What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?
Let’s get real. Bringing your new baby home from the hospital is wonderful, beautiful, blissful… right? It can also be overwhelming, unfamiliar, and scary. Even experienced parents doubt themselves, second guess themselves.
You’ve heard of (and maybe even hired) a birth doula, but what happens when you get home with Baby? There’s no instruction manual to YOUR baby. None of the books are about YOUR family. There is going to be a learning curve before you get used to your new normal, and that’s where a postpartum doula comes in. So what does a postpartum doula actually do once you and your baby are home?
What Is a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum doula supports the whole family after birth. They may help with newborn care, feeding, parent recovery, emotional support, light baby-related household tasks, and giving parents opportunities to rest.
Megan the Doula feeding a baby
A postpartum doula is NOT a nurse, nanny, housekeeper, or medical provider, although some parts of the role may overlap with what people associate with those jobs. Unlike a medical provider, a postpartum doula does not diagnose or treat medical conditions.
What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?
Newborn Care Support
Diapering and dressing
Soothing techniques
Swaddling
Babywearing
Understanding newborn cues
Helping parents learn what is normal in the newborn stage
Infant Feeding Support
Supporting feeding goals without judgement
Helping with positioning and comfort
Bottle prep and paced bottle feeding
Pumping support
Helping parents recognize feeding and hunger cues
Referring to an IBCLC or medical provider when specialized help is needed
Supporting Parent Recovery
Making sure the recovering parent has opportunities to rest
Bringing water, snacks, or meals
Helping create a comfortable feeding or recovery space
Providing practical support while the parent showers, naps, or eats
Encouraging parents to contact their healthcare provider when something is outside a doula’s scope
Emotional Support
Listening without judgment
Reassuring parents during the normal ups and downs of early parenthood
Helping parents talk through their birth or postpartum experience
Helping families recognize when additional mental health support may be helpful
Practical Household Help
Washing bottles or pump parts
Baby laundry
Preparing simple meals or snacks
Tidying the areas being used by the parent and baby
Restocking diaper or feeding stations
A Postpartum Doula Helps You Become More Confident
A doula isn't there to take over parenting. The goal is to help parents learn their baby, develop routines that work for their family, and feel increasingly confident caring for their newborn. When my contract ends with a client, I want them to feel secure in their abilities.
What Happens During a Postpartum Doula Visit?
Here is an example of what a doula visit might look like.
Daytime visit: The doula arrives and asks how the previous day or night went. You talk about feeding, sleep, recovery, and any questions that have come up. (I personally will also check in with your mental health.) The doula might hold or soothe the baby while you shower/eat/nap, wash bottles while you breastfeed, show you how to bathe your baby, and do some tummy time or play time. They might show you the best positions for getting a good burp out or helping baby poop. They will probably change diapers so you don’t have to, all the while making sure you have a beverage nearby and a snack if you want one. The doula isn’t just there for the baby, the doula is there to support you, whatever that looks like. Often it means holding the baby while you get a break, but sometimes it means talking things through with you, showing you different ways of caring for your baby, noticing sleep and hunger cues, and just making sure you are ok.
Overnight visit: The doula arrives and you debrief, telling them how the day has been. You discuss feeding, sleep, and recovery, and you ask any questions you’ve thought of since the last visit. Doula takes over baby care while you do your evening routine - eating, showering, etc. You head off to bed, doula and baby settle in for the night. When Baby wakes up, Doula will change their diaper, and then either feed them a bottle or bring them to you to breastfeed. Doula will make sure you have a drink and snack if you need one. Once breast or bottle feeding is done, doula will soothe baby back to sleep. Rinse and repeat! In the morning, doula will clean any bottles they used, change baby’s diaper, and bring baby to their crib if you are still sleeping before heading home. If you are awake you might have a debrief, but usually the doula will try to time feedings so that baby will sleep a little longer after they leave so you can get just a little more rest.
What a Postpartum Doula Does NOT Do
Doulas generally do not:
Diagnose medical conditions
Provide medical treatment
Replace a pediatrician, OB/GYN, midwife, therapist, or lactation consultant
Make parenting decisions for the family
Perform heavy housekeeping or unrelated household chores
Who Can Benefit From a Postpartum Doula?
First-time parents
Experienced parents
Families recovering from cesarean birth
Families recovering from a vaginal birth
Families with limited nearby support
Parents of multiples
Families with older children at home
Parents who simply want more support during the newborn stage
Parents at risk of postpartum mental illness
Everyone!
***You don't have to be struggling to “qualify” for postpartum doula support.***
How Long Do Families Use a Postpartum Doula?
Support can vary widely—anything from a few visits to regular support over several weeks or months. The schedule often changes as baby grows and the family’s needs change. When you get into a groove you might not use a doula for a few weeks. Then, if things get hard again you can bring them back in to the team.
You Weren't Meant to Do Postpartum Alone
Postpartum support can give families something that is often in short supply after a baby arrives: another knowledgeable, calm set of hands. A postpartum doula can help you rest, recover, learn your baby, and find your footing as your family adjusts. Sometimes the ace in the hole is just a calming presence who isn’t going through hormone changes and sleep deprivation. Sometimes you just need a non judgemental person to talk to. Sometimes, you need someone to remind you that you are doing great, especially when those intrusive thoughts are telling you the opposite. Doula help can look different for each family, but that’s the magic of it. It’s personalized to YOUR family.
Learn more about postpartum doula support in the Metro East St. Louis area
