In Bloom Doula Services

Since beginning my doula journey I’ve been met with a bunch of confused responses when I tell someone I am now a doula. I get strange looks and replies like:

“a doooola??”

“What’s a doula?”

I figure that I should have cleared this up a long time ago, but it’s never too late. Let’s start with the basics. Doula is a Greek word meaning “with woman.” A doula’s role is to support, educate and encourage a new mom whether it be through her pregnancy and labor, or through the early postpartum weeks.

There are two types of doula: a birth doula and a postpartum doula. I am now a trained birth and postpartum, and am completing my certification for both, but they are not one in the same. They fill a different role in a mother’s journey and I don’t think there is a mother out there who couldn’t benefit from either one. If you’d like to know more about birth doulas please check out my post, 8 Reasons Why You Need A Doula.

Today I’m focusing on a postpartum doula, what they do, and why you could benefit from one! Postpartum doula’s work begins when the birth doula’s work ends. The postpartum doula helps a new mom cope with the changes of postpartum life. Supports a new mom with feeding and sleeping, encouraging and supporting through the hard experiences, and times of doubt. A postpartum doula is essentially teaching a new mom how to mother. How to navigate new waters while figuring out what works for her and her family. This may mean assisting with establishing a good latch in breastfeeding or trying new positions. It could mean helping figure out a good sleep situation, or even how to hold a baby and bathe a baby. It could mean trying to figure out baby wearing or suggesting different things to ease a situation that is challenging.

Postpartum doulas help make sure all the pieces of the life puzzle get put together. New moms need to heal and rest. They need time for self care: to make sure they are changing their pads, tending to tears or stitches, showering or bathing, sleeping, eating, drinking water, healing sore nipples. This kind of self care is not indulgent or special it is necessary to mothers well being, physical and mental health. New moms need to be cared for too, not just new babies, and their care has a direct impact on the quality of care a new baby receives too.

Postpartum doulas are NOT maids, nannies, chefs, or night nurses, but they do make sure the needs of mom and her older children are being met. Sometimes light house work, some meals, some child care and other miscellaneous household tasks will be done by the doula, but all in an effort to reinforce moms time to rest and heal following birth.

If a postpartum doula comes to work with a mother who hasn’t slept or showered in two days and is close to a breaking point, she could run mom a bath, take the baby and make mom a meal, encourage her to sleep, and while she sleeps the doula will watch over baby, run a load of laundry and tidy up the living room. She will ask the mom how she is doing, ask her what she needs help with, reassure her that she is right for this job of motherhood, and then check back in at the next appointment.

Postpartum doulas don’t only help mom with the transition they help the entire family. We all know most husbands are well meaning, but that doesn’t always mean they can offer the help a new mom needs. They may be going back to work, they may be ignorant to the emotional term oil that a new baby can bring, they maybe just an intimidated by their new role as a father and need reassurance and guidance on what to do too.

Doulas may spend quite a bit of time with older toddlers. While mum is feeding baby or napping the postpartum doula May find something to keep older siblings busy, get them a snack, read them a book, encourage and excite them about their new role as a big brother or big sister because it can be a strange adjustment for older siblings as well. This way mom knows that the needs of big brother or sister are being met while she gives some undivided attention to her new baby. This new baby is in need of bonding time with mom.

So who exactly can benefit from a postpartum doula? All moms who are:

• First time moms

• Experienced moms

• Moms with multiples

• Moms with partners who are traveling/working/deployed/absent

• Moms who had a cesarean birth

• Moms who had a vagina birth

• Moms who have toddlers

• Moms who need support

• Moms struggling with postpartum depression or anxiety

• Families who are making adjustments to a new member of the family

Basically, anyone who just had a baby can benefit from a postpartum doula. There is seriously not one circumstance where a postpartum doula is not needed or helpful. The only, and I mean only exception would be when a mom is met with enough consistent support via her village (spouse, family, friends, church) that all of the needs listed previously are already met.

Although that can happen it is rare. I’m America today there is no parental leave plans that cover fathers. Many grandparents and extended family are also working. Help may be far away or infrequent and that can really create a problem for new moms adapting to this new role, learning how to mother, and heal from birth.

Postpartum doulas are invaluable!! The work they do will impact that mother and family for the rest of their lives. They can change an awful experience into an incredible one. Since completing my doula trainings in January I have been on a doula high. I have never felt more assured that this is what I am meant to do. Doula work is my passion and I am excited to begin this new adventure. If you are considering a postpartum doula please reach out to me! I would LOVE to help make your postpartum experience enjoyable, manageable and smooth. Check out my doula services page here.