9 Things a Postpartum Doula Does
When you hear the term doula, most people think of someone who helps expecting parents leading up to D-day and through the actual labor and delivery process. But what about after the baby is born? Did you know that postpartum doulas were a thing? They are and they’re almost magical. A postpartum doula is someone who helps families navigate life with their new addition, with anything from emotional changes to physical recovery and even helping new parents get some sleep. A postpartum doula is there to walk you through it all, including the things no one wants to talk about. In general, a postpartum doula helps you with the following :
● Transitioning into parenthood/bonding with your baby– You’ve mastered a million things in life but it turns out, nothing can fully prepare most of us for a new baby. A doula can be there to guide you through all these new changes, building your confidence at every step as you get to know your little one.
● Feeding & diapering – Covering the baby bases, things you (and they) can’t live without but some days you just can’t look at one more dirty diaper.
● Providing emotional and physical birth recovery support – The raw emotions are real, and what your body goes through as the birthing parent is no joke. Having someone you can talk to without fear of judgement or unwarranted advice can make all the difference in your day. Some days are overwhelming and you don’t have to go through them alone.
● Learning baby soothing tips – Ever heard of the 5 S’s?
● Establishing a routine – Structure gives parents and babies a sense of security. A postpartum doula has the experience and knowledge to assist in creating a routine that works for you and your baby.
● Screening for postpartum depression and other mood disorders – Besides the handful of times you fill out the postpartum depression questionnaire at your child’s pediatrician or your OB during the fourth trimester, postpartum depression sometimes goes unseen and it’s never easy to talk about. A doula isn’t there to diagnose, but rather notice the signs and point you in the direction of a specialist.
● Navigating birth post-Covid – Giving birth post-March 2020 is a very different experience. Have someone alongside you who knows what to expect.
● Offering meal prep support – Having food ready to go for the week is incredibly underrated, especially as a newborn parent.
● Watching baby while parent(s) catch up on sleep, bathing, running
errands, or transitioning back to work – Most of the time, parents LOVE holding their new baby and it can be hard to put them down. A good doula is there to remind you to take care of yourself. You can start feeling like yourself, even in this new parent fog.
For anyone who has gone through the process of becoming a parent, it is an unparalleled experience where you transform into a new version of yourself. The same can be said for the transition you make, whether after baby number one or multiple children later. You now have a new identity, and a postpartum doula helps you connect with this new you while also reminding you that it’s still YOU. In the midst of learning to care for this new little person and remembering to care for yourself, too, a postpartum doula gives you the chance to really enjoy and bond with your baby. In addition, they act as part of your support system as you navigate parenthood, knowing that it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. When you become a parent, there’s a lot of stress that goes along with that. The number of questions and doubts that fill your head each day are endless. You might constantly ask yourself if you’re doing things right. At the same time, you’re trying to interpret what your baby is communicating. You not only became a parent, but a translator in the process, which can be exhausting. You love your baby so much but are SO tired as you traverse physical recovery, exhaustion, big emotions, and transitioning back to life with it’s own expectations. Postpartum depression affects 70-80% of women in the United States. I, personally, have been impacted by this statistic because my mom suffered from severe postpartum depression. Unfortunately, before I turned one, my mom committed suicide as a result of postpartum depression. This experience shaped my passion for providing parents with the support they need after having a baby. Being a newborn parent is amazing in a lot of ways and isolating in others. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of family close by. Being able to make parents feel less alone and safe to share authentic and sometimes ugly feelings is why I started providing postpartum doula services and remain so passionate about it every day. Think a postpartum doula is exactly what you need, or are you interested in learning more? Please let me know!