What is a Postpartum Doula and How Can We Help You?
Almost without fail, when someone hears that I am a postpartum doula, they say “Wait… I didn’t know that was a thing! I wish I’d known you when my babies were little!”
And it’s not really a surprise because when I was pregnant with my first baby, I read all the things, even the benefits of hiring a birth doula, but I had no idea there was even such a thing as a postpartum doula!
And so, I’m here to make sure you have all the information you need to make the best decision for your family, especially whether or not you want to invite a postpartum doula to come alongside you in the early weeks with your baby.
About half of the families I talk to want to hire a postpartum doula because they want the most supported, resourced, and looked after postpartum experience they can manage. They do not want to feel exhausted, reactive, and uncertain as they learn to look after their baby and recover from pregnancy and childbirth.
The other half of families reach out because they already feel worn out and need to call in reinforcements ASAP please. And this makes total sense!
Many new parents find themselves overwhelmed and exhausted in the early weeks with their newborn. A postpartum doula provides essential support during this crucial time, helping parents navigate their new roles with confidence and care. Here’s how a postpartum doula can make a difference:
baby care: helping with feeding, diapering, and soothing techniques
emotional support: offering a listening ear and practical advice
practical help: helping with household tasks and meal preparation.
Truly, a postpartum doula can totally turn your postpartum experience around!
Let’s explore the benefits of hiring postpartum doula, how postpartum support can help new parents, and the essential steps to find the right postpartum doula for your needs.
Understanding Different Types of Doulas
When I first heard about doulas, I only knew about birth doulas who support families during labor and delivery. However, there are many different types of doulas, each offering unique support to families as they navigate times of transition in their lives. And one of the most valuable yet lesser-known types is the postpartum doula.
When my first baby was about a year old, I attended an information session about how to get certified as a birth doula. I wanted to provide postpartum recovery help to new parents who were struggling to stay on top of things, because every time I dropped off a meal or shared hand-me-downs with families in my community, they apologized for still being in their PJs, or for the state of the kitchen, or the unfolded laundry on the sofa even though they were cradling a newborn in their arms! Everyone obviously needed more help but they insisted they were fine and I wondered if there was more I could do.
I imagined as a birth doula I would have a relationship with a family already and could really make huge difference for these new parents, and that is when I learned postpartum doulas are a thing. I promptly enrolled myself for training and have worked with pregnant and newly postpartum families ever since ❤️
Defining a Postpartum Doula
A postpartum doula is a trained professional who provides support to new parents during the postpartum period. They help families adjust to life with a newborn, offering assistance with baby care, maternal recovery, and emotional well-being through the transition into parenthood. Unlike other helpers, postpartum doulas are trained to address the specific challenges new parents face in the weeks following childbirth. In a lot of ways, they’re like an extra set of hands and an extra, well-rested brain for your family.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Postpartum Doula
In short, a postpartum doula helps you in the early weeks after you’ve met your baby, whether that means helping with your recovery from pregnancy and childbirth, or helping you as you get to know your baby and learn to look after them.
Some postpartum doulas are also childbirth educators who can help you prepare for a meaningful and satisfying birth experience. Others are also birth or labor doulas who can support you through your birth experience. There are postpartum doulas who are also lactation specialists or postpartum doulas with extra training in maternal mental health and wellness or baby sleep.
But even doulas without additional certifications are often a wealth of experience, information, and support as you prepare for your baby’s birth day, and in the early weeks after your family has grown. They are dedicated to your health and wellbeing as a new parent, as well as that of your new baby, providing newborn care assistance and emotional support for new parents. (Curious to see how it works with a virtual doula? Here are 4 Practical Ways Your Virtual Doula Can Help You with your baby through the fourth trimester.)
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Prenatal Support by a Postpartum Doula:
A postpartum doula can help you even before your baby arrives. They help you organize baby essentials, plan meals, and create a postpartum plan. This preparation ensures you are ready for the early days with your baby.
Pregnant families love this work we do together so much that I've put together a comprehensive course, Prepping for Parenthood, that covers all these aspects and more, to help you feel fully prepared and confident as you approach your due date.
Postpartum Care from a Postpartum Doula:
Once you are home with your baby, an in-home postpartum doula can visit several times a week. They can provide:
hands-on support: holding the baby while you rest, getting you what you need
household help: tidying up, cooking, and laundry
overnight support: looking after the baby at night so you can get more sleep
Virtual postpartum doulas offer support through:
video calls: to connect with you regularly and guide you through baby care techniques
voice or text messages: providing frequent emotional support and practical on-the-spot advice
flexible check-ins: available as often as you’d like through various communication methods
A virtual postpartum doula can check in with you as often as you’d like, either with a video chat, phone call, voice messaging, or text messaging. Like an in-home postpartum doula, a virtual doula is a soft place to land in the tender early weeks with your baby. They offer emotional support and encouragement and they are a great source of information about your recovery and baby care. For more information on why virtual postpartum doula support can be beneficial, check out this post on 5 Reasons to Hire a Virtual Postpartum Doula.
A great postpartum doula is there to help you without their own bias or agenda. Many new parents find that visiting family and friends are great, but that there are complex layers of expectations and sometimes judgment they did not expect and struggle to manage.
Your postpartum doula, however, just wants to see you healthy and taken care of as you settle into your new identity as a parent.
“I felt so supported, especially by an expert yet I didn’t feel that Patricia was taking away my agency, in fact she empowered me as a mother and made me feel like the decisions I am making are best for my child!” ~ Ayesha A.
