Congratulations on the upcoming addition to your family!
I am excited that you are taking a first step in taking care of yourself during the postpartum/postnatal period: looking for help. This is a time for you to bond with your new baby (or babies) and I want to help make that happen for you.
Who needs a postnatal doula?
- pregnant women who need emotional and educational support for the upcoming birth
- new mothers who have little or no local support
- military families with newborns
- mothers who had a C-section or other surgery
- new mothers who have had postpartum depression in the past
- new mothers who need hands-on breastfeeding support
- new mothers who also have a toddler(s)
“Doula” is a Greek word meaning “someone (generally a woman) who mothers the mother.” Some people prefer to think of her as more of a sister. My job is to assist the mother and newborn with the transition into the family, including bonding with the new dad and siblings. I am available to assist you beginning as early as late pregnancy with “nesting” and nursery set-up, as well as emotional and educational support looking towards the big day. Some families may decide after the birth that they need assistance. This is especially true of military families or those with unforeseen circumstances such as emergency surgery. I’m not currently a labor doula, but I’d love to direct you to some wonderful women who are. After your little bundle arrives and you are back at home (or ASAP if you did a homebirth), I can then come in at our contracted time to support you as you need me.
The information on this site will help you decide how much postpartum support you’ll require (because you will need help and should accept it), what kind of help you need, and whether you require my services as a doula, as opposed to accepting help from family members and friends . An excellent resource for determining those needs is the “Postpartum Plan,” posted on the documents pageand provided by DONA International, the doula organization through which I am receiving my training and certification. That’s right! I’m still in the process of training which means you get some wonderful assistance at discounted prices and I get even more excellent experience by serving you. It’s a win-win situation. Anyway, many families will require support a few hours per day for two or three weeks. Some families will want longer term care or longer hours per day or both. I will stay with you as long as you need me and won’t schedule more than two families (at the absolute most!) during the same contractual time period. I want to be available for you, even if it’s just a supportive phone call.
Take a look at the DONA International brochures “Dads and Doulas” and the “Postpartum Position Paper.” These will be important for you to understand exactly what a doula is and what a doula is not. And while you’re filing through these, check out my contract, so we can be sure we understand each other. To clarify, I offer non-judgmental, non-medical support and companionship, backed by excellent education and training through a wonderful organization. Any needs beyond my scope of practice will be referred to appropriate resources.
