Postpartum Doulas 101

Hello, BABS blog readers!  I’m Anna, a postpartum doula and parent educator.  I’m so happy to be writing my first post and to be on board as a new contributor here.  Nice to meet you all!  Everyone here has their own backgrounds, beliefs, and values, but one thing we surely have in common is our gratitude for the existence of BABS in our community.  So many local families have benefited from the support and education available through the organization.

Along with the many classes, groups, and workshops that are offered, one of the greatest things BABS has done is to bring the work of doulas to light.  Not long ago, almost anyone who heard me use the word doula would ask me what it meant.  Recently, though, it’s clear that more and more people are familiar with the term… at least in relation to birth.  Birth doulas provide such an important service to women and their partners, and it’s wonderful that their value is becoming so widely recognized.

My hope is that, before long, the services of postpartum doulas will also be commonly known and utilized.  So let’s talk about that.  (And then you can tell your friends!)

What does a postpartum doula do?  Here’s the short answer, in my own words: a postpartum doula provides home-based, non-medical support and education to families as they integrate a new baby into their lives.  She offers an open ear and an extra set of hands.  (You can also read the long answer about the role of the postpartum doula, in DONA’s words, by clicking here.)

A postpartum doula doesn’t take the place of family and friends; rather, the services of a postpartum doula and the support of family and friends complement one another.  Having good support after the arrival of a new baby is so important in all cultures, but it’s especially important to create an intentional support network when family and friends live far away or are just busy with all the demands of their own lives.

The effects of good support add up, and we’re finding that the general trend among mothers who have postpartum doulas includes higher success rates with breastfeeding and lower rates of postpartum depression!

So now you may be thinking, Well, that sounds great… but what will she actually do when she comes to help?

Each hour and day with a newborn baby can bring all kinds of unexpected challenges.  Some new parents just have a lot of questions and they need someone experienced and impartial to sit with them and listen fully.  In addition to emotional support, a postpartum doula offers hands-on help in a number of ways.  The details of any given day may look very different from the one before or after.  It’s improvised each time, so that the most immediate needs of the new family can be met.

Here are some ways that a postpartum doula may help:

• breastfeeding support
• teaching basic infant care skills
• light household help, such as kitchen and laundry tasks
• help with older siblings
• making sure the mother has had enough to eat and drink
• infant care that allows the mother to shower, nap, etc.
• in some cases, overnight help may be available
• antepartum support for mothers on bed-rest is also available, as is assistance with preparing the home for the baby’s arrival

This is a simplified list, and new parents should always feel free to ask for the help they most need.  If the doula isn’t able to provide something, she will help the client to find additional resources.  That’s part of her role, too!

Here in Bloomington, we’re lucky to have several DONA-trained postpartum doulas.  Contact information for those who are currently taking clients can be found here.   Add the services of a postpartum doula to your baby registry or wish list!  Friends and family, whether local or out of town, can purchase gift certificates from any of the local postpartum doulas.

There we have it: postpartum doulas exist!  And any new mother, whether she’s having her first or her fourth, can benefit from the care that we provide.

I invite you to ask any questions you may have in the comment section below, and future blogging suggestions are welcomed, as well.  Until next time, happy parenting!