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When many people hear the word "doula," they think of a birth doula. These professionals support mothers through the process of birth, ensuring that they and their babies have an advocate during this vital and challenging process. Birth doulas are a great resource for women while they are in labor and until they leave the hospital.
But what happens when the mother and baby finally go home and begin settling into their new life together? When the partner has to go back to work when the other children need attention and care when there is no longer medical supervision to handle potential problems and calm the mother's worries?
The postpartum period is, in some ways, almost as challenging as birth--and is often lacking in support for the mother as she navigates this transition alone.
This is why postpartum doula services are very much needed by many women. A postpartum doula is a trained professional who can give advice, support, and care to mom and baby. They are well-versed in many areas of postpartum care, including the needs of the baby, the mother, and even the rest of the family.
When it comes to the postpartum period, postpartum doulas create an environment of care, safety, and calm that can turn a stressful and difficult season of life into one that is much more tranquil.
How Postpartum Doula Services Help Mothers
A new mother--whether she has just given birth to her first baby or her sixth--is in a very vulnerable state. Her body is in the process of recovery and healing, her emotions are often unstable due to hormones and the changes that are occurring in her life, and her thoughts are consumed with the needs of the tiny new baby.
Add in the very real possibility of some degree of birth trauma and the normal troubles of family life, and it's easy for the postpartum time to be marked with difficulty and pain--when everyone wants the introduction of a new family member to be a time of joy and peace.
Create An Atmosphere of Peace and Joy
Any mother will tell you that having extra support during the postpartum days would be an unimaginable blessing.
Postpartum doulas are trained to give support in whatever way the mother needs. Maybe they will rock the baby while mom showers or takes a nap. Maybe they will fix a nutritious breakfast for mom while she is busy letting the baby nurse.
A major component of the difficulty of the postpartum time is the fact that that precious baby wants to still be a part of its mother's body, and objects to being put down--even for the best of reasons. This is a vital part of raising a child with good self-confidence and a secure attachment style, as a baby who feels abandoned can rapidly develop anxiety.
As a result, many mothers neglect caring for themselves, preferring to go unwashed and hungry rather than upset their baby. But of course, poor hygiene can lead to illness, and good nutrition is vital for keeping a good supply of milk for the newborn.
With postpartum doulas, the mother can have a trusted helper who knows how to keep the baby happy and calm while she cares for herself. Even if the doula is only present in the mornings or overnight, this can set the mother up for a whole day of feeling clean and refreshed. This will, in turn, help to ensure that mom can recover faster from the birth, and keep making plenty of milk if she is breastfeeding.
How a Certified Postpartum Doula Can Help The Baby
As mentioned, babies have a powerful need for lots of cuddles and care for the first few weeks of life. Having an experienced and skilled postpartum doula means that the baby doesn't need to be left in a bassinet for the mom to be able to care for herself. Instead, the baby can be held and talked to by a loving, engaged doula while the mother is caring for herself.
But besides the vitally important emotional support that postpartum doulas offer to the newborn, what other advantages does a baby experience from the presence of a postpartum doula?
Experienced Eyes for Baby's Start in Life
Certified postpartum doulas are trained to recognize all sorts of troubles that a baby may experience in the first weeks of life. They have good rudimentary knowledge of nursing difficulties, colic relief, and any number of other bits of knowledge that will help the baby to have an easier start.
New parents often struggle with anxiety, unsure if their infant is eating, sleeping or developing normally. Having an experienced doula on hand is a wonderful source of calm and reassurance.
How Postpartum Doulas Help the Whole Family
The birth of a new baby is a difficult time for the whole family. Other kids need to adjust to their mom giving lots of attention to the newborn, and the father probably needs to go back to work--where he worries about his wife at home struggling with physical weakness and trying to keep an infant and the other kids happy.
A Postpartum Doula Makes Everyone's Lives Easier
Whatever the new mother needs, a postpartum doula will happily step in. Sometimes she will need the postpartum doula to take the baby... and sometimes she will want to hide away and let the baby nurse in peace.
In these cases, the doula support may be shown by engaging with the other kids, fixing them snacks, or otherwise keeping them happy and content so the mom has time to bond with the infant.
Dad can call home and find that mom and newborn are contentedly enjoying each other, and the other kids are enjoying having someone new to talk to--instead of climbing on their mom and feeling jealous of the little one.
Not Only For Birth: How Postpartum Doulas Complement the Care of Birth Doulas
As vital a role as birth doulas play in the process of bringing life into the world, postpartum doulas can have an equally pivotal role in ensuring that the postpartum days are filled with happiness instead of pain and anxiety.
Unlike birth doulas, postpartum doulas are often hired for periods of several days to a few weeks. This is because the mother's needs for support and advocacy do not end when the baby is born; she still needs someone to watch over her and make sure her needs are met.
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