What is a Postpartum Doula?

A postpartum doula provides emotional, physical, and educational support to new parents in the first weeks or months of giving birth. What does that mean in practice? 

Picture this: you’re a new parent with a days-old newborn. You’re exhausted from a night of multiple wakings. You’re trying to recover from birth while also learning how to care for a new baby. You’re holding a fussy baby, facing a sink full of dirty dishes and a basketful of dirty laundry, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to even go about your day.

And then your doula arrives. They may:

• Check in with you to assess your emotional state. What would be helpful for you in that moment?

• Take your baby for a few hours, soothing and occupying them to give you a chance to rest uninterrupted, or catch up on other tasks.

• Wash your dishes or laundry, other light household tasks, or even some baby-related errands, to ease your mind so you can focus on bonding with your baby.

• Spend time with older siblings so you can relax and focus on your newborn. 

• Give guidance on feeding your baby, to assuage worries and reassure you.

• Provide an empathetic, nonjudgemental listening ear.

• Use their experience to give advice or guidance (if desired) on developing routines for you and your baby, sleep habits, or other parenting questions on your mind.

• Most importantly, find ways to empower you as new parents, to boost your confidence and enjoyment of your time with your new baby.