what is a doula?
POSTPARTUM DOULA
A postpartum doula is a woman who comes to your home during the first six weeks after the birth of your baby. She nurtures you so that you can nurture your baby. She is willing and ready to cook, clean, care for older children and run errands so you can rest and meet the incredible demands of your newborn. She can answer many questions you have about feeding, diapering, dressing, burping, and soothing your little one. She is knowledgeable about the emotional and physical transformation you are going through and can address your concerns about how you are feeling. When appropriate, she can refer you to local resources that will help you and your family move through the first six weeks of your new baby's life and become the parents you wish to be.
A postpartum doula is not a baby nurse or a baby sitter. Nor is she a health care provider, a mental health professional or a lactation consultant. A postpartum doula nurtures, educates and can refer new mothers to professionals and services that may help her and her family.
Note: Most families contact me after their baby or babies are born. Please give me a call if you are feeling overwhelmed. We can talk about how postpartum doula support can make a difference and if I am the right person to support you. Parenting is hard work and all families deserve and benefit from experienced, compassionate support. Postpartum doula support is especially helpful if you are experiencing emotional complications (insomnia, depression, anxiety, irritability, afraid to be alone with your baby), having a slow recovery from birth (as a result of surgery, injury or trauma), parenting twins or other multiples, are a single parent, are having feeding challenges or have an infant with special or high needs. Give yourself and your family the gift of an extra set of experienced hands as you navigate this often rocky new territory.
For more information about doulas please visit the 'Links / Books / Resources' section of this website. A great place to start is the Doulas of North America website: www.dona.org