%20copy%204.png)
Becoming a mother is a life-changing event that can be difficult to go through alone, but it's important to remember that postpartum doula support services are always there to help you out, no matter what you need to get through your postpartum period. Postpartum doulas help with newborn care and the emotional and physical recovery of the mother during what's commonly called the "fourth trimester". The birthing process is difficult and certified postpartum doulas will help with postpartum mental health as well as the care of your new baby.
Both first-time parents and experienced parents can benefit from the help that a certified doula can provide as a postpartum professional and new parents will get access to lots of important information about infant care and postpartum recovery. DONA International offers a certification process for individuals wanting to learn and participate in the postpartum support training. While there may be a cost to hire a postpartum doula, the support and help they provide is more than worth the investment.
What is a Postpartum Doula?
It's important to understand what a postpartum doula's role is and figure out how helpful one will be to you and it starts by knowing that, unlike birth doulas, these professionals help with things like emotional support and other things after you give birth. It's incredibly important to have access to a night nurse whose sole responsibility is to support birthing people and essentially be a baby nurse so the parents can rest. A trained professional will handle everything from infant feeding to meal prep and even physical support and infant soothing.
Many parents choose to have a lactation consultant with their postpartum doula support services, and someone who can work overnight shifts to allow a new parent to sleep instead of staying awake to take care of the child after the baby arrives. Giving birth is an incredibly taxing experience and the more rest and support you can get, the better equipped you'll be to make an informed decision, should medical care need to be sought out. The birthing person has already gone through a lot and adjusting to this fourth trimester should be part of the postpartum care you receive.
Benefits of Postpartum Doula Support
The birth support you receive will come from certified doulas who have worked with a postpartum professional association to get the training they need from certifying organizations. Parenting support groups always recommend their services and you can find plenty of local referrals to find doulas in your area. If you were supported by a birth doula when you gave birth then you know how helpful they can be and postpartum doulas are close by and ready to help you out right now.
A doula supports families and not just the person who gave birth, so everyone can benefit from them. They'll provide support where it's needed so take much of the pressure off the parents and that can never be overlooked. Doulas charge for their services, but the support you receive in return will help you keep your new baby happy and healthy without losing sleep or questioning your actions.
Postpartum Doula Services
Postpartum doulas offer many services and they can be provided to you through morning, afternoon, and evening shifts, which will allow you to choose the most active hours of the day to be when you get the support you need. Mothers can expect their doula to provide feeding support for the new baby, burping, swaddling, calming, umbilical cord care, bathing, sleep conditioning, and many more. The mother can also expect to receive plenty of time to rest and sleep, shower, heal, and simply relax while the doula takes care of the child.
The rest of the family can expect just as much support with tips to help the mother's partner help with feeding, recovery, and health so no one has to go through the experience of having a brand new baby alone. Many doulas also provide support for siblings by helping them to adjust to the new baby and feel comfortable with their growing family. The same is true with pets that might feel neglected or overwhelmed with a newborn in their home, just like the other family members will experience.
Finding the Right Postpartum Doula for You
Finding the right doula for you shouldn't be a challenge and there are plenty of resources to make sure you're considering doulas who provide the services that you need the most while you make your way through the fourth trimester of childbirth. There are many in-home doulas ready to support you in any way you need and one important factor will be testimonials from other people who have used their services in the past. Any good agency that offers doula support will have entire pages dedicated to what other families have thought about them and they should never be overlooked as you search for the right care and support.
Another important factor to consider is whether or not your doula can offer you overnight support and take care of feeding and soothing your newborn while you get the deep sleep that you need so much after giving birth. These doulas will take care of everything and you never have to worry about sleeping through a crying baby or waking up to your monitor when your body needs rest to heal and recover after the trauma of birth. Once you decide on the level of care that you need, you have many doulas to choose from and the best one will be there whenever you need their help and support.
Comments