Postpartum Doula Services

****The following information has been excerpted from the DONA Position Paper: The Postpartum Doula’s Role in Maternity Care**** 

The birth of a baby represents a profound and permanent life change for the parents and other family members. After nine months of pregnancy and the stresses of labour and birth, a family is born or enlarged. For new parents, the challenges are numerous: recovery from childbirth, total responsibility for a tiny, dependent newborn, sleeplessness, emotional adjustment, mastery of infant feeding and care, understanding of and adjustment to the unique personality of their baby and household organization. Sometimes the mental health of the new mother or baby is compromised and the new parents need more help than they had expected. 

In our society, many new parents find themselves ill prepared for this transition and isolated from caring, knowledgeable helpers and advisors. In times past, new parents could usually depend on their own parents, other family members or friends to assist them. While these resources are still available today, they are frequently spotty and inadequate, due to great distances between new parents and their loved ones and other demands on loved ones that take priority over the new family’s needs. 

With all of these challenges, it is clear that the importance of support, advice and assistance in the weeks and months following birth cannot be overemphasized. The ways in which the woman, baby, partner and siblings make the transition to a new family unit have a long-term impact on their physical and emotional health. The postpartum doula fills a large gap in maternity care and is able to facilitate a smooth and rewarding transition. 

What is a Postpartum Doula? 

·       Offers education, quiet non-judgemental support, and companionship during the postpartum 4th trimester.

·       Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying.

·       Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents; and makes appropriate referrals when necessary.

·       Research evidence shows that quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction, and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

·       Serves as a “buffer” for new parents, who receive a great deal of unsolicited and possibly outdated advice. By modeling a deep respect for the wisdom and decision-making abilities of the new parents, she makes clear that supporting them in their own choices will have the best possible results. 

Postpartum Doulas and Dads

The doula’s support is for the father as much as the mother or children. A sympathetic ear, source of encouragement, gentle educator and friend is something from which we could all benefit throughout our lives. The postpartum doula provides all of these during this defining life experience.  

The doula can also help the father to learn the art of “mothering the mother”, increasing chances for success in areas such as breastfeeding and postpartum depression/mood disorders. Rather than being told to “help out”, partners and other family members benefit from concrete instruction and role modeling on how to support a woman in the weeks following delivery.  

The importance of the father’s involvement and support during the weeks following birth cannot be overstated. During this time, he truly becomes a parent, getting to know this tiny yet complete person who has entered his family. The doula can ease this introduction, helping the father to discover all he can about his baby, as well as developing his own concept of himself as a parent. In addition, the doula’s support can help parents to adjust their own relationship, moving forward to enhance their previous life together as a couple who are now parents.

Questions to Ask a Postpartum Doula 

To discover the specific training, experience and services offered by anyone providing postpartum support, potential clients, nursing supervisors, physicians, midwives and others should ask the following questions: 

·       What training have you had? (If a doula is certified, you might consider checking with the organization)

·       Have you had a criminal background check, a recent TB test and current CPR certification?

·       Tell me about your experience as a postpartum doula?

·       What is your philosophy about parenting and supporting women and their families during postpartum?

·       May we meet to discuss our postpartum needs and the role you will play in supporting us in the postpartum period?

·       What different types of services do you offer?

·       May we call you with postpartum questions or concerns before the birth?

·       When do your services begin after birth?

·       What is your experience in breastfeeding support?

·       Do you work with one or more back-up doulas for times when you are not available? May we meet them?

·       What are your fee and refund policies? 

Present North American health care practices and a lack of cultural rituals leave families virtually unsupported at this important time in their lives. There is a great deal of evidence suggesting that quality support can ease transition that comes with the addition of a baby to the family. By educating, attending to the needs of the parents, infant and children and by offering quality referral information, the postpartum doula can ease and enhance the postpartum experience. Every family can benefit from the support and encouragement offered by a doula during the fourth trimester. 

Retaining Postpartum Doula Services 

*** Presently, Julie is taking a sabbatical from doula care. Please contact us for a list of recommended doulas. ***

If you do choose to retain Julie’s services, she will speak with you and your partner at least once before the birth to become further acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities and any fears, concerns or special needs you may have and to plan how you might best work together. In addition to “in home” doula services, she is available for phone consultations from three weeks prior to your due date until the end of the contracted time. She will remain in contact with you around your expected due date and requires that you notify her when you are in labour or very soon after the baby is born. 

Duration of Care 

Because each family will have different postpartum needs, the duration of your work together will vary. Some clients are adjusted after three days of support while others will retain services for three to four months. Part of Julie’s job is to assist mothers in the gentle transitioning into autonomous parenting. There are many factors that determine how much support is needed and you can decide together what is needed. 

Depending upon the situation, it is beneficial to initiate doula care within a day of the baby coming home from the hospital or within a day of a homebirth. Julie’s daily minimum is three hours, which gives her adequate time to properly care for you and your family and accomplish your goals. Of course, you can schedule more than the recommended hours of care. Julie works between the hours of 9:30am and 2pm. She does not do nighttime doula work.

Fee for Postpartum Doula Services: $25/hour