Post Partum Doula Services

The work of a Postpartum Doula

Postpartum doulas provide logistical and emotional help and support for families so that they can get the most enjoyment and bonding with their baby during the first few weeks (or however long is needed) of the baby’s life. Postpartum doulas teach or review some basic baby care skills and offer coping strategies for the adjustment to having a new baby. We work to build the confidence of new parents. We give parents a breather. We are the extra pair of hands for families with new babies.

My Training and Experience

I have been providing Postpartum Doula care since 2004. I became certified as a Postpartum Doula in 2007 through Doulas of North America (dona.org).

The main areas I offer help with:

For breast fed babies:

  • Helping improve baby latch
  • Building confidence in breast feeding skills
  • Solving nipple soreness
  • Monitoring signs of breast infection
  • Learning how to know your baby is getting enough to eat
  • Learning about and using breast pumps

For formula fed babies:

  • Teaching skills for optimum bottle feeding
  • Providing information on types of formula

Basic Baby Care:

  • Tips on getting babies to sleep
  • Review of bathing the baby
  • Strategies and skills for fussy and colicky babies
  • Calming a crying baby
  • Caring/keeping watch on the baby so parents can sleep. (a popular option!)

Help around the house:

  • Preparing meals, including vegetarian, vegan, kosher and gluten-free
  • Laundry
  • Light care of other children

Referrals to Community Services for New families:

  • Lactation Consultants
  • New mom’s groups
  • New dad’s groups

How do you hire a Postpartum Doula?

I am happy to schedule an initial meeting at your home, free of charge. This meeting usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour, and gives us a chance to talk face to face about what your needs might be, what your thoughts on parenting are, and how I work with you to be most helpful. I provide a written list of references from other families I have worked with. I also provide an agreement form for my service. This is not a legal document, it is intended as a document to clarify how we will work together, the services I am able to provide, how we schedule hours.

How do families schedule postpartum doula services? How do we know how many hours we will need you for?

I offer flexibility in scheduling hours. Most families do not know exactly how many hours or weeks they may need the help. Some families hire me twice a week for four hours each day, others hire me for 5 days a week for six or eight hours. Generally families reduce the hours slowly over the course of a few weeks. Some families have hired me for 2 days and some for 3 months.

Families generally want me to start when the baby is 1-3 days old. We schedule the first few days and hours, and after that it usually starts to become clear what hours and days might work. Then we schedule week by week.

I accommodate mid week changes as much as possible.