What is a Postpartum Doula?
I often get asked what a postpartum doula is. Many people are familiar with midwives and birth doulas, but haven’t quite come across the idea of a postpartum doula. Why would people need a doula once they little one is born? What can a doula help with? How can a doula make your family’s postpartum experience more positive?
In this blog, I will shed a light on the many hats a postpartum doula can wear as she supports a family in their fourth trimester.
Birth doulas vs. postpartum doulas
According to the Doula Organization of North America (DONA), a doula is
“a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.”
In general, doulas support families in making informed choices based on their particular desires and preferences, provide informational resources and offer gentle, non-judgemental support as needed.
Their primary focus is to help you have a positive birth/ postpartum experience and support you with whatever you may need before and during childbirth (in non-medical ways, of course).
While birth doulas assist families during childbirth, postpartum doulas focus exclusively on the period after childbirth. Once the baby is born, they visit families in their home to provide practical, hands-on care and guide them in their transition to parenthood.
Equally, postpartum doula support can be offered virtually. Virtual doula support can include education about the fourth trimester, postpartum prep workshops, regular wellbeing check-ins, text support or guided meditations - the possibilities are endless.
The role of a postpartum doula
In essence, postpartum doulas are there to ‘mother the mother’.
Often, new mothers don’t have the necessary support and care around them to truly nurture them after birth.
Long gone are the times where a group of experienced women would come to the home of the new mother to tend to her needs. In some parts of the worlds, the ancient tradition of caring for the new mother is still well and alive. In our modern world, unfortunately, this is almost unheard of.
“The postpartum doula is the pinnacle of mother-focused postpartum care. Her primary role is to ensure that the new mother has what she needs to focus on caring for her infant, including making sure she’s well fed, hydrated, and comfortable.”
With every visit, your postpartum doula will be able to understand you better and cater to your unique needs in this sensitive period. She will become your confidant and one of your closest allies.
She will be your safe space in a time when gentle support is desperately needed.
Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?
Postpartum doula support in practice
Just like every family is unique, so is postpartum care.
Postpartum doulas are trained to support new families in a variety of ways but will typically adjust their care based on what the family needs on that particular day.
Typically, doulas will have a complementary consultation with the family prior to their estimated due date to get a feeling for what type of support may be needed during postpartum and how the doula can best benefit to the entire family’s wellbeing during the early days of postpartum and beyond.
For some mothers, postpartum support can mean help with breastfeeding, troubleshooting their baby’s sleep troubles and getting help giving baby his or her first bath.
For fathers, it can mean practical tips on how to best support the mother during this delicate time, how to tend to the baby and how to navigate the complexities of life beyond birth.
For others, it can mean companionship, a nourishing meal and guidance on physical and emotional healing after birth.
Reminder: Regardless of how postpartum care will look for you, keep in mind that postpartum doulas are not medical professionals. While they can provide guidance and general information, they do not replace the advice of your trusted medical care provider.
Curious to learn more about how Mama Liv can support you in postpartum?