What Can a Postnatal Doula Do for Me?

Toshy Penny

February 12, 2021

The blessing of a new baby is indisputable. This blessing, however, will also bring unique challenges. How can you simplify this new, exciting time in your life? Help. One option for getting help is with a postnatal doula.

Physical and Emotional Support

Rest, in the form of sleep, offers one of the most significant challenges. Gone (temporarily) are the nights of uninterrupted sleep and undisturbed daytime naps.

How can a postnatal doula alleviate this? A postnatal doula is a wonderful resource who can provide both physical and emotional support to the new family. A doula can keep an eye on the baby during the day allowing time for the new mom and dad to catch up on some sleep. Doulas can also help at night, caring for the baby throughout the night.

Breastfeeding

If a mom is breastfeeding, the postnatal overnight doula will bring the baby to mom for feeding and then change, burp, and settle the baby, lessening the mother’s “up” time. The breastfeeding mother can also use a breast pump leaving her milk for the doula to feed the baby during the night. Pumping can help mom to get more sleep the nights the doula is staying with the family.

If the baby is being bottle fed, the doula will care for the baby throughout the night and take notes for the mom and dad as to what the baby did during the night. This would include the time of feedings, the amount the baby consumed, any wet or dirty diapers and how the baby settled between feedings.

Daytime Assistance (Laundry, Meal Prep, and Errands)

Practical daytime assistance by a postnatal doula will also lessen the stress of a new baby and increase the joy for the whole family. A daytime postnatal doula will do laundry for the whole family, prepare meals for everyone, care for any siblings, run to the store or do other errands for the family. She will also do light housekeeping so mom can really rest, not worrying that things are being neglected. She will also keep siblings entertained and fed.

First-Time Parents

For first-time parents, the postnatal doula can answer questions about their newborn, provide hands-on demonstration of newborn care, assist with breastfeeding, and build confidence in the new parents.

Aside from the lack of sleep, breastfeeding is the other really challenging part of having a new baby, especially the firstborn baby. A postnatal doula can teach the mom about correctly latching her baby, explain how nursing works, relieve anxiety about the baby getting enough milk and help the mom focus on herself and nursing as the postnatal doula will meet the other needs of the family, as mentioned above.

Studies show that having postnatal support can lessen anxiety, and the causes of some postpartum depression.

How to Find the Right Doula

What would you look for when hiring a postnatal doula? It is important, if possible, to meet a doula in advance, to see if you feel comfortable with her. You would also want someone who is experienced but not bossy or one that will “takeover” once the baby is born.

A postnatal doula should be willing to do whatever the new parents need so that they feel supported. Rather than make the parents feel inadequate, a good postnatal doula will help the parents feel confident that they will become their baby’s own “expert” and that they are doing a great job.

Simplifying Your Family’s Transition

We all have had a “first” baby and we all eventually find our own way. It is important that you are supported in the decisions you feel are right for you and your family and that you are getting current information about how to care for your baby.

MothersCare Doulas are warm, nurturing, experienced and reliable. You can meet your doula in advance, in person or on “Zoom”. In the current COVID-19 climate, our doulas wear masks in your home and limit their social contacts in their personal lives to avoid getting infected. We have been working with families all year and no family has been infected from any of our doulas. Please contact MothersCare for more information by phone, 203-375-5719, or by email: [email protected]. Please see our website for more information is www.motherscaredoula.com.

About Susan Shepard

I am the owner/partner of MothersCare Doula Services in CT. I am a Postpartum doula and my business partner, Sheila Marley is a Labor doula. MothersCare places both Labor and Postpartum doulas with CT Families. I am the mom of five beautiful children, one set of twins. The best quote for me as a young mother and the catalyst for MothersCare is “It’s not weakness to know you need help, it’s wisdom.”

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Marc Cicero

2024-02-27

Jessica was great helping us overnight in the hospital. Don't know what we would do without her.

Liza Van Gundy

2024-02-07

MothersCare Doula Services provided invaluable postpartum support as first time parents. They were flexible when our little guy arrived early and easy to communicate with, finding us the perfect match with a post-partum doula whose expertise and encouragement helped us be confident and present during those vulnerable first few weeks.

Kate Degen

2024-02-06

I was so happy with MothersCare! My first was born in 2020 when we were isolated and I knew for my second I wanted to set us up for success with some help in the beginning, especially with a toddler running around. We had Denisha as a night nurse for a few nights in the early weeks and she was so nice. I've never hired someone to help before so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it, but she was so calm and reassuring, I felt totally comfortable with her. It was amazing to have a few nights where we knew we were going to get some sleep. She brought the baby to me when she needed to eat and handled the rest. We also had Gina as a daytime doula for the first 6 weeks and she was so kind. I'm not the best at asking for help but she was proactive in finding ways to support me whether it be changing the baby, filling my water, tidying the house, or holding the baby so I could get a few things done and feel "normal." She was also amazing with my toddler and played with her while I was feeding the baby. I'd highly recommend MothersCare and their doulas and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Jillian Cordi

2024-02-01

It's hard to describe how absolutely wonderful the team at Mother's Care has been for me through both of my postpartum journies. Our doula, Gina, was caring, attentive, kind, and so knowledgable. She's become an extension of our family. MC was the first call I made when I found out I was pregnant with my 2nd. You can really tell that Sue and the team at Mother's Care find and employ only the most experienced and knowledgeable doulas in the business. I cannot recommend their services enough for any family in need of extra helping hands in the Fairfield county area.

marisol foumakoye

2024-01-26

Amy was a pleasure to have. I was so impressed with her skills and abilities to support me as a first time mom who had a baby in the NICU. She made me feel less stressed and better prepared for baby to come home. She organized my baby room, meal prepped and organized my kitchen by including my baby products. You're the best Amy!

Becca Kellner

2024-01-19

5. Utilized MothersCare Doula Services for a night nurse after I had my baby. The process for finding a match was super easy, and they were helpful in coordinating references quickly and efficiently. My experience with Jen was wonderful- she arrived at 10 or 11 (depending on your preference) and left 8 hours later. She was very confident and comfortable with my baby, which made me feel at ease. She somehow managed to magically keep him sleeping longer stretches by holding him/rocking him/ etc and really helped us have some good nights of sleep. She was also very flexible with dates as we spread out our nights and utilized them when my partner went back to work versus right away. Jen was amazing- she also supported me with breast feeding tips, burping tips, and lent me a great baby book that I could refer to as needed. Really appreciated her support and guidance while navigating the first few months of motherhood. Highly recommend- it's the best gift you can give to yourself as a new mom or to a mom in your life!

Lynn F

2024-01-15

Can’t recommend more highly! I interviewed a few different doula services and immediately clicked with my MothersCare Doula, Jessica. Getting to work with her along with flexibility and customization of her service, it was worth absolutely every penny.

Lex X

2023-06-15

A wonderful group of people providing a much needed service! Experienced and compassionate birth doulas and postpartum doulas really make the transition into having a new child so much easier, even for those who have had children before. Especially these days were “the village” that it takes to raise a child has been dwindling; an extra pair of hands, arms, eyes, ears, and an extra heart can literally save the day! MothersCare really does care for mothers, fathers, and families!