to recognize hunger cues to promote successful breastfeeding

• Encouragement for skin-to-skin contact to provide closeness with new baby

• Provide ideas for partner and other family members to bond with baby

 

Emotional and Physical Support

• Offer a listening ear to hear about your birth experience

• Trained to educate about and assess for postpartum mood disorders

• Referrals to professionals dealing with mood disorders

• Accompany new mom on first outing with baby, as this can be overwhelming

• Organize comfortable environment to promote rest and recovery

• Provide simple massage for relaxation

• Provide comfort measures for moms recovering from cesarean birth

• Encourage recovery by providing nutritious snacks and drinks for mom

• Provide feeding support if overnight services are provided (bring baby to mom)

• Help to minimize household responsibilities to promote mother's rest

• and bonding time with baby

 

A Postpartum Doula may also provide support for older siblings as they adjust to life with a little one. She may attend to simple household tasks such as tidying up the nursery, stocking diapers, preparing bottles, providing a comfortable environment, and preparing light meals to promote nutrition for the new mother.  The Postpartum Doula will provide a wealth of resources for support for new moms in the community.  She also loves to capture precious new moments at home as a new family through photography to give to the family! 

Many expectant families anticipate the help of a mother or mother-in-law or other family members, which is very much encouraged.  While family can provide wonderful help, they may not always be trained in or know how to offer the best objective support to a new mom and baby.  We encourage you to get the most support you can throughout this exciting and overwhelming time! 

 

Traditionally, the postpartum period was a "nesting period", when a new mother was attended to and taken care of by other experienced mothers, so that the new mom could focus on the vital tasks of postpartum recovery, emotional adjustment, and getting to know her precious little one. 

 

Today few families have such support, and frequently become overwhelmed by the immense adjustment to parenthood.  Postpartum Doulas gently guide and support families through this transition so that they may get off to the best start with their new baby.

 

Overnight hours are also available, but book fast. Feel free to call for a prenatal consultation, or call after baby arrives!

 

We look forward to working with you and loving on your new little one!