A postpartum doula is a trained professional who specializes in newborn care, breastfeeding, a mother’s postpartum healing, and family adjustment. The postpartum doula comes into the home and offers support in emotional, physical and practical ways after the birth of a baby. She can also assist with household chores and organization in order to facilitate rest and bonding time. The postpartum doula’s ultimate goal is not just to care for the baby but to nurture the new mother and to assist her in parenting her baby more effectively.

A Postpartum Doula recognizes the time immediately after giving birth is a precious time for both mother and baby, and in fact the entire family. This is a vital time for bonding and learning about each other. It is also a time for rest. In order to facilitate this process a postpartum doula may provide support in all or some of these ways: - Breastfeeding support and/or bottle feeding support - Comfort measures to promote healing for the mother - Demonstrate infant care/soothing techniques - Establishing a calm and soothing environment to enhance healing - Light household tidying - Baby laundry - Postpartum depression awareness - Community referrals as needed - Attend appointments with newborn and mother - Companionship An insightful postpartum doula perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the mother and baby and those closest to her.

A postpartum doula is focused on the specific needs of the entire family in the time immediately after the birth of a baby. You will be mothered as you mother your family. You will be taught how to care for your newborn and growing family based on evidence based information. As your postpartum doula I work myself out of job as I empower you to flourish in your role as mother. A nanny’s role is to care for the baby/children while the parents are absent or otherwise occupied. She will perform her duties in the ways she is assigned. A nanny does not help establish routines, provide breastfeeding support, provide information about postpartum healing, nor does she care for the mother.

Many mothers discover that the challenges they face once they bring their baby home are more than they anticipated. Current research shows that families that are nurtured during the early postpartum days, allowed to rest and bond with their baby, and taught the basics of newborn care experience: - More success and satisfaction with breastfeeding - More confidence in their parenting and “motherly instincts” - Less postpartum depression - Less feeling of sleep deprivation

A postpartum doula should enhance the experience for all others attending to your family by providing a calm presence and allowing everyone to participate to the level of their comfort. The doula’s skills and knowledge often help the partner feel more relaxed and able to enter into this time fully engaged. The family’s presence and loving support in this monumental event is comforting and reassuring. You will be supported in a way that allows you to integrate your baby into the family and this includes all members of your support team. Having the support of your family and a doula gives you the best of both worlds – your family’s loving care and attention and the doula’s expertise and guidance throughout the postpartum process.