Postpartum Doula Services
What is a postpartum doula?
In traditional societies, women grow up around birth, breastfeeding, infants and children. And after giving birth, they were surrounded by caring family members with a great deal of experience and wisdom to offer. This kind of help is rarely available to new parents in many societies today with increased distance from family and the responsibilities of parenting in the modern world. The doula’s education, quiet support, and guidance are a manifestation of traditional postpartum support that many cultures are missing today.
you don’t have to do it alone
Services vary to meet the needs of each family, but may include:
Postpartum Doula Fees
$25/per hour with 4 hour minimum
Services may include:
- One initial consultation for a chance to meet in person, get answers to questions you might have, and to arrange an initial plan of support
- Nurturing the new mother
- Breastfeeding support
- Emotional support
- Light meal preparation
- Household management, such as laundry and light house keeping
- Run errands, such as food shopping
- Nursery organization and set up for new baby
- Newborn care
- Swaddling and diapering
- Strategies for soothing baby
- Sibling care
- Information and resources
I meet with my postpartum clients beforehand to help determine how I might best support them and meet their family’s needs.I request a minimum of four hours of support but can work as many or as few hours above that, which is something we will determine together as you are in a position to better assess your needs once baby has joined the family.
Hours and length of service varies from client to client depending on the family’s needs. Due to my family commitments, I am only able to provide part-time support with shifts of no more than 4 hours a day or one overnight of support a week, or a combination of those. I am available to provide support to my clients up to three times a week. Overnight doula support focuses primarily on baby care to insure that baby is properly cared for while the new parents rest.
Please contact me as soon as you decide you might be interested in hiring a postpartum doula as I want to be available to my clients wholeheartedly and try hard not to overbook my schedule.
How does a Postpartum Doula help in the weeks and months after a baby joins your family?
A postpartum doula…
Nurtures the New Mother
- Helps mother to care for her postpartum body
- Provides breastfeeding support
- Allows her to rest, shower and nurture herself
- Helps mom eat properly and drink plenty of fluids
- Provides Emotional Support for the New Family
Listens and helps process the birth story
- Validates the normal adjustment process
- Supports mother through emotional vulnerability
- Supports father through his transition to his new role
- Provides community resources as needed
- Helps with Infant Care
Demonstrates infant care techniques
- Help with diapering, bathing, and swaddling
- Infant soothing and coping techniques for parents
- Helps parents to develop their own styles of nurturing and bonding with baby
- Provides infant care so parents can get some rest
- Assists with Household Chores
