Planning for Postpartum: The Benefits of Hiring a Postpartum Doula

What support do you have lined up for after your baby is born? Do you have family close by or able to visit? What kind of support are they able to offer you?

If you don't have family able to provide the support you need, you may want to look into hiring your village instead. Some families find having a housekeeper come in once or twice in the first few weeks at home can take a lot of pressure off them. They can keep the house clean and take care of the laundry / changing the bed etc.

For more specialized support, you might consider hiring a postpartum doula. These amazing folks come to your home after you have the baby and support you in the early days and weeks as you get used to caring for your newborn.

Postpartum doulas provide:

Physical support
Recovery from childbirth, whether vaginal or cesarean, takes time and care. A doula assists with healing practices, and provides comfort measures to help speed up recovery. They make you food, ensure you are getting adequate rest and help you troubleshoot what’s a normal part of the healing process and when medical help might be needed.

Emotional support
Adjusting to life with a newborn can be overwhelming. A postpartum doula offers emotional support, a listening ear, and reassurance both you and your partner, helping to ease the transition and reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

Infant care assistance From diaper changing to swaddling, and bathing, a postpartum doula educates and assists with all aspects of newborn care as you need, allowing you to gain confidence in your parenting skills.

Infant feeding support Whether you choose to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or a combination of both, a doula offers guidance, troubleshooting tips, and support to ensure a positive feeding experience for you and your baby. They also have resources for lactation consultants and other support if needed.

Household help Light household duties, such as meal preparation, laundry, and tidying up, are part of a doula’s offerings, helping you to focus more on recovery and bonding with your baby.

Night help Some doulas also work overnight, helping you with the baby at night. This can help maximize your nighttime sleep so you can be more awake to take care of your baby during the day.

Want to hire a postpartum doula? I have some recommendations on my ​website.