“I knew I would be able to get my questions answered but I didn’t know that Patricia would take the time to go into depth with my concerns and really try to come up with solutions and a plan tailored to my family. I felt like we were a team.” ~ Jessica A.
Curious about your doula’s scope of practice? Check out this blog post ☝️
When to Hire a Postpartum Doula
It’s ideal to connect with a postpartum doula in the second or third trimester of your pregnancy. This way, you can get to know each other and your doula can help you get ready and feel totally prepared to meet your baby. One of the most popular posts on this site is my blog called How to Prep for Postpartum: A Comprehensive Guide for Pregnant Families, because it walks you through the practical steps to take beyond taking a Childbirth Education class and Infant First-Aid. Most postpartum doulas support new parents through the first 8-10 weeks with their babies.
But even if you’ve already had your baby and you are realizing you could really use the help, reach out and see if a doula you like has availability to look after you and your family. Ask for the help you need and see how they can help you.
Who Can Benefit from a Postpartum Doula?
Whether you are a first-time parent or have multiple children, a postpartum doula can be a tremendous help. They support families with various backgrounds and circumstances, providing customized care that meets each family’s unique needs.
To help you see who needs a doula, here are the kinds of families I’ve supported:
first-time parents
second-time parents
families who moved back in with their own parents for 6 weeks
families who had their mother stay with them for several weeks (🙋 it’s me!)
families with no access to outside help because of lock-downs and travel restrictions
For all these kinds of parents, it is incredibly helpful to know help is available. They loved have an upcoming appointment to look forward to for extra help, extra insight, and extra encouragement. It feels like a calm moment in the storm. A chance to regroup, refocus, and make a plan for the next day.
“It was extremely helpful to brainstorm strategies to support more positive interactions with our little one.” ~ Micheala R.
“EMPOWERMENT. It gave me the power back as the parent instead of feeling helpless and distraught.” ~ Victoria B.
“We got a lot of answers to questions that weren't necessarily appropriate for the midwife, pediatrician or doctor. Stuff to help us with the daily routines. And the reassurance on stuff that's normal for our baby to be doing (so great to hear that we're not doing anything wrong!).” ~ Sarah W.
Training and certification for Postpartum Doulas
While doulas are not regulated in the United States, many choose to get certified through reputable organizations. This certification involves extensive coursework, practical experience, and sometimes mentorship. Some well-known certifying bodies include DONA, CAPPA, and CBI.
It is up to an individual doula to choose their certifying organization based on the criteria that best matches their needs, whether that means attending a weekend workshop in-person and then completing coursework for several months afterward, or else attending online classes to meet the requirements for their desired certification.
It's important to note that different certifying organizations approach postpartum doula care with emphasis on different values and philosophies. Some organizations emphasize evidence-based practices and medical knowledge, while others focus on holistic, family-centered care. This diversity allows doulas to choose a certification that aligns with their personal approach to supporting new families. When choosing a certified postpartum doula, ensure their training aligns with your family's values and needs.
Doula Certification Course Work
Certification typically requires training in breastfeeding, newborn care, maternal mental health, and more. The process can take several months to a few years, depending on the program and the doula’s commitment. Nearly all doula certifications require an aspiring doula to complete a substantial amount of coursework in areas of specialization like breastfeeding, newborn care, physiology of the postpartum body, nutrition for new parents, and maternal mental health topics.
Students might need to write reflections, work through assignments and reading lists, and support several clients while being mentored ahead of certification. Some certifications involve regular meetings with mentor doulas or trainers, but requirements vary.
There are several excellent certifying organizations in the birth world, and their number is growing all the time. Some require a yearly membership fee, or recertification every few years to maintain good standing with their certifying organization. Most offer specialized training in related roles such as childbirth educator, birth doula, postpartum doula, or lactation educator.
When choosing a certification program or a postpartum doula, it’s crucial to find one that resonates with the kind of care you want to provide or receive. Parents should look for a doula whose values and approach to parenting align with their own, ensuring a supportive and harmonious postpartum experience. The early postpartum period is a vulnerable time for your family, and knowing that someone is looking after you, listening to you, and supporting all your efforts with your new baby is crucial.
How to Connect with a Doula!
Ready to connect with a postpartum doula and ensure a smoother postpartum period? I invite you to reach out and start a conversation via my Contact Form or send me a direct message on Instagram. Or if you’re ready to meet face to face, book a call.
Choosing a postpartum doula means reclaiming some of the wisdom and support that was lost when pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum care shifted predominantly to the medical model. By inviting a postpartum doula into your journey, you are taking back control of your experience, ensuring it aligns with your values and needs. This decision can profoundly impact your transition into parenthood, providing you with the support and confidence you deserve.
Don't take this step lightly; it's a powerful way to honor your journey and ensure you and your baby are well cared for. I look forward to connecting with you ❤️
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Patricia is a steady companion through the transformative journey of new parenthood. With a rich background that weaves through global travels, teaching experiences, and the personal journey of parenting, Patricia brings a unique blend of empathy, understanding, and support to her role as a virtual doula. Her approach is deeply rooted in the belief that every new parent's experience is unique, deserving of personalized guidance and support.
Through her personalized and compassionate postpartum support, Patricia is changing how families experience the Fourth Trimester. She offers both a listening ear and a guiding voice, helping new parents navigate the early stages of parenthood with calm and assurance.
Pregnant and not sure you’re ready for this baby yet? Sign up for Prepping for Postpartum now!