Even for the most experienced parents, bringing home a new baby means changing routines, dividing time and just trying to figure out how to juggle it all. This is where a postpartum doula can be just a huge help. If you had a cesarean delivery or any other birth complications, a postpartum doula can carry the load to help your recovery.
What is a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum doula provides evidenced-based information on things such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, mother-baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care. Research shows that moms, dads, and babies have an easier time with this transition if a good support team is in place.
What type of services does a Postpartum Doula provide?
The postpartum doula offers many services to her clients, but her main goals are to help “mother the mother” and nurture the entire family as they transition into life with a newborn. This would include doing things to help mom and dad feel more confident in their roles, sharing education on family adjustment, and tending to the unique needs of a new mother.
Some of the duties include:
- Breastfeeding support
- Help with the emotional and physical recovery after birth
- Light housekeeping so that mom does not feel so overwhelmed
- Running errands
- Assistance with newborn care such as diapering, bathing, feeding and comforting
- Light meal preparation
- Baby soothing techniques
- Sibling care
- Referrals to local resources such as parenting classes, pediatricians, lactation support and support groups
Most postpartum doulas provide service for a family anywhere from a few days up to a few weeks after bringing home a new baby. Families may have her work 1-3 days a week or as many as 5 days a week.
Postpartum doulas often offer nighttime service to help the family transition more smoothly into the challenges of nighttime parenting. Each doula offers different services, so it’s important that each family decide what their needs are and find a professional who can meet those needs.
How much do doulas charge?
The price of postpartum doula services vary depending on what part of the country you live in, what type of service you need (day or night time) and the skill level. They usually charge by the hour and usually require a minimum amount of hours of service.
The range of costs could be anywhere from $15-50 an hour. Some doulas offer discounts if you book them for a certain amount of hours, if you pay in advance or if they are a newly trained. More and more families are asking for postpartum doula service as a shower or baby gift from family and friends.
This is especially helpful for new families who have little or no family support nearby. Postpartum doula service may also be paid for using money from a family’s flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) dependent on what the guidelines are for their particular plan.
What is the difference between a doula and a baby nurse?
The postpartum doula’s role is to support everyone in the family, including mom, dad, siblings, and baby. Unlike a baby nurse, whose sole focus is the new baby, the doula is there to support mom through the postpartum period and to help the family as a whole.
How do I find a Postpartum Doula near me?
Postpartum doulas have been around for quite a while, but have just recently become more popular. There are a few organizations that certify and provide referrals to their doulas. Most childbirth educators, birth doulas, and parenting support groups also will have local referrals.
Want to Know More?
Compiled using information from the following sources:
1. DONA International
1. CAPPA
