FAQ
What type of services do you offer?
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I offer support during the postpartum period through methods that are Practical, Informal, and Emotional. These can include:
• Basic Breastfeeding support (including referral to a lactation consultant if needed)
• Troubleshooting with feeding and sleeping cycles
• Spending time with your baby so you can rest
• Non-medical assistance with after-birth healing (both physical and emotional)
• Organization of supplies
• Assisting with baby & sibling care with a parent present, guiding you as you learn
• Basic household tasks
• Grocery shopping and errands (with funds needed for purchases provided by client in advance)
• Simple meal preparation
• Helping with laundry
• Joining mom and baby for an appointment (doctor, lactation consultant, etc.) or grocery shopping to provide assistance where needed and note taking when applicable.
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What type of services do you not offer?
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I do not offer overnight visits, nannying/full baby care services, pet care, deep cleaning of the home, driving of you or your family members to any destinations, or any medical tasks.
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Are you a nanny?
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No, however I do include sibling care in the services that I offer. This typically should be on a limited basis, with a parent present. The goal of a postpartum doula spending time with an older sibling(s) is to allow mom to rest, shower, or spend bonding time with her baby. I can also care for your baby while you get quality time in with your older children! However, this should not take up the majority of time I spend with you. I want to also focus on caring for you and helping with other things within your home.
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Do you perform medical services?
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I do not. My training includes postpartum recovery, newborns, and breastfeeding, and I am able to asses normal vs. abnormal without giving a diagnosis. I will highly encourage you to contact your doctor for your medical questions, and can support you through preparing to ask questions and taking notes of the answers. I can even accompany you to doctor’s appointments to assist you with your baby and to be an extra set of ears!
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Are you a lactation consultant?
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I am not. I do have training on basic breastfeeding education. I can asses a latch and help you as you are establishing your milk supply. I can help educate you on pumping and breastmilk storage, as well as feeding techniques. For situations that are beyond my scope of practice, I will refer you to a lactation consultant whom I know personally, and will see to it that you get help quickly!
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I have support from family & friends. Could I use a postpartum doula’s help?
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Absolutely! Family & friend support is wonderful to have. A postpartum doula is there to help better faciltate the flow of guests (for example by managing the meal train, or making a list of household tasks that guests can jump in on), help you set and maintain healthy boundaries for the time being, and to use their education to objectively support you through various situations in the postpartum period. Emotions can run high during this time, and well-meaning support people can sometimes draw from their own experiences to try guide new families toward certain decisions. While a postpartum doulas are compassionate and caring by nature, our job is to try to take our emotions and personal preferences out of the equation to support you in what you already want to do. As far as different types of support go, try to think of it not as "either/or," but more like, "both/and". Postpartum doulas AND family support can both be amazing!
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Will you take over the way my household flows?
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Not at all! I will check in with you at the beginning of each sesssion, ask about how the last 24 hours have gone for you, and discover what it is you would like to accomplish during our time together that day. My support is all about supporting YOU! Not at all about accomplishing my own agenda. If you just need to sit and talk about how exhausted you are, then I will determine that as a high priority for the day! I will also find out what I can practically do during our time that will help lessen that exhaustion. This might include holding down the fort while you nap, assessing your baby’s sleep environment, helping to declutter the space that is within your view, or prepping dinner for you so that it is off your mind.
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Will having someone else's help create conflict between my spouse and I?
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No, I hope not. I am there to support you both as you learn to navigate your new normal. I will actively look for ways to include your spouse on newborn education and feeding support, as well as anything else that will help set your family up to thrive long after I’m gone. Having the support of a postpartum doula has actually been proven to improve mental health of new parents! One of the reasons why is because tensions are lessened in the home by having another adult present who is not frazzled by the throws of newborn life and sleep deprivation. I even help expecting parents prepare for possible stresses of newborn life by encouraging them to make plans for who will maintain household routines ahead of time. Additionally, I want to encourage you that I am not phased by houses that look “lived in”, bed-head, or just-woke-up faces. Please do not allow any of these things to cause you stress.
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Can you help me if I stay in the hospital longer than planned?
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Yes! I can begin my services while you are recovering in your postpartum room in the hospital, if that is what you prefer over waiting until you get home. As long as the hospital allows it, and there is space and need for my services. Emotional support can sometimes be really valuable during this time. As well as assistance with listening to and documenting of what instructions are given to you by hospital staff.
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