Postpartum Doula Support
A postpartum doula is trained not only to care for infants, but to tend to the emotional and physical needs of the parents. Becoming a parent (for the first time or not!) comes with a lot of adjustments that are compounded by lack of sleep, changing family dynamics, physical recovery for the birthing person, and the variety of curveballs birth and babies can throw our way. A postpartum doula is able to step into your home and meet whatever needs are most urgent — caring for your baby so you can rest or shower, assisting with comforting your baby or addressing feeding issues, light household tasks that help bring peace and order to your home, and providing encouragement and support when you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and ill-equipped.
Each service begins with a free, in-person consultation before the signing of a contract.
Daytime/Evening Support
There are no expectations for how a daytime shift unfolds. We will touch base at the beginning of the shift to catch up and check in about what is going where and where you might want to focus our time together. Each shift may look different depending on your needs at that time, but may include the following:
basic newborn care
helping you figure out your parenting style and the different options you have for caring for your baby, without judgment
support building positive sleep habits for your baby (note: this is different from sleep training)
infant soothing advice
light household tasks related to the baby, including laundry, washing bottles/pump parts, meal prep, and general clean up
assistance with breastfeeding, pumping, and/or or bottle feeding
attention to your needs, including postpartum recovery, hydration, and nourishment
referrals to local professionals when issues are outside the scope of a postpartum doula’s practice
availability to answer texts/emails outside of shifts if you are needing advice or referrals
$35/hour with a 4 hour minimum
Note: You don’t have to have a newborn to benefit from a postpartum doula. If you are recovering physically and/or emotionally from your birth or need extra support in understanding and caring for your baby, you are a postpartum parent!
Some people hire their postpartum doula while they are still pregnant and some may not recognize their need for outside help until their baby is a few months old or later.
Overnight Support
Overnight support includes the same services as daytime support with a focus on prioritizing the parents’ sleep.
Light household tasks can still be performed (folding laundry, washing bottles, etc.) in addition to newborn care if the baby is sleeping and as long as these tasks will not disturb the family’s quality of sleep.
Please note that I do not promise “awake care,” meaning that I may rest or sleep if the baby is sleeping and all tasks are completed. After all, this is what we want the baby to get used to!
$40/hour with an 8 hour minimum